CITY OF ST CROIX FALLS

AUGUST 14, 2006, 6 P.M.

 

Jim Engel of the Wisconsin Dept of Commerce gave a presentation on the Main Street Program.  In attendance were Mayor Brad Foss, Aldermen Arnie Carlson and Jon Cermin, Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Charlie Jones, Wendy Sander, and Chris Strom of Cedar Corp, the press, and numerous members of the community.

 

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COMMON COUNCIL MEETING

                                             AUGUST 14, 2006, 7:00 P.M.

CITY HALL, 710 HWY 35 SOUTH

                            

CALL TO ORDER                                       

Mayor Brad Foss called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, August 14, 2006 at 7:11 p.m.  Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Jon Cermin, Lori Erickson and Arnie Carlson were present.  Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Police Chief Paul Lindholm, Fire Chief Dale Anderson, Charlie Jones, Wendy Sander, and Chris Strom of Cedar Corp, the public and the press.   All Present joined in the salute to the flag. 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Darrell Anderson moved to approve the Minutes of the July 31, 2006 Regular Council Meeting, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed. 

 

REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Mayor Foss: met last Wednesday with the DOT, Town of St Croix Falls, Property Owners along Hwy 8 and interested members of the public, about 68 people, to discuss growth, water, WWTP, annexation, and highway traffic.  The next step is to establish a Joint City and Town Planning Committee.

Police Chief Paul Lindholm presented the July 2006 Police Report.

Fire Chief Dale Anderson presented the July 2006 Fire Dept Report.

 

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General $264,863.86, Library $8,315.80, Water $5,236.72, Sewer $6,417.77, Park & Rec $3105.00

Jon Cermin moved to approve claims, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Mayoral Appointments                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Lori Erickson moved to confirm the appointments of Jon Cermin as Council President, of Lori Erickson to the Library and Cemetery Boards, of Scott Brust as the Street Dept Representative to the Traffic and Roads Committee, of Mayor Foss to the Technology Group and Arts Advisory Board, of Monte Fay as the Weed Commissioner, of Marybeth Peterson, Bob Kazmierski, and Tom Engel to the Downtown Development Group, and of Warren White, Michael Seversen, and Sky Starkey to the Multi-Jurisdictional Planning Committee, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

 

Discuss Property Tax and Valuations and its Impact

Mark Pettis, Sheila Harsdorf, and Ann Hraychuck were invited but were unable to attend.

Residents questioned why property taxes are so high; can city get a ˝ percent sales tax?

Ed Emerson: we selected six properties in the City and looked at the differences in valuations and taxes over the past 10 years, lower priced homes saw the largest increases.  By law the City is required to be within 10% of what the State determines is equalized value.  In 1996 our Equalized Value was $70 million, in 2006 it is $177 Million, forcing an increase in assessed values.  The City’s mill rate was $8.20 in 2000, down to $5.72 in 2006.  The City is not authorized to impose a sales tax of its own.

 

Consider Cedar Corp Recommendations on City Water System Demand Capacity Study

As City grows more water will be needed, immediate options include preventative maintenance, and evaluating older unused wells for possible re-use.  Mayor Foss: We can analyze existing system, determine what is needed to meet demands of growth and decide what is needed from the developing properties’ owners.  They will need to work cooperatively in developing and sharing infrastructure improvements to provide what will be needed, not existing residents. 

 

Consider Approval of Impact Fee Study and Set Date for Public Hearing

Wendy Sander: need to determine what projects will be done in seven years, what is the cost of those projects and what share is to be applied as an Impact Fee.  Funds that are collected need to be utilized for that project within 7 years or they will have to be refunded to the property owner. 

Jon Cermin: with downturn in construction, do we want to impose a fee that will slow or even stop construction?  Fees would also make new homes less affordable.

Jon Cermin moved to approve Impact Fee Study and to set a Public Hearing for 6 pm on September 25th, 2006, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

 

Darrell Anderson moved to take a break, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Darrell Anderson moved to reconvene, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

 

Consider Authorizing Funds for University of River Falls Community Survey

Kelly Kane: there is a very large movement towards sustainable design and meeting the needs of the present without impacting the resources of the future.  With high cost of fuel and belief that it will go higher, there is less demand for new housing outside drivable distances from employment and providers of goods and services.  David Trechter, UW River Falls: could send out 900 surveys, after two weeks send postcards reminders, can expect about 300 surveys to be returned.  Processing and analyzing of 300 returns would cost about $3,000. 

Jon Cermin questioned whether the survey would make the City eligible for Grants and funding.  Lori Erickson questioned why the survey couldn’t be done in house.  Darrell Anderson: we need to be fiscally responsible, why not send the survey out with the water bills?

Arnie Carlson moved to authorize UW River Falls to conduct a survey for a cost not to exceed $8,000, seconded by Jon Cermin, with cap of $5,000, roll call vote, 3 ayes, Darrell Anderson voted nay, motion passed.

 

Consider City Budget Report

Budget comparison will be provided for the Council monthly in the future.  2007 Budget requests are being collected and will be incorporated into a draft Budget by the end of Sept.  Current cash and investments of City total $4,403,265.11, this includes General Fund, Water Utility, Sewer Utility, Revolving Loan Fund, TIF District, Park & Rec Funds, and Library Funds.  Auditor recommended investing money for better interest while still maintaining ready access to funds. 

Anticipated costs for Louisiana St project are increasing due to addition of oversized storm sewer and extending of line to Good Sam, an alternative would be to construct a holding pond that could be shared by the Good Sam and School, could credit School in exchange for storm water retention pond.  Do we want to include angle parking along School athletic field?   The Project is estimated at $1.8 million, $970,000 has been secured from other sources towards the project and a portion of cost would be bore by the Water and Sewer Utilities, pipes could be televised to see if they need replacing.  

 

Consider Adopting the 2030 Challenge for new Building Construction

Darrell Anderson moved to table 2030 Challenge, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

John Edling questioned how the City was going to pay off the Lawsuit, is the City purchasing the Holiday Foods building and old Fire Hall?

The Funds for the Lawsuit have already been secured and set aside.  Library is looking at old Holiday Building.  City is looking at re-using the old Fire Hall for waste water.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Lori Erickson moved to adjourn, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.  10:55 pm.

 

Brad Foss, Mayor                                                                                    Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk