Staples budget includes hike in council salaries

Sunset Drive tarring project approved

The Staples City Council approved a preliminary budget with a 4.1 percent tax levy increase.

The preliminary budget, which may be reduced before the final budget is approved in December, included a salary hike for city council members and the mayor.

Three members voted for the budget increase, Doug Case, Kevin Jenkins and Mayor Chris Etzler. Two voted against the increase, Mary Theurer and Ron Murray. Council members Roy Miles and Mike Isenberg were not at the meeting.

City Administrator Jerel Nelsen said the new salaries were set to an average of what similar size cities in the area pay their council members.

Nelsen said council and mayor salaries cost the city about $17,000 per year. The salary increase will raise that to approximately $27,000 per year. The council has not had a salary adjustment since 2006 and no major changes since 1989.

Theurer pointed out that the one-time increase represents approximately one percent of the city’s tax levy. “I would rather see that $10,000 go towards the community center or something like that,” said Theurer. She said she was in favor of a smaller incremental salary increase.

Case defended the increase and said “People’s time is worth money, it’s valuable.”

Etzler said a salary increase could be a factor in getting more people to run for office.

Case said they considered an incremental adjustment but the council salary is “one of those things that keeps coming up” every year. “If we just get it done with that will take care of it and we can move forward,” said Case.

The salary increase is currently in the budget, but Nelsen said it will be on the Oct. 11 counil meeting agenda to formally approve it.

Tennis court dilemma

Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Grondahl told they council that the Park and Rec Board discussed tearing out the tennis court at Northern Pacific Park and making it into a green space. He said one idea for the future is to build an amphitheater on that spot.

Council member Jenkins said he would prefer to leave the space as a tennis court, but Grondahl questioned whether it was worth the money, especially since six nice tennis courts are a few blocks away at the sports complex.

Jenkins and Case voted against tearing out the tennis court, with Etzler, Theurer and Murray in favor of it.

In other news, the council

o Approved a request from the Staples Motley Area Chamber of Commerce to use the Staples Community Center for a beer and wine tasting fundraiser.

o Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Central Lakes College regarding responsibilities and information sharing of sexual assault and certain other crimes.

o Approved an agreement with MnDOT for an airport hangar project.

o Accepted the donation of a used Trimble pipe laser from Greg Haglin.

o Approved tarring Sunrise Drive as requested by petition from landowners on the street.

 

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Staples World

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 100 Staples, MN 56479 Telephone: (218) 894-1112 - Fax: (218) 894-3570 Toll Free: 1-888-894-1112 E Mail: office@staplesworld.com; editor@staplesworld.com

Deadline: Friday, noon

 

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