Posted: 10/3/06
City increases reconnection fee
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Residents of Caledonia who get their electricity turned off for non payment will now have to pay more to get it turned back on.
At its meeting of September 25, the city council increased its reconnection fee from $20 to $35. The increase is meant to more accurately reflect what it actually costs the city to reconnect the service. In some cases, a city employee makes the reconnection after regular hours.
According to city clerk administrator Robert Nelson, 22 city residents were disconnected on September 18. That number is higher than average, he noted.
Utility bills are due by the tenth day of each month. Residents who do not pay by the twentieth receive a disconnection notice.
After disconnection, residents must pay all past due amounts, and a $200 security deposit for each meter in addition to the reconnection fee.
Land options tabled
Council members did not agree on whether to permit a committee to purchase land options for the purpose of building a new fire and ambulance garage in the future.
Councilman Gary Klug spoke against the purchase of options, saying that if suitable land is identified, the committee could return to the city council for permission to buy the land.
Councilman Paul Fisch argued that by purchasing options, the city is in a better position to negotiate with other land owners whose property may be needed for the project.
The request to negotiate an option for land arose from a committee that is currently developing a five-year plan for the space needs of the fire department and possibly the ambulance service as well. In July, the council gave its approval to the development of a plan. The committee has met once. Among the issues that are being looked at are space needs, location, and funding sources.
The council agreed to revisit the issue at a future meeting.
City approves its own variance
In other business, the city held a public hearing on a setback variance for an electrical department garage to be built at 509 Old Highway Drive. The request was for a 36-ft. setback variance on the east property line. The garage is to be 60 ft. by 120 ft. No one attended the hearing, and the variance was approved.
On another matter, Clerk Nelson informed the council that a business had contacted him regarding a claim of damage from storm water run-off due to development of nearby property over the past year. He did not name the business or business owner.
According to Nelson, a committee had looked at the problem earlier and did not believe that the city was responsible. The business owner contacted Nelson and asked for reconsideration before taking other measures, which Nelson said he took to mean as a lawsuit. The damages claimed total about $8,000, said Nelson.
The council agreed to deny the voluntary payment of damages.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com