The Becker City Council met on Wed., Aug. 7, instead of their usual Tuesday due to Night to Unite.  Mayor Tracy Bertram and City Council Members Rick Hendrickson, Robin Dingmann, Mike Doering, and Becky Olmsheid toured area gatherings.  Olmsheid was absent from Wednesdays meeting. 

Frank Kolbinger Jr.

A request for council action was presented by Phil Knutson to place a bronze plaque at Kolbinger Park that honors his life.  The goal of the monument is to tell some of the stories of the history of Becker and the people who made it possible.  The monument details Kolbinger’s military service and life as an influential business owner and Postmaster for Becker. 

The city reached out to two of Kolbinger’s daughters and his family.  

“We wanted to make sure that we were doing something that was respectful to them and that they would be supportive of,”  said Knutson.

Council pronounced unanimous support for the project with Mike Doering expressing his feelings on the memorial.  

“I think it’s a great idea.  Not everybody knew Frank Kolbinger, but I did.”

Second Quarter Financials

Mark Ebensteiner, Finance Director for the city, updated the council on the city’s finances.  

His updates were through June which marks 50% of the year having elapsed.  General fund revenues were at 36%.  That percent is in line with expectations as the bulk of property tax revenue will be received in November or December.  One bright spot was in interest revenue.  City investments and the interest received from them have exceeded budget expectations by 126%. 

General fund expenditures were also on-track and are at 45.66 percent of the amount budgeted for the year.  Economic Development Authority (EDA) will receive 50% of their revenues in July from the county because funding is tied to property taxes.  An unbudgeted amount was received in the second quarter from a Rockefeller Philanthropy Grant for $150,000.  EDA expenditures were favorable at 36.36% of budget through half the year.  Strong membership at the Community Center helped it meet budgeted revenues goals.  Revenues were at 56.66%.

Ebensteiner noted that the Golf Course has been operating without the aid of property tax levy funds.  Golf operations revenues were up at 65% of budget, 55.37% overall and total expenditures at 48.99%.   That has translated to $238,000 of income through the second quarter.  Lastly, because of all the rain that has fallen in June, Water Fund revenues are down slightly. 

Anniversaries

Mayor Bertram announced August anniversaries.  Two full-time employees were acknowledged – Josh Kuha for six years and Troy Zwilling for three years.  Kristin Fual has worked 15 years and Jamie Langley, six years, as part-time employees of the city.