At the August 15 Paullina Council meeting Scott Wise took his Oath of Office. October 10 was set for the fall clean up day and new yard refuse rules were announced. The city will pick up a small pickup load of refuse. More than that will incur a $50 per load charge. Storm debris is exempted.
The City passed its second reading of the proposed franchise fee. If the ordinance is passed Black Hills Energy would stop charging Paullina customers a 1% sales tax on natural gas. It would instead charge a 1% franchise fee and pay those revenues directly back to the city. The second reading was approved. Council considered a proposed and required Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) for the funds from the franchise fee. Council approved the RPS that has not yet had its required public hearing. The public hearing for the revenue purpose statement was set for September 6 at City Hall.
The proposed RPS sets aside 25% of the raised revenue for property tax relief. The remaining 75% can be used for publicly owned facilities, public safety services and departments, and transportation infrastructure, including acquisition of real estate for roads, bridges, etc. These funds may also be used for economic development purposes.