The Mitchell City Council will again consider a possible increase of the sewer and water rates charged in the city next year during a meeting tonight.
The agenda includes a 5:45 p.m. Sidewalk Committee meeting, a 6 p.m. Public Works Committee meeting, a 6:20 p.m. Public Properties Committee meeting, a 7:20 p.m. Finance Committee meeting and 7:30 p.m. council meeting, all in Council Chambers at City Hall, 612 N. Main St.
The increase set to be considered by the council tonight would raise the the usage rate for water by 15 cents, to $2.85 per 100 cubic foot unit. It would also raise the usage rate for sewer by $1.10, to $3 per 100 cubic foot unit. That sewer rate increase is more than the one first proposed to the council last month, which would have only raised the usage rate by 30 cents.
The revenue from the increased rates would be used to replace aging water lines and old sewer pipes, along with future work on water towers and the wastewater treatment plant. Terry Johnson, the city's deputy public works director, was asked by council members to propose a larger increase after discussions revealed the urgency of some of the work that needs to be done, particularly on some of the city's older sewer pipes.
Consent agenda
ADVERTISEMENT
Council members plan to consider approving the following items as part of a consent agenda:
• The agenda and minutes from prior council meetings and committee meetings.
• A raffle request from the Mitchell High School boys and girls basketball teams, with the drawing to be held Dec. 27.
• Change orders to Mueller Lumber Company for the Corn Palace renovation, including increases of $539 for vent and pipe demolition at vestibule, $4,194 for gallery wall modifications, $466 for vertical chase slab infill, $6,181 for modifications to fire protection at entry canopy, $1,484 for modifications to fire protection on the third floor, $2,784 for modification of interior balcony steel, $3,552 for modifications to elevator penthouse, $1,186 for modifications to elevator shaft and $1,087 for modifications to vestibule north wall; a change to floor drains in the toilet rooms for no increase; and deletion of the elevator sump pump for a decrease of $1,355; all for an adjusted contract amount of $3,674,242.
• A change order to Sunkota Construction for the Mitchell Public Library expansion for $41,861 for constructed items necessary to complete the project, for an adjusted contract amount of $1,913,886.
• Five cemetery weedeaters and trimmers for disposal as surplus.
• An automatic supplement to the parks and recreation special revenue fund of $500 from Cadwell Park improvements from a donation of funds.
• Gas and diesel fuel bids.
ADVERTISEMENT
• A list of pay estimates.
• Bills, payroll, salary adjustments and new employee hires, and authorization for payment of recurring and other expenses in advance as approved by the finance officer.
Other business
In other business, council members plan to:
• Discuss, during a 5:45 p.m. Sidewalk Committee meeting, the city's five-year plan for sidewalk.
• Discuss, during a 6 p.m. Public Works Committee meeting, the proposed sewer and water rate increase.
• Discuss, during a 6:20 p.m. Public Properties Committee meeting, the Corn Palace renovation.
• Consider, during a 7:20 p.m. Finance Committee meeting, write-offs for delinquent utility accounts for 2013.
ADVERTISEMENT
• Sit as the board of adjustment and consider approving an application of Kathy and Jim Metz for a conditional use permit to build a two-family dwelling at 219 E. Seventh Ave; and an application of James and Lori Bertus for a front-yard variance of 13 feet rather than the required 25 feet for construction of a covered porch at 712 S. Minnesota St.
• Set a Jan. 5 date to receive and consider bids for a one-year supply of Class III Concrete Pipe Improvements at 1:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.
• Discuss the proposed indoor swimming pool.
• Hear an update on proposed improvements to the city's computer network.
• Consider a resolution to surplus real property legally described as Lot R-3 of the Depot Addition to the city of Mitchell, lying in the north half of the southwest one-fourth of Section 22, Township 103 North, Range 60, west of the fifth P.M., Davison County.
• Consider a resolution for Lot 1-B of North Maui's First Addition, a subdivision of Lot 1 in the west one-half of the northwest one-fourth, also described as Lot 1, Subdivision of Government Lot 1, all in Section 31, Township 103 North, Range 60, west of the fifth P.M., Davison County.
• Consider a resolution for Lot 1 of Haley Addition in Government Lots 3 and 4 of the northwest one-fourth of Section 3, Township 103 North, Range 60, west of the fifth P.M., Davison County.
• Consider a resolution for Lot 2X-1-A of Joyce County Estates in the southeast one-fourth of Section 14, Township 103 North, Range 60, west of the fifth P.M., Davison County.
ADVERTISEMENT
• Conduct the second of two required readings and consider adopting an ordinance to supplement the mayoral portion of the general fund with $3,000 for supplies and materials, the finance portion of the general fund with $2,200 for salaries, $175 for OASI and $4,000 for supplies and materials, the police portion of the general fund with $2,700 for compensated absences and $1,500 for vehicle towing, the traffic portion of the general fund with $4,000 for salaries, $750 for retirement and $5,000 for utilities; the animal control portion of the general fund with $2,000 for impounding dogs; the fire portion of the general fund with $6,000 for part time and volunteer fire, the street and sidewalk portion of the general fund with $10,000 for hazardous sidewalk, the storm drainage portion of the general fund with $2,400 for repairs and maintenance, and the EMS portion of the general fund with $10,000 for overtime, all from the general fund cash balance; the recreation center portion of the special revenue fund with $2,900 from the park fund cash balance for compensated absences; the E-911 portion of the special revenue fund with $24,000 for overtime and $1,200 for professional services, both from the E-911 fund balance; the nutrition portion of the special revenue fund with $1,400 from the nutrition fund balance for part time; the Pepsi Wis-Pak TIF portion of the debt service fund with $5,000 from tax revenue receipts for bond principal; the water treatment portion of the enterprise fund with $6,000 for overtime and $500 for gas and oil, both from the water fund cash balance; the water distribution portion of the enterprise fund with $15,000 for overtime, $4,000 for repairs and maintenance and $7,000 for supplies and materials, all from the water fund cash balance; the wastewater treatment portion of the enterprise fund with $3,000 for overtime and $3,125 for insurance from the sewer fund cash balance; the Corn Palace portion of the enterprise fund with $1,200 for part-time maintenance, $3,000 for part-time decorating, $1,200 for decorating OASI, $2,200 for part-time shows, all from the Corn Palace fund cash balance.
• Conduct the first of two required readings of an ordinance to supplement City Council portion of the general fund with $7,500 for legal publications and $1,000 for travel, conferences and dues; the finance portion of the general fund with $1,000 for supplies; the human resources portion of the general fund with $800 for part time and $855 for professional services; the information technology portion of the general fund with $500 for overtime and $500 for website; the traffic portion of the general fund with $5,000 for light maintenance; the fire portion of the general fund with $2,504 for a compensated absence; and the storm drainage portion of the general fund with $2,000 for professional fees and $2,000 for the municipal storm drain project; all from the general fund cash balance; to supplement the recreation and aquatics portion of the parks and recreation fund with $3,806 for pool chemicals and $2,500 for utilities; the recreation portion of the parks and recreation fund with $2,825 for a compensated absence; the sports complexes portion of the parks and recreation fund with $6,500 for repairs and maintenance, $3,500 for supplies and maintenance and $18,000 for utilities; the supervision portion of the parks and recreation fund with $1,575 for publishing; all from the parks and recreation fund cash balance; to supplement the RSVP portion of the senior services fund with $500 for printing; the Palace Transit portion of the senior services fund with $2,000 for insurance; the Sanborn County Transit portion of the senior services fund with $1,000 for OASI, $1,000 for retirement, $750 for repairs and maintenance and $500 for utilities; all from the senior services fund cash balance; to supplement the nutrition portion of the nutrition fund with $500 from the nutrition fund cash balance for salaries; the TIF No. 5 portion of the debt service fund with $5,000 for bond principal and $1,000 for bond interest; the TIF No. 10 portion of the debt service fund with $23,000 for bond principal and $15,000 for bond interest; the TIF No. 14 portion of the debt service fund with $8,000 for bond principal and $2,000 for bond interest; and the TIF No. 15 portion of the debt service fund with $9,000 for bond interest; all from tax revenue receipts; to supplement the maintenance portion of the Corn Palace enterprise fund with $3,600 for part time and $275 for OASI; the shows portion of the Corn Palace enterprise fund with $11,000 for ticketing fees and $5,350 for street expenses; all from the Corn Palace fund cash balance; to supplement the golf portion of the enterprise fund with $2,500 for seasonal wages, $1,400 for insurance, $2,500 for golf pro contract, $1,764 for trees, seed and sod, $4,500 for chemicals, $7,000 for supplies and materials, and $3,000 for computer hardware, all from the golf fund cash balance; and to supplement the health insurance portion of the enterprise fund with $150,000 for medical expenses.
• Conduct the first of two required readings of an ordinance amending the city code by adopting portions of the 2012 edition of the International Building Code and portions of the 2012 edition of the International Residential Code.
• Consider approving a collection services agreement with AAA Collections, Inc.
• Consider approving E-911 services and traffic services for Aurora, Brule, Hanson and Hutchinson counties, and E-911 services for McCook County.
• Consider approving a certificate of substantial completion to Menning Backhoe for the storm sewer project at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital.
• Consider approving a contractor and indemnity agreement to Menning Backhoe for the storm sewer project at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital.
• Consider approving a certificate of substantial completion to Sunkota Construction for the expansion of the Mitchell Public Library.
ADVERTISEMENT
• Consider approving the 2015 insurance benefits for employees as provided by the Insurance Committee.
• Consider approving property tax abatements for 2013 taxes payable in 2014 in the amounts of $1,164.86; $15,657.68; and $195.78.
• Conduct a closed-door executive session for the purpose of preparing for contract negotiations or negotiating with employees or employee representatives.
