Laserfiche WebLink
Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, November 27, 2023 <br /> Page 2 <br /> and properties right again. She indicated she was at the meeting on behalf of her neighbors <br /> as well. <br /> Mayor Roe confirmed with City Manager Trudgeon that City staff will follow up with Xcel <br /> to make sure that they and their contractors follow through with the requirements. <br /> 5. Recognitions, Donations, and Communications <br /> 6. Items Removed from Consent Agenda <br /> 7. Business Items <br /> a. Public Hearing to Solicit Public Comment on the 2024 Budget and Tax Levy <br /> Finance Director Michelle Pietrick briefly highlighted this item as detailed in the <br /> Request for Council Action and related attachments dated November 27, 2023. <br /> Mayor Roe noted the City Council is not taking action at this meeting, only taking <br /> comments from the public and action will be taken at the December 4, 2023 City <br /> Council meeting. <br /> Ms. Pietrick made a presentation on the 2024 Budget and Tax Levy. <br /> Mr. Trudgeon clarified the EDA levy has been reduced by thirteen thousand dollars <br /> from what was passed in the not-to-exceed from what was approved in September. <br /> Mayor Roe clarified how the process works at the City, County, and State levels. <br /> Mayor Roe reviewed public hearing protocol and opened the public hearing at <br /> approximately 6:38 p.m. <br /> Public Comment <br /> Mr. Roger Hess Jr., Wagener Place <br /> Mr. Hess thought the consensus is that inflation for next year will be about 2.5 <br /> percent. He asked if the rate used to figure the budget around that percentage. He <br /> asked if the budget was adjusted so that when there is a large snowfall the plows <br /> can move twenty-four hours a day or will there be long periods where the plows <br /> cannot move, and the roads become impassible. He also indicated that since the <br /> City does not budget for claims or have a fund for claims, where does the money <br /> come from to pay for claims. He thought it would be nice if the Department Heads, <br /> Assistant City Manager, and City Manager did not have their wages increased next <br /> year by a percentage greater than what their employees below them get for an <br /> increase. It looks like they will be getting a nine percent increase but other staff, <br /> such as the firemen get a four percent plus three percent increase and it does not <br /> always look good when the bosses get bigger increases than the people underneath <br /> them. He thought if the City could phase in the Department Heads and the Assistant <br />