Preliminary budget up $100,000
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
Several resolutions were passed during the New Richland City Council’s second meeting of the month on Monday, Sept. 26. All members were present, along with some local residents to discuss flood damages to their properties.
The first resolution, 16-10, certified the preliminary tax levy. The total amount, after suggestion from City Clerk Wayne Billing, was increased by $100,000 in case of unforeseen expenses to the city due to the flooding that occurred Sept. 22, making the preliminary levy $494,072. The budget will not be finally approved until the Dec. 12 meeting of the council, and can be reduced before that time. The total cannot be increased from the approved preliminary amount. Citizens who wish to discuss 2017 budget will be able to do so at the Dec. 12 meeting, 6:35 p.m. at New Richland City Hall. The resolution was approved.
Resolution 16-11 extended the State of Emergency, which was declared by Mayor Christine Gislason for a three-day period following the flash flooding, to 30 days. Resolution 16-12 requested a presidential declaration of a major disaster due to substantial damage to public and private property from the flash flooding, the cost of which exceeds the resources available within the city. It was noted that this resolution is required in order to receive aid from FEMA. Resolution 16-13 states that emergency contracting is not subject to normal purchasing and competitive bidding requirements, and that the city will contract with ServePro during flood mitigation at the care center. All three resolutions were approved.
Finally, Resolution 16-14 appointing the Waseca County Sheriff Office as interim Chief Law Enforcement Office for the NRPD until a permanent replacement is appointed, was approved.
A local resident addressed the council regarding excessive flood damages to her property, including a large amount of standing water in her yard that has yet to show noticeable signs of receding. The home, located on Balsam Ave. S., the last house on the right, is adjoined by a field on the south which is owned by a rural resident. It is believed that a tile in this field is the main cause of the water backup at the individual’s property, but the city has not been able to establish the exact location of the tile or whether it is connected to the city, according to Billing. Furthermore, the city has no control over ground or surface water, making it difficult to provide a solution.
The individual explained that in 2006, when similar flooding occurred, $13,000 was spent by the family to prevent their basement from being destroyed again. Since then, two more flood incidents of roughly the same scale have occurred, causing more extensive water damage to the home despite the work that had been done.
The council recommended that the individual, who has notified an attorney with her situation, contact the county regarding ditch records, as well as the farmer owning field to try and obtain a tile map of the area. Councilpersons Sarah Sundve and Sandy Neumann also agreed to pass along information regarding ditch records, which are in the process of review.
Three additional residents, whose homes are located on the same street, described flooding in their basements—two have had water come up through shower drains, which they had plugged. One home had four sump pumps running to try and clear their basement, which had 1 ½’ of water. The council, as well as Brad Field, Ryan Nissen and others in attendance, answered what questions they could from the individuals regarding the sewer lines and connections.
Field presented the PeopleService report, stating that New Richland received roughly nine inches of rain last week. He also mentioned that when water levels go off the charts, it’s difficult to get measurements from the treatment plant.
“As bad as we have it here,” said Field, “you don’t have to look far to find a place that’s worse.”
Field also thanked the maintenance employees, as well as others who helped around town during and after the flash flooding. The report was approved, along with the maintenance department report.
Don Alexander presented the care center report; unlike the storm in Sept. of 2010, the center had almost no water in the building, and sustained mainly landscape damages. The residents were in the process of returning to the center with 20 arriving on Monday and the remaining residents to return Tuesday.
“The good news is we’re making money financially, the residents are coming back, and we shouldn’t lose money from this,” said Alexander.
Financials and accounts payable for August were approved; the care center report was approved.
Drop sites for flood-damaged materials were briefly discussed, with one location in New Richland and at least one location in Waseca. The meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.