BRITTON COUNCIL: APPROVES FIRST BUDGET READING

    The Britton City Council met Monday night for its regular meeting, focusing on ordinances related to the budget plus many other agenda items.
    Ordinance #625, the 2025 Supplemental Budget, reflects adjustments to several departments for the 2025 budget. The parks budget exceeded projections by about $290,000, primarily due to the ballfield lighting project. That shortfall will be supplemented with a combination of grant funds, insurance proceeds, donations from the local ball program, and reallocated city funds.
    The water fund also ran over budget because of the purchase of new water meters. To cover those costs, the council approved transferring $35,000 from the street budget within the general fund. In addition, the sewer fund is projected to exceed its budget by roughly $500,000 because of ongoing projects. That overage will be supplemented with loan funds expected to be received in late 2025 through early 2026.
    In related business, the council revisited financing for the Water Meter Project. The city had previously approved borrowing up to $375,000, but new financing terms were presented with an eight-year repayment period instead of ten years and a different interest rate. The council approved a new motion reflecting the updated term. And Finance Officer Jennifer Athey noted that the loan amount may decrease due to the water meters that have already been purchased and installed.
    Ordinance #626, the 2026 Appropriations Ordinance, also received its first reading. Athey outlined several changes made since last month’s draft, including increasing projected sales tax revenue, adding revenue from the planned sale of municipal property, and including surcharge revenue from the water meter project to balance the water fund.
    The proposed 2026 expense budget totals $2,076,060, up from $1,948,142 last year—an increase of about 6.5 percent.
    In other ordinance business, the council approved the first reading of Ordinance #624, an update to the city’s tree ordinance. The changes clarify that abutting property owners are responsible for removing limbs from sidewalks and boulevards and adds a penalty for dragging debris into the street.
    During the public comment portion, resident Cindy Krutsinger asked each council member, “How would you fix the budget?”
    Council members offered varying perspectives. Norm Mack said he would work to ensure fairness for each department, while Brian Beck emphasized the need to “cut costs as much as we can.” Erik Peterson said it’s important to trust the judgment of the finance officer but also to make sure the city continues delivering essential services. “Utilities come first,” he added. Jerome Marlow said he would start by “firing everyone and making them reapply,” noting that his main goal would be to reduce expenses.
    Mayor Clyde Fredrickson said Britton’s financial challenges are not unique. “We’re not in any different situation than any other municipality,” he said, pointing to rising costs beyond the city’s control and limited state funding increases capped at either 3 percent or the Consumer Price Index—levels that have not kept pace with inflation.
    In old business, resident Chad Hardina and others from the northwest part of town revisited long-standing concerns about drainage near 7th Street and 16th Avenue. Hardina asked whether the city could install a drain to connect to the storm sewer. Fredrickson said the city has limited options. “We can’t make water go uphill,” he said, encouraging landowners to take steps on their own. He asked Councilmember Marlow to speak with an adjacent landowner about restoring old drainage paths, but no clear consensus was reached.
    The council also discussed a possible land swap with USLBM again and the idea of offering the old City Hall building and surrounding lots for sale as that has been factored in next year’s budget. Members talked about updating property appraisals, noting the most recent were done about a year and a half ago. Fredrickson said he plans to speak with USLBM officials to determine which properties the company may be interested in purchasing or exchanging.
    Other business discussed included the following:
    • Approved a BDM plat near the area across from Weber Body Shop on 7th Avenue. The action extends a partial alley for public use that had not previously been available.
    • Approved a pay application for the main lift station project totaling $180,952, which covers most of the work completed to date.
    • Approved a software upgrade for the Event Center’s HVAC control system managed by G&R Controls. The current software is outdated and has caused operating issues. The upgrade will cost $5,464 for the new cloud-based system, with an annual subscription of $1,181 beginning after 18 months.
    • Discussed adjustments to Britton Event Center rental fees. Proposed rates would increase daily-use rentals from the current $35 to $50 for a half day and $100 for a full day. Large group rentals would rise to $100 for a half day and $200 for a full day. The cleaning fee for weddings would also increase by $50.
    • Discussed PTO carryover for Event Center Director Laken Werner. Werner requested to move over unused vacation hours. Policy allows her to carry over up to 120 hours of accrued time per year. Werner has more time she’d like to carry over. No action was taken.
    • Discussed adding a shop employee. The city has not received applications for the open public works supervisor position. Fredrickson said the department remains short-staffed for snow removal and suggested the council revisit the matter later if more help is needed this winter.
    • Heard an update regarding a memorial donation from Doug Card in honor of his parents for work on the Event Center. Some of the funds have been used for theater improvements, and the remainder was intended for work and naming rights to the upstairs area. No progress has been made in recent years. Card wants the funds used or would like to take them back. Fredrickson said he will work on obtaining estimates to complete the upstairs project.