The Becker City Council deliberated Tuesday over a lab upgrade at the WWTF, a call for a public hearing on a tobacco violation, space needs at city hall and Pebble Creek, a debt management policy, the 2017 budget and levies and service annioversaries. 

 

Water Supply Laboratory Upgrade

Water/Wastewater Supervisor Dave Pesola said in the 2016 water supply budget, $25,000 was designated as a capital expense to upgrade the water supply laboratory. 

 

Pesola said the existing laboratory has been in use since 1998 with little or no improvements done to it over the years. New cabinetry, electrical outlets, countertops, sink. faucets and an eye wash station are the main items included in the upgrade, he said. 

 

“This upgrade will result in increased efficiency and safety within the laboratory,” Pesola told council.

 

Quotes were obtained from local cabinet makers   and plumbers for the work and H2O Pro had the lowest bid of $5,200 for the plumbing and Brenny Custom Cabinets the lowest bid of $8,800 for the cabinetry.

 

The funds for the work-to-be-done will come from the water supply enterprise fund in the amount of $14,000, said Pesola.

 

Chief of Police Brent Baloun told council Sherburne County Public Health (SPCH) recently conducted an annual tobacco compliance check within the City of Becker in the early morning hours of July 14 . As a result of these checks, one local business failed the check by selling a tobacco/nicotine product to an underaged, undercover person.

 

Baloun said E-Cig Innovations was the business that failed the most recent check.

 

Baloun says there are two penalties that can come out of this violation. The first is a criminal charge against the counter person. They are immediately identified, questioned and cited for the sale of the item to a minor. This will subsequently require a court appearance on their part. 

 

The second penalty is a civil penalty against the business itself. Per  the city’s ordinance, the city cannot impose an administrative penalty against the business without a public hearing. The potential penalty/administrative fine is $100 for this first offense.

 

Subsequent offenses could include $250 fee for a second offense along with a seven days license suspension or a $750 fee and a 30 license suspension for a third offense.

 

Baloun asked council to approve the date of Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. to conduct the public hearing in which the business will be notified should they decide to appear before council.

 

Baloun said as part of budget discussions in 2015, a space needs analysis was identified as a budgeted item for 2016. An amount of $25,000 was budgeted for 2016 to conduct and complete an analysis on city facilities related to future space needs.

 

Baloun contacted BKV Group and asked them to conduct a space needs analysis on the police and city departments along with the clubhouse at Pebble Creek. 

 

The detailed analysis would include structure analysis, feasibility of upgrades and/or improvements to the existing structure and the security of structure for the Becker Police Dept.

 

The BKV report will include police and city hall development plans examining current space utilization and potential for remodeling or additions, space planning assessment specific to operational needs, interviews of city leadership and key staff and projections based on findings for future needs.

 

The report would also determine how any potential changes could happen, what fiscal requirements, reviews and approvals were necessary, a cost assessment and findings and recommendations presented to city council.

 

Baloun said a quote from BKG Group for the report came in at around $21,800 with an additional $1,000 included for expenses.

 

The timeline to complete a project such as this would be anticipated to 3-4 months.

 

Treasurer Sarah Brunn said the budget and finance committee presented a draft policy of a debt management policy  at their Aug. 16 executive session and approved it.

 

The policy identifies the need for both financing activities and cash in order to acquire capital assets or improvements. A few items to note include the city setting parameters on the size of project that is eligible for debt, the length of debt and the overall debt limits. The city has also established guidelines on the issuance of conduit debt. 

 

Brunn presented the current levy resolutions for 2016.  These resolutions were based of the presented budget at the Sept. 1 workshop. 

 

Brunn said the preliminary levy is proposed at $6,940,000, an increase of 13.04%. This results in a tax rate of approximately 39.77%.

 

Brunn presented two resolutions — one addressing a levy reduction for the 2010A GO Improvement Bonds and another to establish preliminary levies for the city, EDA and fire hall refunding bonds.

 

Brunn said the 2010A GO Improvement Bonds were used to finance improvements in Becker's Industrial Park and were to be paid for with a combination of special assessments and property tax levy.

 

The public improvements came in under budget and grant funds were also awarded to help pay for the project. The unspent dollars from the capital project fund were transferred into the debt service fund and have resulted in a significant fund balance. 

 

The current balance is approximately $369,000. 

 

Brunn said a city can decrease debt service levies if adequate funds are available to meet payment obligations. She also said the city passed a similar resolution last year decreasing this debt service levy.

 

The second resolution is to establish preliminary levies for the city, EDA, and fire hall refunding bonds, as well as set up a public hearing date and time for final budget and levy approval in December. Brunn said both items need to be certified to the county in September.

 

In the second resolution,  the proposed budget showed the city paying in $150,000 to Pebble Creek for the shortage it exhibited (last year was $75,000).

 

Mayor Lefty Kleis balked at this payment and disagreed with the city continually “bailing out the golf course year-after-year”. He reiterated his stance on selling the golf course to relieve the city of the burden and voted “no” to the second resolution.

 

• Tracey Otto of the Becker Community Center was given the city’s safety award for the month of July;

 

• Bruce Thompson of public works was acknowledged for serving the city for 22 years;

 

• Carol Lanz of PW was honored for serving the city for 11 years;

 

• Chris Lindbloom was noticed for serving the BPD for 3 years;

 

• City Clerk Julie Blesi was saluted for her 3 years of service;

 

• Brent Baloun was recognized for serving the BPD for the last 10 years.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is Sept. 20 at 6 p.m.