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Budget, levy approved
Published 7:02am Wednesday, December 23, 2009Budget, levy approved
The Fergus Falls City Council approved the 2010 tax levy and budget at its meeting Monday.
The tax levy totals $4,084,741, the exact amount levied in 2009, according to Finance Director Bill Sonmor. The budget for 2010 is $51.3 million, up from $48 million in 2009. The tax rate is 42.8 percent for 2010, compared to 44.9 percent for 2009.
The 2010 tax levy and budget were presented at a meeting Dec. 7. A Power Point slide show mirroring the presentation may be viewed by going to the city’s Web site at www.ci.fergus-falls.mn.us and following the link to the Finance Department page.
Chicken changes approved
The Fergus Falls City Council has approved a handful of changes to the city’s ordinance allowing chickens in R-1 and R-2 zones.
Under the changes, chicken licenses will cover two years instead of one and cost $20 instead of $50. Chicken owners renewing their licenses will not need to re-acquire the signatures of abutting property owners as long as no one has complained and none of the neighbors are new.
Otherwise, the conditions laid out in the original ordinance, which was effective in late July, still apply. The number of permits remains limited to 12.
Consent agenda passes
The following items passed as part of the consent agenda at Monday’s city council meeting:
n A resolution to approve the forgiveness of a $35,000 equipment loan payment for Pebble Lake Golf Club
n A resolution to approve the purchase of a roll-off truck estimated at $135,000; the current truck will be evaluated for trade-in value and could lower the cost
n A resolution to approve a grant agreement with the Minnesota Historical Society for a $72,350 grant funding window and door replacement at City Hall
n A resolution changing the location of the 4th Ward polling place from City Hall to the new Hillcrest gymnasium
Committee meetings moved to Wednesdays
The Fergus Falls City Council will hold its committee meetings on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays in light of down attendance in the past couple of months.
Mayor Hal Leland said last week he’s concerned about council members’ absences from meetings of the Public Works and Safety Committee and the Finance, Personnel and Development Committee, each of which is comprised of four councilors. The committees meet during weeks without a regular council meeting. Council members not on the day’s committee are encouraged to sit in the audience.
The recent absences of council members from committees are troubling, Leland said.
“I don’t think we’re doing a very good job of being where we need to be to conduct good business,” he said.
On Monday, Leland said he believed the absences were an anomaly more than anything else, though he asked whether changing the meeting day would be an appropriate solution. Council members agreed to move both committee meetings to Wednesdays beginning in January, as Jay Cichosz, 3rd Ward, is an attorney who frequently needs to be in court Thursday mornings.
Cichosz also asked that work sessions be held after 5 p.m., as he must work up until that time.
