The City of Peterson, like all other municipalities, is in the midst of approving end of year items including the 2021 budget and levy. The city council has been working at the budget for several months and the subcommittee, including Clerk Chris Grindland and Councilors Gail Boyum and Loren Rue, were able to locate areas for cost savings. This allowed for just a proposed 2% increase, equating to a 2021 levy of $94,349. The levy for the previous year was $92,499. The council approved the increase unanimously.
The council also reviewed the status of a number of ordinance violations. At the beginning of the year, 24 properties were identified as non-compliant. Property owners were sent letters indicating the issues and asking that they contact city hall to discuss how to remedy the situation. To date, just three of the original 24 have either brought their properties into compliance or discussed a plan with city hall. The issues are mainly nuisance vehicles, those inoperable and/or non-registered. No new properties have been added to the list.
Boyum questioned the process for a property which was brought into compliance, but is no longer. “What do we do if somebody goes through and meets requirements and then a few months later they fall back?”
“We bring it back to the council again,” responded Mayor Tim Hallum. “Just keep on ‘em. They came forth and talked to us, granted I think a couple have fallen back. At least they’ve come forth and talk to us. We’re not trying to cause hardship. A lot of them did clean up, but there’s still a few that didn’t and they’re still on the list. If others have fallen back, bring it back to us.”
Those properties with unpaid fines will see the fines added to the property tax rolls if not paid by the next council meeting. Grindland indicated that the city does have the ability to continue fining non-compliant properties even though the 2020 fines will be certified to the county. Once the fines are added to taxes and essentially brought back to a start point, new fines for the same issues can commence. Therefore, it’s in the property owners best interest to pay fines and rectify non-compliance as soon as possible.
“We still need to enforce it,” said Grindland.
“We just keep going. We start again,” added Boyum.
The council also looked into the status of unpaid utility bills and reviewed collection methods. “Balances are a bit lower than last year?” asked Rue.
“This just gives you an idea of what the balances were at the end of September billing,” responded Grindland. “I would just need a way forward here.” The city will take balances at the end of the October billing cycle and certify them to the county at the November council meeting. Those details and amounts will be sent to property owners at the end of the billing cycle so they are aware of the process. Grindland said it’s likely that some bills will be paid before that happens.
There is a $25 administrative fee for having your utility bills certified to the county for addition to the tax rolls. There is no additional penalty percentage added for this, but the city does have a policy for adding a 2.5% fee to outstanding balance for a late fee during the year.
In a last minute addition to the agenda, the council discussed the upcoming Halloween holiday and whether or not to proceed with celebrations as a city. “The Centers for Disease Control came out with new guidelines that said that participating in traditional trick-or-treating is a higher risk activity. People in town are wondering if we’re going to have Halloween door-to-door trick-or-treating,” said Grindland.
“I hate to be a Scrooge, but this is the year to not do it,” noted Boyum. “If people are struggling with whether or not to do it, let’s make the decision for them.”
“With COVID-19 being on the increase in 36 states, I would go along with not doing anything for Halloween. Period,” added Rue.
Mayor Hallum indicated his family plans to participate, but in a safe, no contact manner. “I hate to take it away from the kids,” he noted.
Councilor Lisa Price suggested a lot of families might not participate on their own. Councilor Dave Colbenson suggested there are a number of ways people can participate safely, if they choose to.
“That’s their own decision,” added Hallum. “I put it to the individual parents. It’s not up to the city to decide.” The city will include the topic in the upcoming newsletter noting the city is not recommending it and including helpful hints if families choose to do so anyway.
The next council meeting will be held Thursday, November 12, due to the Veterans Day holiday observance November 11. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at city hall. It is open to the public.
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