By Clark Natalie

After spending hours at two workshops on the proposed 2008 budget for Harris, the city council was prepared to approve a levy with about a 9 percent increase, with the increase having a nominal impact on the taxpayers due to the increase of the tax base. This changed Monday night, Sept. 10 due to pending actions by the county commissioners.

The Chisago County Sheriff's Office, which contracts with Harris for police protection, has not been able to establish a firm hourly rate. The reason as explained by Sheriff Todd Rivard is that the county board had agreed to support local communities by funding a Mobile Data Computer System (a computer system in squad cars) for the Sheriff's Office.

Since the beginning of the project two years ago, this cost has increased. Until such time as the county agrees to continue funding the system, the additional cost will be deferred to the local communities through an increase in the hourly rate for law enforcement to $47.50.

The Harris council chose to increase the amount in next year's budget to compensate for this potential increase. Because the amount that is certified to the auditor cannot be increased when finalized in December, the additional cost had to be included in the preliminary levy.

Should the county board decide to continue with the funding, Harris can lower the levy.

Anticipating additional costs for law enforcement, therefore, the Harris Council certified a levy of $340,000, an increase of about an additional 6 percent from the original 9 percent increase.

The council set a date for a Truth in Taxation hearing of Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., with continuation on Dec. 11 if needed.

While the Council was already dealing with unanticipated expenses, the Harris Fire Department brought another unexpected cost to the table.

During the setting of the 2008 fire department budget, Fire Chief Will Lacina had discussed the back-up tanker truck. Lacina said the department would start to look for a replacement, but felt the department would be able to wait until after the existing funding for the equipment truck was done, toward the middle of 2008. Unfortunately, that won't happen.

The truck has a steel tank on it, with steel baffles to limit how much the water inside can move around. This is important on a tanker truck which accelerates then stops quickly. The baffles have failed. This makes the truck very unstable, especially when trying to make a turn.

Also, the last time the truck went out on a fire call, the inside of the windshield became wet because the heater core has a slow leak. The truck is a 1968 GMC and is actually owned by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Pelant proposed removing the usable equipment from the truck and returning it to the DNR.

Lacina went over the options the department has been looking at including a 2002 Sterling truck at a cost of $20,600.

With the increase in the levy due to the law enforcement costs, the council felt the budget could not be stretched any farther. Lacina asked about bonding for 10 years to fund the cost. The department felt they could pull from other funds in the budget to apply $7,800 for the first payment. The following years, the equipment truck would be paid off and the impact would not be that great.

It was decided that the department would look at as many options as possible, different trucks, different tanks, and come back to the Council with other options.

Until an additional backup tanker is purchased, mutual aide with other fire departments will supply the Harris Fire Department with needed water.

In other business, the council heard a proposal by Genesis Wireless, represented by Jay Mankie. Genesis Wireless has asked if Harris would allow an antenna on the city water tower. Genesis provides wireless Internet access. A tall structure is required so the wireless system can reach as far as possible.

Genesis provides service to North Branch and Rush City. There is a dead spot between them. By putting an antenna in Harris, it will solve that problem. Rather than pay Harris to allow them to install the antenna, Genesis proposed to provide the city with wireless Internet access, four hookups. With the city needing Internet hookups for City Hall, the fire department, the water treatment plant and eventually the wastewater treatment plant, the council looked at this as a favorable option.

Mankie assured the council that his company presently provides service to 13 different communities and have had no complaints. Mankie will provide copies of the different contracts to Harris for review. Grundhoefer will then create a contract for Harris that is acceptable to all parties for the Council to sign.

Mayor Rick Smisson said the personnel committee had interviewed six of the strongest candidates for treasurer from over 50 applicants. None of the applicants had experience with city finances, but with running townships. Smisson said the personnel committee was prepared to offer a contract to the strongest candidate.

Also, he asked for authority to negotiate with the second strongest candidate, should a mutual agreement not be made with the first.

Councilman Pelant asked when the council would have the opportunity to interview the candidates. It was his understanding that the council would be able to at least meet the candidates before having to vote on who would succeed Hill. Smisson said that from the beginning the personnel committee, with the aide of Hill would be making the selection. To have the final candidates come before the council would delay the process, he said. This would limit the amount of time that Hill could spend bringing the new treasurer up to date on the Harris financial system. In the end, this was the action that the council decided on.

The North Branch Area Hockey Association is trying to fund the construction of a permanent indoor hockey arena. At the present time, the closest facility is in East Bethel. NBAHA has approached Stacy and North Branch as well. The NBAHA is trying to find a community that will donate between three to five acres to house the facility.

Ideally, the NBAHA would also like the hosting city to donate the infrastructure. Smisson pointed out that Harris, like other communities, may be able to make a donation of land, but would be hard pressed to write out a check.

The council agreed that the proposal by NBAHA should be studied in depth. They acknowledged the need to provide something for the children in the area and this may be the first step. It was decided to set a workshop to review the matter on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.