By Wanda Hanson
At their October 26, 2020, meeting, the Rushford City Council made a final decision on the disbursement of the remaining CARES relief funding for businesses and non-profits. Previously, 16 applicants had each received $4,000; six new applications had been received. The council decided to award each of those the same $4,000 amount. The council was split on how to divide the remaining $18,000 among the applicants.
Council member Sally Ryman pointed out that there were a lot of variables for the businesses; she went on, “I know some of these people didn’t apply for everything they could have applied for.”
Councilman Leigh Volkman added, “Not everyone fills those out the same.” He advocated for an equal division of the remaining funds to all applicants saying, “This way we’re not picking any favorites.”
“It’s the easy method, but is it equitable?” queried councilman Jim O’Donnell.
City Clerk Kathy Zachary reminded the council that the business owners had been required to attach details that backed up what they had asked for.
City Administrator Tony Chladek shared with the council a spreadsheet detailing the requested amounts as well as the additional funding received by the businesses from other sources. Some businesses have received much more additional funding from other sources.
Mayor Terri Benson commented, “Whatever we do it’s going to be scrutinized; I’d like to digest this information until the next council meeting.”
Volkman responded, “I was under the impression we were going to give businesses equal amounts.” With that he made a motion to do so. His motion passed with Volkman, Ryman, and Linder voting in favor and O’Donnell and Benson opposing.
Benson announced that all CARES funding has been completely distributed with nothing to return to the county. Each of 20 applicants will receive an additional $900; two applicants had already received all the money they had requested.
CTCL Election donation
The city received a donation of $2,000 from The Center for Technology & Civic Life to help with planning “safe and secure election administration in the city.” Zachary explained that the organization was a nonprofit organization which was not affiliated with any political party, and that the application process was easy. The city could have gotten up to $5,000 based on the numbers, but Zacher had only applied for $2,000, feeling the city didn’t need that much.
Other business
The council passed a resolution to release its lien created by the repayment agreement on property at 315 North Mill Street. A 2009 loan was to be forgiven if the owner stayed long enough. If the owner was to leave, a portion would need to be repaid. Since a refinancing was to occur, the city’s lien needed to be released to clear title. Zacher noted that special assessments and past due utility bills were paid up as a result. The city will remain in the second position on the new mortgage.
The League of MN Cities and Coalition of Greater MN Cities shared the good news that the legislature had passed the $1.9 billion bonding bill. This will enable the funding of local and regional infrastructure needs as well as tax relief provisions for farmers and small businesses and funding for low income housing. Gov. Walz is expected to sign the bill into law once it reaches his desk.
The next meeting of the Rushford City Council will be November 9, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.
Photo: Tony Chladek, Jim O’Donnell, Drew Linder, Terri Benson, Sally Ryman, and Leigh Volkman working to finalize all payments of CARES Relief Funds to Rushford businesses.
Photo by Wanda Hanson
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