COUNCIL:     Special Meeting – Budget Workshop

 

DATE:                        June 21, 2005

 

TIME:                        5:30 p.m.

 

MEMBERS

PRESENT:                 Hermes, Gilmour, Hoppe, Johnston, Mietzner

 

 

ABSENT:                   Plese, Orr

 

NON-MEMBERS

PRESENT:                 Chief Metta, Public Works Superintendent Gary Van Duyne, Finance Supervisor Robin Theobald, City Administrator Rob Nelis, Executive Secretary Puracchio, Reporter Pam Monson

 

DISCUSSION:           Meeting Opening

 

ACTION:                   Discussions of the Budget was opened up at 5:32 PM

                                   

DISCUSSION:           Introduction

 

ACTION:                   Nelis explained that tonight the Council will review the remaining funds, there will be an Executive Session to discuss specific Personnel.

                                   

                                    He again reminded the Council that the budget will be approved on July 5 and the following Council Meeting the Appropriations Ordinance will be approved with an added 25%.

 

DISCUSSION:           Health and Safety

 

ACTION:                   Garbage rates will be increased by $1.75 a month.  The City can no longer afford to contribute such a large amount towards this service.

 

                                    Nelis pointed out that there is a duplication of services in the brush pick-up.  The City picks up brush the last Friday of the month and the City Garbage Contract also includes brush pick-up on garbage days.  The City needs to take a look at this policy.

 

                                    Nelis discussed the last meeting with the EPA on the landfill issue.  The dirt issue might not be as expensive as once thought but the monitoring wells will be an expensive issue.  The City estimates the cost to be approximately $450,000. and these funds will be obtained by refinancing the City’s existing bond. 

 

DISCUSSION:           Water Tower

 

ACTION:                   This is still an issue due to the eventual police department expansion.  Alderman Orr requested that City staff look into Cyber Broadcasting’s Contract since their antenna system is required to be on this tower. This City still has a pending offer from the Elwood Fire District to assist in the cost of building a new antenna.

 

DISCUSSION:           Meter Replacement

 

ACTION:                   Meters are purchased through this fund. There is a collection fee on each water bill to reimburse this fund.

 

DISCUSSION:           Sludge Fund

 

ACTION:                   No revenues in this fund.

 

DISCUSSION:           Liability

 

ACTION:                   Paid from Property Tax and funds from the Water and Sewer Fund.

 

DISCUSSION:           Police Pension Fund

 

ACTION:                   Property Tax and the General Fund makes up for short fall in this fund.  Money required for this fund is obtained from an actuarial study – about $30,000. The Police Pension Board will do an annual study.  This fund is tax capped and can’t be increased.

 

DISCUSSION:           Water

 

ACTION:                   The City will have to increase rates. The Council asked City Staff to research the volume discount rate for customers living outside Wilmington city limits.

 

DISCUSSION:           Liquor License

 

ACTION:                   The Council asked if these needed to be increased.  Theobald provided a spreadsheet and will have an updated breakdown at the next budget meeting.

 

DISCUSSION:           Park District Lights

 

ACTION:                   The Council asked that City staff research the payment of the lights when the baseball teams are using them.  This is too large of an increase for the City to be incurring.

 

DISCUSSION:           AFSCME Contract

 

ACTION:                   There are potential raises involved in the Union contract negotiations.    

 

DISCUSSION:           Executive Session

 

ACTION:                   A Motion was made by Alderman Mietzner and seconded by Alderman Johnston to go into Executive Session at 6:00 p.m. All yes.  Motion passed.

 

Motion to come out of Executive Session at 7:10 p.m. All yes.  Motion passed. Discussed salary, compensation and insurance issues on certain personnel.  No action taken.

 

Nelis explained that the Council will meet again next Monday, June 27, at 5:30 p.m.

 

DISCUSSION:           Adjournment

 

ACTION:                   The meeting ended at 7:12 p.m.