After a lengthy discussion of the claims submitted for approval, John Ihle asked if his claims for operating the city’s website were included. Mayor Brenda Ebel Kruse responded by asking if the city had them. Ebel Kruse went on the say that Ihle was not on the agenda this week and the week prior. She stated that a meeting could be arranged to discuss how the city could get up to date. Ihle explained there is an additional bill with the changing of the months followed by Ebel Kruse recommending that a full statement by submitted.
The Paullina City Council held a public hearing early during the regular meeting on August 1, 2022. The purpose of a public hearing is for the council to hear questions and concerns of the citizens about adopting a franchise fee for Black Hills Energy. A franchise fee can be adopted in lieu of the 1% Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) on the natural gas purchased by users. (CORRECTION: Previous reporting of the franchise fee stated that Black Hills Energy was the City’s electric company. Black Hills Energy provides natural gas service to Paullina.)
There were no written or in-person comments. Lynn Porter, Community Relations Manager for Black Hills Energy was asked when the franchise fee would start. She explained that it would be approximately 90 days after the council’s final approval. The fee charged to retail customers would be seen as its own line item on their bill. Porter went on to explain did clarify the difference between the ordinance and the revenue purpose statement. The ordinance is between the city and Black Hills Energy and states how Black Hills Energy is to collect the fee. The revenue purpose statement is the city’s proper use of the revenue received from the franchise fee. The revenue purpose statement limits how a council can use the dollars raised from this source. Following Porter’s explanation, Ebel Kruse stated, “I’ll get back to you on that exact wording and a copy of a page and that’s all.” The public hearing closed. Later in the meeting council approved the first reading of the ordinance, which was unnumbered at the meeting.
The mayor’s report was to tell the council that she is still acquiring requested public records and instead of delivering them as requested (by the newspaper) she decided to put them on “the outside bulletin board” apparently to avoid copies. (*Editor’s Note: No new requested documents have been provided through any form.)
The superintendent of utilities reported that there needs to be a scheduled power outage to test the substation. He explained the duration of the outage would be in the 5-7 hours range. He also noted that the scheduling would be late night. Discussion of scheduling went to fall for cooler weather and to give notification to EMS and other appropriate entities.
The ambulance purchases from Granville is complete. Paullina’s old ambulance needs to be sold. A discussion of possible buyers was held. Several avenues for the sale were discussed and each will get followed up.
Scott Wise was introduced to the council as the new City Clerk/Administrator. The council welcomed Wise enthusiastically.
Now that the former bank building has been vacated and cleaned out by city staff. The council then discussed how to market it.
At the end of the meeting John Ihle asked about the $1,334,857.42 receipt into the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) account in the June Treasurer’s report approved by the council. Normal monthly receipts to that account are $10,00-$15,000. He also asked about the $1,331,542.00 disbursements showing on that line item. City Treasurer Johnene Altman has not reviewed city accounts since April caused by the city not providing required documentation to her.
Janice Thompson of Everly, a retired city clerk has been assisting the City of Paullina with its book work since late May. When asked, Thompson told the newspaper that there was an entry error of $1,331,542.00 by missing the decimal point and later reversed. She provided a screen shot of the account showing the error, reversal and correct receipt amount. However, closer inspection of the account screenshot shows the proper deposit made on both May 27, 2022 and again on June 30, 2022. The newspaper has not yet had a chance to follow up on the double entry at press time.
The city’s accounts were reconciled in May by an outside party and by Thompson herself in June.