County board reduces final 2023 levy from 7.9% to 4.9 %
News | Published on December 30, 2022 at 12:16pm CST
By Melanie Stegner
news@pctribune.com
Pope County officials set the final levy at their meeting last week. The preliminary budget set in September called for a 7.9 percent increase. Due to some reduced expenditures and a modest rise in revenues, the final levy was set at 4.9 percent with requested expenditures totaling $20,251,829. The commissioners thanked their staff and elected officials for cutting their costs to make the decrease possible.
The Pope County HRA/EDA requested their final levy amount be approved at $440,350 for 2023. The board passed the request unanimously.
Sheriff Tim Riley approached the board to request approval of the emergency operations plan with minimal changes from last year. “The only things that have changed are addresses and phone numbers, nothing serious,” stated Riley.
At the recent AMC conference that board members attended, the legislative priorities were discussed for the year. A change in the funding formula for Community Probation Supervision and increased appropriations were identified as a priority. The AMC board encouraged all 87 county boards in Minnesota to adopt a resolution in support of the formula change.
A resolution was passed to approve the MnDOT agency agreement for federal participation in construction. This gives MnDOT the authority to serve as the local government’s agent in accepting federal funds on its behalf. This makes the local government responsible for preparing all contract documents and administering the construction contracts according to state and federal regulations. Pope County has had an agreement in place for several years.
Solid waste haulers and facilities were given license approvals. There are five haulers serving the area including Alex Rubbish and Recycling Inc., Engebretson Sanitary Disposal Service Inc., Mattheisen Disposal Inc., Waste Management and West Central Sanitation Inc. Tom Kraemer Inc. also applied for a license since they are a solid waste collection and transfer facility as well as a construction demolition landfill site.
Elwood Septic Professionals, LLC was approved to provide maintenance services for the Clearwater Bay Cluster septic system. ESP was an integral part of designing the system which requires regular service and maintenance due to the size and complexity of the system.
In other business, the board approved the fee schedule for 2023. The teamsters, law enforcement labor services and highway council collective bargaining agreements were approved. The wage schedule and non-union salaries resolution was approved as well as a 10 percent increase in salary for elected officials. The board set the salary, cafeteria plan amount and per diems for county commissioners. Auditor bills, fund balances along with other financial data were reviewed as is typical.
The board recognized Ron Feigum for his service. On the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment. Nan Haggerty and Cody Rogahn, outgoing commissioners were recognized and commended for their service to the county and their work toward making Pope County a great place to live and work.
