On December 13 the Caledonia City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting. At 6 p.m. Mayor Schroeder called the meeting to order and led the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members attending included Mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder, Amanda Ninneman, Brad Rykhus, and Robert “Bob” Klug. Absent, Councilman David Fitzpatrick. Also in attendance were City Clerk/Administrator Adam Swann, and Financial Officer Stephanie Mann.
Being the last city council meeting of the year, there were several items on the agenda to tie up before the start of the new year. It was noted that the council chamber would look quite different at their next meeting; it will have new carpet, repainted walls, and the council desk is undergoing an update.
Council members unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the November 22 meeting minutes. There were no public comments.
The city auditorium, 219 East Main Street, Caledonia, is the designated 2022 polling place for precincts 1 and 2.
The council approved resolution 2021-19: a resolution authorizing the City of Caledonia to accept supplemental proceeds from the coronavirus local fiscal recovery fund established under the American rescue plan act.
The council approved change order number 1 for $7,460.25 to Wapasha Construction for a 230kW generator instead of a 200kW generator plus $66,865.75 payment for work performed on Well House No. 8.
The council approved an application from the Caledonia Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association to conduct gambling at Frankie’s 2nd Chance, 139 S. Marshall St.
Licenses to purchase or sell cigarettes or tobacco products in 2022 were approved for Quillin’s IGA, Kraus Oil, Kwik Trip, and Dollar General.
Liquor licenses were approved for Elsie’s Bar and Grill, Frankie’s 2nd Chance, Good Times Restaurant & Bar, MAAD Alley, The Wired Rooster Coffee Shoppe, and American Legion 191.
The council agreed to the 2022 employment agreement with Police Chief Kurt Zehnder and approved the hiring of Brittany Runningen as EMT for the Caledonia Ambulance Department.
Newly appointed Caledonia Economic Development Authority Board commissioners Stephanie Mell and Harley Meiners will serve from January 3, 2022, to December 31, 2027.
The Annual Truth-in-Taxation public hearing was held at 6:10 p.m. During the hearing, Swann presented a picture of the 2022 General Fund Budget and shared graphs comparing the tax levy of other Houston County cities to Houston County. Of the five towns, Caledonia is second from the bottom in terms of the tax levy, illustrating that the County rate is conservative.
Mann reviewed the 2022 budget, noting that few changes have been made since the last review. The bottom line is $3,440. Next, the mayor stressed to Mann, “You have pinched the budget as tight as you can, or you will not get anything done.” Next, Swann presented the Capital Improvement Plan for 2022-2026, which includes the items delivered in the budget. Hearing that Swann did not receive any telephone calls or emails, the council approved the 6.5% tax levy, followed by approving the 2022 General Fund Budget.
The second public hearing of the evening was to hear from the public regarding the assessment of properties for unpaid special charges. Resolution 2021-21 was approved. The following properties will be assessed: Kristen Davenport, 315 W. Grove St., $225, for lawn mowing; Gordon Tippman, 916 E. Main St., $135, for lawn mowing; Bonnie Konkel, 420 W. Caledonia St., $100, for towing fee, and $6,915 for public nuisance abatement; and Benjamin Sprain, 620 S. Marshall St., $3,975, for public nuisance abatement.
The city recommends that funding for the proposed joint Fire and Ambulance Station be included in the governor’s 2022 Capital Budget.
The City of Caledonia has a comprehensive fee schedule for the first time. The 2022 schedule will be available to the public on the city’s website, https://www.caledoniamn.gov.
The mayor called to adjourn the meeting at 7:14 p.m.
The next council meeting is Monday, January 10, at 6 p.m. at Caledonia City Hall, 231 E. Main Street. The public is invited to attend.
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