01-08-2024 CC Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 11, 2023 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 9 26.ENTERPRISE FUNDS BUDGET 2024 - RESOLUTION 7439 Olson said at the Truth in Taxation meeting a comment was made referring to the Enterprise Funds as slush funds and that bothers him as they work hard at setting rates. The funds do carry healthy fund balances, but some are weather dependent and vary in balance from year to year. He said many of these enterprises like water and sewer have significant and expensive infrastructure. Crosby pointed out the area is more rural so there are longer pipes with fewer households connected. When the pipes need to be replaced it will be important that the City has funds for that as an assessment would devastate some people. Walsh moved, Crosby seconded, to adopt Resolution 7439 the Enterprise Fund Budget 2024. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. Olson said it has been a mostly enjoyable 26 years working with the City and they will be in good hands with the new finance director. He reported the City is over budget and over last year in Building Permit Revenue. Most of the big developments are nearing completion so he suspects the City is nearing the end of building permit revenue over budget. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT Attorney Mattick had nothing to report. CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT 27.APPRECIATION FOR FINANCE DIRECTOR RON OLSON – RESOLUTION 7435 Walsh read the resolution thanking Olson for his 26 years of service to the City of Orono, including as finance director since 2006. Johnson moved, Crosby seconded, to adopt Resolution 7435 of appreciation for Finance Director Ron Olson. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS There were no Council committee meetings during the last month. PUBLIC COMMENTS Cheryl Kulseth, 725 Stonebay Drive, said six people came up during Truth in Taxation hearing and 11 came up during public comments. She said the Mayor likes to give quotes so she shared quotes from the Mayor from the last meeting concerning what he characterized as the same group of 12 people who don’t like the City Council. She said she agrees that what the Mayor does speaks volumes and how he treats the people who come forward speaks volumes. She does not agree that other cities want to be like Orono right now. She added, it takes courage to come to speak at Orono City Council meetings knowing that what she says won’t likely change anything. She said she would continue to voice her concerns and hope 9