By Patrick Tepoorten

Mondayís meeting of the Rush City Council offered a sneak peek at city agenda items for the coming year. Among them are reaching a contract with the Public Works Department, and finding a new animal control service.

Having decided just over a year ago to join with the Teamsters, public works and the city have been in negotiations over the terms of the first contract ever since. As of Jan. 17, both entities will enter into mediation with the hope of ending the stalemate. With that contract dominating the cityís attention however, annual increases for the rest of the city staff did not get addressed in December as they usually do. City Administrator Daniel Hoffman noted on Tuesday morning that those increases will be addressed in the near future.

The city also made its designations and appointments for the year 2006 and filled some vacant seats. Councilman David Bengtson will fill the vacant seat on the Public Safety, Library, and Airport committee.

Councilman Jerry Janssen will attend meetings of the Dept. of Corrections Community Relations Committee. Councilman Mick Louzek will attend the Rush Line Corridor meetings.

Howard Hanson was reappointed as the Rush City airport manager, but the council expressed a desire to speak with Hanson and determine if he is spending enough time on the grounds.

ï In other Rush City news, the city entered into a new contract with the Chisago County Sheriffís Office for 2006 and 2007. The $39.27 hourly rate for 2006 reflects a 4.5 increase over the 2005 contract. In 2007 the contract rate will increase to $41.23. Members of the council expressed their satisfaction with the service they receive from the sheriffís office, but also opined about the possibility that RC would again have itís own police department.

Mayor Mike Skalsky said while a sheriffís deputy primarily responds to a call, a local department would allow for a more visible presence. But he added that contracting for services gives the city ìmore for its bucks.î Hoffman added that the liability costs of a department are very high.

ï On advice from Hoffman, the council raised its per diem rate from $90 to $120. Hoffman pointed out in a memo to the council, ìThis rate has been unchanged for over ten years and needs to be adjusted.î Hoffman recommended the $120 figure, and added that ìinflation aloneî would probably dictate an even higher figure.

Hoffman also suggested raising the mileage rate for travel outside the city from 37 cents to 44.5 cents the IRS allows for. Louzek suggested that, instead of simply raising the rate, the city pass a resolution that would automatically adjust the rate to reflect IRS allowances. That motion was approved.

ï Bengtson reported before the meeting that Skalsky and Louzek continue to interview multiple candidates for the city council seat left empty when Bill Schneider passed away last fall.

ï With Randy Benolken stepping down as animal control officer, the city will be exploring county options for animal control in 2006.

ï A joint meeting between the city and the planning commission to discuss the comprehensive plan, set for Feb. 7, has been changed to Wednesday Feb. 8 to better accommodate Joann Faust, the cityís consultant on the project. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

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