In a meeting that took over two hours, the Becker City Council Tuesday night covered the 2016 budget, solar energy, golf course upgrades, engineering services, the 2016 fee schedule, safe routes to school and wi-fi connectability at the BAC.

 

Albert Kangas of Palmer Wireless presented a proposal to council to move ahead with the granting process of acquiring funds to pay to get wireless service to the Becker Athletic Complex (BAC) in the near future.

Kangas said Palmer Wireless is working with members of the Becker Youth Sports Association (BYSA) to apply for a Blandin Foundation grant to implement a free, public Wi-Fi access point at the BAC to allow for enhanced experiences and greater safety at the fields.

 

The wireless system would allow spectators that cannot attend youth activities in person to watch them live over the internet. Kangas said it would allow the elderly and people with disabilities to participate in their loved-ones activities. He also said it would allow for the city to put in security cameras all over the complex (if they desire to do so).

 

Kangas said the budget for the project is $31,000, with Palmer Wireless contributing $19,000 and a goal of having the Blandin Foundation provide $12,000. Kangas told council the only costs to the city would be to install a pole at the fields for security cameras and/or to install further electrical services to the park.

 

Council Member Rick Hendrickson said he has already been in contact with an electrician to get an estimate on costs and he was told it could cost the city up to $15,000 possibly to install a light pole and provide added electricity around the complex.

 

Because the grant application process needed to be secured by the end of 2015, Kangas was solely looking to get approval from the city to pursue the grant and allow for the internet company to put the wireless system on city property.

Adam Oliver motioned to approve the request to allow for the operation of the system that was outlined by Kangas with council having the opportunity to explore options to reduce or eliminate the cost needed for the city to participate. All members approved the motion.

 

Treasurer Sarah Brunn brought forth a resolution to decrease a debt service levy with excess funds on hand. The excess funds occurred due to the public improvements coming in under budget for the industrial park project.

 

A grant was also used to help pay for the project and the unspent dollars from the capital project fund were transferred into the debt service fund, resulting in a significant fund balance of $430,000.

 

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

 

Council approved the resolution calling to decrease the Series 2010A G.O. improvement bonds debt service by $36,897.

 

Brunn presented summary information for the enterprise fund budgets, indicating the revenues and expenditures estimated for the city’s enterprises — water, domestic sewer, industrial sewer and the golf course.

 

In the summary, it was noted the water fund’s revenues are estimated at $565,650, with expenditures estimated at $664,620.

 

The domestic sewer fund shows revenues at $640,800, while expenditures are coming in at $1,033,970.

 

The industrial sewer fund shows revenues at $1,553,000 and expenditures at $853,310.

 

The golf course exhibits revenues at $1,133,000 and expenditures at $1,339,674.

 

All members voted in favor of the adoption of the final 2016 budget for the enterprise funds except for Mayor Lefty Kleis. Kleis said he will always vote “no” for anything associated with the golf course that shows it is not self-sustaining.

 

Brunn followed up with a resolution for council to adopt the final budget and levy for the City of Becker for taxes payable in 2016.

 

The 2016 proposed levy shows an increase of 3.55% and creates a tax rate of approximately 36.4%.

 

The budget was summarized as follows:

 

• Overall budget: $11 million;

 

• Administration: $1.11 million (city council, administrator, city clerk, professional services, planning, EDA);

 

• Streets Dept.: $955,000;

 

• Parks & Rec/BCC: $1.21 million (parks, trails, BCC operations);

 

• Public safety: $1.3 million police ($808,000), fire ($463,500), building inspection ($29,000);

 

• Capital improvement plans: $1.2 million;

 

• Debt service: $1.29 million;

 

• Water/wastewater (domestic and industrial): $2.55 million;

 

• Golf: $1.33 million (operations/maintenance, food/beverage).

 

Brunn also presented the EDA budget and levy for 2016 which showed the levy at $114,300.

 

Council voted for the adoption of the budget and levy with Mayor Kleis voting “no”. Consequently, council voted in favor of the EDA budget and levy with the mayor voting “no”.

 

Troy Malo asked council to approve a project consisting of staining the clubhouse, decks, railing and surrounding buildings at the golf course sometime next spring.

 

Malo said the golf committee discussed and approved moving forward with the project for 2016 and asked for quotes from five area contractors from Big Lake, Becker, Buffalo and Monticello. Malo said he requested quotes from the contractors utilizing the staining  products from True Value in Becker and Sherwin Williams in Monticello.

 

JP’s Coatings of Buffalo came in with the lowest bid at $8,845 using Sherwin Williams and Malo suggested the city go with them.

 

The money designated to complete this project will come from the $75,000 obtained through the levy and Malo said the company will need a deposit of around 25% of the total cost to begin the project in early spring. Malo said the project should get completed in seven-to-10 days (depending on weather).

 

Malo suggested council approve the bid from JP’s Coatings but also suggested the city include a 10% contingency should any unexpected costs occur when the project commences. Council voted to approve the project with the total costs not to exceed $9,730.

 

Malo brought forth a new golf cart lease contract for the 2016 season. Currently, the golf course has a payment of $8,510 for a five-year term expected to end next year. Malo said this year’s lease will increase to $9,102 for the same term with the golf course increasing the 18-hole cart rate next year by $1 to cover the difference.

 

The new fleet of carts will be 74 carts with a five-year straight lease, a four-year warranty and a six month on, six month off payment schedule. Malo also said he received a proposal for a beverage unit, which is a 2013 demo. Malo said this lease will be paid with the stipend money they get from Bernick’s. Also part of that agreement is another late model beverage unit supplied to the golf course at no charge for the term of the lease.

 

At the end of the lease, all the units will be the property of Versatile Vehicles.

 

Council voted to approve, with the mayor voting “no”.

 

Community Development Director Therese Haffner reminded council of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant applications the city is pursuing to fund the construction of a 10-foot wide, bituminous trail on the southeast side of Hwy. 24 extending from the existing trail at Rolling Ridge to 117th St. SE (approximately 1,300 feet).

 

The trail has been planned for some time and is a priority, Haffner said. With the reconstruction of the Hwy. 24 bridge completed recently, the trail is ready to be completed to provide more walking and biking opportunities and a safe route for students to get to and from school.

 

The estimated cost for the construction of the trail is $838,300. The maximum SRTS grant allowed is $300,000 and the maximum TAP grant allowed is $800,000, which requires a 20% local match.

 

Total cost to the city for the project is estimated at $167,660 and will be paid for through the capital improvement fund.

 

• The 2016 fee schedule was reviewed and approved;

 

• A final design payment was approved to Wenck Associates in the amount of $120,000 for the extra engineering work on the WWTF;

 

• A solar energy systems ordinance was adopted updating the land use regulations for the purpose of ensuring compatability with surrounding uses and to promote safe and effective use of solar energy;

 

• Mayor Kleis announced that Gerald Lanz of the Water/Wastewater Treatment Facility was presented the 2015 safety award for the month of November.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is Jan.. 5 at 6 p.m.