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City Council Minutes Page 4 November 24, 2003 ............................. of card. Mr. Potvin noted that the city has switched card handler companies a few times to get a better deal. He noted that the cost of accepting credit cards is high but that it is worth it because it minimizes the risk of bad checks. MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ TO APPROVE THE MUNICIPAL LIQUOR STORE ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET FOR 2004. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Wastewater Treatment System (WWTS) City Administrator Pat ICAaers stated that the 2004 WWTS operating expenditures are expected to decrease as compared to 2003. He stated that this is because of the large amount of capital outlay that was in the 2003 budget as compared to the 2004 budget. Mr. ICAaers indicated that one of the highlights for the WWTS is the proposal to add another full time employee. Growth in the system and additional responsibilities as it relates to lab work and the lift stations is generating the need for this employee. This additional employee will allow for one employee to take the lead responsibility in the lift station program. Mr. ICAaers noted that two other financial items included in the WWTS budget include a sewer availability charge (SAC) increase and the rate increase. The rate increase calls for a 3% increase in the rates for 2004 and 2005. Mr. Klaers stated that the city has done this type of rate increase for the past few years and it is necessary in order to keep up with inflation. Staff is proposing that the SAC fee be increased to ~g2,000 for 2004 per residential unit. It was noted that Elk River's SAC fee is low in comparison to neighboring communities. Mr. Klaers stated that there are two major capital improvements that are planned in 2004 that are not in the operating budget, one is the digester cover and the other is the head works. City Engineer Terry Maurer stated that the digester cover has been repaired many times and both he and Wastewater Treatment Chief Operator Gary Leirmoe believe that it needs to be replaced soon. This is an approximately ~gS00,000 expenditure and money for the project is in the WWTS fund balance. Mr. Maurer explained that the head works is the point in the plant where the sewage is pumped in. He stated that the head works is from 1976 and was not upgraded during the WWTS improvements in the 1990s. Mr. Maurer stated that three lift stations are currently pumping into the head works and the system could be overwhelmed. Mr. Maurer stated that the best way to begin this work would be to complete a preliminary study on the project. Councilmember Dietz questioned if the projects would be completed in 2004. Mr. Maurer stated that the digester cover would be completed in early 2004 and the head works would be started later in 2004 and the project could carry over to 2005. Councilmember Kuester questioned if the city will need to acquire some land in order to complete the head works project. Mr. Maurer stated nog but that the city had conversations with Great River Energy, then UPA, in 1995 about expanding the WWTS plant and at that time they were open to discussing land acquisition with the city. Mr. Klaers noted that the city offered to buy some land at that time and UPA declined asking the city to come back when the land is actually needed for a project.