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City Council Minutes <br />September 7, 2021 <br />Page 6 <br />Council agreed to move the crime prevention specialist position to 2021 as a sworn <br />officer. The position will be updated at the September 20, 2021, Council meeting. <br />Mr. Anderson addressed the Council on the issue of buckthorn eradication process. <br />$25,000 was budgeted for buckthorn but he was requesting an additional $50,000 to <br />continue to clear it from Woodland Trails Regional Park. He explained much of the <br />mature was cut down in 2020 and the re -growth should be treated with chemicals, <br />ideally this year, but no later than 2022 or else the progress would be lost. <br />Council asked if a payment of $75,000 in 2022 would solve the problem. <br />Mr. Anderson stated it would not solve the problem and would need to continue <br />each year going forward. <br />Council discussed the possibility of getting goats to graze on the buckthorn trees. <br />Mr. Anderson stated that goats indiscriminately destroy all vegetation and are costly <br />to house and maintain. Previously, buckthorn was maintained by volunteers but <br />became too much of a problem for them to manage. $25,000 was budged in the past <br />for a contractor to harvest the adult trees. Seeds can last underground for 10 years. <br />Council suggested discussing at a later meeting. <br />Mayor Dietz asked about increasing the transfer from the Liquor Fund to the <br />General Fund by $250,000. They asked Ms. Ziemer to research how much money <br />other cities have in their liquor store funds and bring it back to the council. <br />Ms. Ziemer stated the Liquor Fund should have at least one year's operating <br />expenses, approximately $1.5 million, plus debt services and capital expenses. <br />Mayor Dietz stated he doesn't want to see a percentage of 8.3% by the December <br />deadline but can leave it that way for now. <br />Council recessed at 9:31 p.m. and reconvened in a closed meeting to discuss the <br />possible purchase of the PID 75-131-3210 at 9:32 p.m. <br />Council recessed at 9:42 p.m. and reconvened in a closed meeting to discuss <br />negotiation with the IU IE Local 49 Union at 9:42 p.m. <br />Council reconvened at the regular City Council meeting at 10:14 p.m. <br />10. Adjournment <br />There being no further business, Mayor Dietz adjourned the meeting of the Elk <br />River City Council at 10:15 p.m. <br />pIIEREI I <br />NATURE <br />