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Council reviews sewer lateral financing, negative account balances and billing errors
Summary
Clerk Kara Hansen reported negative balances in the 412 and 420 I/I accounts and recommended follow-up; the council discussed sewer-lateral replacements with city financing, two residents’ erroneous bills from Banyon and a garbage/recycling revenue shortfall that may require a 13% rate increase.
Clerk Kara Hansen told the council she located an auditor journal entry that produced a negative balance in the 412 account and that payment from the county tied to Pay Application #14 has not yet been received; she said she will research the journal entry and present findings at the August meeting.
Hansen also reported the 420 I/I (inflow/infiltration) account is negative. She said the city started that account with $130,746.04 and, accounting for current and pending assessments, the balance available is $46,541.86. Hansen said three property owners have agreed to city-financed sewer-lateral replacement this month and that the council should pass a resolution at the August meeting to make the account positive. The council directed staff to return with specifics in August.
Regarding utility billing, Hansen reported a Banyon billing error left two residents improperly billed in May. Mayor Dana Ziegler directed Hansen to call the affected residents, explain the mistake and offer a three- to four-month payment plan without penalties if necessary.
On solid waste, Hansen presented cost and revenue figures for garbage and recycling: an average monthly bill of $2,829.29 versus average monthly revenue of $2,506.34, which she said implies a 13% increase would be needed to reach the average. Mayor Ziegler asked Hansen to locate and present the LJP contract at the next meeting for further consideration.
The council also reviewed routine ordinance-enforcement follow-ups (property cleanup, vehicle tabs) and heard that the city intends to credit townships for the proceeds of a planned fire-truck sale; Councilor Lisa Peterson said a resolution will be prepared to transfer sale proceeds into the truck fund.
No substantive public comment was recorded in the transcript. Staff follow-ups were assigned and will be reported back at the next regular meeting.
