The Lake Shore City Council on Monday adopted the 2009 tax levy of $783,172, and a 2009 general budget of $844,439.
Council members also adopted a 5.8 percent cost-of-living increase for city employees.
The tax levy is up 7.97 percent and the budget is up 5.27 percent from 2008. The city's tax rate is 13.84 percent.
Public safety
Lake Shore police responded to 85 incidents from Nov. 24 to Dec. 21, including 39 traffic-related incidents and 46 miscellaneous calls.
Traffic incidents included 17 miscellaneous traffic warnings, six speed warnings, four speed citations, three vehicles in the ditch, two third-degree DWI arrests, two driving complaints and one property damage crash.
Miscellaneous calls included seven alarms, six public assists, three suspicious activity reports, three theft complaints, three medicals, two trespassing complaints, one terroristic threat report, one disturbance complaint, one damage to property complaint, one underage alcohol consumption citation, one possession of drug paraphernalia citation and one warrant arrest.
Lake Shore police assisted Nisswa police eight times and Cass County deputies four times.
Planning and zoning
The city issued no land-use permits in November. That compares to four permits issued in November 2008 for a total valuation of $440,800.
So far this year, the city has issued 41 permits for a total valuation of $2,860,440. That compares to 78 permits issued by this time in 2007 for a total valuation of $10,249,408.
Only had six new dwelling permits in 2008. Usually average about 20 new homes per year since early 1990s.
In other action Monday, the council:
Adopted an ordinance amendment clarifying that all subdivisions of land require city approval.
Learned Wesley and Anne Robertson's request for a variance for an addition to their home on Robinhood Way was approved by the planning and zoning commission. The controversial issue had come before the city council in October, when council members sent it back to the planning commission to be worked out at that level.
Approved payment of $2,180 to Northern Technologies for soil borings completed on Pamela Drive and Dettbarn Road.
Appointed Ron Faust to the Environmental Committee.
Agreed to apply for a DNR curly-leaf pondweed grant.
