December 19, 2024
It's been a busy year for our city, and I want to clarify an important issue that keeps coming up: the 2018 bond vote concerning the new Civic Center.
**FACT:** There has been only ONE vote about a new city building in Carlton.
That vote occurred in 2018 regarding a bond measure to fund a new public safety/police building. Barely 50% of the 1,505 registered voters participated in that election; and the only time a vote was held regarding any city building in Carlton.
City leadership had discussed the need for a new city and police building since 2003. No further actions were taken after the 2018 vote until 2020, when the then-Mayor and city council began to discuss the increasingly critical need for a new city hall.
The city and police buildings, built in 1974 with precast cement blocks (CMU), were showing significant signs of aging. Maintenance and repair costs were significantly increasing, and repairs were becoming more frequent.
The exterior of the building was not reinforced, making it susceptible to collapse in the event of an earthquake or other disasters, which would leave the city without emergency facilities or communications. Heating and cooling systems were failing, and improvements were challenging due to the hazardous materials used in construction. The buildings were not ADA accessible, leading to multiple claims against the city.
Talks about a new building were paused due to COVID-19, but by mid-2021, the discussions resumed as the buildings continued to deteriorate. A new city council and mayor, initially hesitant, commissioned a study comparing remodeling the old structures versus a new building. The findings indicated that attempting to remodel the old buildings would result in a greater financial burden and increased liability risks for the city, especially regarding hazardous conditions for both residents and staff.
City council meetings included public discussions, surveys, and open houses to gather community input on the new building's needs. Myself, the city council, and our team have worked diligently to keep everyone informed about this process. All discussions about costs and financing were noticed and conducted during public meetings, ensuring that the process was open to community input, oversight, and scrutiny.
Planning for financing had begun in 2012, well before the current mayor and council took office. At that time a reserve account was established, funded by transfers from the city's 3 budgetary funds - water, sewer, and general fund.
Remember, city offices, now Civic Center, are the main hub for all city services. The Civic Center staff handles the purchasing and payment of costs for items like water purification chemicals, electricity for buildings, transfer and pump stations, and repairs for leaks in the system.
If you think there is a problem with your water or sewer line, when you pay your bill generated from meter readings, if you believe your meter is not working correctly or see a leak in the street, your first call is our front desk team. The Public works dispatch operates from the Civic Center, and Civic center staff are always ready to respond to your calls.
The Civic Center Offices are responsible for posting water quality reports and providing information about mercury, lead, and copper. Additionally, all grant activities related to over $12 million in state and federal funds secured by our staff in the past seven years are handled here. These are funds that are working towards stabilizing our utility rates while ensuring safe drinking water and effective wastewater treatment.
City utility services are the main business of the city, as well as requiring the greatest share of city resources. With a few exceptions, this is true for most incorporated cities.
I want to clarify a point from my October 2023 update regarding the Civic Center. Some people may have misunderstood my comment about water and sewer fees. What I was saying is that while a small part of these fees goes towards capital projects—like building new structures and installing pipes—it does not mean that all fees are being used for the Civic Center.
The funds used for the Civic Center's debt service are a small fraction of the total. This practice of sharing costs is common, legal, and accepted in cities throughout the country and was discussed long before the Civic Center was designed.
Successive Mayors and Councils have understood that the community needed an asset that was safe and financially responsible. Plans were abandoned to remodel a toxic building that had become a money-pit that couldn’t meet the community's needs, and the focus became on the input we heard, including:
- Features such as a 1,600 sq. ft. multi-purpose community space and a kitchen, suitable for community meetings, events, and training sessions. This space can also serve as an emergency shelter during extreme heat and cold.
- an emergency generator to ensure that staff and citizens can continue to provide services during emergencies.
- sufficient space for staff growth over the next 30 years, addressing Carlton's increasing needs.
- public restrooms and Wi-Fi access.
And it Reflects our community’s history.
If you have any questions, please feel free to attend our city council meetings or contact one of your city councilors or myself. If we don’t have an answer, we will work to find one for you.
Wishing you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
~Linda