Golf Carts After Dark

The city has a long tradition of allowing golf carts to drive on city streets.  This is done with the applicant getting a permit.  To qualify for a permit the owner of the cart must prove they have liability insurance that covers them for use on public streets.  Many people think they have insurance for this but in close review of the policy it may only cover the vehicle on private property or have limited coverage.  The minimum coverage required would be the same as provided a motorcycle that uses public roadways.   

The use of golf carts on public roadways is provided for by Minnesota Statutes.  With that a city needs to provide enabling legislation to provide for the use within a city.  The city can prescribe many restrictions on the use.  Some cities will provide for the use to be only to and from the golf course.  Some may prescribe what streets they are allowed on.  In Breezy Point they are allowed on all roadways controlled by the city except Buschmann Road.  The use of golf carts are prohibited on County Roads.  This would include County Roads 11, 39 and 4. 

Minnesota Statutes previously prohibited their use after sunset or before sunrise.  The rules of the city mirrored that regulation.  There was however a change in the statue to allow the use in non-daylight hours if the golf cart was equipped with original equipment headlights, taillights and rear facing brake lights.  The city council recently changed the code to allow use during the non-daylight hours if the golf cart is so equipped.  So with the golf cart season of 2015 this provision is available, but only if the golf cart has the required equipment. 

In discussing this change the city council had concerns about their use after dark and the possibility of drinking too much.  Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) laws extend to users of golf carts under state law.  They were also concerned that some drivers may think with the ability to drive after dark, they don’t need the prescribed equipment.  This too will be enforced.  Owners are reminded that an annual golf permit is required.  The format of the permit has been changed so a different color permit will be issued annually.  Those drivers with no or a non-current permit can also be ticketed. 

The city continues to be open minded about golf carts with the change in rules and hope that golf cart owners will be respectful of their obligations in operations of these. 

2015 Final Levy

At the December city council meeting the review of the 2015 budget was conducted.  The good news is the levy rate decreased slightly, 0.223%.  The rate for 2014 was 44.389%.  For 2015 the estimated levy was determined at 44.166%.  This may not seem that significant but it means the tax capacity of the city has increased.  This is a far cry from the last 4 years where we saw the decreasing of tax capacity on an annual basis.  The tax capacity moved up from $3,945,459 in 2014 to $3,976,874 for 2015. 

Another important accomplishment noted included the early redemption and pay off of two bonds.  The debt instruments included the 2005 and 2008 Improvement Bonds.  With these bonds being paid off the city retains only one debt instrument, the 2012 Advanced Refunding Bond.  This bond was used to pay off the 2004 and 2007 bonds held by the city.  In doing so the bonds were combined and refinanced to achieve a lower interest rate.  

The city developed a public works project in 2014 that included sanitary sewer and road construction and rather than incur debt we used existing funds on hand.  A “loan” from the sewer fund was used for construction and the costs were assessed to benefiting properties.  These assessments will be used to pay off the loan.  It is also the intention of the city to move forward with improvement projects without incurring debt.  This may mean slow progress when it comes to paving roadways but it also saves the cost associated with debt service.  

In terms of expenditures, Public Safety carries the highest cost at 31%.  Other General Government comes in second at 23% and Public Works carries 17% of the expenditures of the city.  Debt service was 20% of expenditures in 2014 and for 2015 it will go to 12%. 

In reviewing tax rates for area communities, Breezy Point is somewhere in the middle of the pack.  Those communities with higher property wealth see a lower tax rate.  Those communities with low property wealth see higher tax rates.  With Brainerd estimated at 71.17% and Baxter at 53.23% I think Breezy Point at 44.17% is doing well.  

The final levy was adopted at $1,758,080.  This is $5,000 higher than the levy made for the 2014 budget.   

Pelican Woods Cemetery Grounds Maintenance

The city contracts the landscaping work and lawn maintenance for the cemetery since its inception.  Grass Master has provided this work and has been a good partner with the city working with the cemetery volunteers in directing efforts in the various gardens and doing miscellaneous landscaping work. The arrangement has worked out well. 

 

The service offered by Grass Master has been done through a two year contract.  This year the contract provides for a 2% increase in costs but looking back on contract costs with them the cost of service has remained relatively flat.  In review of the cost for mowing of the cemetery since 2007 up until this contract the increase has been only $4.28.  The labor cost increases for landscaping work has only increased in that time $0.56 per hour. 

A contract for cemetery services of landscaping work and mowing has been approved.  The contract covers 2015 and 2016.  The contract for services in the cemetery will increase $4.37 for mowing to $222.65.  The labor rate will move to $30 per hour.  In the grand scheme of things we’ve seen good value from Grass Masters with minor increases in the budget.   

Road Improvements

The Roads Committee of the City Council has been working towards road maintenance and improvements within the City of Breezy Point.  This year some maintenance efforts were undertaken with a good deal of seal coating being accomplished.  This was done jointly with the county including our work under their bid.  Seal coating involves the rejuvenation of the asphalt with a thin layer of asphalt/oil mix, covering it with an application of rock, and in this situation a fog seal that holds the materials in place.  This prolongs the life of the asphalt and is used only when the pavement will benefit from the application.  Streets that have alligator cracking or are crumbling will not benefit from this treatment.  

The other project that was undertaken was the mill and overlay of Breezy Point Drive.  This was done from the gates to the parking lot area of the resort.   This roadway receives heavy use and had been overlaid once so pavement thickness was adequate to do a 2 inch mill and resulting overlay. 

 

For 2015 the city is interested in trying to complete a couple of asphalt paving projects in addition to continuing to do seal coating.  The city council looked at three roads to consider for paving however the budget does not allow for all to be completed.  A feasibility study was ordered in October and reviewed by Council at the November meeting.  The study looked at Snowman Circle, Shady Trail, and Rainer Drive.  Rainer Drive and Shady Trail are both shown in the Comprehensive Plan for sanitary sewer extensions.  Sewer isn’t practical for these roadways at this time. 

  

The costs for these improvements are proposed to be assessed to the benefiting property owners.  Accomplishing an assessment involves a process to be used as dictated under Minnesota Statutes 429.   Accomplishing all the steps takes about five to six months at a minimum. In some situations it can take up to a year.  It is a formalized process that needs to be undertaken to meet statutory requirements.  The process can be halted at any time which results in the improvements being abandoned.  

The council determined that we would move forward with Snowman Circle and the west half of Shady Drive for paving projects for 2015.  An open house has been scheduled for November 20^th from 6:00 to 7:00 pm to address questions concerning the project.  A Public Improvement Hearing has been scheduled for December 15^th  at 7:00 pm.  At that point the city will make a decision as to whether or not to move the project forward. 

Development

In the past the city had established a Five Year Road Plan and attempted to get roads within the city paved.  The idea was good but getting there had its pitfalls.  The plan was conceived with very large expenditures to be accomplished annually.  Doing this required bonding and the required annual debt payments.  The economy saw a slowdown which stopped development and started a reduction in property values.  Assessments and taxes weren’t being paid.  A tax appeal was filed by the largest tax payer and the feeling of caution swept in.  

The Five Year Plan was abandoned.  The city rode the storm of decreasing taxable values.  Finances were shored up and discussions were had about continuing to accomplish some improvements.  It was recognized that at least one of the policies of the city was difficult to deal with.  Streets were not to be paved until there was sanitary sewer installed.  It was recognizing that we have many lots already with sanitary sewer.  There are areas where sewer will probably not be possible or needed in the distant future.  It was felt some paving should be an option ahead of sanitary sewer.  

The development of Whitebirch Village was approved but given the economy was put on hold.  This project was conceived with the understanding that it would be constructed with sanitary sewer.  As this project started to come together a different approach to their plans was recognized.  Utilizing an existing lift station and expanding the project area provided for a more economical approach so two goals could be accomplished; sanitary sewer and paved streets. 

Working through this plan the city was able to address an improvement project.   The project included sanitary sewer in Creek Circle and portions of Whitebirch Drive.  Creek Circle and portions of Whitebirch Drive were also paved. The city has accepted the improvements.  The project has been completed and is considered a success as two of the units built in Whitebirch Village have sold.  

Limited growth and development have returned to Breezy Point.  So far in 2014 we have seen 11 single family residence building permits being issued.  Other construction activity is seen throughout the area and contractors say they are busy.  The economy may not be booming but it has turned in the right direction.