At their regular council meeting December 7, the Rushford Village Council approved the 2022 proposed CEDA (Community Economic Development Associates) contract for $13,790 – up $400 from the previous year. At eight hours every other week, this comes to a rate of approximately $66 per hour. Council member Bob Hart asked exactly what the city gets for that amount. Mayor Dennis Overland responded that when the city paid by project, it actually was more expensive, coming in at between $4,000 and $7,000 for each project.
Clerk Mary Miner informed the council that she shares grant possibilities with CEDA representative Rebecca Charles in the hope that CRV could apply for them, but often the city is excluded from eligibility because the median income in the city is too high.
Currently, Charles is working on the trail project as well as the comprehensive plan. Member Mike Ebner suggested that the city needs to follow through with the project at this time.
Council consensus was that they needed to supply more direction to Charles and make better use of the comprehensive plan. As Overland commented, “We don’t know what to ask.”
Member Roger Knutson agreed and said it was hard to know what the city was getting. He added that CRV was special in that it doesn’t have an industrial park or sewer and water; this is different from the other cities CEDA serves.
The council decided to approve the contract and reexamine the need and use for CEDA next year.
The Truth in Taxation meeting held at 7:30 brought in no citizens. According to the council, assessments and the associated taxes have been fairly moderate in recent years with a few exceptions.
In other business, the council accepted the 2021 audit quote of a maximum of $9,000 fee from Engelson & Associates. This was an increase of $500 from last year’s fee. They agreed that they would ask for quotes from other companies for the next year’s audit in hope of getting a less expensive quote.
Miner reported that work on pay comp was proceeding; city employees as well as Miner, Overland and treasurer Judy Graham have been met with. Currently, a pay increase of 2.5% is being considered to reflect the cost of living increase. With the creation of pay steps, formulating the city budget will be easier.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit informed the council that there had been no new permits. Pettit told the council that the recent camping site definition that the county had accepted was more restrictive than the state statute. CRV will need to adjust their ordinance to comply with the county. This will require a public hearing on the matter. Pettit told the council that the DNR campsites within the city have their own jurisdiction and follow state regulations.
Public Works Trenten Chiglo reported that he’d had to order a new chemical (fluoride) pump for the well house in South Rushford. Chiglo ordered a spare to have available for emergencies.
He also shared that the city’s Freightliner truck was having front end issues. Mike Ebner reported that the new truck was built and off the assembly line so it would soon be delivered. The council congratulated Chiglo on passing his CDL.
Knutson recommended that Chiglo should attend training sessions coming up in February and March. These sessions will focus on water and wastewater treatment.
The CRV council will next meet December 21 at 7 p.m. The annual meeting will be January 18; there will be no meeting January 4. The public is welcome to attend the meetings.
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