In 2017 the Crown Hill Cemetery Association first approached the City of Preston about the possibility of assuming ownership and operation of the cemetery. On December 21 the city council formally accepted ownership of the cemetery grounds and buildings, effective December 31. The city commits to the future maintenance of the cemetery.
The Cemetery Association voted unanimously in October to approve the transfer of ownership due to their concern about the long term financial viability of the cemetery under the current ownership. All assets and monies of the Association will be turned over to the City of Preston for the cemetery’s continued operation.
Purchase of former Preston Dairy & Farm site, 304 Fillmore St. E
City Administrator Joe Hoffman explained two “no association” letters have been prepared by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the first related to soil contamination and the second related to ground water contamination. The 1.92 acre former Preston Dairy & Farm site has been cleaned up. No further corrective action or site investigation is required.
The purchase agreement entered into on April 2, 2018, for the city to buy the former Dairy & Farm site had been amended to include the cost of the removal of the fertilizer building and the concrete underneath. The work provided by Scheevel and Sons, Inc. cost $9,510. This amount was added to the original purchase price of $115,000. With the amended purchase agreement the cost of the property will be $124,510. The amount of $24,510 is to be paid at closing. The city will assume the $100,000 revolving loan debt that Dairy & Farm owes to Preston Public Utilities. The revolving loan will be paid by the city in 10 equal installments over a period of 10 years, no interest.
A motion was approved directing City Attorney Dwight Luhmann to continue with the purchase process.
Other business in brief
• The 2020 final tax levy collectable in 2021 was adopted unanimously in the amount of $1,034,423. It represents a 4.24% increase.
The 2021 budget was approved, which was unchanged from the preliminary budget approved in September. Hoffman noted there is enough money in the 2021 budget to pay the first bond payment (probably due February 2022) for the 2021 Street Project.
• The 2021-2023 Labor Contract was approved with agreed upon changes. The council extended the terms of the three year contract to non-union employees.
• Due to business disruptions because of COVID the council forgave the first quarter fees for on-sale liquor licenses. The city collects a total of about $3,500 each year from on-sale liquor licenses.
• Rebecca Agnitsch and Shoshana Hahn were hired as EMTs as recommended by ambulance director Ryan Throckmorton. The council also approved the continued use of EMT pool (four EMTs) to assist with staffing shortages. Throckmorton has recommended the EMT pool as a permanent solution to staffing shortages. The $4 per hour stipend increase for hours over the 60-hour requirement was extended through January 31, 2021, to be paid for with grant funding from Minnesota Department of Health.
• Due to COVID, the repayment of EDA Emergency Loans, which were to be used to assist in paying utility bills and property taxes, will be deferred from January 1 to June 1, 2021.
• The next city council meeting which is the annual meeting will be held on January 4. The second meeting in January will be held on Tuesday, January 19.
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