Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
On September 27, the Caledonia City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting from 6 p.m. to 7:32 p.m. in the Caledonia City Hall Council Chambers. Council members present, Mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder, Amanda Ninneman, David Fitzpatrick, Brad Rykhus, and Robert “Bob” Klug. Mayor Schroeder, led the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners unanimously approved the meeting agenda, minutes from the previous council meeting, and the consent agenda. There were no public comments.
Also in attendance were Adam Swann, city clerk/administrator, Stephanie Mann, financial officer, and Casey Klug, Public Works/Zoning director.
The monthly financial statements, Cash and Investment, Long-term debt, and 2021 general fund budget versus actual, special revenue funds, and enterprise funds are “pretty straight forward,” explained Finance Director Mann.
The budget discussion from last month continues as the city has until December 13 to finalize the 2022 general fund budget. Mayor Schroeder stated, “The goal is to drop it and we are going to try to make that happen.” Mann will continue to work with the departments to trim the budget. Proposed expenditures for 2022 total $2,136,460 and 2022 revenues total $2,219,345. She also mentioned that the city has until December 13 to finalize the budget.
There are not a lot of changes to the tax levy worksheet since the council last saw it. The revised worksheet shows the impact a 6.5% levy would have on the city’s finances with Mann explaining that the increase will gain the city $4,982. It was noted that there is a separate levy for library, EDA, and fire. The council approved the proposed 6.5% levy. The levy will be finalized at the council’s December meeting.
Discussion centered on the following proposed capital improvement projects, a new ambulance station or joint facility with the fire department, funding to construct new tennis court and pickleball court at Veterans Park, a material building for the street division, S. Kingston St. Improvement project, window replacement at the city auditorium, and refinish the auditorium gym floor listed in the 2022 thru 2026 plan. Casey Klug said the materials build would be worth a hoop shed to store product from the weather sharing, “We pay premium when we need materials.”
Public Works installed a picnic table and two benches at the pocket park and painted the back side of the mural over the past week. Swann announced that the ribbon cutting for the pocket park is Saturday, October 2 at 2 p.m. He expressed his thanks to public works personnel for all their work making the park a reality. The Street Scapes committee were responsible for planting the flowers and bushes.
Check out North Park and the Caledonia sign on the south end of the city as both are brightly decorated for fall thanks to the Wild Turkey Fest Committee.
Greg Davids, State Representative, Jeremy Miller, State Senator and newly elected Senate Majority Leader, city council members, city staff, and representatives from Donohue & Associates and Wapasha Construction Co., attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Wastewater Treatment facility earlier in the day. Swann thanked Public Works for making sure there were piles of dirt for the photo shoot and for hanging up the architectural rendering of the plant.
Swann is fielding calls from businesses interested in the Miken building. He will contact Miken representatives to find out what the timeline is for vacating the property.
Other new business
Property owners that have unpaid utility bills were sent notices last week that the council would be discussing their situation at the September 27 council meeting. None of the property owners attended the meeting. The council approved Resolution 2021-14 authorizing the assessment of properties that have unpaid utility charges.
The council tabled the discussion regarding the proposed library levy and operation budget until Councilor Klug talks with the library director and gets answers to the council’s questions concerning staff hours, hourly wages and benefits, and library hours. It was noted that the proposed 2022 library budget shows a deficit of $4,500.
The next Caledonia City Council meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, October 11, at Caledonia City Hall.