Sunday, August 14, 2011
Committee of the Whole discusses 2012 budget requests from Parks and Rec., Cable Club, Municipal Court, Information Systems, Police Department, and Maintenance this past Thursday evening.
The process for preparing the city’s 2012 budget has begun, with the Common Council, acting as the Committee of the Whole, receiving department heads in a meeting this past Thursday evening to talk about their requests. Following is a brief run-down of the departments that appeared before the Committee this past Thursday and what they are seeking for 2012. Parks and Recreation: Asking for $49,700 to replace a tri-deck rotary lawn mower and a truck. Third District Alderman Neil Borgman said he believed there are more cost-effective options for mowing large areas that aren’t being taken advantage of, such as further use of outsourcing. “We’re doing something wrong,” Borgman stated. To that, Parks and Recreation Director Craig Anderson …
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Contract arrangements being negotiated; fee increase expected for hospital transportation, however discussion on service measurements for fire department held off.
During Wednesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting, the committee continued work seeking to further solidify the city’s relationship with the Tess Corners Volunteer Fire Department amid contract talks and other long-term arrangements. However, a hoped-for addition to the contracts involving measuring fire services was not discussed, as members felt the issue could wait, and if needed, they would call a special session of the committee. Currently, ambulance services are measured by response times as a part of the city's agreement, but no such stipulation exists in the fire contract. Alderman Kert Harenda had stated that he felt the deadline for allowing the addition (October) meant that the committee should present something for the fire…
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
In an apparent compromise, Council seeks to balance equitable distribution of population, keeping neighborhoods intact.
The Common Council this past Tuesday evening approved a map that will alter the city’s wards and aldermanic districts for the next decade, per the results of the 2010 census. The Common Council was presented with three proposed maps, known simply as Options A, B, and C. The second option was ultimately chosen as it provided a good compromise of keeping neighborhoods in tact, while also keeping the variance of populations among districts, and it was this option that the Common Council voted to adopt and approve. Option A was first proposed during the Common Council meeting on July 12, and provided the least variance among districts with regard to populations. However, concern over splitting neighborhoods was raised by Aldermen Neil Borgman…
