August 15th Council Update

The four Council agenda items I discussed previously, Americnn, Iverson request for extension of 60 day rule, Storm Water Ordinance and the Budget ran the course from unanimous voting to “energetic” discussion.

The AmericInn plat passed unanimously. I have stated several times this is a needed business to help in Isanti’s future growth.

Iverson’s request for an extension to the 60 day rule passed 4-1, Kennedy against.

The Storm Water Ponding change passed 4-1, I was opposed. The detail that people need to pay attention to is that it allows private ponds only if the developer should choose to have a private pond. This change in no way mandates private ponds. Only time will tell if any private ponds will be used. If there are new private ponds developed then strict covenants and education of residents will be mandated.

For these three items please see-- http://georgewimmer.blogspot.com/2006/08/august-15th-council-meeting.html for more details.

Now we come to the budget. The Council went through the list of new equipment and personnel request. There was some agreement to accept the cuts I suggested:

$30,000 for Planning and zoning Consultant
$2,000 for extra Council Chairs
$15,000 for a wood chipper
$16,000 for asphalt compacter
$15,000 for replacement park equipment, leaving $10,000
$10,000 for ot/pt out of police budget because of new Police Office Hire

This is where the wheels fell off the wagon and at times lead to heated discussion. I proposed a revised amount of funds to transfer from the Liquor fund,$75,000 and saving $175,000 out of the $350,000 in excess of taxes collected for 2006 to be used in the 2007 budget. This would in essence be giving back half of the over collected taxes. Mayor Apitz, Council Members Johnson and Larson were quite opposed to this idea.

They have earmarked this money to help buy more industrial land. I do not agree with this plan. I have asked the EDA and Council to revise our current Industrial Park policies which give free land and other tax incentives to businesses that provide as little as 2-3 jobs at $8 an hour. This has yet to happen. In the spring of 2005 Council Member Kennedy and I had asked to have the salary range for those companies asking the City to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to be adjusted. This was flatly refused.

I can not agree to bring in one more acre of land into an industrial park until these requirements are improved. Ironically Council Member Johnson said they should now be looked at. Industrial land is one of many budget items that need long term financial planning to make a success, to date this has not happened. The proposed land is currently zoned industrial so if it is developed it can only be done as industrial.

The City has a liquor store monopoly in order to help keep property taxes low. I do not think it unreasonable to ask that at least half of the excess tax revenue be given back to Isanti tax payers. It is a fundamental philosophical question. Do we want to have affordable property taxes or follow the Mayor and Council Members Johnson and Larson and raise taxes and continue to increase spending?

I brought up the fact that we have this budget crisis because last year these three voted for over 30% in budget increases. Council Member Larson said it was to catch up from previous years. I stated this is caused from a lack of long term budgeting and planning. This was accepted and seemingly they will agree to long term budgeting and planning, a key reform to solving some of Isanti budget issues.

I however can not end without pointing to the irony that the Mayor has been on the Council since 1989, Council Member Larson since 1998 and Johnson since his appointment in the summer of 2002. http://www.georgewimmer.com/Isanti%20Election%20History.html

Isanti has suffered from their poor planning. These 3 have been a majority for 5 years on the Council, what have they been waiting for?

I am happy that my constant call for planning is finally being heard but enough is enough. This budget process has highlighted once again the need for change.

With several reductions of double dipping cost and agreed reductions, the levy will still need to increase by nearly 10%. This was added to by $9,750 in new spending for several charitable groups and the Isanti Redbirds. since no agreement was reached tonight the Council has set next week Wednesday as another special budget session.

I will keep you posted.