At the March 6 meeting of the Preston City Council, a $3 increase in the ambulance per capita rate was approved starting in 2018. Mayor Kurt Reicks and Councilman Charles Sparks were absent.
City Administer Joe Hoffman explained that the Township Fire/Ambulance Committee approved an increase from $7 to $10 per capita beginning in 2018. This rate has remained at $7 since 1999. The city currently pays about $10,000. With the $3 increase, the city’s share will be about $14,260.
The cities of Preston and Fountain plus seven townships chip in on a per capita basis for the service. Ambulance Director Ryan Throckmorton referenced a recent meeting with the townships that the service serves where a $3 increase was approved for a total of $10 per capita effective in 2018. Throckmorton will still need to meet with the city of Fountain.
Throckmorton noted that the books showed a $10,000 profit in 2016, but this did not account for about $50,000 in depreciation. A reserve needs to be built up for a scheduled trade and purchase of a new ambulance vehicle in 2019. Hoffman showed a graph to council members that demonstrated without a per capita increase the ambulance service will be about $45,000 in the hole when it is time to trade and purchase a new ambulance. Levy dollars are not put into the ambulance fund.
The amount to be paid into the fund per capita can be adjusted year to year. At the meeting with the townships, township officers felt it was best to raise the per capita rate gradually.
Tourism director
Over the last few meetings, possible changes to the tourism director position have been discussed. There has been discussion about the possibility of creating a full-time position with benefits by having a combined position with EMS. Throckmorton said he didn’t believe this was a good fit. He added he appreciated the support of the city council.
Hoffman said he did not recommend the combined position, but recommended that the position be continued as before, part-time at about 29 hours per week.
Councilwoman Holly Zuck suggested they find a way to add PTO time to the position to attract more candidates. Councilman Robert Maust agreed and said they may need to add hours down the road. He maintained Tourism should be open on Sundays, especially in season.
A motion to advertise for the part-time position and to see if PTO can be added to the position was approved.
Other business in brief
• Approval was given for the transfer of the off-sale liquor license to Joe LaFreniere, who has purchased the Preston Liquor Store.
• An agreement was approved with J & M Displays, Inc. for the fireworks show at Trout Days. The city pays $4,500 of the total cost of $5,250. The difference is covered by the fire department and donations. The council also approved a permit for the fireworks show. An extended three-year agreement with J & M Displays was discussed. The council wanted more information as a possible three-year agreement does not mention prices.
• Approval was given to subordinate the city’s mortgages from Mel Hayner to F & M Bank and the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund. City Attorney Dwight Luhmann explained Hayner is participating in the 2016 residential and commercial Small Cities Grant.
• Hoffman said there has been a many year process during which FEMA has been revising the floodplain maps for Fillmore County. The maps have been available since 2011. The process is in the final 90-day appeal period. Nothing can be built in the floodway. Communities can restrict use of the floodplain. Eventually, the city will need to adopt floodplain management measures in order to qualify for the National Flood Insurance Program. No action was taken this day.