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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972 Stillwater City NewsletterDear Resident -- UTILITY BILLS Summer 1972 With the mailing of your utility bills this month, the City Council has asked the Staff to prepare some information to mail with them. It is a fact that there is often a great deal of misunderstanding and lack of information on not only what is going on in the City, but also on how the people of the City are able to provide input into the decisions which are made. At first, we will not use a slick newsletter format - one, because we won't be very professional and two, because we do not have the equipment yet to print a newsletter at a reasonable cost. Those of you who are owners of duplexes will notice that effective with this billing, you will pay your bill to the City. rather than to Stillwater Sanitation. Also effective this year - - - - utility bills which are more than ninety (90) days in arrears will be subject to a penalty when they are certified on next year's taxes by the. County Auditor. The amount of the penalty will be $5.00 or 10% of the amount due, whichever is greater. VOTER REGISTRATION If you are not now registered to vote in the City, please do so by August 22, 1972 if you intend to vote in this fall's Primary Election. or have changed your address since the last election. You may register at the C ity Hall any weekday from 8:30 A. W t_o_ 43 30 P. M. "and -on -- - - - August 18, 21 and 22 from 8:30 A. M. to 9:00 P. M. CITY COUNCIL FILINGS The terms of two positions on the City Council expire this year. Filings for those positions can, be made between August 1st and August 15th. RECYCLING CENTER AND JUNK PICKUP BOXES Since this Spring, the City has been operating (with the assistance of Boy Scout Troop #98) a Recycling Center at the South side of the City Hall. we have been surprised and pleased at the amount of bottles and cans which you in Stillwater are recycling. We hope that this good participation will continue. -2- • The use of dump boxes for heavy articles during the Spring pickup was such a success that the Council has authorized their use on a year round basis. The box is located in the parking lot at the rear of the City Hall - PLEASE - no construction materials: PUBLIC BEARING PROCEDURES The City is required by its Charter and by State Law to hold Public Hearings on requests for Subdivision Approval, Rezonings, Special Use Permits and Variances to the Zoning Ordinance and on Public Improve - ments when property owners are to be assessed for the project. SUBDIVISIONS - Public Hearings are held on preliminary plats after review by the Planning Commission. The preliminary plat is binding on both the City and on the developer. The approval of the preliminary plat gives general approval of the number and size of lots, the use, street location, and the size and locations of land to be dedicated to the City for park purposes. This approval authorizes the developer to proceed with his final plans and to submit a final plat with exact dimensions., REZONINGS SPECIAL USE PERMITS AND VARIANCES — Public Hearings for these changes to the Zoning Ordinance are held by the Council. A Rezoning involves the changing of the use classification of a piece of property from one district to another. Any use permitted in the new district may be placed on the land. A Special Use Permit does not change the classification of a piece of property - rather, it allows that certain conditions may be placed on the occupation of a piece of land for certain uses outlined in the Zoning Ordinance. Multiple Dwellings, Service Stations, and Planned Unit Developments, among others, can only be approved by the City with the issuance of a Special Use Permit. Variances are not a rezoning, but they are rather an exception from one or more of the numerical requirements relating to setbacks, lot size, etc. Variances and Special Use Permits normally are granted only in unique situations. PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARINGS - Before a Public Improvement (street, water, sewer, etc.) can be ordered, the Council must hold a hearing with all property owners who are likely to be assessed. Four of the five members Of the Council must vote for the project. Cost figures are generally only estimates as bids are usually let after the Hearing. When the project is completed, the Council holds an Assessment Hearing at which time final costs are known and the apportionment of the cost of the project is made. It is vitally important that you attend hearings of which you receive notice. That notice means that decisions are going to be made which may affect you and your property. But please remember, too, that the Council is elected to make decisions which affect.the welfare of the entire City. Decisions ,at Public Hearings have been and probably will continue to be made which are not popular with some of those affected by them. Dear Resident: FALL, 1972 A few favorable comments were received on our Summer mailing. We hope to keep it up and attempt to keep you informed on what is going on in the City. GARBAGE PICKUP CHARGES INCREASED Many of you will note that there is an "arrears" figure of about $1.05 on your bill this month. The reason for this is that the Council on July 25 increased the fee 35 per month to cover increased costs which were accruing to the City's contractor. The fee on this has been increased from $8.25 to $9.30 per quarter, effective July 1, 1972. MAILING SCHEDULES ALTERED Traditionally, the City Staff has attempted to get out the utility bills on the first day of each quarter. However, we find that on three of these occasions (January, April and October), we are unable to do so because of (1) end of the year and new year bookkeeping tasks, (2) the wait for the first quarter water meter readings to calculate the sewer bill and (3) Special Assessment Budget and Tax Levy work demands. Effective immediately, we will attempt to mail all utility bills on the first days of February, May, August and November to even out our work load. 1973 BUDGET At the October 10th meeting, the City Council adopted the 1973 Budget for the operating of the City. The budget called for receipts of $'1,944,066 and expenditures of $1,807,676. These figures do not take into effect anticipated 1973 construction projects such as the storm sewer separation project (about $1,600,000) and proposed 1973 street construction projects ($615,000). The City Tax Levy for 1973 was increased from $574,148 to $582,809 (1.5 %). In view of a small amount of growth in the City, it is thus anticipated that the City's Share of your taxes next year will not increase. But the City accounts for only about 29% of your total property tax. We will have to wait and see what the County and the school do before we can tell if property taxes will go up in Stillwater. Copies of the 1973 Budget are at City Hall for your examination. SEWER SEPARATION PROJECT 41 • Those of you who follow City news in the newspaper have been hearing those three words for about three years now. Those three words are going to cost the City about $1,600,000 in the next two years. It will be the biggest contract we've ever let at one time. When the City's sewer system was originally constructed in the 19th century, there was no provision for sewage treatment before discharge into the St. Croix. ('this is the way it was in almost every City then. Few Treatment Plants were built before the WPA projects of the 30's). Pipes were lai3 in sufficient size so that they could handle both storm water and sanitary sewage. In addition, when springs were found in the hills of the City, they were channeled directly into the sewer pipes. The Sewer Separation Project will remove both storm water and those springs from the City's sewer system for two very pressing reasons. The first is that when it rains, the storm water runoff is too great for the capacity of tha system and both storm water and sanitary sewage are diverted directly into the river. This we can no longer permit. The second reason is that clear water spring connections amount to about 40% of our dry weather sewage flow. The removal of these springs will reduce the amount of our payment to the Metro Sewer Board significantly. We expect to begin the Separation Project next Spring and hope to complete it by the Spring of 1974. It will involve the installation of new storm sewers in the old portion of the City and the closing off of all storm water and spring hookups to the present sewer system. Much of the City will pe torn up next year - we hope you will bear with it. For when this project (and•a concurrent street repair project) are done, virtually all streets in the City will be in A -1 shape. General Fund • Classification of Receipts and Dist Disbursement Mayor and Counc Personal services Contractual services Elections- , Personal services Contractual . services Commodities Planning Commission - Personal services' Commodities Legal - Personal services Services and charges Building Maintenance- Personal services Contractual services Commodities Police Protection- Personal services Contractual services Commodities Fire Protection - Pereonal services Contractual services Commodities Animal Control - Contractual services Commodities Year Ended December Receipts General. property taxes Revenue from other agencies Licenses and permits Fines, fees and costa Revenue from use of money and proper Charges for services Refunds and reimbursements Other revenue Administration and Finance - Personal services Contractual iervices Commodities Other charges Assessing and Board of Equalization - Contractual services 1 1972 205,$92 , 472, 592447. 3b, 150•.50 12,495.50 8,800.00 21,748.95 1 0,821,79 1 IQ. 308.75 128,902.72 6,891.11 Public Works- Personal service 11,8E6.00 Contractual services 6,643.69 Commodities 858.18 Streets and Sidewa]ks- Personal services 48,416.81 Commodities 19,356.85 Snow and Ice Removal- Personal service c 15,429.85 Contractual services 2,778.40 Commodities 1,425.04 Street Lighting- Contractual services 2 Signs, Signals and Markings- Contractual services 1,004.15 Commodities 1,200.47 Equipment Maintenance Shop- Personal service ,c 16,370.36 Contractual services 1,109.24 Commodities 334.80 Protective Inspection- Personal Services Contractual services Other charges Park Maintenance- Commodities 250.00 Unallocated- Contractual services Commodities Other Capital Outlay- Administration Police protection Fire protection Street and sidewalks Signs, signals and markings 2 7,920.00 455.49 2,989.04 17,863.80 9,461.44 49,655.37 11,946.31 10,922.48 1,311.30 7,269.34 1,868.14 BAND FUND PARK FUND • • Receipts: General property taxes $• 5,232.43 Disbursements: Musical entertainment 3,480.00 CIVIL DEFENSE FUND Receipts: General property taxes 1,165.83 Disbursements: Public safety 2,189.88 EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND Receipts: General property taxes 44,346.05 Disbursements: Employer contribution 36,349.68 HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT FUND Receipts: General property taxes 4,931.67 Disbursements: Contractual services 3,295.90 LIBRARY FUND Receipts: General property taxes 42,578.50 Charges for services 277.31 Revenue from use of money 1,109.87 Revenue from other agencies 11,250.20 Other 98.59 Disbursements: Personal services 27,056.39 Contractual services 4,602.02 Commodities 1,279.49 Capital outlay 8,330.01 Receipts: General property taxes 11,256.70 Revenue from use of property 94.50 Revenue from other agencies 3,106.89 Refund 38.32 Disbursements: Personal services 13,919.65 Contractual services 3,729.34 Commodities • 1,868.94 Capital outlay 1,853.26 3 SANITARY SEWER REVENUE FUND Receipts: Licenses and perm.ts Charges for current services Revenue from use of money Refunds and reimbursements Disbursements: Personal services 24,700.21 Contractual services 23,471.52 Contractual services Metro Sewer Board 97,205.25 Commodities 4,001.41 Other charges 964.85 WATER WORKS FUND Receipts: Charges for current services Revenue from use of money and property Other revenue Disbursements: Administration 42,963.30 Production and distribution 49,721.14 Service connections and jobbing 13,804.77 Capital outlay 33,681.18 SOLID WASTE COLLECTION FUND Receipts: General property taxes Charges for current services Disbursements: Contractual services Commodities LILY LAKE PARK REVENUE FUND Receipts: Revenue from use cf property 48,303.69 Disbursements: Personal services 24,004.19 Contractual services 22,434.38 Commodities 14,776.00 Other charges 7,541.43 PARKING FACILITIES FUND • Receipts: General property taxes 146.26 Rents 850.00 18,600.00 85,367.53 6,531.25 355.19 125,366.08 5,464.37 236.93 4 19,498.76 82,994.90 94,256.15 421.82 Disbursements: Services and charges 2,425.00 PARKING SYSTEM FUND Receipts: Licenses and permits 21,428.20 Disbursements: Contractual services 266.75 Commodities 1,200.90 FAIRMEADOWS N0.3 ESCROW FUND Receipts: Special assessments 5.890.52 WILDPINES ESCROW FUND Receipts: Special assessments 12,550.15 REAL PROPERTY FUND Receipts: General property taxes 1,007.97 PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT FUND Receipts: General property taxes 37,972.48 LOCAL IMPROVEMENT FUND Receipts: General property taxes Special assessments Disbursements: Special projects 179,646.24 FLOOD CONTROL FUND Receipts: General property taxes 14,791.40 Disbursements: Contractual services 21.00 G.O. TEMPORARY BOND - CROIXWOOD Receipts: Sale of bonds Investment cashed 5 6,905.05 7,057.33 137,260.00 59,746.25 59,746.25 Disbursements: Purchase of investment G.O. ICE ARENA BONDS OF 1970 FUND Disbursements: Capital outlay 8,143.73 IMPROVEMENT BOND OF 1971 FUND Receipts: Refund and reimbursement 846.39 Disbursements: Capital outlay 243,162.48 G.O. TEMPORARY BOND WCLDPINES Receipts: Sale of bonds Investment cashed Disbursements: Investment purchased Capital outlay REVENUE SHARING FUND Receipts: Revenue from other agencies 42,332.00 LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS Receipts: Revenue from use of money 610.04 Disbursements: Capital outlay 618.67 FIREMEN'S RELIEF FUND Receipts: General property taxes Revenue from other agencies Disbursements: Trust and agency remittance 8,916.34 IMPROVEMENT BOND ACCOUNT Receipts: General property taxes Special assessments Revenue from•use of money Disbursements: Debt service MUNICIPAL STATE -AID BOND FUND Receipts: Special assessments Revenue from - other agencies Disbursements: Debt service 350M REFUNDING BOND FUND • 6 137,260.00 100,000.00 100,000.00 123,535.04 43.65 8,675.08 7,545.33 532,441.13 32,112.70 163,100.44 8,384.63 45,980.00 55,357.34 Receipts: General property taxes 96.48 Special assessments 3,540.65 PARKING FACILITY BOND FUND Receipts: General property taxes Special assessments Revenue from use of money Disbursements: Debt service 13,716.28 REFUNDING BOND OF 1965 Receipts: General property taxes 254.46 Special assessments 6,805.67 Revenue from use of money 8,102.50 Disbursements: Debt service 45,363.06 MUNICIPAL BUILDING BOND OF 1966 Receipts: General property taxes 28,181.69 Disbursements: Debt service 26,163.80 STREET AND EQUIPMENT BOND OF 1967 FUND Receipts: General property taxes Special assessments Revenue from use of - money 4,841.79 5,806.81 1,025.00 40,7/8.63 9,276.47 9,350.69 Disbursements: Debt service 44,737.93 PARKING REVENUE BOND OF 1969 FUND Disbursements: Debt service 14,360.00 WASTE TREATMENT PLANT BOND OF 1970 FUND Receipts: Revenue from use of money Revenue from other agencies 5,400.00 149,600.00 Disbursements: Debt service 38,706.80 ICE ARENA BOND OF 1970 FUND Receipts: General property taxes 45,452.88 Disbursements: Debt service 41,858.19 7 Fund General and Special Revenue: General Band Civil Defense Employee Retirement Housing and Redevelopment Library Park Sanitary Sewer Revenue Water Works Solid Waste Collection Lily Lake Park Revenue Parking Facilities Parking System Improvement or Special Assessment: Fairmeadows No. 3 Escrow Wildpines Escrow Real Property Permanent Improvement Local Improvement Flood Control G. 0. Temporary Bond- Croixwood Ice Arena Bond of 1970 Improvement Bond of 1971 G. 0. Temporary Bond - Wildpines Revenue Sharing SUMMARY'OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS Year Ended December 31, 1972 Balance Jan. 1, 1972 — Receipts__ $ 18,861.88 $ 1,047.42* 1,948.70 4,279.74* 2,800.00 15,140.52 878.34 135,438.51 91,262.80 4,542.70* 8,659.22 911.03* 5,125.35* 10,113.60 0.00 313 .91 75,213.76* 9,128.59* 17,907.40* 0.00 18,085.34* 259,498.27 0.00 0.00 484,246.09 $ 5,232.43 1,165.83 44,346.05 4,931.67 55,314.47 14,496.41 110,853.97 151,067.38 102,493.66 48,303.69 996.26 21,428.20 5,890.52 12,550.15 1,007.97 37,972.48 13,962.38 14,791.40 197.006.25 846.39 237,260.00 42,332.00 Transfer to and from 4,177.12 180.00* 8,024.00 6,000.00* 6,000.00* 17,229.07* 2,339.77 17,919.75* 16,004.12* 1,321.88* 26,871.74* 174,812.45 149,095.56* 26,229.07 1,059.21* 1,131.85* Total $ 507,285.09 $ 4,185.01 3,114.53 40,066.31 7,731.67 70,274.99 23,398.75 240,292.48 242,330.18 91,950.96 39,733.84 2,425.00 1,616.90* 0.00 12,550.15 0.00 64,113.02* 179,646.24 3,116.00* 47,910.69 8,143.73 259,285.45 236,128.15 42,332.00 Balance Disbursements Dec. 31, 19 609,352.63 $ 3,480.00 2,189.88 36,349.68 3,295.90 41, 267.91 21,371.19 150,343.24 160,170.39 94,677.97 68,756.00 2,425.00 1,467.65 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 179,646.24 21.00 59,746.25 8,143.73 243,162.48 223,535.04 102,067.54* 705.01 924.65 3,716.63 4,435.77 29,007.08 2,027.56 89,949.24 82,159.79 2,727.01* 29,022.16* 0.00 3,084.5, 0.00 12,550.15 0.00 64,113.02* 0.00 3,137.00* 11,835.56* 0.00 16,122.97 12,593.11 42,332.00 Debt Service: Improvement Bond Account Municipal State -Aid Street 350M Refunding Bond Parking Facility Eond • Refunding Bond of 1965 Municipal Building Bond of 1966 Street Construction and Equipment Bond of 1967 Parking 12evenue Bond of 1969 G. O. Sanitary Sewer Treatment Plant Bond of 1970 G. O. Ice Arena Bond of 1970 Trust and Agency Firemen's Relief Library * Denotes overdrawn TOTAL 535,837.60 23,648.35 14,191.83* 23,906.27 183,885.55 15,246.74 150,074.98 4,780.02 87,322.10 39,275.00 200.94 5,181.20 51,463,891.34 October 1972 tax settlement received for General Fund Jan. 19, 1973 572,099.16 54,364.63 3,637.13 11,673.60 15,162.63 28,181.69 59,355.79 155,000.00 45,452.88 8,718.73 610.04 $2,562,7 23,361.66 5,710.87* 9,579.98 1,131,348.42 72,302.11 10,554.70* 35, 579.87 199,048.18 43,428.43 209,430.77 14,360.00 242,322.10 84,727.88 8,919.67 5,791.24 0.00 $4,026,643.27 $2,362,301.03 Summary of Balance: General Checking accounts Investments TOTAL 163,100.44 55,357.34 13,716.28 45,363.06 26,163.80 44,737.93 14,360.00 38,706.80 41,858.19 8,916.34 618.67 968,247.98 16,944.77 10,554.70* 21,863.59 153,685.12 17,264.63 164,692.84 0.00 203,615.30 42,869.69 3.33 5,172.57 $1,664,342.24 $ 65,452.98 1,598,889.26 $1,664,342.24