Already facing a potential 5% general fund tax levy increase for 2020, the Albert Lea City Council on Tuesday opted to wait on considering a new full-time position for the street department and a part-time position that would serve under the fire and police departments.

The positions could be reconsidered by incoming City Manager David Todd, who starts later this month, and whose position in the past reviewed similar staffing additions.

The discussion came after presentations by Phil Wacholz, assistant director of public works, and J.D. Carlson, public safety director, during a workshop about the responsibilities and benefits of the positions.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. said he was already concerned with bringing down the proposed 5% levy increase, and these new positions would raise that levy even further.

“I’m really concerned about our sustainability,” Rasmussen said.

First Ward Councilor Rich Murray said he was concerned about high tax increases making the community uncompetitive when businesses or residents are looking to move to the city.

Wacholz said he estimated the street department position with all insurance and benefits would cost between $66,000 and $85,000. However, because of the savings that person could provide in other areas such as bituminous patching and weed spraying, it would essentially cost between $30,000 and $48,000, depending on whether the individual had insurance for just the employee or the employee plus his or her family.

Wacholz said the street department presently has 11 employees. At its peak in 2003, there were 13 employees.

The benefits of the additional employee would be additional street sweeping hours, which would be not only an aesthetic benefit but also a water quality benefit. The position would increase the level of service on gravel alleys and streets, assist with street painting, sustain services for special events and lessen the burden when other employees are on vacation or sick leave. In addition, it would lessen the reliance on other departments for snow removal operators, as the utility department has five people who plow during the winter.

Assistant City Manager Jerry Gabrielatos said the position has been requested in the past but was denied by former City Manager Chad Adams.

Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker said one of the top complaints he receives is regarding the streets, and if the position was added, there would be a more immediate benefit for people in the community.

“Nobody likes to see their taxes raised, but if you’re going to raise them, they want to see results,” 3rd Ward Councilor Jason Howland added.

Noting that the council was having a difficult time reaching a consensus, Howland suggested the decision be left to the new city manager, who would also be going through the budget line by line an additional time.

Carlson said the part-time community service officer would be housed under the fire department but would assist the police department during its busier seasons.

He estimated the position would cost about $30,000.

He said over the years the community service officer positions have varied and there have been as many as four. Presently, there are two community service officers who are police department employees, who handle evidence room duties and issues such as junk vehicles and long grass and refuse.

In a handout provided to the council, Carlson noted the highest calls the city receives are for animal control complaints with 497 so far this year through August, followed by medical calls at 373, civil matters at 340 and parking at 339. On quality of life issues, which are handled by a community service officer, there have been 193 grass calls, 221 refuse calls and 91 junk vehicle calls through August of this year.

He said the new community service officer part-time position would provide consistency with the deputy fire chief, who works Mondays through Fridays, but whose staff otherwise works on three-day rotations.

The position would fulfill numerous responsibilities, including being a point of contact for the public in the absence of fire department leadership, conducting rental inspections, updating a commercial fire inspections schedule, being a social media administrator for the department, provide fire prevention program support and helping members of the public as needed. Other responsibilities would include crime and fire prevention presentations and educational programs and assisting other personnel with non-enforcement investigative activities, along with police department CSO duties, involving parking and ordinance violations, among others.

He said the fire department has financially supported 35% or about $30,000 of a shared office support position in the past, but beginning in 2020, the fire department budget will no longer support that position, taking away from the daily continuity for fire services.

Carlson said the departments have evolved over the years depending on the needs of the community. While his staff deals with its fair share of crime, it deals with a high number of quality of life issues.

The council in the coming weeks will continue to discuss the budget.

The council will meet Sept. 23 to pass a proposed budget and levy for review by the county auditor. It certifies the final level in December, at which time the levy may be decreased from the proposal but not increased.