Council tables preliminary levy, hears reports

Members of the New Richland City Council tabled discussion of the preliminary budget and tax levy and heard department reports during their regular city council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 2. 

 

A resolution adopting the 2026 preliminary budget and tax levy was brought to the council, but due to concerns about little discussion on the matter, the resolution was tabled until a special meeting on Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Council members said they have not spent any time discussing the matter as a council and even said more work is needed to trim the budget and avoid “using taxpayers as an ATM.”

 

Shell Johnson with PeopleService came before the council to explain her company is trying its best to figure out where extra water is entering the city’s sewer lines. In searching for the source of the extra water, Johnson said the company is considering putting nontoxic dye in the water to see where it goes. In her report, Johnson said the plant is currently working as a Band-Aid. Instead of basements filling up and the plant surging with sewage and water, the plant is sending water out untreated. She added, while this is saving the city thousands of dollars in insurance, it is not solving the problem. Johnson also urged the city to stress to the residents and business owners the importance of not adding cross connections or sump pumps to the sewer. 

 

Along with that, Johnson wanted to remind residents to slow down when they see PeopleService trucks in the street. “We all would like to go home at the end of the day alive,” she said. 

 

Johnson and the council also discussed designating a council member to receive and share information about wastewater and stormwater. It was commented doing so would smooth out the lines of communication.

 

The council also accepted two donations from Mr. Dale Bayerkohler. One $500 donation to the New Richland Fire Department for capital expenses and one $500 donation to the New Richland Ambulance for capital expenses.

 

Chief of Police Tanyce Bruegger reported 98 calls for service in August. 

 

Nite to Unite was successful, with the department going through more than 120 hot dogs and eight dozen cookies. Bruegger said they ran out of everything.

 

She also reiterated that anyone driving on the unpaved section of South Ash Avenue in front of the school should keep their speed down. 

 

Bruegger said a psychological evaluation was given for a new part-time officer and Joseph Johnson started with the department on Aug. 22. 

 

The Police Department will be hosting two movie nights coming up. Beetlejuice on Nov. 1 and The Grinch on Dec. 18. Bruegger also said the department will be hosting a Hide-and-Seek with Law Enforcement set tentatively for Oct. 30 in a location to be determined. 

 

New Richland Care Center Administrator Bob Johannsen reported the August average census for the care center was 33.26 and the July average was 39. He said five residents returned home in early August, and there were two deaths. 

 

Johannsen reported the center is continuing to expand its reach with the nurse manager making contact with local orthopedic centers due to a lot of local hospitals sending their patients there.

 

July’s revenue at the care center was $492,541 with expenses being $471,293. Johannsen said the center is also scrambling to spend grant money because they were awarded money they thought they had two years to spend, but it was only one. With the money, he said they are redoing some sidewalks and extra drainage around the southwest corner of the building, putting in a security system outside of the building, replacing carpet and buying a lawn mower. 

 

The Fire Department reported a quiet month, with one fire call and one medical call. 

 

Maintenance and Utility Supervisor Eric Hendrickson reported his department will soon begin winterizing Legion Field in preparation for closing it down until spring.  

 

In discussion of the exterior water tower updates, the council decided just to get the black band around the bottom instead of adding the logo to the water tower because “our city logo has changed many times.”

 

Ambulance Director Sarah Sundve said everyone is doing great, and they have had a few people reach out to be drivers. In order to be an ambulance driver, someone just has to be CPR certified. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m. The next regular city council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13.