By Jolene Farley
At a Monday meeting, the Hills City Council discussed where to decrease the city’s budget if Minnesota state aid is cut by Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s plan.
The state hasn’t notified the city of specific cuts yet, but the council decided on a plan of action to follow when and if those cuts occur.
Mayor Jim Jellema suggested the city not do sewer work that was budgeted for this year. The city routinely contracts to televise (run a camera through the lines) a portion of the sewer lines for needed repairs and problems.
The contractor generally works on the sewer lines until he reaches the dollars allotted by the city.
Depending on the amount of repairs needed, the contractor could complete several blocks or only a few blocks of work each year.
"We’ve done that every year … we could probably hold back on that," said Jellema.
After some discussion, the council decided to eliminate funds budgeted for the purchase of a tractor and pickup for the city.
Jellema cautioned that the pickup is getting worn and it may or may not make it through another year.
If the state aid comes through, these items could be added back into the budget.
The council also discussed not seal coating the streets this year as an alternative money saver. The east side of town was done last year and the west side of town was budgeted for this year.
The council decided against cutting the street budget and awarded the seal coating job to Top Coat, Yankton, S.D., after reviewing bids.
Fire department budget
The council reviewed the proposed $31,425 Fire Department budget for 2004 but didn’t approve it.
The total budget for 2003 was $23,350, according to City Clerk Connie Wiertzema. The increase in the proposed 2004 budget is attributed to a $2,000 increase, from $3,000 to $5,000, in the Firemen’s Relief Fund contribution, a $700 increase in the truck replacement fund, from $2,300 to $3,000, and an increase in roof expenses from $500 to $6,000. Officials plan to replace the roof on the fire hall in 2004.
Fire department expenses are split with Martin??? Township, so the budget must be approved by the township board in addition to the Hills City Council.
One of the board members questioned why taxpayers should be asked to contribute more to the Firemen’s Relief Association fund.
A portion of the money in this fund, used to pay for the firemen’s retirement, was invested in the stock market and devalued as the stock market fell, according to the council.
Council Member Arlen Leenderts asserted that the fire department has several firemen retiring with 25 to 30 years of service and the department pays out $475 for each year of service.
"For the time spent and for what those guys put in … the time … it’s not much," said Council Member Dana Dahlquist.
"We can’t make a decision (about the budget) one way or another until we have more answers from the firemen and we see if the township goes along with it," Jellema said.
He suggested a representative from the fire department come to the next meeting with more information on the Firemen’s Relief Fund for the council.
Volleyball courts
The board agreed to donate $400 toward repairing the existing volleyball courts in the park and at the Rez and building another court.
The Lion’s Club and the Hills Community Club have already agreed to donate $400 each toward the estimated $1,200 project.
"They’d like to get a better turnout for tournaments during Friendship Days and there’s enough interest in town to start a league," Stacen Burgers said.
Burgers added that since most of the residents interested in joining a league have young children, they would like the new court to be at the park rather than the Rez.
Volunteers will dig and haul away the dirt for the new court, to be located about 200 feet southwest of the current court in the park.
The groups also want to redo the court at the Rez for use during tournaments and by campers.
The project could cost more than $1,500 if the electrical work for lighting costs more than the allotted $500, according to Burgers.
Propane tanks
The board discussed whether the city should purchase eight propane tanks instead of renting them.
The city currently contracts for 15,000 gallons of propane a year. The city could accept bids from any company without changing tanks if the low bidder wasn’t the current supplier.
"Without owning these tanks you can be looking at changing these tanks," Jellema said.
