Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
At their September 12 council meeting, the Caledonia City Council unanimously approved the request to inflate and display three hot air balloons at the Veterans Park on October 22, from 5-8 p.m.
In the past, hot-air balloons have flown from the high school but this fall balloons will not fly in the skies over Caledonia. City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson did not know why they would not be flying.
Council members in attendance were Mayor DeWayne (Tank) Schroeder, Robert “Bob” Klug, Amanda Ninneman, David Fitzpatrick, and Brad Rykhus.
The Council approved the minutes from the August 22, 2022, regular city council meeting.
The Council approved the consent agenda in its entirety, including the payments and disbursements, pay request #11 for work performed on Well No. 8 for a total of $104,718.50, individual assessment petition at 224 South St. E., utility bill certification at 505 Badger St., declaration of surplus property, 720 Marshall St. N. zoning application, and pay request #2 for work performed on the Auditorium HVAC Project for $11,413.30.
Caledonia Finance Officer Stephanie Mann presented the updated 2023 proposed budget and proposed levy. She reminded the Council that the 2022 levy was 6.5%. The updated 2023 budget was reviewed and a spreadsheet comparing the impact of 6.5%, 7.0%, 7.5%, and 8.0% levy increase on the budget. After receiving additional numbers to fine-tune next year’s budget, the Council will decide on the preliminary 2023 tax levy at the next council meeting as it must be submitted to the County by the end of the month. It was emphasized several times during the meeting that the Council can elect to decrease the levy before the end of the year but cannot increase after it is presented to the County.
Mann emphasized that the budget is “pretty bare bone” and that the Council will receive the line items to review at the next meeting. No action was taken on the levy.
Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson reported that he would be attending the Houston County Board of Commissioners TKDA bus tour on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, as part of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update process.
Dickson also shared that he met with a representative from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities to discuss legislative priorities, that the city is still pursuing funding opportunities for a few projects, and thanks to insurance, the city is covered for the repairs to the pump and motor at Well #6.
In other business, the board:
• Tabled the request to approve a professional services agreement for Information Technology services until the next meeting, giving Dickson time to finalize the numbers with a vendor;
• Tabled the Individual Assessment Policy until the September 26, 2022, regular council meeting;
• Reviewed the overtime reports for pay periods August 8-21 and August 22 – September 4; no action was required.
The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled Caledonia City Council meeting is Monday, September 26, 2022, at 6 p.m. at the Caledonia City Hall, 231 E. Main Street, Caledonia. The meeting is open to the public.
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