|
City to increase fee to $500 for brush dump key rental
|
|
|
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Area tree trimming contractors are going to have to pony up a little more money to obtain special access to the city’s brush dump. By a 3-2 vote the Caledonia City Council approved a motion to charge $500 for a key to the city’s brush dump located on the east side of town.
Administrative Coordinator Mike Gerardy explained that the city had been charging $100 a year for contractors to have a key to the brush dump. The key provided the contractors with assess at any time, and not just when the city had the dump open.
The problem, according to Gerardy, a person or persons had made copies of the keys, and many more persons were gaining access to the brush dump than the city wanted. It was becoming impossible to monitor.
Gerardy did some research and found that La Crescent was charging $2,200 for a key and had special keys made up by a locksmith in La Crosse that could not be duplicated. He felt the $2,200 charge was a little steep, but recommended that the city look into having new keys made by this locksmith, which could not be duplicated.
“We’ve had issues where people have been getting in there after hours and putting brush on a burn pile that had been just about extinguished. The added brush got the fire going again, and with the current dry conditions, we nearly had a serious fire out there. It’s not a good situation. We need to monitor it better,” Gerardy said.
Mayor Bob Burns thought Gerardy’s idea was a good one and recommended the city charge $200 and have new non-duplicating keys been made.
Councilwoman Peggy Perry felt all the extra work to have the new “special” keys made was an additional cost to the city and made a motion to charge $500 per key. Her motion was seconded by Councilman Bob Lemke.
Perry, Lemke and Councilman Tom Murphy voted in favor of the motion. Burns and Councilwoman Randi Vick voted against it.
In other council action
Ambulance issues
City Ambulance Director Mike Tornstrom informed the council the ambulance association was planning a fund raiser for May 17. The event would include a chicken-Q and a 5-K run/walk. All proceeds would go towards purchasing more equipment for the ambulance association.
Tornstrom asked if the city could front the association $500 for advertising and purchasing the T-shirts that would be given out during the run.
After some discussion, it was decided $500 could be appropriated for the event as seed money from the liquor store fund. A motion made by Murphy and seconded by Vick was unanimously passed.
501 C-3 status
Tornstrom told the council the association is looking into filing for 501 C-3 status, which might bring in more donations. Persons donating to a 501 C-3 organization can deduct those donations on their income taxes. With 501 C-3 status, the local association would be illegible for additional grants they now cannot apply for.
No council action was needed on this issue. Tornstrom said he and other members of the association would be looking into this issue in more depth before moving forward.
Uniform allowance
Tornstrom asked the council for permission to spend the $1,500 that had been budgeted for uniforms. The local association now has 21 members, and some of the newer members do not have any clothing that identify them as being on the ambulance crew.
“It is very important at an accident scene or when we’re moving someone into a hospital that those in charge know who we are, and that we are part of the team that should be there,” Tornstrom said.
Perry asked Tornstrom if the T-shirts and sweatshirts the city has purchased in the past really identifies those on the crew. She pointed out that in the winter, crew members would be wearing jackets over T-shirts or sweatshirts.
“We’ve asked all the department heads to curb their spending during these tight times,” Perry said. “I’d like to see where the city is at at the end of the quarter before approving any more spending.
Tornstrom said he felt his request was essential and added that the ambulance association was looking at purchasing reflective vests that could be worn over any clothing, identifying crew members.
A motion by Burns and seconded by Vick passed by a 4-1 vote with Perry voting against it.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
