BRITTON COUNCIL: MORE BUDGET CUTS DISCUSSED

    At Monday night’s Britton City Council meeting, the conversation was again dominated by discussions of the budget. As has been known for the last few months, big cuts would be required to balance next year’s budget. At last month’s meeting, several departments and services were proposed for places to cut. City Finance Officer Jennifer Athey factored in the suggested cuts and presented them to the council at Monday’s meeting.
    Potential cuts included a variety of services such as the city’s shredding and rug cleaning services. At the pool, $30,000 in cuts are being considered including reduced hours and staff, no weekends and increased swimming lessons rates. At the library, staff cuts and cuts to services were considered. Other reductions like budgeting for fewer special meetings and a smaller contingency fund were also discussed.
    In the area of annual contributions to organizations, Athey had taken the advice at the last meeting and cut that by half, leaving $22,500 to distribute. In discussion, the council talked about giving the full amount requested by Glacial Lakes Area Development, which is $21,000. This leaves a very small amount to distribute among the other requesters, including the Britton Area Chamber, the Britton Ball Program and the Prayer Rock Museum. No final decisions were made regarding the contributions yet.
    After all of these cuts were factored into the potential budget, the finance officer noted that they were still facing an almost $84,000 shortfall from a balanced budget. Athey again asked the council and present department heads for ideas on cuts. Other ideas like a smaller raise for employees and charging at the city leaf/dump site were discussed. Mayor Clyde Frederickson noted that they would have to continue discussions with the group planning a special meeting for Oct. 28. The first reading of the budget must take place at the regular meeting in November, scheduled for the 13th. 
    In other business, the board convened as the zoning board to discuss a building permit violation. Andy Weber is constructing a heated storage unit on the south side of town near Jake’s Auto. Weber has already started the project, poured concrete and plumbed the building. It was realized after the fact that Weber’s building was encroaching on the city property by 17 inches on one side and around 35 inches on the other. He acknowledged the mistake as he did not get the property surveyed and had measured incorrectly. Fredrickson voiced concerns about Weber’s possible encroachment on a city easement with Venture Communications. A discussion was held regarding if Weber could purchase additional land from the city. Attorney Justin Scott noted that there is a process that must be followed when selling city property. Scott will research the matter and the potential utility easement, though the city did not advise Weber to stop building. 
    The Briton baseball and softball program organizers were at the meeting to discuss their lighting project. The group had previously been awarded a grant for the project that requires matching funds from the city. 
    They had got the project quoted through Musco Sports Lighting at $238,000. BJ Richter who mostly spoke for the group explained that they understand that funds are very tight with the city so he proposed that the program donate the matching portion that is required through the grant to the city. “It’s important enough as an organization to move forward with this,” he noted and added that without the lights, they would not be able to play on the big field next year. Frederickson suggested a few other ideas regarding some purveyors he knows of through which the group could get poles and lighting at a reduced rate, but the concern was construction and labor. 
    In the end, the group discussed whether the donation of the matching funds could be made to the city through GLAD and how they will pay in the meantime if the grant requires reimbursement after the project rather than funds upfront. It was also generally agreed upon that the insurance money from the pole at the field that fell in August, plus any proceeds of selling the other poles would go to the project as well. 
    Aaron Micko spoke during the public voice part of the meeting. He asked the council to consider establishing a student-athlete policy for the Event Center. He explained that his high school daughter and other athletes have a tough time finding gym time and the Event Center requires supervision for youth under age 18. He suggested that a waiver assuming liability could be signed with student-athletes’ parents so they could be at the center alone. Mayor Clyde Frederickson voiced his concern that the city does not want to show favoritism to certain kids. Councilmember Cristy Davidson asked Micko if the school had offered a solution, to which he said no. Davidson added, “I’m not sure why we have to spend city resources coming up with special policies when it seems like a school issue.” The board did not make any decisions on the matter. 
    A special meeting to discuss budget matters will be on Oct. 28 at 5:30 p.m. with the next regular meeting Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
    For full meeting happenings, see next week’s minutes.