City Council to approve $13.7 million budget for 2005

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The City Council is expected to give its stamp of approval tonight to a $13,673,066 budget for 2005, representing a 10.3 percent increase over the 2004 budget.

The meeting will be held in District 88's board room in its administration building annex, starting at 7 p.m.

However, that 2005 budget total will fall $1,636,400 short of the 2003 budget, at $15,309,466 the largest budget in the city's history. For the third year in a row, the gross property tax levy totaling $4,313,700 will be the single largest source of revenue.

Approval of the final assessment rolls for 2004 utility, street and alley improvements -- Group I is on tonight's agenda. It includes Oak Bluff Fourth Addition, two North Highland Avenue sanitary sewer, water, storm sewer grading and graveling projects, Eighth South Street, Ninth South Street reconstruction and grading projects, Airport Industrial Park, North Ridge Addition and sidewalk improvements on Eighth South Street between Payne and Jefferson and North Broadway from Doris Drive to 23rd North Street.

The council also will be asked to approve 44 change orders and seven supplemental agreements totaling $67,675.11 for construction of the New Ulm Recreational Trail, Phase 1, project.

The agreement reached by the Park and Recreation Commission and Sue and Peter Rothmeier for a mini park of not more than two acres to be designated in their Lakeside Village Addition is on the agenda.

A proposed lease allowing the Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River to use the school building on Riverside Park as the site for a regional river history center is up for consideration and possible approval.

The council also will consider approval of a redevelopment agreement for the property to be platted as Marktplaz First Addition and development agreements for Schneider Second Addition and Jungkans First Addition.