22nd today. 202. Rock and roll. Ready. All right. All right, we'll call to order this special city council meeting for Thursday, May 22nd. If everyone could rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, roll call. Uh, Kyrie Miller here. Brian Wmer, here. James Vichka here.
Scott Pava here. Uh Mayor Berg is absent. All right, great. Thank you. Um so everybody's got a copy of the agenda. So we look for approval of the agenda. I'll make a motion. Motion by Miller. Second.
Second by Palava. All in favor? I opposed. All right. Uh no minutes to approve. No public hearings on to presentation of citizens petition and comments. Comments limited
to two minutes. So if you are not on the agenda, now is your time to speak. All right. Seeing no petitions or comments, move on to the consent agenda. Nothing on the consent agenda on old business. No old business
as this is the first special meeting of the budget season. And on to new business. Discuss the city's preliminary 2026 budget and property tax levy. Joel Erikson. All right. Uh thank you council members. Uh this is the first meeting pertaining to
the city's preliminary 2025 budget and uh property tax levy. Um you know things that should be discussed and um direction provided to staff would be um start discussions on where the council thinks you guys would like to see the the levy set at. Um what that'll do is
determine the tax rate, but then also provide parameters for staff um when we're making our budget requests so we're not out in left field and um haven't having to make cuts. Um so the the more timely that the council can provide us that direction um would be
greatly appreciated this way. Um staff knows again what what we have to work with and aren't guessing and having to go back and and redo things after um I guess a decision is is made. uh update the capital improvement plan for streets and utilities, facility
needs, short long-term goals, uh wages and insurance, uh and then any recommended studies to be considered. Uh as I just said, this will be the framework of the uh budget that staff will present to to the council. Uh levy amount. So that is the
amount of funds that are uh levied against the taxable properties within the city of Lndale. And then from there, um, each each house has or each property, I should say, has their tax capacity
determined. Um, for for most houses in Lndale, it's 1% of the taxable market value. And then that is multiplied by the city's tax rate, which would then give the what the city's portion uh or what the city's taxes would be um in
addition to uh other taxing uh jurisdictions. uh any priorities that the council would like incorporated um if you could tell us and we can just you know make sure that those are accounted for from the beginning and and uh and and we're with them and um see how everything else fits
in after that. I did run some very uh preliminary numbers. The county assessor uh gave me some preliminary numbers for pay 26. Uh typically these don't get finalized until uh towards the end of the year uh in November right before our
TNT truth and taxation uh presentations that that are held in the at the first meeting in in December. So um just I just did two options just to kind of give a sense of I'm guessing the uh the parameters of of where we'll end
up. I'm guessing uh by keeping the levy the same uh this results in no increase in property tax funding. And then um on that spreadsheet that I provided uh for the residential properties, it ranges from a decrease of about $30 to an
increase of about 60. And then the range uh for the industrial properties that that we track uh a decrease of about $5 to an increase of uh $2. If we kept the tax rate the same, uh
it's estimated there'd be about $153,000 in um additional property tax funding compared to this year. And what that does is results in a tax increase of between $32 and 186 for the the residential properties that we track.
And then between a decrease of uh we'll call it a push, right? Savings of a decrease of six cents uh to an increase of uh um over $400. $427. I don't know if anyone has any questions on the the property tax levy
or just just in general. Not at this time. All right. Uh next thing, legislative legislative session. Um obviously they are going to uh special session so they have a didn't accomplish much and have a lot of work to to get done here in in the next
couple weeks. Uh LGA I haven't seen that certified or even have an idea of of where it'll be. I think they have until uh the end of July to certify our our amount to it. Uh but this year it's uh almost
$637,000. So, it's a uh one of our larger uh revenues that that we receive. Has there been a history of them has it being less? I don't recall. Does it typically go up? Uh it typically goes up. Yes. Um if I remember correctly,
there was a change to the formula a couple years ago and the city benefited uh quite a bit from that. Um but until I get that number, I just go with the previous year and be conservative. kind of count on that as a starting point.
Okay. It's a fairly safe number. Correct. Yeah. Um, as far as if there is a shutdown, let's say they can't get their stuff figured out in St. Paul, would that delay
LGA or is that one of those things that's covered under the essential function? I I would have to find that out. Correct. Yeah. Because I think the state local government bill is one of them that's still up in the
air as far as I know and your concern is that the delay in determining what that would be anything to do with determining I mean funding I mean we we have the funds to cover it right no we needed to we're not paycheck
to paycheck but at the same time we might not know that's why I was asking if it's a if it's just the number right and we receive our LGA payments uh at the end of June and then at the end of December, I think it's the 26th of of
both months. And we use LGA to fund the general fund, administration, planning and zoning, police, parks, and and streets. Uh new for next year will be
the state paid leave and medical act. um that begins in in January and they've determined that the premium is going to be 088% of our taxable wages and how the bill was written is that the employee cannot pay more than
50% of the premium uh which is a payroll deduction. I don't think people realize that they are getting a payroll deduction um out of this program. Uh the city uh is required to pay a minimum of 50% of the premium but can pay but can choose to pay more up to
100%. And um just we ran some some quick numbers uh towards the end of last week and uh the city's minimum expense would be about $7,500 uh up to about uh 15,000.
So, um, so at a minimum, the city has to pay the 7500 and that'll be a, I guess, a discussion if if, uh, if the city's going to, um, pay more than the 50% or, um, have it deducted out of the
employees checks. That's something we can look at as we're looking at the wage study aspect of it. Uh, yeah, certainly. Just was, you know, Maybe that's figured into the formula
that you know an employee would I'm just throwing out maybe the employee doesn't pay anything and the city covers covers you know 100% of it. Could that be viewed as a benefit? So uh 100% and I'm sure it would be uh greatly appreciated. Yeah. I'm just throwing out ideas. Yep. The wage study is supposed to be done
early next month. Correct. Yep. Uh I met with her today. The working group we're meeting next Thursday and she's coming to the June 12th council meeting. Perfect. Great. Yeah, that's a big piece to being able to figure the the final budget number. I
wasn't saying we have to do it, but just as from from a business standpoint, you know, I you know, when that stuff happens, you know, I was trying to, you know, figuring that in I know we already have all our steps and all that stuff, but you know, if we have to rearrange things, that would be the time to figure
out where that's going to sit. Uh capital improvement plan. Um the last time the city did a full-blown CIP was back in 2006. Um we did do an updated one uh to sell the bond or issue the bonds or sell the bonds I guess for the the city hall project. that was a a
requirement of that. But that basically just took what we had in '06 and we updated it based off of um the um anticipated cost of the upcoming street projects or the ones the to
finalize the reconstruction areas. Uh the CIP would be uh estimate costs uh and establish a schedule based on an annual budgeted amount for for maintenance. Um as I said it would include the the remaining uh areas of the old part of town to get full
reconstruction and then also include maintenance for developments and the the reconstruction areas. Uh that maintenance could be crack fill, seal coat, oil rejuvenation. Uh and then also milling overlays based off of our uh well PCI,
our pavement rating or pavement condition index rating. And that stuff was included in in your packet as far as you know kind of the the years and what maintenance gets done. And I think it tracks the maintenance over a 40year period I believe.
Uh some things to consider is um we have never assessed for for milling overlays. Um maybe it's time to to start considering that. Um you know, the the new developments paid for their streets and their or are
paying for them in in their mortgage. Um you know, and then at some point in time, the whole town will have been uh been reconstructed. And it's just, you know, I don't know what that that assessment amount is or if it's even worth it. But, you know, this year
we're, you know, going to spend a little over $200,000 in in street maintenance. And, you know, I just don't want to, you know, the more you assess, the more more work that can get done and we can, you know, accomplish our our our goals in a
in a more timely manner, I guess. And then we have to be looking at re-evaluating our our current assessment policy. I think that even dates back to when we started our reconstruction projects in I believe our first one was 06 8th Avenue. Uh the following information
you've seen before uh the water we're doing the booster station now uh was proposed or recommended in our water our comprehensive water study that was done uh a year or so ago. Uh like said the booster stations being done this year,
water tower sighting storage study, utility rate study. Um out to 28, second water tower. Uh 34 would be rehab of our existing tower. And then in 35 uh
treatment capacity expansion including possible uh lime softening and also in 2035 out that 10 to 15 years is uh well six and water main. So um through the water we got
estimated costs of you know over 7.1 million dollars between now and uh 2035. Is that current current dollars or estimated for inflation. Uh I believe it was uh inflation was accounted for for those
years. The uh wastewater treatment plant will be starting up our second lagoon. Uh when we initially uh brought the plant online, we had both of our lagoons operating and just at the capacity that we were running it, it didn't need to
be. Makes sense. So, we saved about $80,000 a year um in electrical costs, but now we're to the point where we've got to fire that second lagoon up. Um looking at needing to purchase four new air raators at about
125,000 total. And then, uh again, the cost of electricity is estimated to increase by, I would say, at least 80,000 uh annually. And that's something that pretty much is essential for 26, right? It it is for
operation of the plant. Yeah. Uh bioolids recommending updating the the 2014 bioolid study report um to implement or at least recommend the recommended solutions and updating the
costs. 10 years ago, those are going to be pretty outdated. And I'm not sure if there's any newer technologies out there or um but at least something to look at would be to um if if we're going to do something um research what options are
available and and the costs I range from 900 to almost 1.6 million. So it would be be worthwhile to update that. the debt service. Uh our next bonds to be paid off which are supported by the uh property tax levy are the
2012A bonds that those were issued for reconstruction of Second and Third Avenue Northwest and those will be paid off in 28. The water treatment plant will be paid off in 2030. Uh between principal and interest, it's about $70,000 a
year. Uh and then if we were to complete any uh street utility projects or um issue any any bonds, the debt service will increase between now and 28. And then when those bonds are paid off, it would it would reduce. What's the um do
you know the annual debt service on those bonds? The ones that'll fall off in 28. uh the debt service. I would have to to look that up, but I would say it's probably Oh, what was I looking at? I was going to project that out.
Um I would say for the levy portion of it because there's $30,000 30 per year on the tax levy. I would say I mean just because of 30 to 50. Yeah. Because a portion of that is is assessed, right? Yep. We have uh
assessment revenue coming in and then um I think that that debt service is a 75 77% um general fund you know streets and then um the remaining comes out of water and sewer but those um and well the next
bullet point here is we've had people prepay their assessments right um just to save the interest cost if if they were able. Um so that's how uh we were able to establish create a fund balance and we've just you know projected that or whatever that fund balance is um divide it by the number of years
remaining and then draw down that fund balance so we're not you know taxing more than than what we need to you know because in theory you know we should be using that revenue it would come in on an annual basis but you know someone paid their their assessment off we just kept it in there and just draw
down the assessments will fall off the same time as the bonds correct I believe that that's when we started to go to the 15 years. Yes. Yeah, I think so. It's good to know because now I can tell my wife when it's going to stop
cuz that's my neighborhood. Yep. A couple of your neighborhoods. Yeah. She's asked and I said, I think pretty soon. Yeah, that was 12. Yeah. Yeah. Well, 28. So, yeah. Uh so I added up uh what we did on the
debt service or what the debt service was for for this year and then added the the city hall uh debt service onto that and whatever the levy set at uh just a little over 900,000 um is off the top for for debt
service. So and then we also did uh this year I believe for the last couple years 50,000 for for the EDA. So, I think we were at just over $3 million for a for a levy this year. So, about $2 million is what goes for for
operations. Uh, next item is HR. Um, we talked about it here a couple minutes ago. Uh, working on finalizing our our compensation study. Um, uh, will be presented to the council at the the June 12th meeting. um getting direction from the council on what the
final um re recommendation will be and then um implementing what or if there's changes to if the council makes changes to what the recommendations are. Um we'll just have to to cost those out and
and get them back to you guys. Uh but uh options would be that come out of this will be a new pay scale and then placement of employees on that. Um and then like I said anticipated in June study evaluate the existing classification and in wage scale and
assist in realigning all positions in relations to the city's internal organization but yet uh competitive to the market with the benchmark communities that that we selected. have a positive impact on future employee recruitment and current
employee satisfaction and retention. We're also going to um be evaluating the city's benefit package um what the city pays for and what the employees pay for or basically what's offered um in those other communities
compared to to where to where we're at. Um, Elco New Market had a compensation study done a couple years ago and just just for example, uh, 15 of the 16 cities surveyed offer dental insurance paid for by the city. Lndale was the the
only city of those 15 that did not provide uh payment for employee premiums for for dental insurance. So, just for an example, that would be about $1,000 a month currently. Not every employee takes it because you
have to pay for it. So either they just don't have it or they're on uh their spouse's plan or or whatever. So that 991 is total for all employees. No, that's per employee. No, that's our current bill now for the employees that choose to
have the payroll deduction. Okay. So if it would be something that the city would pay for, I would expect that that number would increase because then everybody would get it. Yeah. Yeah, unless they had access to a better plan or whatever, that was free too. So,
what uh company are you going through right now? Uh currently we are through Metife. Okay. So, and our our broker we just like insurance plans we go to to market uh every year on that. And then I believe the the rest of
it is kind of short and long-term goals for for each department. So I can go through and then if um department heads want to speak on it or jump in or chime in, whatever. U so Jo, before you get to that, um have we heard I'm assuming the
answer is probably no because I think I asked it at the last council meeting, the um demographers report. Have we gotten any insight into when that's coming? Yep. So we're going to get it um I was told next week. Okay, great. And our population is going to come in at
4,982. No. Is that Are we within the uh dispute period then? Uh we haven't even got the letter yet. So it's from when we get get the letter. Um you know I talked to the
demographers's office actually yesterday and you know you always can appeal it but he goes good luck. basically pretty confident uh very confident in my numbers.
I'm not I think we're over five. Well, the thing is is you have to prove that you are. And how do we do that? And if we're reporting and they're using information, if we're reporting new construction through um what do we get it quarterly census
stuff? Yep. US census. So if they're using the information that we're providing, the US census. Yeah. So, you know, I guess unless we I really I suppose the only way you would be able to do that would be to, you know, go back and verify what was
submitted to to the Census Bureau. Okay. But yeah, you do have the option to Yeah. Knock on everybody's door. Well, it's just it's it's really really frustrating because so close they screwed up two years ago and they over
over uh and that's why we have this frustration now because oh yeah don't worry next year you're going to hit it three years ago that's what we were told and here we are and now we're 18 away which is where we were when they screwed
up the first time basically. So, you know, um yeah, and it just comes down to we're just not getting the make another phone call to our senator, see if he can put some pressure on permits. So, all right, Bill, you heard. Believe me, I've been beating him
up on it. Okay. Thank you. Yep. Uh so then, like I said, yeah, short and long-term goals. Uh this is just a continuation of the the last couple years budget processes.
Uh library long-term increased shelving just you know additional uh space larger facility increase the collection meeting more meeting space uh more programming than than what's currently offered. Is the larger facility still something
that um they're interested in since the remodel? Uh yeah, I mean it's it's always on top of mind for the library board. Um the board met last night and there's um a special meeting to be called for
June 4th where it's going to be a planning disc there. they there was a a a preliminary planning discussion earlier in the year, but they really want to focus on that now. Um, and so June 4th is one that's really going to be like, let's really get it down, write
down those long-term goals. Um, and when I say longterm, I it's beyond 26. I think as far as 26 goes, um, it's mostly staffing. Um, you know, making sure we got the right number of hours, right number of staff to cover the that's needed. Um I
don't foresee from the discussions recently any big projects. Um you know the remodel kind of took care of it for us. That was the nice part. Short of increased space. They basically got a new library. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. And you know there was the book
sale was successful. So they were able to um increase the number of the picture book view those those picture book viewers were were a big big kind of wish list item that you know thank you to Minnesota Milwork you know having the
relationship with a good local business. We got those things for a third of what the uh um standard Yeah. the standard library outfit that provides shelving could give us. So I mean Minnesota
Milwork really stepped up for us on that and you know definitely changed the layout and the flow opened up the whole area. So effectively you did gain a lot of square footage. Do we have little plaques or signs on
the shelving notating like thank you Minnesota milworks or anything? We don't. Um since they made them, I think it'd be weird for them to put them on there. Thank you, but I mean it's not a bad thought. I can bring it back to the library board. Um yeah, you know, I mean
there's been an increase in in offerings from the library. I I just I don't see a lot of um big projects that the library is going to have short term. So longterm is really where it's going to be, you know, discussed in
June, right? Uh liquor store short-term would be uh larger carts. We've been talking about that um getting that done here this year. Just general maintenance, sidewalk replacement in in 25 this year as well. That was budgeted for. Um, and
then some just some racking for for the beer cave to to free up space for shelving that access via the glass doors which are in the beer cave as well. um Rolling Ridge Marketplace. We haven't talked about doing any maintenance, but if
anyone's been on Ash Street lately, it's something needs to be done with that um here in the the near future, whether it's oil rejuvenation or milan overlay or or something like that. But um besides crack fill maybe 10 years
ago, that's all the maintenance that's been done on at least Ashtree. So, you'd have that and then uh the shared parking lot with uh us, Subway, and and Snap as well. As to the sidewalk replacement, is that is it broken up or is it settling? It's settling. Okay. Yeah. And we had it
mudjacking wouldn't be We already had that done. Okay. So, um Yeah. So, we're looking at basically what 10 feet east of the front door, probably 15. Yeah. Starting there. And then you know the front doors like
this and so then you also have to take that curb out as well because that is settled. So but the nice thing is this has all been budgeted for 25, right? Yep. Yep. Absolutely. This is all 25 money that you know the the the sidewalk
the carts you know and I know Lynette's done a good job of looking I mean it's not there's no impulsive buying going on at the liquor store. Lynette's done a great job on that. So um the question then is next year because we're talking 26
budget do we broach the conversation of Asht Street you know because then we're bringing in the association and then you know another question to the association piece because the bank and the car wash are
not part of the association right correct uh in uh yeah the only ones that are RS3. Okay. Liquor store, Stamp, and Subway, but they do contribute to plowing costs, I believe. Is that correct? Uh, I believe I guess I'm not I don't
see what what they they um I'd have to to look at that because I think we just pay for the parking lot as far as the association. Okay. So Ash Street then if there was work to be done on
that common grounds does that but yeah they would have to um we'd have to have a a larger discussion with everyone that has access uh from that and you know the fairway would be whatever you have a buddy in the asht street is kind of your your percentage of of the
payment or join the association and figure it out from there. Is that another option? Well, I think regardless, I mean, they have access to um, you know, an easement over a street, right? You know, it's almost like an assessment in a way. Correct. Yeah.
Except uh it's here's the invoice. Yeah. Right. Right. Yeah. Because it's a private road. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. Um, at least currently it's a private road based on discussions earlier in the
year, right? Yeah. I guess all I can say is as of right now it's it's a private road. Yeah. Um, yeah. And I guess as far as the the long term, we'll leave it to Lynette to tell us at what how how far out when we're
talking long term, just so we know what we're looking at as far as 26. I don't assume there's any big projects unless we get into Ash Street for 26. Yeah, I got nothing. Okay.
Knock on wood, right? Well, yeah. Unless something happens to equipment. That's I But I also budget for that for a safeguard. So, yeah. Yeah. Nothing no construction going on. Nothing. We already took care of the HVAC, right?
So, we're good there. Um, the next thing that will fall probably be the cooler system, but you know. Okay, let's let's stop naming things. So, we're stop talking about it because then we'll be fine. Yep. Cool. Uh, streets
shortterm would be the street maintenance, Apache Mill, and overlay. Just the the annual maintenance that that is done. uh long-term would be the street reconstruction projects that that are remaining to be completed and then uh retention pond cleaning. Most of
these ponds are 20 years old and you know none of them have have been cleaned or or if they have it's just been right where the the inlet is and and the silt has kind of just went out from the the
pipe equipment um just constantly uh ongoing right vehicles equipment. Since we received a our latest plow truck last fall and in talking with staff um looking at replacing uh another plow truck in in two to three years. So did
you order it already? That way we have it. [Laughter] Right. Yeah. Yeah. And then the council is going to have to, you know, discuss how you guys want to finance that. If it's save up 100 grand for the next three
years annually or um, you know, issue equipment certificates like we did for the for the last one and just, you know, pay over a 10-year period. Uh, as far as the facility there, the staff's going to replace the
the sidewalk at the public workshop. I'm assuming, you know, close to or at the same time that they do the liquor store sidewalk. And then, uh, earlier this year, Joe provided cost estimates for a a salt shed as part of the, um, work
sessions that we held. Um, I think one of the things just to kind of get it out on the table is we should really be thinking about getting moving towards this pavement improvement plan that we've talked about for several
meetings, right? Because there's a lot of work to get us to the point where we can be on that. Yeah. You know, that's kind of the whole package thing like Joel talked about. We really need to decide if we want to assess for milling overlays. Um, Right now we're kind of doing
reactionary milling overlays where it's this this stretch of streets where they're kind of all over the map have didn't survive winter or what what have you. Um we're we're kind of getting into the like I at the work session said um
the neighborhood wide where you know we're not going to pick the mill up for 70 feet and put it back down. we're just going to continue to march forward. So, um, as far as long-term goals, I mean, it's kind of both. It's kind of long
long term and short term. Um, but that that's still number one. Yeah. Because we have to we have to start at some point at some place. Yes. To get us to the point where we can be on the plan, right? Yep. I mean, that's kind of what I the the that's kind of the the theme I've been hearing throughout all of that
is we at some point are gonna have to rip a band-aid off and and and take a bite and do it, right? Yeah. And if I can just add, um, so you have we have pavement condition index ratings that were developed in 2019 and
then just updated or by calculation to 2022. Um, so kind of just based on their numbers and like we've mentioned before, a big part of the city was built in the early 2000s. So there's about 40% or
nine miles that are due for something. You know, if it's a mill overlay, which is kind of what we've been doing peace meal, those are some big numbers. So um, the payment management report not only just evaluates the condition, but looks at kind of budget
scenarios, you know, Do you do a mill overlay over five years or 10 years and what does that do to your system? And then you know from there I think you look at assessments because you could probably get um 50% of the costs covered
in assessments for a mill overlay. It's a pretty you know if you're figuring two to $3,000 a lot and get a typical 80 foot lot. Um, so I I think it is a significant amount, you know, to cover
with assessments, but like Joel mentioned, you got to look at your assessment policy. So I could see that as being like a next step after you u complete the payment management plan. And then the other funding option is franchise fees that I'd encourage the
city to look into. A lot of cities do that with Excel or or your gas or electric company, but those are models that been tried and tested and and is another funding source as well.
Would you during doing millet and overlay would you address any uh issues with other other deficiencies, settlements, stuff like that, curves that are bad, that sort of a thing. Yeah, we currently
do Thank you. [Applause] Uh I think the capital improvement plans. Yeah. Right. Uh parks, uh just mowers, you know,
always looking for for grant funding, playground, field maintenance, paving of the parking lots, uh their trail maintenance. Um, you can I've attached our trail condition map from from 21 and then just updated that on what has been
completed since since that was done. Um, but I believe besides the Idaho Street and and the portion of Bluff Heights Drive, obviously Willow Creek, um, all other trails would be either rated good or or fair. So, I think that's a a positive.
the DRS uh ball field uh public works did a a great job on the the site improvements there uh 23 and 24. Uh in recent discussions um it's going to be recommended that uh a tile line or some type of drainage gets installed in that
left field fel line. It's uh extremely wet is from what I'm being told. So, I'm not sure if it's a spring or or or whatever, but it's uh sounds to be pretty bad. So, we're going to have to have to address that. And then uh the lights estimated
of three estimate of 350,000. Um we've been limping them along. Um fortunately, the repairs that I've had to make the last couple years have been fairly simple and, you know, able to be done inhouse. But the day is
coming when the they're going to flip the switch and they're not going to work. Um I know this came up. Was it last year we talked about the lights? The last few last couple. Yeah. Because I know one of the things
was it's not real common for the city to pay for the lights in these types of ball fields. I think was one of the things that came up. Um have I mean and I'm sure the aces are
asking about the lights, right? Because that's where this has got to be coming from, but what what are they saying when we say, "Well, what do you want to contribute to this?" Do we have any feedback on that? I mean, are they are they expecting the
city to We haven't had any discussions with them because it hasn't been, you know, hey, we're going to do it in in this year. Yeah. You know, and then it comes down to Yeah. you do you fund raise? do you save up um you know it's tied to a street project or or something
like that. It's kind of difficult, you know, from a standpoint, it is a city park, but it's very limited use, you know, it's very, you know, niche. So, it's it's hard to justify, you know, the city expenditure on there. But I mean, how much did we dump into not dump? How
much did we put into it back for the uh mall? 50 50,000 23 and then last year that slab was 10 12 something like that. just for a comparison. It wasn't like
we're not willing to contribute right to it. It's just it's a big nutr. Um I think where those conversations were coming from were just other tombball teams and what they've done in the area to pay for their lights, right? Yeah. I
mean, I I could see if we were doing like tournaments on a regular basis where we're generating revenue from teams coming in, you know, using the fuel lot, then maybe okay. Yeah, sure. We'd be more inclined to jump on let's
pay more, but or the scoreboard that we put in as a prime example of, you know, that's a it's going to get used on a greater scale. Yeah. Well, and we had to do that, right, to meet to meet the uh title N requirements to keep the team
here, you know, and and honestly, at the end of the day, our our responsibility as far as to the citizens is, you know, helping the school supersedes the the private baseball.
Yeah. Yeah. Not that not that I don't want to support the ACE. I'm not trying to make I agree. I agree. It just Yeah. I think before I think before we meet with the aces, um I know we're looking for a lot of direction from the council, but yeah, it would be nice to go to a meeting and say, here's the cost. Here's
what we're willing to do, right? How are we going to make up the difference? You know, you sit down with them. Well, what's the city willing to pay? I don't know. I guess the question comes down to, you know, the least amount possible. $10. We'll close the street while the
boom truck comes in. I don't know. Um well even that it just even big boy just does so much damage to the field destroys the field and that like we've been limping along and we've had to do that one time um to get up in the air. So knock on wood our fixes have been
from a step ladder not the ladder truck. One thing I just I don't know if you guys are aware of this but as far as the maintenance goes on that field the lawn sale aces do everything on the ball field. They all the supplies they need, all the chemicals they need, they mold
the grass, all the tarps you see, that that's all them. Y um they do an excellent job. They have, you know, they've been very gracious of the maintenance that we've done at that field the last couple years. They donated 5,000 towards the scoreboard at
the JC Park. Yep. Um so I think our relationship is strong with them. Um but we have Babe Ruth, Town and Country, TCU, the Aces, you know, It's It's more than just the aces that's down there, I guess, is the point I'm trying to make. Oh, yeah. No, no, no. And I don't want
to downplay the the relationship we have with with the team. Absolutely. I mean, they're a cornerstone of the community. You know, they've been here a long time. Um, but 350,000, you know, I mean, that's more than our street budget for
last year. It's big. Yep. So, I think those lights are older than me. just That's That's good craftsmanship right there. Yes. My dad How old you are? 13. Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. That's not that bad. Yeah, they're older
than you, but they're not older than me. And Mike Dowski put a big chunk of money towards those lights. They had a big fundraiser on Main Street and inaugural game. I guess they had paratroopers and everything.
There's an article online about it. That's cool. Cool. So, we know they can raise money is what you're saying. Those guys could you could Joe's still in town. We could ask them. I think it would be great to be able to help out, but then also team up with
them on the fundraising events, promoting and things like that. They had raffle drawings and all kinds of stuff. There's a big article on it I found online when I was doing some local history. I think probably the best thing to do would be maybe not even talk cost yet, but like,
hey guys, when do you want to see this done? And I'm sure the answer's going to be sooner rather than later, but you know, let's all talk realistically. We we have to talk realistically about money. You guys have to talk realistically about timeline. How long do you think, you know, is this a 26
thing for you or or not? Well, the other factor is um when we first discussed this uh two, three years ago, whatever. She thought the number was 300,000, right? That was 350,000.
So, no night games. But yeah, they'll have to market they'll have to adjust their schedule to six o'clock or whatever until we have done by 9. I guess the timeline from them, what they were thinking maybe would help us
to determine where to go. what you guys think timeline and actual cost. It's hard to hard to have a negotiation when you when nobody knows where anybody Yeah.
Yep. Okay. TBD. That's a good That's a good Yeah. Unfortunately, they're just going to work until they don't. It's going to be that Friday night that they all be out there with our cell phone lights.
Uh I guess you know a few other things that have been uh talked about recently at park uh at the park board. Um a sports dome, Mr. Park, um there was a stage talked about and then uh shade structures as well. So I'm anticipating that the park board will be talking
about that uh over the next or those over the next couple months. I'm looking into grants and things like that before I bring more to the table because I want to have how are we going to pay for this and I want parks to
actually be able to help generate some money too. Um so I'm working on things but it just takes time for people to answer. Oh yeah. Yes. Grants grants are not a quick process. Mm- even a simple email reply is not a an
easy process, right? Co ruined everybody's communication and timeline. Uh the next would be police. Um staffing uh obviously always a concern. Uh vehicle replacement. We're on a schedule
to replace squad cars every three years. um they're running 60,000 for a complete replacement. Um so we budget 20 grand a year to to replace them and we're on a in a position now where they're they're
on the schedule and and uh it's just incorporated into the budget. Uh and then like most departments technology and equipment they've got lots of uh computer programs and softwares that they that they access and utilize on a daily basis. So, uh, important to keep
that up to date and then obviously having the technology to to access or excuse me, having the equipment to access, um, those databases. Um, Joel, and I don't know if this is getting too into the minutiae or the specifics on
it, but our agreements or our contract with the the county attorney. Um, is that from the police budget or is that from the administrative budget? Uh uh police police. Yep. That is just
um a criminal. Okay. And then um each department has a a line item for uh uh legal expenses if they have to contact the city attorney or or whatever. Um and then there always inevitably is some some civil matters that the police deal
with that, you know, so it's you know the county attorney at I because we have a $1,700 a month or something like that. Yeah. We have a flat rate with them and that includes the dangerous dog piece that we had. Yep. Couple that was for a two-year. I believe we have a two-year agreement.
Yes. Which will be one more year 26. So 20 next year we'll address it. Yes. Okay. Yep. Uh as far as planning and zoning, uh GIS and uh data link building official that'll be coming to the council uh next
Thursday. um that RFP closed. Their proposals were due on the 16th, I believe. I received four of them. So, um have to finish up uh reviewing those and get my staff report out the door tomorrow.
And so, we'll be continuing that, starting that process, continuing it uh at our next council meeting to decide uh if you want to do interviews or select a firm and go from there. So,
And then code enforcement. Um there's always a a cost to that whether it's uh the police or or city hall. Um I know discussions at the staff level um before the water van transmission
went out um was that we would city hall would sell the uh Taurus that we have that we got from I think we end up getting it from you guys. Y got it from the PD. Um and then getting um the Explorer from
public works because they have a extra vehicle. Well, they will we will once the van is determined how we're going to proceed with that. Either fix the transmission or price out a new a new van because it's what 07 going to be pushing 20 years. So,
well, you can make a old car run for a long time. nickel and da keep her under budget Joe almost Flintstones and the issue is yeah keep it going but you know what what's the
next right how much link and you know you hate to put a you know $5,000 $4,000 repair into something and the engine blows up or the rear or the transmission goes out that's what happened you replace the
trans and then the engine blows up completely upside down. Yeah. I mean, if we sold the Taurus, that would cover the transmission, right? I mean, that's what we're looking at. I mean, the the options that are to be weighed is the price of the transmission is at or above what the vehicle is
worth. Exactly. So, yeah. So, there would be a cost to um city hall or admin or P&Z or cost share for that. And then uh fire department uh currently looking to hire I believe it's six uh
firefighters to get our roster up to the 30. Uh the vehicle equipment and replacement did include the the CIP. It does need to be updated. We did this with the um for the fireboard meeting in February. Um I know some of the things
on the capital outlay or capital improvement plan, excuse me, have been purchased recently in the last couple months. So um those changes or purchases are not reflected on there um but will be uh probably the biggest thing for 26
is that this uh with our new agreements that we have and cost share um participation funding mechanism. Uh for 26 uh the city's portion of the approved fire budget increased by
$76,000. Uh that puts us at paying about 47% of the fire department's uh budget uh administration. We get computers and pens, right? copier new city hall say can't can't forget
about that but you know dayto-day it's technology right computers our copy machine that that we have um and our ongoing uh technology services accounting system uh and then utility billing will be for water sewer as well obviously uh our
website it seems like the cost of uh it uh just there's continues uh continues to increase just in general. Um you know, firewall, servers, all that all that stuff. And
then um some one of the one of the main improvements that needs to be done or we sell it as is the north wall there in the corner by the stairs is starting to cave in. The sheetrock's probably
cracked. I don't know/ inch probably. So once we once we get out of here, we'll have to have to address that. So So it's a foundational problem. Yeah. Taking some band-aid measures over the years try to
helping our resale value by having all this on on record, right? I know. You're going to walk down the stairs and see it. So, it's not like it's behind uh underneath the stairs or something.
It's it's right there at eye level. Is it an in-house thing or No, no. No. Yeah. You're looking at either um some type of shoring um or, you know, another rock wall adjacent to it or
something. Yeah. I mean, they have basement rejuvenation systems. probably what that's, you know, American Waterworks. I mean, we just did one um for one of our housing rehab projects for the grant. Yeah. I think that was much more extensive than than what we're
looking at, but Well, there's plenty of them on TV all day long. Yeah. Yeah. Uh and then the EDA, their priority over the last several years has been marketing. And then
um the last couple years they've received uh $50,000 from the the property tax levy um as a way to increase funding for for the EDA. Otherwise, the only uh revenue that that the EDA has is just repayment of the
revolving loan fund. Um any loans that are that are out there. So that goes back right into the revolving loan fund. Yep. We changed that. Correct. Last year established that that fund. So, um, anything that goes out comes back in and and we're able to have a an accurate
accounting of how much is available. [Laughter] Yeah. And I know the EDA has to discuss the budget. That's one of the things that we haven't done yet. Yeah.
So really that's, you know, of a real quick overview of of kind of where we're at for starting off the 26 preliminary budget and and property tax levy. So without getting too far out
there based on where we're sitting right now or anything like that uh I I don't but I mean just shooting from the hip here, you you know, if you know, everything goes up, right? Yeah. So, you know, you'll have just the, you know, the annual, you know, inflationary
increases. Um, you know, wages, which we don't know. That's the hard part is because we we we don't know where we're going to go with wages till we get the wage. Well, but well, but just even in general, there's no additional money. Yeah. How they you know, do they stay the same
or if if you know get an increase? I mean then what gets cut then? What other I just Yeah, I just was trying to figure where we you know where we are at our current level. You know, if we were just going to make those adjustments where we
would sit, if I remember correctly, I think our our surplus for this year was less than 40,000. Yeah, I think that sounds about right because we we dropped the tax rate last year, right? We didn't we go down
like a half a percent. Does that sound right? But yeah, it still there still was a revenue increase, right? Because of the values increases. But but we did we pivoted I remember last year and dropped the tax rate. Yeah, it was
um so what in in 24 it was 52.527. This year it's 52 6 89 and that's that's after um they they made some adjustments after we approved
our levy but I believe that we went in um with the same tax rate based off of the information that was ava valuation information that was available at that time. Yes. I guess the biggest question is you know I mean in a perfect world right
everybody you know flat or reduction but may not be realistic unfortunately I'll be honest I agree I don't see how that happens without cutting services or using reserves or transferring from
enterprise funds. And I mean that is that is something you know to consider the reserve thing. Um it's definitely an option, you know, because with Quick Trip coming in next year, we probably wouldn't 28. Yeah. We wouldn't full
value. Yeah. So we'd start to see some tax come in from that in 27, but like you said, full value 28. And even that in terms of what the value of that would be the value of that
property approximately 2 million 2 million. Just looking at some comparative ones just get an idea of what what that would what that would bring 40
if that but because I think other properties around that mark between 30 and 40 right sound about right a year yes yeah I would say that that's accurate
didn't really hurt. So, I guess that's all that I have unless you guys have any questions. Um, is there certain information that you want provided for the the next meeting? I think we're up to what, June 17th or
around that date. Yeah. Yeah. probably you guys. I not that I can think of right now, but if I do, I'll send a message. Um Joel, I think what you did last year where there were the different options
like here's so we've got the here it is flat then maybe some you know I mean I in my mind I don't have a number I guess leave it to your discretion I think is what you you think might be good appropriate options like here's what it would be
with x amount increase or you know just a couple options so we can look at it these because these spreadsheets are nice the breakdown to give us the realistic of what we're looking at, what the impact is on those properties that we track. Um, you know, I like I said, I don't
have a number in mind. I I know you're you've done in the past, you got good judgment on what numbers to propose would be. I think that would probably be helpful to see how much we're going to get if we go to this number, how much we're going to get if we go to this number. What are, you know, surpluses or
or not? I I don't even want to call it surplus or additional revenue. Correct. For you know the unknowns like the wages we don't know. Um I mean I guess we do know now in the streets thing
since we're 18 people short. Um, yeah, I think having the assessment policy available too, so we can take a look at that and if we have to review it for
changes, I don't like assessments either, but it's part of life, adulting, the lesser of two, you know, pretty soon you're going to have to have a four-wheel drive to drive on the streets if we don't do anything. Exactly. I mean, do we do a mill overlay and
assess a few thousand or let the street go away and assess 15,000? Exactly. That's exactly. And I want to be more proactive going forward so that we're not just trying to play catchup, you know. And the beauty of it is we're good on our water
and that's and that's really Yeah. And that's where when you talk about your reconstruction, that's when you're going to talk reconstruct is when you're getting to the water man, not the street. Yeah. I did. Yeah. So that the business value
I just 2.4 million is only 27. Yeah. So not not nothing to laugh at, right? It's it's not a sizable less than 1% of the levy. I mean, I guess at the end of the day,
every every little bit helps, but we need to fill up that park, the industrial park. Absolutely. Working on it. Yep. We sure do. Yeah. I think as far as you know just the just the options to see you know I
think that was very helpful for me last last year was to have those options even you know hey here here it is with an increase even if we don't want to do an increase at least we know you know we know what the numbers are. Yeah. Yep. That's all I have. Anybody else have
anything questions? Anything they want to talk about? Um, before motion to adjurnn, I think I I'd be remiss if I didn't say congratulations to Mayor Berg on the birth of his son today. That's why he couldn't be here. So, congratulations
Tom and Katie. Yes. 4,983. [Laughter] Just snuck it in there. Unfortunately, it's for 24. Dang it. We can try. 11 more. 11 more. Tom. Um, and then,
um, since we don't have another meeting until after Memorial Day, uh, hope everybody gets a chance to get out and attend one of the one of the services in town. Um, I know the Legion posted what they've got going on. You know, they're going to be at the cemeteries, they're
going to be at the Veterans Park. So, thank you to our our Legionnaires for doing those every year. And hope everybody has a good long weekend. Yeah. Oh, and really quick, if you need a poppy, let me know because I have some to distribute. I have plenty. I can meet
you anywhere. Absolutely. So, with that, nobody else has anything more. We can entertain a motion. Second. Motion by Palava, second by OPKA. All in favor to adjurnn? I
opposed. All right, we're journed. Thanks everybody.