Posted: 12/19/06
City adopts budget and levy
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The Caledonia City Council has approved a levy increase of eight percent. The council took the action at a special meeting of the city council held December 14.
The increase brings the cityís levy to $426,683, up from the 2005 levy of $395,077.
The city also approved a budget of $1,929,988.
The council also approved wage increases for employees who are not part of a bargaining unit.
Caledonia Police Chief Randy Shefelbine received an increase of $1 per hour to $25.50; City Clerk Robert Nelson received an increase from $60,200 to $62,000; the wage for the attendant at the diseased tree disposal site was increased from $8 to $8.50 per hour and librarians Marla Burns and Eileen Jacobson were increased by 55 cents per hour to $13.70 and $10.60 respectively.
Comprehensive plan approval postponed
At its regular meeting of December 11, the council agreed to postpone the approval of the cityís comprehensive plan.
The decision was made following a special meeting that the city had on December 7 with residents of Caledonia Township. Kermit McRae told the council that there were several items in the plan that concerned township residents.
Primarily, township residents were concerned over references to annexation in the comprehensive plan. Shannon Sweeney of David Drown Associates, who has been working with the city on its comprehensive plan, explained that there are no plans to annex anything in the townships to the city. There is a plan, however, to ask the township to join the city in establishing a 1,000 ft. wide corridor along Highway 44/76 from the southern border of the city limits to the southern limits of section 24 in Caledonia Township. The land would be used for highway businesses as opposed to residential or other uses.
McRae presented the council with a copy of suggested changes to the comprehensive plan. The city agreed that it would set up more meetings before giving the plan final approval. Those meetings will be public meetings with the county, Mayville and Caledonia township residents and other interested people. Rick Frank of the county zoning office will be scheduling the meetings.
Copies of the comprehensive plan are available at the city clerkís office.
Farmersí Markets coming this summer
In other business from the meeting of December 11, the council heard plans for a farmersí market to be held during the growing season. Janene Hosch and Loretta Knutson, both UM-extension master gardeners, told the council that the market would be held at the Eitzen Loan Production Office parking lot at Highway 44 and Main Street on Saturdays.
Council members agreed that the idea is a good one, and noted that no special permits are required for a farmers market. There have been problems in the past with vendors selling from the highway right of way, but that wonít be the case in this instance.
Winter Wonderland update
Noel Brenza of the Founder Days committee updated the council on the recent Winter Wonderland celebration. She said she heard many favorable comments on the new wraps for the light poles and the 37 decorated trees that were placed in the downtown area.
The city was offered a discount on additional wraps at $85 each. There are 16 available. The council moved to approve the purchase. The original price was $120.
Brenza said she would return to the council at a later date to discuss placing permanent planters downtown which would be used for flowers in the spring and summer, corn stalks in the fall and the trees at Christmas.
Fire Department plans purchases
Fire Chief Chuck Gavin and Dan Schwirtz approached the council with a list of equipment that the fire department plans to purchase with gambling funds. Also, they reported that they have applied for a matching grant from the Department of Natural Resources for three portable radios.
Cityís attorney will negotiate with officer
In another matter, the city has hired attorney Julie Fleming Wolfe to negotiate on its behalf with police officer James Logan, who is claiming back wages for care of Nitro, a dog that was trained to detect drugs.
The city has not discussed the matter in an open meeting; the amount of the claim has not been made public.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com