Mount Vernon council may eliminate liaisons
January 15, 2009 · Jake Krob

The Mount Vernon City Council solidified 2009 committees last week, and also considered ending having formal council liaisons on the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Library Board.

Mayor Paul Tuerler recommended to the council changes in the city code that would remove the requirement of liaisons for the Parks and Recreation Commission and Library Board. He said given the fact that both entities have full-time staff members, liaisons are not needed. The roles of the liaisons in these cases, he said, are "archaic."

Council members didn't disagree, but said those involved in the commissions, including the staff members, should be made aware of the possible change before it's made.

That discussion came on the heels of the council unanimously supporting three standing committees, with each consisting of two council members.

The committees are public works, public safety and personnel. Council member appointments are: Jerry Niederhauser and Jim Moore on public works; Moore and Diane Hoffmann on public safety; and Scott Peterson and Neil Rud on personnel.

Tuerler said these committees represent areas of city government in which there are regular issues to address. He added that the formation of the committees does not eliminate the fact that the council and mayor can form other committees as specific issues arise.

In other action at the council's Jan. 5 meeting, council members:

• Approved a new compensation rate for the city's attorney. The council agreed to a $150 hourly rate for city attorney Robert Hatala, alternate city attorney Randall L. Scholer and assistant city attorney Abbe Stensland. The rate is a $10 increase per hour. All attorneys are members of the Moyer & Bergman firm, which has merged with the firm Simmons Perrine.

• Set new cemetery rates, which city administrator Mike Beimer pointed out hadn't been updated since 2000. The new rates include higher grave opening and closing fees for the winter months, due to the additional work that needs to be done when the ground is frozen. The cost for plots remains at $450 for a resident and $500 for a non-resident.

The following are the new rates: Grave opening and closing for a full burial from April through November, $450 Monday through Friday and $650 on weekends and holidays; opening and closing for a full burial from December through March, $525 Monday through Friday and $725 on weekends and holidays; opening and closing for cremation from April through November, $275 Monday through Friday and $350 on weekends and holidays; opening and closing for cremation from December through March, $325 Monday through Friday and $425 on weekends and holidays.

The previous rates were: opening and closing for full burial, $350 Mondays through Fridays and $600 on weekends and holidays; opening and closing for cremation, $180 Monday through Friday and $300 on weekends and holidays.