Positive review of CRV 2020 audit

At the City of Rushford Village regular council meeting on July 6, 2021, auditor Bill Sherry presented a positive review of the 2020 audit. Sherry reported the accounting procedures of the city were good. The city had $964,000 at the end of the year with $723,000 of that invested in CDs. The city showed $1.1 million in debt with no new debts and regular standard payments being made.

The sewer fund shows a loss of $2,000 for the year; Sherry recommended the council consider a raise in sewer fees. With around 100 customers, the hike would need to be around a $20 increase per year. The council will discuss whether to put this hike in place at another meeting.

Not a lot of other changes had occurred in 2020. The general outlay had increased, because COVID funds were used. The utility fund showed a significant increase with the necessary purchase of a sewer pump and control panel.

Councilman Roger Knutson asked Sherry if it was customary for cities to put most investments in CDs. Sherry responded that treasurer Judy Graham had negotiated a good rate with the local banks and it was good business to keep the money local. Sherry cautioned that this past year saw interest rates plunge; as a result, the city would not be seeing as high of interest this year for its investments. Sherry pointed out that the sewer fund would need to repay money borrowed from the general fund first.

Derek Olinger of Bolton & Menk also appeared before the council to request a change order for the South Rushford stormwater outfall grading. He opined that the $1,100 cost was well worth it to “keep the landowner happy.” The council agreed and approved the change order. Olinger reported that the water main by Highway 43 and Sherwood Street will be relocated.

Public Works/Maintenance Director Trenten Chiglo reported that landowners Lee Loerch and Ordell Thompson had recently put down dust control on the gravel past their property. Although the roads were in need of planned graveling, Chiglo questioned whether the gravel should be added thus negating the effect of the dust control. Chiglo will call Loerch and tell him to wait with the dust control next time until the gravel is put down.

Chiglo and Olinger left to inspect some of the city roads in need of chip sealing. Olinger suggested the city use an annual budget of $20,000 to cover chip sealing on a regular basis. He noted that once you see the road needs it, it’s probably too late!

Planning and Zoning permits included Bonnie Norstad’s ground mount solar array, Moonyeen Holle’s concrete slab replacement, Brad and Dani Gorder’s front door and garbage door replacement, Robert Forsythe’s tin siding on a barn, and Jeremy and Nicole Williams’s replacing a fence. Darrel Highum is ready to proceed with a new home construction, but has not yet brought in the sewer number yet. A special meeting of planning and zoning will be held at 6 p.m. July 14 at the CRV Community Center; Vern Bunke will be bringing in an engineer to answer questions from the group about his proposed housing development.

Other business 

In other business the council:

•Heard from Mike Ebner that the ordered $157,000 Freightliner snowplow is on track to be delivered at the planned date at the end of September/beginning of October;

•Approved the resolution granting clerk Mary Miner the authority to vote yes on the reorganization plan filed by the debtors in the Purdue Pharmacy opiod litigation;

•Learned the chip sealing for Magelssen Bluff Road has arrived and will soon be applied;

•Closed the meeting to discuss labor and negotiations for maintenance personnel — it was later reported that the council discussed the expectations that both employees know all jobs and be able to run all equipment as well as obtain CDL; pay was not discussed. After the council receives information on pay equity, the pay will be discussed at the next regular council meeting.

The next CRV council meeting will be at 7 p.m. July 20 at CRV Community Center; all are welcome to attend.