DUNDAS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, December 9, 2024
7:00 p.m. City Hall
Present: Mayor Glenn Switzer Councilors Luke LaCroix, Ashley Gallagher, Grant Modory, Luke Swartwood
Staff: City Engineer Dustin Tipp, Finance Director Jessi Sturtz, City Administrator/Clerk Jenelle Teppen
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Switzer called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Modory, second by Swartwood, to approve the agenda. Motion Carried Unanimously (MCU)
CONSENT AGENDA
a. Regular Minutes of November 25, 2024
b. Consider Approving Resolution 2024-38 Authorizing Staff to Pay Invoices Received Between December 4, and December 18, 2024
c. Pay Voucher 4 – Forest Ave/Depot Street Reconstruction Project
d. Disbursements - $256,613.94
Motion by Gallagher, second by LaCroix, to approve the consent agenda. MCU
REGULAR AGENDA
a. Public Hearing
Consider Adopting Resolution 2024-39 Approving 2025 Proposed General Fund Budget and 2025 Final Property Tax Levy
i. Staff Presentation
ii. Public Comment
Mayor Switzer opened the public hearing at 7:01 PM and indicated that the discussion tonight would be brief since the City Council has been working on this budget for the last several months and had held four work sessions. The preliminary levy was adopted in September as required and there were no changes to the proposed budget and levy since September. Finance Director Jessi Sturtz presented the proposed 2025 General Fund Budget and 2025 Final Property Tax Levy. Ms. Sturtz walked through a power point presentation that took the charts and graphs from her memorandum that was included in the agenda packet. The proposed levy is a 5.3% increase, which keeps the tax rate level with 2024. If the assessed values were to remain flat in 2025, taxpayers would see a slight reduction in the City’s portion of their tax bills.
Scott Code, 215 Hagerty St asked why the Economic Development Authority was made up of City Council members and then made several remarks about his property taxes increasing over the years.
Doug Lange, 1118 Bluff Street spoke and inquired about the increase in his property values, he commented that there was no increase in public benefit with this budget.
Mayor Switzer closed the public hearing at 7:23 PM
The Mayor and City Council members reiterated that this budget has been discussed several times at public meetings since May of 2024. They encouraged both the people attending the meeting and others to engage in the process earlier in the year and to reach out to staff with specific questions on projects and line items in the budget.
Motion by Gallagher, second by Swartwood, to approve Resolution 2024-39 Approving 2025 Proposed General Fund Budget and 2025 Final Property Tax Levy. MCU
b. Consider Approving Ordinance 2024-06 Amending Chapter §34.01 of the Dundas City Code Adopting Fees and Charges
The City Administrator reported that while the list of fees and charges outlined in the Ordinance is lengthy, the only fees that are increasing in 2025 are water, sewer, storm sewer and refuse. These were previously discussed with the City Council when they reviewed the Proposed 2025 Enterprise Fund Budgets and are included in the 2025 budget.
Motion by Modory, second by Swartwood, to approve Ordinance 2024-06 Amending Chapter §34.01 of the Dundas City Code Adopting Fees and Charges. MCU
c. Consider Approving Resolution 2024-40 Approving the Summary Publication for Ordinance 2024-06 Amending Section §34.01 Fee Schedule of the Dundas City Code
Motion by Modory, second by Swartwood, to approve Resolution 2024-40 Approving the Summary Publication for Ordinance 2024-06 Amending Section §34.01 Fee Schedule of the Dundas City Code. MCU
d. Consider Approving Quote and Award Contract for 2025 Pond Maintenance Project
Motion by LaCroix, second by Gallagher, to approve the quote and award the contract to BKJ Land Company DBA as BKJ Excavating in the amount of $123,392.50. MCU
REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
City Engineer Tipp reported that staff attended a meeting hosted by Rice County and their consultant, SRF Consulting who conducted the Decker Ave Corridor Study on the County’s behalf. The proposed alignment of Decker Ave through Dundas aligns with the approved Transportation Comprehensive Plan. Next steps include the drafting of an agreement with the City so that when the property develops, the alignment is reserved.
ADJOURN
Motion by Swartwood, second by LaCroix, to adjourn the meeting at 8:06 PM. MCU
Minutes prepared by Jenelle Teppen, City Administrator/City Clerk
