4/27/13
Buried at the end of the council packet for the 4/22 meeting was a one page report on the City's organics recycling pilot program. For those not familiar with the subject, keep reading.
Two years ago the City (urged on by Council Member Hotvet) obtained a grant from Hennepin County to pilot an organics recycling program (the grant was about $20,000). The idea was to get households in part of the city to sign up for six months with the grant paying for the recycling and the City's costs of running the program. Staff elected to offer the pilot to the west part of the city (let's see: Oh, all of council lived there). Well, the six month pilot is long over and staff finally issued a report.
Forty households are participating. The Insider estimates that something like 600 were eligible. Seems once residents have to pay $6 per month, they lose interest. Hotvet, at a recent council meeting, described the program as just wonderful. Seven percent participation seems less than wonderful.
The Insider can see why the staff report was not discussed during the council meeting. It looks like the program is a flop and Hotvet doesn't want to talk about it.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
South Shore Center Financial Sink Hole
4/20/13
As reported several times in this blog, the South Shore Center is draining tax money from the City.
According to the 2012 year-end financials in the meeting packet for the 22nd council meeting, the center was subsidized $13,600 in the budget. But, it also overspent the budget by $47,552! (See: http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/164497/Page1.aspx and pages starting at 141 for the financial information).
So, the Center cost Shorewood taxpayers $61,152 in 2012. This amount does not count City staff time spent on helping promote the Center and various other expenses that could easily add $10,000 more.
Will Shorewood's Council keep spending? It's unclear. It appears there will be a work session (May 20th was discussed at the last council meeting) during which staff will present the situation to Council. Maybe readers of this blog will want to attend?
Happy Reading!
The Insider
As reported several times in this blog, the South Shore Center is draining tax money from the City.
According to the 2012 year-end financials in the meeting packet for the 22nd council meeting, the center was subsidized $13,600 in the budget. But, it also overspent the budget by $47,552! (See: http://weblink.ci.shorewood.mn.us/weblink8/0/doc/164497/Page1.aspx and pages starting at 141 for the financial information).
So, the Center cost Shorewood taxpayers $61,152 in 2012. This amount does not count City staff time spent on helping promote the Center and various other expenses that could easily add $10,000 more.
Will Shorewood's Council keep spending? It's unclear. It appears there will be a work session (May 20th was discussed at the last council meeting) during which staff will present the situation to Council. Maybe readers of this blog will want to attend?
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Saturday, April 13, 2013
House For Sale
4/13/13
Shorewood's Council heard about sale of the city-owned house at the last council meeting. See:
http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=4ce3b2ce-f415-1030-bce9-7f882e4cf4e2
and agenda item #10A.
Seems the recent "retreat" meeting included Council directing staff to look into the sale. Now, the City Attorney is preparing information and soliciting Realtors.
Background is that Shorewood bought the house next to City Hall some sever years ago as part of a plan to build a new city hall on that lot. The purchase price was about $300,000. Since then, the City decided to renovate the existing city hall and to rent out the house.
The Insider's not sure why some council members seem determined to sell the house now. The market is recovering, but it's unlikely that a sale now would recoup the purchase price. There's no specific need for the money (although, sarcastically one could look to the recent Council penchant for giving money away as a need for funds).
Want to buy a house?
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Shorewood's Council heard about sale of the city-owned house at the last council meeting. See:
http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=4ce3b2ce-f415-1030-bce9-7f882e4cf4e2
and agenda item #10A.
Seems the recent "retreat" meeting included Council directing staff to look into the sale. Now, the City Attorney is preparing information and soliciting Realtors.
Background is that Shorewood bought the house next to City Hall some sever years ago as part of a plan to build a new city hall on that lot. The purchase price was about $300,000. Since then, the City decided to renovate the existing city hall and to rent out the house.
The Insider's not sure why some council members seem determined to sell the house now. The market is recovering, but it's unlikely that a sale now would recoup the purchase price. There's no specific need for the money (although, sarcastically one could look to the recent Council penchant for giving money away as a need for funds).
Want to buy a house?
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Fencing The City Garden Plots
4/4/13
The Council approved spending $6500 to erect a six-foot high plastic-coated chain-link fence around the garden plots at the Skate Park.
Seems the Parks Commission felt that having the individual garden plot renters continue to do do their own fencing caused an eyesore. Of course, it seems that the most important reason was that Excelsior had a really nice looking fence around its garden plots adjacent to County Rd. 19.
Interestingly, if one views the council meeting, one can hear Planning Director Nielson saying that a six foot fence wasn't high enough to keep out deer. Deer was the other justification.
So, $6500 to fence in 16 garden plots and not high enough to keep out deer, but just as nice as Excelsior's fence. Is that how you'd spend money if it was yours (oh!, yes it is yours).
Happy Reading!
The Insider
The Council approved spending $6500 to erect a six-foot high plastic-coated chain-link fence around the garden plots at the Skate Park.
Seems the Parks Commission felt that having the individual garden plot renters continue to do do their own fencing caused an eyesore. Of course, it seems that the most important reason was that Excelsior had a really nice looking fence around its garden plots adjacent to County Rd. 19.
Interestingly, if one views the council meeting, one can hear Planning Director Nielson saying that a six foot fence wasn't high enough to keep out deer. Deer was the other justification.
So, $6500 to fence in 16 garden plots and not high enough to keep out deer, but just as nice as Excelsior's fence. Is that how you'd spend money if it was yours (oh!, yes it is yours).
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Hotvet and Excelsior Chamber
4/3/13
The Insider can't resist clarifying the circumstances of Hotvet's recent employment as Chamber Ececutive Director.
Hotvet was elected to Shorewood's council in 2010 nd her term started January, 2011. Her employment at the Chamber started at the end of 2012.
Zerby was a seated council member when Hotvet was elected to council. He was also president of the Chamber during her first year as a council member.
So, the notion that the Chamber did not know Hotvet was on Shorewood's council until after she was hired is pure bunk.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
The Insider can't resist clarifying the circumstances of Hotvet's recent employment as Chamber Ececutive Director.
Hotvet was elected to Shorewood's council in 2010 nd her term started January, 2011. Her employment at the Chamber started at the end of 2012.
Zerby was a seated council member when Hotvet was elected to council. He was also president of the Chamber during her first year as a council member.
So, the notion that the Chamber did not know Hotvet was on Shorewood's council until after she was hired is pure bunk.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
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