In their Monday, April 4, meeting, the Breezy Point City Council unanimously agreed to renew the city's contract with the Pequot Lakes Fire Department, despite a rate increase.
The city's contract amount for this year is $83,700.30, which is an increase of nearly $7,700 from the previous year. The department increased its budget in 2016 thanks to new equipment and the need for replacement airpacks that meet current standards.
The city had anticipated this rate increase, budgeting $84,000 for that purpose for 2016.
Council member Otto Schmid mentioned that the city's fire classification in terms of insurance has changed, which should decrease rates of homeowner's insurance.
The council also reviewed and accepted a 2015 audit report from Schlenner Wenner & Co. of Little Falls. City administrator Joe Rudberg indicated that the city is, in general, "doing very well financially," with increases to the city's general fund, debt service fund and revolving capital fund.
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In other action, the council:
• Appointed mayor Tom Lillehei as the council's National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) representative.
• Approved a resolution agreeing to no-fault sewer backup coverage at a rate of $1,980.39 annually for $40,000 of coverage. This is to be paid from the city's sewer fund.
• Agreed to conduct a feasibility study for the city's 2017 paving of the Whitebirch Sixth Addition - which includes Navajo Trail, Pima Circle, Zuni Circle, Aztec Circle and Pawnee Circle. They also agreed to have Widseth Smith Nolting conduct the study. Based on bids received from the 2016 paving projects, costs for this project are estimated at roughly $351,000.
In March, the Breezy Point Police Department responded to 174 incidents, a decrease of seven from March 2015. Among those incidents were three traffic arrests, two crashes, one theft and one fire.
