Posted: 7/3/07
Pools are in, employees may be out
 In an effort to spark some civic pride, the Stacy Park and Recreations Committee has been working on a more presentable main street featuring the sprucing up of Lions Park. The Lions are now working to have a new park sign constructed to compliment the spectacular landscaping designed by Leo Lunzer and the gorgeous flowers planted by Jackie and Dennis Rausch. |
By Anne Thom
Citizens of Stacy can now legally go soak themselves in their own backyard swimming pools without fear of citations. The city council passed an updated ordinance June 26, allowing portable swimming pools, the "kiddy" pool variety, and those less than 18 inches in depth to be set up in backyards wherever convenient for the family.
That's the good news, the not-so-good news is that Stacy Councilor Robert "Bud" Wilson was not happy with the dealer, the deck of cards or the hand he drew in attending the city's Liquor Operations committee meeting.
Wilson had covered the recent meeting for Councilor Tony Olivolo. "It was a bunch of back-patting," Wilson reported to the council June 26. He then made a motion to "shut the place down and start over."
This startled Mayor John Daher who tried to interrupt as Wilson continued stating he felt the part-time staff are an issue and seemed to connect the staff to the operation's losing money.
"Bud, I've told you before not to discuss employee issues in public, it's illegal," Daher said.
Wilson continued, "I want to get rid of all the part-timers to start out."
Daher reminded Wilson those are the same employees he had previously demanded should continue on shift rather than being let off of work for the evening when there are still patrons waiting to be served at the Bar and Grill.
Olivolo was unhappy also. "I was not there and my name was mentioned a few times I was told," he said. Daher told both Wilson and Olivolo that employee performance reviews will be done on July 5 and thought that was the appropriate time and place to bring up any issues with city staff.
Daher asked City Clerk Sharon Payne to distribute copies of the evaluation form to the council and also to the employees to read in advance.
Wilson then wanted to hold a closed meeting for all city employees. Payne pointed out that would be approximately 20 people.
Daher said, "You can't talk about an employee's performance at an open meeting."
Olivolo said he felt that the Liquor Operations committee had turned their meeting agenda "into something personal." Daher told his colleagues he speaks to the liquor operations staff on a regular basis. "They don't know what to do." Daher said. They are being told to save money and cut costs and on the other hand, to spend money with excess staff and more perks and expenditures at the bar he said. "All they did was talk about the money that they lost and the money they don't have." Wilson said.
Wilson seemed to want to clarify he understood that the Stacy Bar and Grill was losing money. Daher corrected him referring to City Attorney Peter Grundhoefer's research and findings discussed at the March 27 council meeting.
Grundhoefer reported he had spoken to the city's auditors and that 2004 and 2005 showed a net profit for the Bar and Grill. Under MN State Statute 340(a).602, if the liquor operation had sustained a net loss in two of three consecutive years that would mandate going to the citizens via a public hearing to ask for their blessing in continuing the liquor operations.
Daher repeated this (council) meeting would not be a continuation of the Liquor Operations committee meeting. He reminded Wilson the task at hand is to report on what was discussed at the committee meeting only.
Councilor Mel Aslakson then made a motion to hold a special meeting "to make changes to the operations of the Stacy Bar and Grill and Stacy Wine and Spirits."
Wilson added he wanted discussion then on also raising the prize money for the Texas Hold ‘Em games that have routinely drawn him away from the Tuesday night council meetings before the meeting has ended.
Olivolo thought that an increase in prize money should be contingent on how much money is being taken in. The mayor told his colleagues that issue should also be placed on the agenda of a Liquor Operations meeting, something Daher has told the council before.
A special meeting was agreed to for Fri., July 6 at 9:30 a.m. Daher politely returned to the agenda, "Is there anything else on the Liquor Store committee?" he asked. "Not now, I'll hold my ammunition," Wilson responded.
In other business:
• Councilor made a motion to take applications for the position of city attorney, building official, building inspector and city engineer between July 17 and Aug. 23.
"I've already had some calls because they heard us talk about it four months ago." he said.
Councilor Olivolo had inquired about replacing city personnel as soon as he had taken his seat on the council in January. The motion was called to a vote and passed with Mayor Daher opposed. The city will be posting information on how to apply on the Web site stacymn.org.
• There was an attempted change to the consent agenda of the June 12 council meeting. Councilor Wilson said he had intended to vote "no" on a pay request by Maguire Iron, the firm constructing the city's new water tower. Wilson said he in fact had not voted one way or the other. City Clerk Payne explained to Wilson that failure to register a vote is considered the same as casting a vote for the motion. Councilor Aslakson had voted no. Mayor Daher warned the council that if the council now started to vote against the pay requests, the city would then not be fulfilling its bill paying obligation which could lead to default on the contract and to legal action against the city by a vendor.
• The city will pay the MN Dept. of Revenue $3474.71 in sales and use taxes identified as owed during an audit by the Dept. of Revenue conducted this month. Under Minnesota state law, it is the city's responsibility to determine that sales or use tax is owed and how much. The council agreed to pay the bill as they could find no legal basis to fight the auditor's findings.
• Chisago County Deputy Cliff Sheppeck brought Cpl. Chris Hendricks to the meeting. This was more or less a social call as the two simply came to report "things are going well." Things may not be going well however for some parents of Stacy juveniles this summer. Sheppeck has been strictly enforcing the city's curfew and plans to continue to pursue the issue with violators. Thus far, the action by law enforcement has consisted of doing some education among kids and parents issuing warnings and reminders. If this strategy is not working, there are plans to carry out a crackdown. Kids will not be taken home this time, but will be taken into custody and parents will be summoned to claim their kids at the sheriff's office.
• Purchase of a new severe weather siren was discussed at the June 12 council meeting however purchase will have to wait. The council learned the cost of a new siren would be more than the $8,500 that had been budgeted for 2007. It is estimated an additional $5,000 is needed. Councilor Barbara Avalos, a resident of the Sunrise Mobile Home Park on the west side of Stacy, then asked if money could be reallocated in this budget year. "The Mobile Home Park (residents) over there cannot hear. I have more danger of losing my home because it is not structurally built onto the ground. We have nowhere to go," Avalos said. City Clerk Payne said that a budget analysis will be done by financial advisor Richard Hill at the end of July and Hill can assist with recommendations as to how money might be moved in order to make this purchase a priority.
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