8.b)1) Review Cost for Radio System Meeting Date: 2/16/2010
Agenda Item: �{ �) � 1
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City Council Agenda Report
City of Scandia
14727 209`h St. North
Scandia, MN 55073 (651)433-2274
Action Requested: Consider sending a letter requesting that Washington County review
their policies for distributing the operating costs for the 800 Mhz radio
system.
Deadline/Timeline: N/A
Background: • The Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Department has asked that other
Washington County fire departments join them in requesting that
the county reconsider assessing user charges to cities for the new
800 Mhz radio system.
• There is concern about the impact on city operating budgets, and
whether the current system is an equitable way of paying the costs
for a county-wide system.
• Scandia's 2010 budget includes $9,000 for radio system user fees.
Recommendation: The Council should review the draft and determine whether a letter
should be sent.
Attachments/ • Draft letter to Commissioner Dennis Hegberg
Materials provided:
Contact(s):
Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator
(county re radio user fees)
Page 1 of 1
02/10/10
February 17, 2010
Commissioner Dennis Hegberg
Washington County Government Center
14949 62°d Street North
PO Box 6
Stillwater, MN 55082-0006 �-_.
Dear Commissioner Hegberg: � `� �
���. �
�
I am writing to urge you and the entire Washington � ty Board of Commissioners to
reconsider the County's method of d'istributing operat�n costs for the 800 Mhz radio
system. � \
� ,
The cities are currently assessed operat\g cos�bas�rl an the ,ni�rnber of radios in service.
i :...
We must budget for this cost and pass it a�on�,to cit}�t�xpayers in our annual levy. The
cost of the new radio s,Ysfem is one reason�ve have seen?operating costs for our fire and
rescue deparhnent inCrease much faster than�t �e cost of other city services.
���'� I '
If county taxpayers pai�,�the c�,for the radio s stem, it would be more equitably
distributed am+�ng all count�taxpayer^s �+'�liave not been able to fully reflect the cost of
the radio�ystem i�-Qur servic�agreement with May Township. If the cost was paid
througli a county levy;�Scandia�nd Ma�Township taxpayers would more equitably bear
the�co�t f�r the county-�i�de systerit.
\ � (
A county-fin`ari�ed system i�vould also provide a greater incentive for the county to
control costs in dth�future lCities are currently obliged to pay a fee over which they have
no budgetary con�l.
We hope that the county will review the current system of charges before the county and
cities prepare their 2011 budgets. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Dennis Seefeldt
Mayor