Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Special Meeting of the Elk River City Council <br />Held at the Elk River City Hall <br /> <br />Monday, August 29, 2022 <br /> <br />Members Present: Mayor John Dietz, Councilmembers Garrett Christianson, Mike <br />Beyer, Matt Westgaard, and Jennifer Wagner <br /> <br />Members Absent: None <br /> <br />Staff Present: City Administrator Calvin Portner (online), Human Resources <br />Manager Lauren Wipper, and Records Specialist Katie Porath <br /> <br />1. Call Meeting to Order <br /> <br />Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council <br />was called to order at 4:31 p.m. by Mayor Dietz. <br /> <br />2. Pledge of Allegiance <br /> <br /> Pledge of Allegiance was recited. <br /> <br />3. 2023 Budget <br /> <br />Ms. Ziemer presented the staff report. Council must approve the preliminary tax levy <br />at the September 6, 2022, council meeting. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz proposed a 4% cost of living increase for employees and the 50th%tile <br />compensation plan adjustment for employees. The mayor was in favor of hiring a <br />planning intern but no other personnel requests. He was in favor of moving an <br />additional $250,000 from the Liquor Fund into the General Fund. He proposed <br />using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for financing police and dump truck <br />vehicle purchases as well as a down payment on the fire department ladder truck. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz added he was in favor of adding only two of the three debt service <br />payments onto the levy and leaving the Public Works Facility debt off the levy. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz stated he feels it is an “extraordinary” year for property increases and <br />rising interest rates should help slow things down. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard added that new properties will change the tax capacity. <br />There has been a rise in permits for commercial and residential building. <br /> <br />Council discussed how to pay for the vehicles the fire department will need over the <br />next few years which amounts to around $3 million. Council directed Ms. Ziemer to <br />ask the bank about the interest rate on equipment certificates as well as research how <br />other cities finance large vehicle purchases. <br /> <br /> <br />