In regular order the council approved the Class C Beer permit for Dollar General Store in Paullina and the liquor license for Russell West Post No. 95 American Legion. They also accepted the City’s Annual Financial Report (AFR). The annual financial report is a document reporting to both taxpayers and the state the fiscal year end standing of the city. The report is from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. An AFR lightly compares to an income/expense statement for a business and shows actual financial performance of the city’s major line items compared to its adopted budget. The 2022 Paullina AFR was prepared by Primghar City Administrator Carol Chicoine.
Actual revenue and other financing sources fell short of budgeted expectations by just over $334,000. The largest shortfall comes from “Transfers In.” That line item is used for the city to move money from reserves or departments for use in other departments. “Transfers In” fell short of its budget by $239,611. Monthly treasurer’s or budget reports had not been provided to council since May 2022.
Overall revenues exceeded overall spending by $83,254. *(The budget column has not been compared to the final amended budget of the city by anyone on behalf of the O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier.)
Council approved several resolutions Tuesday, January 3. Ambulance rates are changed. A basic life support transfer goes to $350.00. If the Paullina ambulance responds to a call out of their service area, there will be a $350.00 charge to that community. If a lift assist is called for by the EMS responses an additional $150.00 will be added. The resolution to provide incentive pay to Paullina Ambulance members was tabled. The ambulance is asking for that members be paid $1.00 per hour while on call during each weekday and $1.50 per hour for night on call service. The funds were expected to come from a grant from O’Brien County that was adopted 2 years ago to assist communities with meeting 24/7 ambulance staffing needs. It was unclear if the grant was to be backfilled to July 1, 2022 to be usable in this current fiscal year or if Paullina can’t be funded from this source until July 2023. Wyatt Rassel, an employee at AgriVision and Marcus resident and fire department member was accepted to the Paullina ambulance for daytime service. Marcus firemen are also certified EMTs. Another resolution about the ambulance was to create a general fund line item dedicated for the ambulance. It was questioned by Councilperson Steve Heeren and verified by Carol Honkomp that this line item would be for county funds for equipment. Honkomp was not certain if “it couldn’t be used for something other than equipment.” It is not clear if Honkomp was referring to the how the money from the county is used or how money put into this new line item can be used. Creating the account was approved.
A new budget line item for the library was also approved. Instead of transferring money out to the library for its board to pay its own bills, the city will pay the library’s bills and have more monitoring of the library budget. John Ihle was attending the meeting and asked if donations would be part of this new line item. Donations to the library, according to Honkomp, would not be part of the general fund but would be kept for library use until they use it. Approval for the resolution to create a new library line item passed. Council approved a resolution to pay the new library director $18.00 per hour for up to 29 hours each week to stay below a mandatory benefits threshold. An evaluation of the new director in July may change the approved hours in order to provide benefits. If hours for the new director increase to 30 or more per week benefits will be required and a budget amendment at that time. The current budget also may not be sufficient to meet this new cost.
Depositories and their limits were set for the year. Appointment of the official newspaper was tabled. Council proposed appointing both O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier and Northwest Iowa Review as official newspapers and for the papers to “share” the designation by the city moving their publications between the newspapers as they wish. Ebel-Kruse opened the items by stating, “We have had 2 requests for that. (inaudible)” She continued, “So we were suggested to offer it to both papers and appoint both papers to allow for sharing that legal responsibility as needed.” Jean Unrau moved and Jay Jones seconded the appointment of 2 newspapers. Steve Heeren asked, “What’s the advantage to have 2?” Mayor Brenda Ebel replied, “Several cities do have apparently, for example Sheldon has 3.” Honkomp described being surprised when learning that Sheldon had multiple newspapers. Honkomp said, “I was surprised when I read it and I asked Brenda why do they have 3 papers and she [Brenda] said,’Well we just found a second one.’ and I said ‘oh, okay.’”
Heeren brought up the cost of having 2 papers. Jay Jones said, “We are not putting them in both papers.” He went on to say, “We’re puttin’ that they are the papers of choice.” Another councilperson asked in bewilderment, “so we pick where (inaudible.)” Jones reiterated that this was to set up choice. Discussion of what other governing bodies do took place. Differing view points about if the proposal is appropriate, workable and good for the City of Paullina. The question remains if a governing body can be inconsistent in where they publish their notices. Unrau rescinded her motion to appoint both papers (that was eventually revealed to be a sharing proposal) and then the motion was tabled.
Legal counsel was the next appointment on the agenda. A list being used by council proposed Smith, Grigg, Shea and Klinker as the City Attorney. The agenda item was tabled. A revised version of the list was provided to the newspaper Monday, per a Chapter 22 request, saying, “Will appoint legal counsel on the January 16th City Council meeting.”
Ryan Harper was reappointed as Fire Chief. Lauri Struve has agreed to stay on as Ambulance President and was approved. Brian Fisch was reappointed as Airport Manager in a 4-1 vote with Jones dissenting. Later in the meeting Jay Jones accepted his appointment onto the Airport Committee. Scott Wise was reappointed to a 2-year term as City Clerk/Administrator. Unrau moved and seconded by Honkomp. There was some discussion about the 2 years requirement. Murphy dissented on the reappointment. Ebel Kruse stated that Carol Chicoine of Primghar had been doing the work as the Paullina City Treasurer and was willing to continue. Honkomp motioned to appoint Chicoine as temporary treasurer. The motion passes.
Council was notified that Heath Reichle had submitted his resignation from Swanson Sports Complex. He also provided a proposed budget. Some discussion of use of water at Swanson Sports Complex was discussed. It is unknown how much water is used there, but the city does pay for all of it. It had previously been thought that the cost of water had been shared. The budget was approved and Reichle’s resignation accepted. The budget calls for $7000 from the City of Paullina and the South O’Brien School District.
Committee reports were given and new committee assignments made.
The community is welcome to attend any city council meeting. The next council meeting is Monday January 16 at 5:30pm. Currently the agenda provides for citizens to ask questions or give comments for up to 5 minutes at the beginning of the meeting.