The Newsleaders
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Citizen Spotlight
    • Criers
    • People
  • Notices
    • Funerals/Visitations
    • Obituary
    • Police Blotter
    • Public Notices
    • Support Groups
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • 2021 Promotions
    • Pay My Invoice
The Newsleaders
No Result
View All Result

PineCone Pet Hospital MillerCarlin Serving all of central Minnesota locations!

Albany: 320-845-2035
Holdingford: 320-746-9994
St. Cloud: 320-252-7004
Upsala: 320-573-6234
Toll-free: 1-800-644-4058
Collegeville Stearns Bank
Home Featured News

St. Joseph council approves citizen-friendly budget software

June 10, 2020
in Featured News, Print St. Joseph, St. Joseph
0

photo by Mike Knaak St. Joseph Government Center.

0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

by Mike Knaak

editor@thenewsleaders.com

Ways to open up city government and encourage more citizen participation were the focus of the June 1 St. Joseph City Council meeting.

Members approved one new service but postponed a decision on a second plan so they could do more research.

The council unanimously approved paying $7,000 a year for budgeting software that will provide citizens with a web-based method to dig into the details of the city budget. Instead of just seeing numbers, the software, produced by ClearGov, will offer more detailed descriptions, charts and data to compare similar cities. Department heads will be able to update budget narratives and department goals.

Council member Bob Loso asked if the administration would be able to monitor usage. Just like the rest of the city website, traffic can be tracked.

The annual fee includes training and software upgrades. The money will come from the administration’s capital budget. The new service should be running in two to four weeks.

The council postponed a decision on a second proposal that would allow remote video participation in meetings for council members and the public.

There’s a greater need for remote access by council members and the public to follow social distancing guidelines. Local governments across the state are looking for ways to comply with open meeting laws during the public health crisis. Beyond the current social-distancing challenges, council members favored options for citizens to participate in meetings without attending in person, but were not ready to pick a solution.

Mayor Rick Schultz said he favored some method for remote meetings, but he wants to investigate other options and see what other cities are doing before approving a specific plan.

The $7,200 proposal also included adding a microphone and other electronics to another council table workstation. The council approved that expense but propositioned a decision on the remote video conferencing equipment.

Lobbying contract

The council agreed to extend for one month at a cost of $1,000 the contract with its legislative lobbyist.

St. Joseph’s two bonding requests, for the Community Center and East Park, could be part of a bonding bill when the legislature returns for an expected special session later this month.

Summer projects

Public Works Director Terry Thene reported picnic tables have been delivered to restaurants and bars to provide outdoor seating following easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Thene said the College of St. Benedict and St. Benedict’s Monastery contributed some tables to the effort.

Two projects, paving in the industrial park and Millstream Park parking lot, are on schedule.

The City Council’s next meeting is 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 15.

Previous Post

CR 133 resurfacing between St. Joseph and Sartell begins

Next Post

Candidates file for offices with primary elections

Next Post

Candidates file for offices with primary elections

Please login to join discussion

CMCU Twitter Follow us on
Twitter
for the latest news!
Facebook Follow us on Facebook
for the latest news!
calendar Click here
to view our
calendar
of events!

Go Fund Me # 1 Thank You
Newsleader
Supporters!
Elizabeth Brunsvold
Cultural Connections
Jim Berg & Mary Kruger
Mary & John Davis
Sandy Denne
Bobbi & David Gouker
James & marry Graeve
Juliana Howard
Julia Joplin
Linda Kmitch
M. Molus
Sheila Nahan
Go Fund Me # 2 Thank You
Newsleader
Supporters!

Peggy & Michael Roske
Judy Scheuerell
Geraldine Schwab
James Stotko
James Towler
Anna Trobec
Kaye Wenker
Ellen Wahlstrom
Leona Wieland
Jeanie Wilkens
GAGEN & VASUGI RAMANATHAN
Go Fund Me # 3 Thank You
Newsleader
Supporters!
Nicole Borg
Erica Karger-Gatzow
Dane & Lori Listug-Lunde
Nadine Martin
Doris Minnerath
Merry Mund
Marilyn Peitso
Stephen Schwanke
Dianne Tuff
Dale Zacher
Private Donors

Search

No Result
View All Result

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Vaccine appointments open for 65+; Online scheduling available
  • Sartell school board picks three finalists to lead district
  • Funeral for Marilyn ‘Lynn’ P. Borgert, 86 & Eugene ‘Gene’ J. Borgert, 89
  • 6 candidates selected for Sartell-St. Stephen superintendent
  • Kluesner appointed to St. Joseph City Council

City Links

Sartell
St. Joseph
St. Stephen

School District Links

Sartell-St. Stephen school district
St. Cloud school district

Chamber Links

Sartell Chamber
St. Joseph Chamber

Community

Calendar

Citizen Spotlight

Criers

People

Notices

Funerals/Visitions

Obituary

Police Blotter

Public Notices

Support Groups

About Us

Contact Us

News Tips

Submissions

Advertise With Us

Print Advertising

Digital Advertising

2021 Promotions

Local Advertising Rates

National Advertising Rates

© 2021 Newleaders

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Citizen Spotlight
    • Criers
    • People
  • Notices
    • Funerals/Visitations
    • Obituary
    • Police Blotter
    • Public Notices
    • Support Groups
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • 2021 Promotions
    • Pay My Invoice

© 2021 Newleaders

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In