Eagan council certifies delinquent false-alarm bills totaling about $9,000

The Eagan City Council on Sept. 2 closed a public hearing and approved certification of delinquent nuisance abatement bills tied to false-alarm invoices, directing the city to forward assessments to Dakota County for collection with property taxes.

City staff told the council that the city’s fee schedule permits three false alarms per year without charge and charges $125 for the fourth and subsequent false alarm in a calendar year. “The city does have 24 properties with delinquent false alarms invoices totaling just over $9,000,” said Miss Miller, city staff leading the hearing.

The council discussed why one line item for the Eagan Outlet Parkway was relatively large; staff said those charges represent a variety of stores at the outlet and can reflect employee errors such as doors being opened improperly. Staff also noted a 10% late fee is applied to false-alarm invoices unpaid after 30 days, which explains why some certificate balances are not exact multiples of $125.

Councilmember Fields moved “to close the public hearing and approve the final assessment rule for delinquent nuisance abatement bills and authorize certification to Dakota County for collections with property taxes.” The motion was seconded, carried on voice vote, and the council instructed staff to send the certified assessments to the county.

The action applies only to the specific delinquent invoices presented at the hearing and does not change the city’s false-alarm fee schedule or enforcement policy. The finance director was present in case council had questions about individual accounts.

Members of the public did not speak during the hearing. The council did not modify the fee schedule and recorded no additional conditions when it approved certification.