Lino Lakes siblings doing serious renovation of 100-year-old building
by Nicholas Backus Quad Press
Oldie but goodie downtown standby Kelly's Korner is coming back.
Siblings Jeff Schultz and Victoria Byrne teamed up to resurrect the more than 100-year-old bar, an establishment that is purported to have acquired Anoka County's first liquor license.
It was licensing issues that shut down the bar Jan. 1 after the city reported former owners were behind on tax payments. With that issue settled, Kelly's new owners are slating an April 15 reopening, just in time for spring volleyball leagues.
Link Full Story Here
Congratulations to the new owners! Wishing you many years of success in your new venture!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Controversial Colored Concrete Chronicles
There is an article regarding the colored concrete on the front page of The Citizen today.
Failed Concrete: City at Crossroads for Solution
By Loretta B. Harding,
Contributing Writer
The Centerville City Council is trying to solve the mystery of damaged colored concrete pavement panels at the intersection of Main Street (CSAH 14) and Centerville Road. Earlier this month, members of the Public Works Department noticed damaged joints on the colored concrete installed downtown in the summer of 2008 as part of Anoka County’s Main Street Reconstruction Project.
Link Full Story Here.
Previous news account on the history of the additional $517,000 past council approved for street-scaping. Colored concrete, decorative lights...
Link Here
Additional Engineering fees in excess of $72,000 associated with "overseeing" County workers complete construction on COUNTY ROAD 14.
Link Here
Further inspection and fee discussions.
Link Here
Controversial resolution.
Link Here
Please note that previous council voted to add the colored concrete on County 14. They debated the five different colors during the 7/23/2008 session. Jeff Paar is quoted in the approved minutes stating "The color draws attention to the crosswalk". Statz, Bonestroo engineer stated "The color coming into the downtown area makes traffic calmer and drivers aware they are coming into a downtown area." A fair amount of time (15-20 minutes) was spent viewing concrete samples and debating the various shades of color to be chosen.
Failed Concrete: City at Crossroads for Solution
By Loretta B. Harding,
Contributing Writer
The Centerville City Council is trying to solve the mystery of damaged colored concrete pavement panels at the intersection of Main Street (CSAH 14) and Centerville Road. Earlier this month, members of the Public Works Department noticed damaged joints on the colored concrete installed downtown in the summer of 2008 as part of Anoka County’s Main Street Reconstruction Project.
Link Full Story Here.
Previous news account on the history of the additional $517,000 past council approved for street-scaping. Colored concrete, decorative lights...
Link Here
Additional Engineering fees in excess of $72,000 associated with "overseeing" County workers complete construction on COUNTY ROAD 14.
Link Here
Further inspection and fee discussions.
Link Here
Controversial resolution.
Link Here
Please note that previous council voted to add the colored concrete on County 14. They debated the five different colors during the 7/23/2008 session. Jeff Paar is quoted in the approved minutes stating "The color draws attention to the crosswalk". Statz, Bonestroo engineer stated "The color coming into the downtown area makes traffic calmer and drivers aware they are coming into a downtown area." A fair amount of time (15-20 minutes) was spent viewing concrete samples and debating the various shades of color to be chosen.
Another Resident Heard in the Mailbag
Input and Output
“If your input doesn’t exceed your output, the upkeep will be your downfall.” Be careful not to construe this phrase as meaning, “Tax more to continue lavish spending.” Centerville consistently ranks in the top taxed cities in Minnesota since 2004. Dean Luxenburg’s letter to the editor in The Citizen’s March 3 issue has it right. Costs must be trimmed.
Is the city’s “output” of colored concrete, 43 street lamps within two blocks, six city parks in a two-mile-wide city (additional parks forecasted), added bike trails, development of a “downtown,” and 10 employees justification enough for consistent tax increases?
These things—most of them implemented since 2004—are nice, but are they needed?
Government’s role is to uphold, protect and secure individual sovereignty and the right of private property, not to serve the collective good over the individual by giving us nice things. Consider this: Centerville’s debt in 2004 was over $5 million and, by the end of 2010, an arduous $11 million. This is a reckless extension of debt in only six years. Cuts in spending must occur. If not, the “upkeep” will be Centerville’s downfall.
LyNae Marshall
Centerville
Link Here
“If your input doesn’t exceed your output, the upkeep will be your downfall.” Be careful not to construe this phrase as meaning, “Tax more to continue lavish spending.” Centerville consistently ranks in the top taxed cities in Minnesota since 2004. Dean Luxenburg’s letter to the editor in The Citizen’s March 3 issue has it right. Costs must be trimmed.
Is the city’s “output” of colored concrete, 43 street lamps within two blocks, six city parks in a two-mile-wide city (additional parks forecasted), added bike trails, development of a “downtown,” and 10 employees justification enough for consistent tax increases?
These things—most of them implemented since 2004—are nice, but are they needed?
Government’s role is to uphold, protect and secure individual sovereignty and the right of private property, not to serve the collective good over the individual by giving us nice things. Consider this: Centerville’s debt in 2004 was over $5 million and, by the end of 2010, an arduous $11 million. This is a reckless extension of debt in only six years. Cuts in spending must occur. If not, the “upkeep” will be Centerville’s downfall.
LyNae Marshall
Centerville
Link Here
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
SPENDING. LET’S GET SERIOUS.
Posted per email request.
As we watch and read about the price of gas and food on the rise, the media not giving you the true numbers of unemployment which is really at 22%, cities and states fighting to keep their heads above water, the Federal Reserve advising our government to raise the debt ceiling. How much more can the taxpayer absorb? However, all I hear from our Mayor is he wants to reduce the pay of the Council for laptops. Where is the rest of his proposed reduced spending list?
It was obvious in the recent election that spending was at the top of most people’s list. While many of us have had to already tighten our belts the city continues to act as if we will not be affected by this economy. When are we going to plan for the bumps in the road? When are we going to trim some fat?
One of the issues the Mayor campaigned on and proceeded to recommend, at the January meeting, to cut the Council’s pay by 25%. We heard the Council’s arguments and then the Mayor claimed he wanted to use it for laptops. Laptops! The motion was not seconded. I voted for him because I thought he was serious about reduced spending. In February he brought it up again because Councilmember King said at the January meeting, which the Mayor did not hear, he would agree to a 10% reduction in 2011 and another 10% in 2012 if it paid down City debt and not for additional spending. According to Dallas Larson this amount would not pay down any significant debt. It was then suggested to do a cost comparison of laptops vs. paper copies. If the numbers come back that laptops are more cost effective, would this not become an annual operating cost? Why wasn’t this looked at as a cost-cutting factor in the first place? However, don’t we still have to retain a copier for other document copying?
The Mayor thinks our Council is getting paid too much according to other cities. I feel many councils are getting paid too much because they don’t represent the people anymore. He also commented that years ago some members of committees and council members did not get paid and if they did, it was very little. He claimed they wanted to serve the community. Well, we have heard that line before. I seem to remember that we called those the “good old boys”. Weren’t some of these owners of rather large parcels of land and were rewarded in the end because of the input on how this City was developed to their advantage? Isn’t this part of the reason our taxes are so high because they concentrated too much on houses rather than attracting more businesses to relieve us of this tax burden we have had for years? It can be dangerous to a community when only people with self-interests or comfortable financial means are in charge of your future. Their visions can be totally different than that of the hard-working citizens that they are supposed to represent. Isn’t this the same thing that has been going on in this city in the last few years? People in office with no financial worries. Only their visions. History repeats itself.
I knew Steve would have to quit a 3rd job if he was elected and possibly even have to take that 25% reduction. Our budget is tight now, but we were willing to take that hit because we felt the need for him to run so finally the people had a voice at City Hall. However, I resent the fact that the Mayor wants to reduce his pay and then turn around and vote for $5,500 for Fete de Lacs. Are you serious? If there is to be a reduction in pay, I want my tax dollars to go back to the community in the form of education such as a constitutional seminar or community gardens (we certainly have enough parks for gardens) not laptops. We may be looking at rough times ahead and I want my tax dollars to be used that will give a lasting affect on the citizens of this city not some one-day party. If food prices keep going up, there may be some elderly or families in this community that are going to need the extra help. Mayor you took an oath to the Constitution and you are supposed to spend the taxpayer money wisely. If you want a laptop, then buy it yourself. Better yet donate your pay for Fete de Lacs since you think you are being overpaid.
By Donna King
As we watch and read about the price of gas and food on the rise, the media not giving you the true numbers of unemployment which is really at 22%, cities and states fighting to keep their heads above water, the Federal Reserve advising our government to raise the debt ceiling. How much more can the taxpayer absorb? However, all I hear from our Mayor is he wants to reduce the pay of the Council for laptops. Where is the rest of his proposed reduced spending list?
It was obvious in the recent election that spending was at the top of most people’s list. While many of us have had to already tighten our belts the city continues to act as if we will not be affected by this economy. When are we going to plan for the bumps in the road? When are we going to trim some fat?
One of the issues the Mayor campaigned on and proceeded to recommend, at the January meeting, to cut the Council’s pay by 25%. We heard the Council’s arguments and then the Mayor claimed he wanted to use it for laptops. Laptops! The motion was not seconded. I voted for him because I thought he was serious about reduced spending. In February he brought it up again because Councilmember King said at the January meeting, which the Mayor did not hear, he would agree to a 10% reduction in 2011 and another 10% in 2012 if it paid down City debt and not for additional spending. According to Dallas Larson this amount would not pay down any significant debt. It was then suggested to do a cost comparison of laptops vs. paper copies. If the numbers come back that laptops are more cost effective, would this not become an annual operating cost? Why wasn’t this looked at as a cost-cutting factor in the first place? However, don’t we still have to retain a copier for other document copying?
The Mayor thinks our Council is getting paid too much according to other cities. I feel many councils are getting paid too much because they don’t represent the people anymore. He also commented that years ago some members of committees and council members did not get paid and if they did, it was very little. He claimed they wanted to serve the community. Well, we have heard that line before. I seem to remember that we called those the “good old boys”. Weren’t some of these owners of rather large parcels of land and were rewarded in the end because of the input on how this City was developed to their advantage? Isn’t this part of the reason our taxes are so high because they concentrated too much on houses rather than attracting more businesses to relieve us of this tax burden we have had for years? It can be dangerous to a community when only people with self-interests or comfortable financial means are in charge of your future. Their visions can be totally different than that of the hard-working citizens that they are supposed to represent. Isn’t this the same thing that has been going on in this city in the last few years? People in office with no financial worries. Only their visions. History repeats itself.
I knew Steve would have to quit a 3rd job if he was elected and possibly even have to take that 25% reduction. Our budget is tight now, but we were willing to take that hit because we felt the need for him to run so finally the people had a voice at City Hall. However, I resent the fact that the Mayor wants to reduce his pay and then turn around and vote for $5,500 for Fete de Lacs. Are you serious? If there is to be a reduction in pay, I want my tax dollars to go back to the community in the form of education such as a constitutional seminar or community gardens (we certainly have enough parks for gardens) not laptops. We may be looking at rough times ahead and I want my tax dollars to be used that will give a lasting affect on the citizens of this city not some one-day party. If food prices keep going up, there may be some elderly or families in this community that are going to need the extra help. Mayor you took an oath to the Constitution and you are supposed to spend the taxpayer money wisely. If you want a laptop, then buy it yourself. Better yet donate your pay for Fete de Lacs since you think you are being overpaid.
By Donna King
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Trim City Costs with Innovation
Letter to the Editor March 3, 2011
The CitizenI have listed the 2011 base salaries of the 10 Centerville city employees, provided at my request.
Employee 1: $96,564
Employee 2: $67,163
Employee 3: $83,952
Employee 4: $63,461
Employee 5: $51,085
Employee 6: $47,299
Employee 7: $55,162
Employee 8: $55,162
Employee 9: $55,162
Employee 10: $50,752
The salaries total about $626,000. When you add in 35 percent for pension benefits, health care, payroll taxes, workers compensation and liability insurance; the total cost to the taxpayers is approximately $845,000. When overtime earnings, part-time employee pay, and mayor and council members’ salaries are taken into account, the total approaches $1 million, about half the city’s yearly budget.
The city’s Personnel Policies handbook indicates that employees enjoy 11 paid holidays plus one l oating holiday. Work on holidays is paid at 2.5 times the hourly rate of pay. Paid personal time of accrues based on years of service: after 10 years, for example, employees accrue 9.85 hours paid time off per 2-week pay period.
City employees belong to a PERA “defined benefit plan,” which is in addition to Social Security retirement benefits. No matter what the economy does, they can count on a guaranteed retirement benefit based on salary and years of service. Most private sector employees are not so fortunate; as their pensions (if they have one) are subject to gains/losses that more closely mirror the economy. Private pension plans are not guaranteed.
I believe our Mayor and Council could reduce some of these costs. It seems excessive to have five full-time employees at City Hall. It doesn’t take very long to do payroll every other week; they certainly aren’t busy issuing building permits.
With all the advances in information technology, the administrative work could be done more efficiently than it is at present. If there is not enough work to keep everyone busy full time, perhaps hours should be cut.
Also, Public Works could contract out some of their work and reduce the work force. The City of Oak Park Heights, for instance, contracts out all their snow removal. It saves them money.
With some innovation I think personnel costs could be trimmed by 10 percent or more. It should be up to our Mayor and Council to explore some of these ideas— and possibly others. We are simply paying too much for city services.
Dean Luxenburg
Centerville
Editor’s note: A call to Centerville City Hall clarifies that exempt employees—such as the City Administrator and Public Works Director—do not receive extra pay for working weekends or holidays. The rate of pay for working on a holiday (2.5) includes holiday pay in addition to time-and-a-half. Also, according to the City Administrator, the State of Minnesota mandates that city employees pay into both PERA and Social Security
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