Stations for electric cars?

Electrical rates increasing six percent

Electric cars could be driving through Staples but they have no place to recharge. Staples Public Works Director Doug Bendorf said that Staples is in the center of a “dead zone” where there are no car charging stations nearby.

At the Sept. 13 Staples City Council meeting, Bendorf said they are looking at bringing charging stations to town, one as a rapid-charge station and one as an overnight charging station in conjunction with the new hotel.

Bendorf said for the rapid charge station, drivers would take about 15 minutes and use a credit card to pay for the cost of the electricity. Bendorf said Tesla, a company making electric cars, has programs that can provide the equipment to build a charging station.

Electrical rates

The council approved a six percent electrical rate increase that will be implemented in the spring. The increase is part of the plan approved last year after an electric rate study.

Bendorf said this summer the city set a new peak electrical load and there was an overall load increase. “There was some good growth,” said Bendorf. He said the increased load could help offset the rate increase.

Council salaries

The council discussed the possibility of increasing the pay for council members, since there has been no change since 2007. City Administrator Jerel Nelsen said the council members currently receive more than $2,000 per year and the mayor is above $3,000. Nelsen said he checked with other nearby communities of similar size and Staples is well below those cities.

Council member Roy Miles pointed out that if the salary is raised, it’s not just the cost of one person, it’s for all six council members and the Mayor. “It’s not a lot of money for one person, but with all seven, it adds up,” said Miles.

The council discussed payment options, such as tying pay to meeting attendance or paying more for off-site meetings.

City budget

Nelsen said the first draft of the city budget shows a tax increase of about five percent. Council members Doug Case and Roy Miles said they would like to see it no higher than a four percent increase. The preliminary budget must be passed at the next council meeting on Sept. 27. The final budget can be no higher than the preliminary budget that is passed.

 

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Deadline: Friday, noon

 

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