The Crosslake City Council on Monday, Sept. 14, approved a total preliminary tax levy of $4,552,072 for 2021, which is $245,933 higher than this year’s levy (5.71% increase).
The council will hold another budget meeting to continue to fine-tune the budget and levy.
That preliminary tax levy number, assuming the tax rate remains the same, includes:
General property tax levy: $3,652,222.
Economic Development Authority: $16,000.
General obligation refunding bonds: $343,771.
General obligation sewer revenue improvement bonds: $119,863.
General obligation reconstruction bonds: $107,231.
General obligation capital improvement plan bonds: $312,985.
The council can lower, but not raise, the preliminary levy number before final adoption in December. A truth in taxation meeting for the public to ask questions will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, at city hall.
Public safety
The council learned that three Crosslake firefighters were to leave Tuesday, Sept. 15, with an engine to go to Oregon to help fight wildfires. Brainerd firefighters and others from departments in the state also went.
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Crosslake Police Chief Erik Lee received permission to order a 2021 squad car from Tenvoorde Ford in St. Cloud for $33,819 to replace a 2016 squad. There will be more costs to set up and outfit the vehicle to make it a functional squad.
The department is still waiting to receive two squads it ordered for 2020.
Crosslake police reported 231 calls for service in August in Crosslake. Activity included 42 traffic stops, four traffic citations, two traffic arrests, four thefts, seven suspicious activity, two property damage accidents and one burglary.
Police reported 47 calls for service in August in Mission Township. Activity included 34 traffic stops, six traffic citations and one fire.
Firefighters reported 48 incidents in August, including 33 calls to assist emergency medical crews.
North Ambulance in Crosslake had 86 calls in August.
In other business Monday, the council:
Agreed the city council will approve change orders for the fire hall renovation project. Discussion was held after confusion resulted from action the council took last month regarding paying for unknown costs that arise when dealing with mold issues with the project.
City Administrator Mike Lyonais said the council has approved roughly $1.4 million for the project thus far.
A fire hall building committee has two staff members and two council members with the addition Monday of council member Aaron Herzog to the committee that will monitor the renovation project as changes occur.
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Adjusted the monthly sewer rate fee from $50 to $52 starting in 2021. This will generate $12,200 more in yearly revenue.
Appointed Gordon Wagner to the public works commission to fill a three-year term ending at the end of 2023.
Accepted the following donations: 24 yards of brown rubber mulch for the park department from Jesse and Stephanie Neumann; $1,148 for a picnic table and umbrella for the pickleball courts from Peter and Pam Graves; $6,400 to enhance safety features of the outdoor pickleball courts and nearby activities from the Greater Crosslake Area Foundation and Crosslake Ideal Lions; and $30,000 for basketball and pickleball courts construction from the Parks and Library Foundation.
Appointed election judges for the Nov. 3 general election.
Approved an ordinance amendment naming an unnamed road Alma Pond Drive.
Agreed not to join the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.
Saw letters praising Jon Kolstad, planning and zoning administrator, and Crosslake Fire Department and rescue squad.
Agreed to pay $33,879 to Karl Chevrolet to buy a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado four-wheel drive, double cab work truck from the parks department. Council members Dave Schrupp and John Andrews were opposed, preferring to buy a crew cab for $1,800 more.
Agreed to pay $8,500 to North Central Lawn Care & Irrigation, Long Prairie, to install a new irrigation system around the playground area.
Appointed council member Marcia Seibert-Volz as acting mayor. Former council member Gary Heacox held that role.
Agreed to vacate the old alignment of Perkins Road, which was relocated. The council took this action after no one spoke at a public hearing on the matter. City Attorney Brad Person said he had not heard of any objections to the vacation, and all but two people have paid the assessment and are on board. Person said he has yet to talk to two people.
Nancy Vogt may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy.
