Ad Hoc

The City Council will be debating the proposed 2006 budget. I will not vote for a budget that has the possibility of raising one penny in new property taxes. The rapid residential growth must pay for itself or be slowed down. This is just the beginning of increased cost to Isanti. The traffic problems and increased infrastructure cost will be a burden for years to come. If we are not fiscally responsible today these cost will continue to escalate.

I will also be discussing the apparent need to reevaluate the sewer and water rates. The Council last year lowered rates in a vain attempt to help one business owner. This has led to a roughly $ 60,000 deficit in this years receipts. The business that was to be helped was actually not helped. This can not be allowed to continue.

This is another example of poor financial leadership and planning. I have been made aware of significant cost over runs in the City Hall project. These seemed to have occurred due the decision not to have proper plan review. These process short cuts often cost time and money in the long run.

This leads me to my final point. Isanti is in need of a professional City Administrator. We have completed our preliminary negotiation are now writing up a contract for Don Lorsung and the full Council to vote on. These issues would have been prevented by a high quality City Administrator. This lack of leadership must and will come to an end.