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Aurora City Council Minutes
I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE THE MINUTES ARE BEHIND, BUT REMEMBER ONLY APPROVED MINUTES ARE POSTED. USUALLY THE MINUTES FROM A CITY COUNCIL MEETING ARE APPROVED THE FOLLOWING MONTH. FOR INSTANCE, MAY 2021 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED AT THE JUNE 2021 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THEN POSTED FOLLOWING THAT MEETING.
City of Aurora City Council Meeting June 20, 2022 Page 1
CITY OF AURORA PUBLIC HEARING AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 20, 2022 FINAL The Aurora City Council came to order at 7:00 pm. Mayor Quarnberg informed the public that proper notice for the city council meeting had been given. Jim Harrison gave an opening expression of choice, and the Council recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENT: Mayor: Daven Quarnberg Council Member: Jim Harrison Council Member: Kelly Mason Council Member: Kent Mickelsen Council Member: Andy Rasmussen Council Member: Nancy Kennedy
STAFF PRESENT: Clint Johnson, City Recorder
EXCUSED: Maintenance Manager: Jordon Bosh
VISITORS: Parker Vercimak, Thurel Mason, Officer Stuart Reid, Officer Matt McLean
Public Hearing-
1- FINAL FY 2021-22 Budget Mr. Johnson provided the City Council with a document showing the financial status of Aurora City for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. Mr. Johnson stated that Aurora City is ending the year on sound fiscal ground and that the city did not go over their budget. Mr. Johnson also noted that he had placed money into some capitol projects accounts in order to avoid the 25% carry over penalty that can occur when a city keeps too much money after they end their fiscal year. Mr. Johnson placed $60,000 in vehicle/equipment budget, $5,000 in fireman’s equipment budget and $10,000 in parks and cemetery budget. A few adjustments were made to refine some of the City of Aurora City Council Meeting June 20, 2022 Page 2
accounts on the general budget and the enterprise funds. 2- PROPOSED FY 2022-23 BUDGET-
Mr. Johnson provided the City Council with a proposed version of the city budget for the coming fiscal year. Mr. Johnson stated that the proposed budget can be changed depending upon the City Council’s desire to change employee wages, utility rates and the proposed tax rate. Currently the proposed budget does not reflect any of those changes.
3- PROPOSED TAX RATE-
Mr. Johnson stated that the State of Utah had provided Aurora City with their proposed tax rate for property taxes for the coming year. The proposed rate is 0.000686 which will provide the city with $63,880 in property tax revenue. This rate reflects a lower rate than the previous year but an increase in the amount of revenue. The assessed valuation for all properties in Aurora City came in at $91 million which is a huge increase from the $65 million the previous year.
4- REVIEW OF UTILITY RATES AND EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION SCHEDULE-
Mr. Johnson informed the Council that their employee compensation schedule was in excellent shape due to the retirement of Dan Rasmussen. Mr. Johnson provided the Council with an information sheet showing what each city employee currently makes. Mr. Johnson also discussed the utility rates and how the past few months, many small increases have been made because of fuel surcharges by White’s Sanitation and an increase in the Landfill fee from Sevier County.
City Council Meeting-
1- APPROVAL OF MINUTES-
The City Council reviewed the minutes of the May 16, 2022 Council meeting.
City Council Member Andy Rasmussen moved to accept the minutes of the May 16, 2022 meeting. City Council Member Jim Harrison seconded the motion. The motion was approved by members: Mickelsen, Mason, Rasmussen, Kennedy and Harrison. City of Aurora City Council Meeting June 20, 2022 Page 3
2- IRRIGATION WATER DISCUSSION-
Mayor Quarnberg informed the Council that irrigation water will be shut off any day and he had visited with citizens who were wondering if the City Council was going to change the 10,000 gallon base usage due to the emergency conditions. The Council discussed the pros and cons of making such a change and the need for citizens to be able to get their yards through the hottest and driest months of the year. After much discussion, it was determined that the 10,000 gallon base usage would remain and that anyone who wishes to use more than that amount will pay the overage costs.
3- PROPOSED CONTRACT FROM JONES AND DEMILLE FOR AN UPGRADE TO THE AURORA UTILITY GIS MAPPING SYSTEM ALONG WITH AN UPGRADE TO THE AURORA CITY CEMETERY PROGRAM-
Jones and DeMille Engineer Parker Vercimak explained to the Council that it looked like there was a potential for some funding left over from the culinary water project that could be used to upgrade the GIS utility map. Mr. Vercimak stated that the current map is somewhat outdated and there are water lines that don’t match up. It was also discussed that representatives from Jones and DeMille had met with Mayor Quarnberg and Mr. Johnson regarding their cemetery program. Mr. Johnson explained that he felt it was very important to have the cemetery information available to the general public and to also have a safety backup for all of the information. The changes to the cemetery program will also allow for Aurora City to have information on each burial plot that the current program does not allow.
City Council Member Andy Rasmussen moved to pay Jones and DeMille $3,500.00 for the upgrades to the GIS program and cemetery program. This does not include the annual ArcGIS subscription fee paid directly to Esri. City Council Member Nancy Kennedy seconded the motion. The motion was approved by members: Rasmussen, Kennedy, Harrison, Mason and Mickelsen.
4- APPROVAL OF THE FY 2021-22 FINAL BUDGET AND THE FY 2022-23 BUDGET-
The City Council discussed a few items further regarding the budget and directed Mr. Johnson to amend the FY 2022-23 budget to include any wage increases or utility increased that the Council will vote on during the next item up for discussion. City of Aurora City Council Meeting June 20, 2022 Page 4
City Council Member Kelly Mason moved to approve the final FY 2021-22 budget. Council Member Kent Mickelsen seconded the motion. The motion was approved by members: Mason, Mickelsen, Kennedy, Rasmussen and Harrison.
City Council Member Kent Mickelsen moved to approve the proposed FY2022-23 budget along with any changes made to the budget during the next agenda item. The motion was seconded by Jim Harrison. The motion was approved by members: Mickelsen, Harrison, Mason, Kennedy and Rasmussen.
5- PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND UTILITY RATES DISCUSSION-
The City Council discussed how the cost of living had increased over the past year with inflation and costs rising. The Council also discussed payment for the Planning Commission members, police officers, janitorial staff and city council members.
City Council Member Andy Rasmussen moved to increase the payment for Aurora City employees by 5% and to exclude the Aurora City Council from the increase. The motion was seconded by Council Member Kelly Mason. The motion was approved by members: Rasmussen, Mason, Kennedy, Harrison and Mickelsen.
The City Council determined that no increase in the utility rates would be warranted at this time. The Council discussed the small increases in the past few months and felt that the citizens could use a breather from an increase in the utility payments.
Mayor Quarnberg also asked Mr. Johnson to include in the equipment budget about $7500.00 so that Mr. Bosh could purchase a jump jack, blower, and some hand tools for the city maintenance shed. Police Officers McLean and Reid also requested some funding to purchase ammunition for their 9mm and .223 weapons. The officers felt that they could purchase the ammo for around $1,000.00.
6- ADOPTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE-
The City Council felt that the proposed property tax rate for the coming year should be set at the state recommended level of 0.00686 with a revenue potential of $63,880.00.
City Council Member Nancy Kennedy moved to set the property tax rate at 0.000686. City of Aurora City Council Meeting June 20, 2022 Page 5
The motion was seconded by Council Member Kelly Mason. The motion was approved by members: Kennedy, Mason, Harrison, Rasmussen and Mickelsen.
7- CITY ATTORNEY DISCUSSION-
Mayor Quarnberg informed the Council that city attorney Richard Chamberlain had retired and that Aurora City would need to obtain a new attorney. Mr. Johnson provided the Council with the biographies of several attorneys that other communities in the area were using. Mayor Quarnberg also mentioned that the Utah League of Cities and Towns has attorneys that Aurora City would be able to use as well. After some discussion, the Council determined that they would move forward with utilizing the attorneys from the League, and if that doesn’t work out, then move forward with hiring a city attorney.
8- DEPARTMENT REVIEWS-
Jim Harrison- Mr. Harrison informed the Council that the park was still being hit by a bad dog knocking over garbage cans. The Council also reviewed some damage that had occurred at the city building and also at the military monument at the cemetery. Kelly Mason- Mr. Mason stated that the North Sevier Recreation meeting was visited by members of the community who were strongly opposed to the change of racquetball court usage. He also discussed a donation made to the new park by the State Bank of Southern Utah. Nancy Kennedy- Ms. Kennedy stated that the planning commission had their meeting in June where they discussed the General Plan and also discussed a question from Western Clay regarding the property located at the corner of Center and Highway 124. Andy Rasmussen- Mr. Rasmussen discussed plans for the upcoming 4th of July celebration. The Council set up times to take tickets at the park and assignment for the celebration.
9- REVIEW OF WATER USE REPORTS, BUDGET, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, REVIEW OF THE CHECK REGISTER AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
The City Council reviewed all of the reports.
10- ITEMS FROM MAYOR QUARNBERG- City of Aurora City Council Meeting June 20, 2022 Page 6
Mayor Quarnberg discussed with the City Council that he had received an offer from Dale Coates to sell 35 shares of Piute water for $20,000 a share. The Council discussed the need for more water shares and how that could help with growth. The Council also felt that the price for the water was a little steep. The Council determined that they would offer Mr. Coates $5000.00 per share and see what Mr. Coates is willing to do.
11- ITEMS FROM THE CITY RECORDER-
Mr. Johnson informed the Council that the Planning Commission was working on a new tobacco policy for the Aurora City Parks. The current policy does not include vaping. If the Planning Commission approves the policy it will be presented at the next meeting.
12- ADJOURNMENT-
The Council completed their business and the meeting was adjourned at 10:18 pm with Clint Johnson offering a closing expression of choice.
Approved: ________________________________________
Mayor: ___________________________________________
Recorder: _________________________________________ |
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