2023 budget, tax levy approved

By ELI LUTGENS

Publisher

The City of Waseca approved its 2023 tax levy and budget during its final meeting of 2022; it also bid farewell to outgoing mayor Roy Srp and city councilman Allan Rose.

Interim city manager Carl Sonnenberg asked for a moment of recognition for the two departing council members.  “Never underestimate the difference you made, and the lives you touched,” Srp read from one of two plaques presented during the meeting. An article detailing the many thanks, and stories shared was printed in a previous edition of the Pioneer and can be found on its website.

The council approved the final 2023 General Fund and Utility Budgets and adopted the 2023 tax levy with an overall increase of 7.6%, an “effective” increase of about 3% due to the additional dollars collected from the ConAgra plant. 

The final levy was nearly $200,000 less than the preliminary budget approved in September. Councilman John Mansfield was the lone dissenting vote. 

Misc. 

The council designated the Waseca County News as its official newspaper of record for legal notices to be printed in 2023.

The council approved forgiving a $500 charge to Michael Thomas and family after the fire department responded to a porch fire at their property. Insurance would not cover the cost, and it was nearly a unanimous decision to forgive the fee. Jeremy Conrath urged the council to talk about this procedure in the new year, because, if this is to be a precedent, then the budget needs to reflect that decision. 

The council approved the consent agenda which included: minutes from the December 6, 2022 meeting, payroll and expenditures, the council meeting dates for 2023, designation of polling locations in 2023, designation of authorized signers and depositories, and the waiving of the statutory municipal tort liability. 

A fence variance at 730 8th Street NE was approved allowing for a “nice looking fence.” 

The council adopted the 2023 Economic Development Authority Levy. 

A land lease for farmland owned by the city to the Huber family was approved. 

A tax abatement request from TPG Steel Co, for the property at the Quad Graphics building, was talked about. 

The commercial tax abatement request comes from TPG Steel Co. In connection with Justin Erickson, of the Community Venture Network, Jeremy Brown, property seller. City staff had begun working with this company in October 2022 and a formal application was received December 15. 

The Economic Development Authority (EDA) discussed the project at its November meeting and reviewed the project this week, after which it passed a motion to support the commercial tax abatement request and asked that staff take the project to the council for consideration. County Administrator Michael Johnson and the two commissioners of the Waseca County EDA also attended the City EDA meeting to give their support to this project. 

This project will lead to more tax revenue collected. The council directed city staff to proceed with working with the county staff and to consult with the city attorney in order to grant a commercial tax abatement and process all legal documents. A work session is tentatively planned for January to discuss the project further. 

The council was unanimous in their support for the project. 

The city accepted a grant from Mayo Clinic for $4,000 to purchase an “Americans with Disabilities Act” (ADA) compliant permanent pool lift to be installed in 2023. 

Mayor Srp expressed the city’s gratitude to Mayo Clinic, their continued support of Waseca, as well as their continued support of their local hospital facility. 

The council approved an amendment to the 2022 budget, allowing for more transparency, by listing additional expenditures in the budget. 

The council kept a promise to reduce the street light rate structure cost and approved a decrease in the cost per customer from $3.60 per month to $1.90. 

A union contract valid through 2025 with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers was approved. 

Interim City Manager Sonnenberg thanked Paul Snook for his work on the recovery coordination grant. His work spanned three years, and came to a close December 30, 2022. 

Hearing from the EDA, Tina Wilson reported that the access needed for the coffee shop, a project in development, was denied by MnDot. The EDA is working on a way to reroute access to the potential shop. 

The final words of the meeting came from Mayor Srp, following many thanks and Christmas greetings from council members. 

“Two things I want to mention tonight,” Srp began. “These are indicative of how this council works. Councilman Mansfield seconded a motion after he passionately shared why he would not support it. This is indicative of how things should work up here. Open discussion in a public forum. I appreciate that, more than I can say.

“I remember back in 1992 when I was petrified to make a motion up here and indicate that I was in favor of something because I thought well what if someone says they won’t second it or there will be disagreements. What would happen? I remember being petrified to do that. It got easier with the first and the second. Thank you for your motion tonight Stacey. It will get easier and easier.” 

Finally Srp gave one final message before adjourning his final meeting as mayor. 

“I’m going to miss this position. Representing the city of Waseca as mayor has been an honor. I’m going to miss it. Thank you for all your support over the years.” 

The meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.