City councilors approved several measures at the last council meeting of the year on Tuesday.
In addition to approving the 2008 budget, they adopted the proposed tax levy payable in 2008 and approved a revised Community Education agreement between the city and Cloquet School District.
Historically, the school district, through Community Education, has provided the city with recreational programming, relieving the city of hiring its own staff for this purpose.
The agreement for the next few years has been beefed up, however, due to the city's need for a larger recreational component, according to Brian Fritsinger, Cloquet city administrator.
"The agreement includes significantly more than in the past five years and community education, instead of the city, will look to hire an additional person to handle the added services," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2007, the city paid the district $82,660 for these services. The agreement calls for an increase to $85,000 in 2008 and $88,000 in 2009.
Under the agreement, Community Education will administer a year-round program of recreation and leisure time services including all office, telephone and materials costs. They will operate youth and adult education programs related to recreation including skiing, tennis, swimming and/or fitness programs and art and crafts classes.
They will also oversee adult recreation leagues, promote group recreational opportunities for adults and other park programs and special events.
They will also have a goal to maximize the use of public facilities including the various parks.
In addition to the amount of money specified, the city pays Community Education the direct costs for staffing the Pinehurst Park Pool, if needed, and Pine Valley Tubing Hill.
They will also handle publicity for the recreation programs including Pine Valley Winter Recreation Area, Cloquet Area Recreation Center and the Senior Center.
"I believe this contract continues to move the city's recreation program in the right direction," Fritsinger said.
In other business, councilors approved hiring consulting firm Sanders, Wacker, Bergly Inc. to assist the city with updating its Zoning and Subdivision ordinance.
ADVERTISEMENT
A request from Karen Diver, Fond du Lac Tribal chairwoman, seeking an extension of the municipal water and waste water system was forwarded to the city engineer for evaluation.
The extension would serve a new 24-unit assisted living apartment complex and six existing Fond du Lac Band member homes along the extension of the project. It would begin from the intersection of University Road and the Big Lake Road and extend one mile to the Woullet Road in the South Easement.
