Worthington sets preliminary levy marking 18% increase

Julie Buntjer, The Daily Globe, Worthington, Minn.
·4 min read

Sep. 11—WORTHINGTON — The Worthington City Council adopted a resolution setting its not-to-exceed tax levy at $7,739,156, representing an 18% increase over 2023, during its Monday meeting.

The total levy includes an operating levy of $6,702,011 and special tax levies of $1,037,145, noted City Administrator Steve Robinson. The council has until early December to lower the proposed levy, but it cannot be increased.

Robinson said the 18% increase offers the city a cushion in the event health insurance costs come in higher than anticipated. He also noted a proposed increase for county attorney services, which could result in another $55,000 allotted for prosecution.

The city's preliminary levy amount came in at a 14.2% levy increase, Robinson said.

Councilman Chad Cummings noted that by the time the council certifies its levy, it will have both the health insurance costs and information from the county attorney's office.

"By mid-October we will have information on the net adjusted tax capacity," Robinson responded. "We're in a very good situation right now, but we're just asking for a little adjustment in the event something unexpected (comes up)."

The council also adopted a resolution for the city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority's 2024 proposed levy of $186,000, which represents a $35,000 increase over 2023.

A public hearing on the city's final budget and levy is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11, in the Worthington City Hall council chambers. A truth in taxation hearing will be conducted the same evening.

In other action, the council:

* Approved an application from Kwik Trip, Inc. for an off-sale beer license for its new location at 1755 N. Humiston Ave. The anticipated opening date is Sept. 28. The license will be in effect from Sept. 28 through Dec. 31.

* Approved a conditional use permit for JB Brooke Properties to complete a 45- by 60-foot addition (2,700 square feet) on an existing warehouse at 1260 27th St., Worthington. The warehouse is used by Frito-Lay and, after the expansion, will be used by reps who do the Windom and Sheldon, Iowa, routes. The Worthington Planning Commission gave preliminary approval for the permit at its Sept. 5 meeting.

* Approved a change order request from Ideal Landscaping, contractor on the Sunset Park parking lot project, totaling $14,171.30. The price increase includes $2,750 in added costs for stump removal, and $11,421.30 for unexpected soil conditions that lead to additional removal costs. Approving the change order brings the city's total contract price on the project to $473,698.05.

Public Works Director Todd Wietzema said the stumps were the city's responsibility to remove, but when the trees were cut down, the remaining stumps were larger than they should have been. That resulted in more tonnage of material for Ideal to work with. As for the soil conditions, Wietzema said they discovered a concrete retaining wall filled with dredge material in the parking lot. Because they didn't separate the concrete from the soil, that also resulted in higher costs for removal.

* Adopted resolutions for 2022 bituminous paving improvements for Apel Avenue, from Clary Street to Bristol Street; Bristol Street, from near Apel Avenue to the west end; Cynthia Avenue, from Diagonal Road to Tower Street; the entire length of Eleanor Street within the plat of Dano Addition; and West Oxford Street, from Elmwood Avenue to Park Avenue. Miscellaneous unpaid charges were also assessed for snow and ice removal, as well as noxious weeds and vegetation removal.

* Scheduled public hearings at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 9, for additional assessments on numerous paving improvement projects within the city, as well as storm sewer improvements in the Cherrywood Addition and miscellaneous unpaid charges for ice and snow removal and noxious weeds and vegetation removal. The paving improvements include those listed above, as well as the following: the entire length of Cherrywood Lane; Birchwood Place, from Miles Drive to the south end; Briarwood Drive, from Oakwood Drive to Homewood Avenue; Fairway Lane, from Miles Drive to Oxford Street; Green View Road, from Miles Drive to Homewood Avenue; Homewood Avenue, from the west line of Homewood Hills Eighth Addition to Viking Road; Johnson Lane, from Miles Drive to the south end; Maplewood Drive, from Oakwood Drive to Pinewood Drive; Miles Drive, from Oakwood Drive to Diagonal Road; Oakwood Drive, from Oxford Street to Briarwood Drive; Pinewood Drive, from Maplewood Drive to the north line of Homewood Hills Ninth Addition; Rust Road, from Miles Drive to Homewood Avenue; Sally's Alley, from Maplewood Drive to Oxford Street; and Viking Road, from Miles Drive to Diagonal Road.