Above all, Hinrichs wants people to know that no money has passed between the city and the Lincoln Highway Days committee for the past two years. "The city," he said, "has simply been attaching a value to property that the LHD committee uses; property that is shared by the whole community for many events in town."
Hinrichs said the LHD committee was asked for a list of everything provided by the city that was used for last year's celebration. From that list, the city estimated the "rental rates, fees and charges" that would apply, but that have never been charged. A memorandum from the city administrator to the mayor and city council outlines that the services requested by the LHD committee in 2008 came to $14,611.80.
Hinrichs said he received a copy of this memorandum on Monday, Feb. 9, from the city administrator. He also received a copy on Monday of the appendix in the city code which lists charges for specific services and items owned by the city. The fee schedule for city property and personnel was amended, adopting the latest fees in April of 2008, according to City Administrator Elizabeth Hansen.
Hansen said the latest fees were adopted, after it was brought to the council's attention that many services were provided by the city at no charge to various entities. She said the fees were adopted not just because groups needed to use property and personnel, but also because of situations that involved damage to city property, among other things.
Hinrichs has suggested the city update this information online so that other groups and the public can have easier access to it. Hansen said she has sent notification on to Iowa Codification (the entity that updates the city's code for the Web site), and she hopes it will be updated soon.
Hinrichs wants the community to understand that what the city has given to the LHD committee in the past two years, has been "in kind;" no physical money has changed hands.
Hinrichs said that charging the Lincoln Highway Days committee for all the services it uses was brought up last year by the city council, but voted down. He also said that many of the things that the LHD committee uses, like snow fencing, signs and picnic tables, are things that the city has owned and that have been paid for in past years.
"I want to truly acknowledge and appreciate how the city helps us, much as they help other groups in the community," Hinrichs said. But Hinrichs said his committee is questioning the city's attention to the price tag on what's being offered to the LHD committee. "I feel that LHD has been the only service group that has been required to account for and be charged for the use of these things."
As the council continues to discuss its budget and calculate the cost of city property and services, Hinrichs wants everyone to remember this. "We want to move forward in recognition and cooperation for what we both (LHD committee and city) give to the residents, because we all give back to the citizens."
|
|
