Photo by Charlene Selbee
At the August 22 regular Caledonia City Council meeting, the Council approved Ambulance Director Mike Tornstrom’ s request to move forward on the purchase of a new ambulance to replace Unit 257. Council members in attendance were Mayor DeWayne (Tank) Schroeder, Robert “Bob” Klug, Amanda Ninneman, and David Fitzpatrick. Brad Rykhus was absent. Others in attendance included Caledonia resident Carol Hood, Ambulance Director Mike Tornstrom, City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson, and Finance Officer Stephanie Mann.
Tornstrom appeared before the Council on May 9 to discuss the purchase of an ambulance with three upgrades, sliding door, a power load cot, and a lift system. The quote from Everest Emergency Vehicles for the ambulance with upgrades, graphics, and delivery is $287,000, which is $17,000 more than estimated.
As mentioned in May, the ambulance will not be delivered until 2024 and that date has not changed. Tornstrom noted that the department typically replaces its ambulances after 10 years of service, with a new ambulance being ordered every five years. Now the department is working to extend the life of the department’s ambulances to 12 years. So, when the new ambulance arrives, the oldest ambulance in the department’s fleet will be 12-13 years old.
The Council approved the minutes from the August 8 regular meeting. Councilor Ninneman abstained as she was not in attendance at the last meeting.
Dickson reported that two residents submitted paperwork for the open city council positions and one resident filed for the position of mayor.
Mann shared the first draft of the proposed 2023 tax levy with the Council. The spreadsheet detailed the impact of three different tax levies on the city’s budget. Dickson noted that a .5% increase results in an approximate $5,000.00 increase in total general fund revenue from the levy. Mann reviewed the proposed budget with Mann and Dickson addressing the commissioners’ questions and comments. Mann noted that the city is just starting the 2023 budgeting process and have not received final costs like insurance so numbers will change as the city goes through the process. Mann mentioned that the roof of the liquor store is due to be replaced in 2023. The Council discussed the cost of the tennis/pickle ball court which is estimated at $95,000 and funding options including liquor store funds and grants.
“This is where we are at,” summarized Mann. “These are some things to think about.”
In other business, the board:
• Approved a request from Wapasha Construction for $56,900.25 for work completed on Well House No. 8;
• Discussed individual assessments for work performed on private utilities. City staff was asked to bring a proposed policy for approval at the next meeting;
• Reviewed the employee overtime report for the pay period July 25 through August 7, 2022; no action was required.
The next regularly scheduled Caledonia City Council meeting will be held on Monday, September 12, 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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