Staff proposes additional year-end check run; council seeks candidates for charter commission

City staff told the Little Falls City Council on Dec. 1, 2020 that an additional year-end check run would help the city avoid late payments because of the council's meeting schedule.

A staff member said checks could be prepared for review on Monday, Dec. 29 and, if questions are resolved, mailed on Dec. 31, with formal council approval at the first January meeting. "What we're looking at doing is to do a check run that'll be available for review on Monday, December 29th. And then pending informal review... we would mail out checks on the 31st," the staff member said. The staff member added the run would include regular operating checks such as utility bills, not discretionary large expenditures, and stressed that checks would need to be entered and ready for review by Dec. 10 to meet the schedule.

Separately, the council discussed putting together a charter commission to review the city charter. Staff said the commission would need about seven members who live within Little Falls City limits and that, under state requirements, once formed the commission must meet at least annually. Council members asked for clarification on compensation and bylaws, which staff said would be provided later, and said they will solicit name recommendations from the public.

Next steps: The proposed additional check run was listed as an action item for later in the meeting; staff will provide details on charter-commission bylaws and any compensation for non-council members before appointments are made.