Showing posts with label Centerville budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Centerville budget. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Citizens of Centerville Have Spoken!
As of this moment we are awaiting certification from the County Auditor. The required number of signatures have been confirmed. Although the citizens only needed 423 registered voters to move forward with the State audit, there were approximately 650 collected. We apologize to those residents who wanted to sign but didn't get the opportunity to do so due to time constraints. Thank you all for your support!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Proposed Signs for City Entrance and City Hall
We really hate to harp on this but city officials leave us no choice! With a budget so tight they are struggling to put away $25,000 for road maintenance, (which still leaves us short) why is the city even considering spending our money this way?! Why replace the current City Hall sign and spend thousands of dollars for entrance signs that Anoka County provides for FREE? Council minutes 8/27/2008
City Administrator Larson showed slides of a proposed sign design from Arrow Sign He stated that this will fit in the space where the current sign is in front of the City Hall It has also been proposed to have a message board below it He added that they could either use real brick or a plastic product that looks like brick City Administrator Larson stated that he had also received a proposal for Centerville entry sign
Mayor Capra inquired whether they could wait and look at this at the end of the year.
Council member BVickers stated that the total of the signs proposed would amount to over $70,000. Council member Lee suggested that the City only do one of these signs per year. Council member BVickers suggested having Finance Director John Meyer come back with the impact of $40,000 for the sign and an additional $15,000 for an entry sign on the City budget. Council member Paar stated that the Council is already fighting the budget for the street maintenance He suggested that this may have to wait until there is extra money He stated that they could get the free sign from Anoka County for Centerville Road He added that the City should look at this when Highway 14 is completed and the building and developing are completed
Council member Lakso stated that she felt the most crucial sign would be the sign coming west on Highway 14 to welcome people into Centerville.
Discussion ensued
Council member Lee stated that he agreed with Council member Lakso. They would want the sign on Highway 14 to welcome people into town.
Sitting council is redecorating the City with OUR MONEY! They are spending a lot of time and effort on nonessential items, all the while, the road maintenance fund is being ignored!
We have already incurred a 8 million dollar debt under their watch!
Should new signs that cost thousands of dollars really be a priority?
Speak out from the voting booth on 11/04/2008!
Contact us privately with City information, news and personal stories. All contact information will be kept private and not posted on the blog unless requested.
Email Centervilleblog@yahoo.com
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Centerville Has a Dedicated Road Maintenance Fund?
City Council passed the preliminary 2009 road budget during the September 10th meeting.
A whopping $25,000 will be set aside for street reconstruction and reserve. We know that the City needs $60,000 just to cover the seal coating projects scheduled for next year. This still leaves us short $35,000 but hey, it's a start.
Thank you to all the citizens that have been so involved. Together, we might be able to get the fund increased to the $100,000 Council Member Broussard-Vickers stated we need.
How about slashing part of the $84,000 budgeted funds the City spends on Park Programs and Maintenance for the SIX parks we have in a 2.2 square mile radius?
Contact us privately with City information, news and personal stories. All contact information will be kept private and not posted on the blog unless requested.
Email Centervilleblog@yahoo.com
A whopping $25,000 will be set aside for street reconstruction and reserve. We know that the City needs $60,000 just to cover the seal coating projects scheduled for next year. This still leaves us short $35,000 but hey, it's a start.
Thank you to all the citizens that have been so involved. Together, we might be able to get the fund increased to the $100,000 Council Member Broussard-Vickers stated we need.
How about slashing part of the $84,000 budgeted funds the City spends on Park Programs and Maintenance for the SIX parks we have in a 2.2 square mile radius?
Contact us privately with City information, news and personal stories. All contact information will be kept private and not posted on the blog unless requested.
Email Centervilleblog@yahoo.com
Friday, September 5, 2008
Save Centerville State Audit Meeting 9/16/2008
Attention Centerville Citizens!
Update
It has been brought to our attention that have been confused regarding the City debt. We have attempted to get the accurate information from our officials. Dallas Larson stated that special assessments do not count against the state mandated limit, even though it's still debt. The only thing we know for certain today is that
"The City of Centerville has $8,055,896 in long term debt."
John Meyer
Finance Director
Date: August 13, 2008
Do you wonder why we needed multi-colored cross-walks, 20 lamp posts over a two block area while our City debt is over 8 million dollars?
Has your property been threatened by eminent domain even though it is against MN state law?
Are you being bullied by city officials for a new trail system, power lines, land, or increased taxes without appropriate representation?
Has your real estate taxes sky rocketed for absolutely no reason, or because of special assessments?
Are you frustrated by other actions (or lack of action) by our city officials?
If you said “YES!” to any of these statements, please join the Neighborhood meeting that represents CHANGE!
WHERE: Bobby and Steve’s Conference Room
WHEN: September 16, 6:30 pm
AGENDA:
How a state audit petition works and what we need to be successful.
Information on complaints currently filed against the City of Centerville
Information on the Mayor and City Council race.
Volunteer sign-up to help bring the state audit petition to the citizens of Centerville
Contact us privately with City information, news and personal stories. All contact information will be kept private and not posted on the blog unless requested.
Email Centervilleblog@yahoo.com
Update
It has been brought to our attention that have been confused regarding the City debt. We have attempted to get the accurate information from our officials. Dallas Larson stated that special assessments do not count against the state mandated limit, even though it's still debt. The only thing we know for certain today is that
"The City of Centerville has $8,055,896 in long term debt."
John Meyer
Finance Director
Date: August 13, 2008
Do you wonder why we needed multi-colored cross-walks, 20 lamp posts over a two block area while our City debt is over 8 million dollars?
Has your property been threatened by eminent domain even though it is against MN state law?
Are you being bullied by city officials for a new trail system, power lines, land, or increased taxes without appropriate representation?
Has your real estate taxes sky rocketed for absolutely no reason, or because of special assessments?
Are you frustrated by other actions (or lack of action) by our city officials?
If you said “YES!” to any of these statements, please join the Neighborhood meeting that represents CHANGE!
WHERE: Bobby and Steve’s Conference Room
WHEN: September 16, 6:30 pm
AGENDA:
How a state audit petition works and what we need to be successful.
Information on complaints currently filed against the City of Centerville
Information on the Mayor and City Council race.
Volunteer sign-up to help bring the state audit petition to the citizens of Centerville
Contact us privately with City information, news and personal stories. All contact information will be kept private and not posted on the blog unless requested.
Email Centervilleblog@yahoo.com
Thursday, July 31, 2008
It's Back.... The Opposed Trail Along Mill Road
Update 8/5/2008: The $704,000 and $202,000 matching dollars is for as many trails they can get with these monies, not just the trail on Mill. As we understand, the engineer has asked the council and the Park and Rec Comm for their top 5 priorities (from trail map on blog)
Whether the matching dollar amounts are a coincidence or typo, this information comes directly from public records.
2008 Budget
Police page three $704,000
Fire page four $202,000
Road Maintenance.... Zero, Zip, Nada!
LINK HERE
Now is the time to send in your objections or your top 5 as Park and Rec meets 8/6/08 and council on 8/13/08
Memo
From: Kim Stephan
Date: July 9, 2008
Subject: Budget Considerations for 2009 From Parks and Recreation Committee
Council Member Tom Lee asked the committee to consider their recommendation for the trail proposed along Mill Road. The City received a Trail Grant for $704,000, with the City's portion being approximately $202,000. Council Member Lee informed the committee that the grant monies received are difficult to get and if not spent the chances of receiving these grant monies again would be greatly reduced. A trail was proposed alone Mill Road with the 2009 street project but the road has been taken out of the project and the residents along Mill Road were opposed to a trail or a sidewalk being added to their street. The committee feels strongly that Mill Road is dangerous to pedestrians and bikes and should have a trail on it as it is a collector street; it is narrow and it is very busy. Taking into consideration the feelings of the residents concerning a trail, the committee still felt it was their obligation to look at what was best for the community as a whole and that would be to have a trail on Mill Road. The committee discussed at length the Mill Road resident's objections verses the safety of the road and while reluctant to go against the resident's wishes would like to recommend to City Council that Mill Road have a trail constructed within the easement using the Trail Grant monies.
Motion was made by Vice-Chairperson Amundsen, seconded by Committee Member Haiden to recommend City Council proceed with the trail being constructed on Mill Road per the specifications in the 2009 street project, the Comprehensive Trail Plan and the plan submitted for grant monies due to the connectivity of the trail plan and the safety of the residents with the understanding the residents of Mill Road will not be assessed for this trail as Federal Grant Funds will be used. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
Just who is going to pay the additional $202,000 for the unwanted trail? How many other trails are not payed for with grant money and just what the heck is a "collector street" in a town with such a small population? We need to keep an eye on these people... $202,000 would go a long way on road maintenance!
Contact us privately with City information, news and personal stories. All contact information will be kept private and not posted on the blog unless requested.Email Centervilleblog@yahoo.com
Whether the matching dollar amounts are a coincidence or typo, this information comes directly from public records.
2008 Budget
Police page three $704,000
Fire page four $202,000
Road Maintenance.... Zero, Zip, Nada!
LINK HERE
Now is the time to send in your objections or your top 5 as Park and Rec meets 8/6/08 and council on 8/13/08
Memo
From: Kim Stephan
Date: July 9, 2008
Subject: Budget Considerations for 2009 From Parks and Recreation Committee
Council Member Tom Lee asked the committee to consider their recommendation for the trail proposed along Mill Road. The City received a Trail Grant for $704,000, with the City's portion being approximately $202,000. Council Member Lee informed the committee that the grant monies received are difficult to get and if not spent the chances of receiving these grant monies again would be greatly reduced. A trail was proposed alone Mill Road with the 2009 street project but the road has been taken out of the project and the residents along Mill Road were opposed to a trail or a sidewalk being added to their street. The committee feels strongly that Mill Road is dangerous to pedestrians and bikes and should have a trail on it as it is a collector street; it is narrow and it is very busy. Taking into consideration the feelings of the residents concerning a trail, the committee still felt it was their obligation to look at what was best for the community as a whole and that would be to have a trail on Mill Road. The committee discussed at length the Mill Road resident's objections verses the safety of the road and while reluctant to go against the resident's wishes would like to recommend to City Council that Mill Road have a trail constructed within the easement using the Trail Grant monies.
Motion was made by Vice-Chairperson Amundsen, seconded by Committee Member Haiden to recommend City Council proceed with the trail being constructed on Mill Road per the specifications in the 2009 street project, the Comprehensive Trail Plan and the plan submitted for grant monies due to the connectivity of the trail plan and the safety of the residents with the understanding the residents of Mill Road will not be assessed for this trail as Federal Grant Funds will be used. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
Just who is going to pay the additional $202,000 for the unwanted trail? How many other trails are not payed for with grant money and just what the heck is a "collector street" in a town with such a small population? We need to keep an eye on these people... $202,000 would go a long way on road maintenance!
Contact us privately with City information, news and personal stories. All contact information will be kept private and not posted on the blog unless requested.Email Centervilleblog@yahoo.com
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Hugo Spends Less Than 25% on Police and Fire
"The total Hugo 2008 budget (draft) is approximately $3,929,000.00. Our proposed Law Enforcement budget is approximately $458,900.00 and our approximate Fire department budget is $388,300.00; combined, a total of about $847,200.00, or a bit less than 25% of our total budget."
Wouldn't that extra 20% our Council budgets for Police and Fire be better spent on road maintenance? We currently spend 45% of the budget on these services. ($704,000 Police, 2008 and rising) Why are we spending more than Hugo, which has a population more than double ours?
"Hugo has spent a considerable amount of money on our streets and roads. The majority of our over $1,000,000.00 road budget is not necessarily for road repair or maintenance but for new roads for new and not too healthy developments."
Quotes from an email recieved by SaveHugo.com
Contact us privately with City information, news and personal stories. All contact information will be kept private and not posted on the blog unless requested.Email Centervilleblog@yahoo.com
Wouldn't that extra 20% our Council budgets for Police and Fire be better spent on road maintenance? We currently spend 45% of the budget on these services. ($704,000 Police, 2008 and rising) Why are we spending more than Hugo, which has a population more than double ours?
"Hugo has spent a considerable amount of money on our streets and roads. The majority of our over $1,000,000.00 road budget is not necessarily for road repair or maintenance but for new roads for new and not too healthy developments."
Quotes from an email recieved by SaveHugo.com
Contact us privately with City information, news and personal stories. All contact information will be kept private and not posted on the blog unless requested.Email Centervilleblog@yahoo.com
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