New city fee/rate schedule receives council approval

The city's 2009 fee schedule, as recommended by various city departments and the library and park boards got the nod Tuesday from members of the Le Mars City Council.

Councilman Rex Knapp pointed out the fee, rate, licence report included a few changes as compared with this year's levels.

Where changes do exist, he said, they are mainly in the 2 percent increase range.

Most evident among the changes, city staff said, were increases from no cost for the first day of rental of the Willow Creek Golf Course Clubhouse banquet room and those at the convention center facility site to a recommended $525 charge and a series of 13 new charges for various water reconnection services.

City Administrator Scott Langel said the site rental increases should be viewed not as increases but a previously non-existing guarantee of a day-prior rental commitment at the two day locations.

Using current figures, the charges represent only a comparative increase in fees for other services offered by the two facilities.

Langel explained that in three instances, the new water reconnect charges are the result of the city's attempts to defray unexpected costs to homeowners for service work on private rather than city property for main hook-ups.

Prior to this time, Langel said, the city has received requests for service only to discover the water problem is on property owned by the citizen rather than with a city main or hook-up. This, he said, has often resulted in unexpected charges for the property owner.

Langel emphasized he feels city staff is attempting to inform property owners of any unexpected charges related to the services and that this will continue. He added that the fee rates do not relate to a one-time service call opportunity afforded by state code.

Councilman Ken Nelson, during Tuesday's session, suggested to fellow council member and council liaison to the park board, Delana Ihrke, that future study be made of current campground fees.

Nelson's request, he indicated, coincides with his hope that new sewer installations can someday be possible for the campsites and a possible rate change could make this possible. The current fees, Ihrke said, are "in line" with those of other area facilities.

The complete new fee/rate/license schedule for all departments is available at city hall.