Moorhead City Council,
Committee of the Whole
Monday, September 15, 2014
*At Committee of the Whole Meetings Council Members discusses City business or other matters of interest as determined by the Council. No official action is taken at Committee of the Whole meetings.
Traffic Sign and Pavement Marking Installation & Maintenance Policy
Review required by federal highway guidelines and to streamline the sign procedures, the Council discussed the policy establishing procedures the City will use to manage the installation, modification, maintenance, and removal of traffic signs, pavement markings, and other traffic control devices (excluding traffic signals and roundabouts). Much of the proposed policy provides clarification and streamlining of existing procedures.
The policy governs the use of traffic control devices in accordance with statutory, regulatory, and technical requirements. The policy does not include traffic calming criteria and procedures. A draft traffic calming policy is being developed for future City Council consideration.
The purpose of this policy is to establish the procedures the City will use to manage the installation, modification, maintenance, and removal of traffic signs, pavement markings, and other traffic control devices; including implementation of a management and/or assessment process to satisfy minimum sign retro reflectivity requirements in the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MN MUTCD).
The goal of this policy is to improve public safety on the City’s streets and prioritize the City’s limited resources to install, maintain, and replace signs, pavement markings, and other traffic control devices.
Proposed 2015 Budget Discussion
The Council discussed how to balance the 2015 budget without reducing services to the residents. By state law, the Council must submit a budget later this month that can only be reduced but not increased going forward. However, several members stated that the media focus would be only on the upper limit. The Council will take up the budget issue at the September 22 meeting.
The mayor began the discussion stating her opinion that reductions were off the table. There was an apparently agreement among the members that the City has achieved a barebones budget over the past years and consequently any reductions would be detrimental to the operation and to the residents.
It was established that the City will require an additional $2.4 million to pay for the increasing expenses from the soon annexed Oakport, higher debt payments and employee expenses. It was estimated that the levy increase would require a $37 increase to annual property tax bills for median-valued $144,900 homes. However, the proposed 14.4 percent increase was not acceptable to several council members including member Jim Haney who expressed concerns for his constituents who would be affected by the increase. Finance Director Wanda Wagner said that less than half of the increase of the 14.4 percent would affect the existing residents because of the Oakport annexation.
The City receives funds from three main sources – Property taxes, Moorhead Public Service, and from the state. The property tax statements received by the residents include the three main taxing entities of the City, County, and the school district. Of the three, the City portion is the lowest. It was also pointed out that just under a third of the properties within the City are nontaxed entities such as schools, churches, and other nonprofit organizations.
Central Minnesota Credit Union
promotes Trosdahl to Personal Banker
Central Minnesota Credit Union has promoted Laura Trosdahl to Personal Banker. She is located at the Moorhead branch located at 1002 Main Avenue.
Laura joined Central Minnesota Credit Union in May 2012 as a Teller II. Laura earned a bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in economics from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Moorhead Voted Best-Tasting
Water in Minnesota for the Third Time!
Moorhead Public Service is proud to announce that the best-tasting water in Minnesota is found right here in Moorhead! The Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association (MNAWWA) held its 6th Annual “Best In Glass” Water Taste Test at its Annual Conference in Duluth and, for the third year, Moorhead was awarded “Best in Glass.”
Moorhead competed against 13 other Minnesota cities for this award. The competition began on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, with two phases of judging. In Phase One, the top three water samples were selected by popular vote of the conference participants. Phase Two included judging of the top three water samples, along with the People’s Choice Award winner from the Minnesota State Fair. In Phase Two, a panel of taste testing experts determined MNAWWA’s State Champion—the “Best In Glass” winner.
MNAWWA’s State Champion and “Best In Glass” winner is Moorhead Public Service! With this award, Moorhead’s water will now compete nationally at the AWWA Annual Conference held in Anaheim, California, in June 2015.
Moorhead Public Service congratulates and thanks its Water Division employees for their hard work to ensure we have great water in Moorhead! Moorhead Public Service is a community-owned utility serving the residents of Moorhead, Minnesota, with electricity and water.
First Ave Promo and Merch
Me invite you to join us for
the 2014 Artstravaganza
1408 1st Ave N Moorhead.
First Ave Promo invites the F-M community to an event on Thursday, September 25th from 3-9pm. Artstravaganza is a family-friendly, all-inclusive, FREE event that aims to bring the love of Art to Fargo-Moorhead through hands on creation and fun.
Earlier this summer, First Ave Promo and their partner Merch Me reached out to like-minded businesses and artists to create an event that is uplifting, creative, and fun for all ages. The courtyard of First Ave Promo will be open to the public for fun chalk drawing on the walls, food, collaborative art displays, live artists and music throughout the night. Art displays features the works of local artists Kim Jore, Jeremy Kuhn and you! Join us to put your creative spin on many fun, open, and free projects we will be creating.
Interested in seeing what we do at First Ave Promo? The indoor area will be hosting screen-printing demos as well as Merch Me’s original T-shirt designs, which are available to be purchased. Our next-door neighbor, Junkyard Brewing Company and other food vendors will be open for drinks and food. You must be 21 years of age to enjoy the Brewery Tour and beverages.
Central Minnesota Credit
Union & Moorhead Teachers
Credit Union complete merger
Central Minnesota Credit Union (CMCU) is pleased to announce the completion of the merger with Moorhead Teachers Credit Union (MTCU), July, 2014.
The merger provides MTCU members access to expanded products and services offered by CMCU, including CMCU’s suite of commercial and agriculture loans and services, as well as its comprehensive offering of consumer products and services.
“We welcome the Moorhead Teachers Credit Union members to Central Minnesota Credit Union. This merger allows us to offer MTCU members a larger selection of products and services” said Richard Odenthal, CEO of CMCU. “We are excited about the opportunity to serve the expanded community and are committed to providing them with an exceptional banking experience for which CMCU is known.”