HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget/Finance Committee Minutes 10.22.2019Minutes of City of Laurel
Budget/Finance Committee
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Members Present: Emelie Eaton Bruce McGee
Richard Klose
Others Present: Mayor Nelson Bethany Langve
The Meeting was called to order by Chair Eaton at 5:40 pm.
Public Input: Citizens may address the committee regarding any item of business that is not on the agenda. The
duration for an individual speaking under Public Input is limited to three minutes. While all comments are
welcome, the committee will not take action on any item not on the agenda.
General Items
• Review and approve the minutes of the October 8, 2019 meeting. Mayor Nelson made a motion to
approve the minutes of the October 8, 2019 Budget and Finance Committee meeting. Bruce McGee
seconded the motion to approve the October 8, 2019 Budget and Finance Committee meeting
minutes, all in favor, motion passed.
• Review and approve purchase requisitions — Purchase requisition from the Ambulance Department
for two CF -33 Toughbooks. The Committee reviewed the documents provided regarding the
purchase requisition. They had no questions or comments regarding the purchase. Bruce McGee
made a motion to approve the purchase requisition for the two CF -33 Toughbooks. Emelie Eaton
seconded the motion to approve the purchase requisition for CF -33 Toughbooks, all in favor, motion
passed.
• Review and approve purchase requisitions — Purchase requisition from the Water Department for a
lawn tractor. The Committee reviewed the documents provided regarding the purchase requisition.
The committee asked if this tractor had a cab on it for the colder temperatures. The Clerk/Treasurer
stated that she didn't know but she would find out. The Committee talked briefly regarding the three
quotes and chose the Kubota Lawn Tractor. The Committee had no further questions or comments
regarding the purchase. Bruce McGee made a motion to approve the purchase requisition for the
Water Department to purchase a Kubota Lawn Tractor. Emelie Eaton seconded the motion to
approve the purchase of a Kubota Lawn Tractor for the Water Department, all in favor, motion
passed.
• Review and approve the September 2019 Utility Billing Adjustments. The Committee reviewed the
September 2019 Utility Billing Adjustments and had no questions or comments. Richard Klose made
a motion to approve the September 2019 Utility Billing Adjustments, Bruce McGee seconded the
motion, all in favor, motion passed.
• Review and approve the September 2019 Financial Statements. The Clerk/Treasurer briefly went
over the September 2019 Financial Statements. The Committee had no questions or comments.
Bruce McGee made a motion to approve the September 2019 Financial Statements. Richard Klose
seconded the motion to approve the September 2019 Financial Statements, all in favor, motion
passed.
• Review and approve the September 2019 Month End Close Report. The Committee reviewed the
September 2019 Month End Close report. The Committee had no questions or comments. Mayor
Nelson made a motion to approve the September 2019 Month End Close report. Emelie Eaton
seconded the motion to approve the September 2019 Month End Close report, all in favor, motion
passed.
• Review and recommend approval to Council Claims entered through 10/18/19. Richard Klose had
previously reviewed the Claims Detail report and the check register for accuracy. There were no
questions regarding the claims. Bruce McGee made a motion to recommend approval to Council the
claims entered through 10/18/19, Richard Klose seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
• Review and approve Payroll Register for pay period ending 10/06/19 totaling $189,175.76. The two-
page summary was reviewed, signed and dated. Richard Klose made a motion to approve the Payroll
Register for the pay period ending 10/06/19 totaling $189,175.76, Bruce McGee seconded the motion,
all in favor, motion passed.
New Business — none
Old Business — none
Other Items
• Review the September 2019 Journal Vouchers. The Committee reviewed the September 2019
Journal Vouchers and had no questions or comments.
• Review the Comp/Overtime report for pay period ending 10/06/2019. The Committee reviewed the
comp/overtime report for pay period ending 10/06/2019 and had no questions or comments.
• The Clerk/Treasurer stated that she had looked into the purchases questioned at the 10/08/19 meeting.
None of the purchases were made on different dates to circumvent the Purchasing Policy. What had
happened is a purchase was made over a thousand dollars, with the Mayor's approval, and it was
shipped in two separate shipments. The two separate shipments generated two invoices, and this is
what made it look like two separate orders. All purchases were done correctly via the policy. The
Clerk/Treasurer passed out to the Committee the warranty information for the heat trace approved at
the 10/08/2019 meeting for the FAP Building. The Committee had no additional questions or
comments regarding the heat trace.
• The Mayor stated that he had received the prosecutor's resignation. The Committee asked if it was
normal for a prosecutor to put in their resignation so quickly. The Mayor stated that he had received
some feedback from the previous law firm and this prosecutor that the workload was too demanding.
The Committee stated that if the pay is not equal to the demand then the pay needed to be looked at.
The Mayor agreed and stated that the City would need to go out for another prosecutor. The
Committee asked if the City would be able to hire a full-time attorney. The Committee asked what
the City currently pays for attorneys. The Clerk/Treasurer stated that currently the City pays
approximately $89,000 in just wages. The Committee asked if the City could look into hiring
individuals recently out of law school. The Committee stated that if the City has a full-time workload
then the City needs to pay full-time wages. The Mayor stated that he was working on a long-term
solution, but it wasn't an easy one. The Mayor stated that he recently met with the Planning Director
regarding delegating duties to his two staff members, and the meeting went well. The Mayor stated
that he read in the Laurel Outlook a statement from Don Nelson regarding the intake not running nor
being utilized. The Mayor stated that he will be attending the October 28, 2019 Emergency Services
Committee meeting as the safety mill levy would be discussed. The Mayor also stated that the
Ambulance response has gone up and he hopes that the department will stay encouraged with all the
support they have from the Fire Department, Council and the citizens.
Announcements —
• The next Budget and Finance Meeting will be held on November 12, 2019 at 5 :3 0pm
• Emelie Eaton will be reviewing claims for the next meeting
Respectfully submitted,
Bethany Langve
Clerk/Treasurer
I`OTTMs meeting is open t® the pubfle. This meeting is for information and discussion ofthe CouncH for the
Usted workshop agenda items.