The Dundas City Council questioned the 2019 NAFRS budget at their meeting Monday night and chose to table it until some questions were answered. City Administrator John McCarthy said, “some council members feel that some of the expenditures may not be as consistent with the line items that they expect them to be consistent with”. In particular, “specifically addressing of hiring of consultants without talking to the Board”. (NAFRS Joint Powers
Board) The consultant was for a recent employee question. There was also a question regarding administrative expenditures. Council has until September 30th to approve the NAFRS budget. Mayor Switzer took this to the NAFRS joint powers board meeting this morning. It’s on their September agenda. Fire Chief Gerry Franek and past Chair Glen Castore will be in studio Monday morning at 7:20 with a recap of that meeting.
“Art in Public” and an informational kiosk
Division Street is open but there are some finishing touches yet to be done. Some landscaping as well as a place for public art. One percent of the project budget is for artwork at the corner of Division and 6th streets on the EconoFoods side. As for design, Arts & Culture Commission Chair, Alyssa Herzog Melby, said it will look something like an “artistic informational kiosk so that it’s both functional yet creative”. The Art in Public policy was approved by Council last year, which established an Ad Hoc review committee that will review any designs. The committee includes staff liason, Theresa Jensen the IT and Library Director, as well as Ben Martig, Dave Bennett and a couple of members of the Arts & Culture Commission. Call for proposals will go out within the next month or so with submissions in early Fall. The artist chosen would then have over the winter to fully design the piece with installation next summer. On August 22nd, there will be a “State of the Arts” event at Imminent Brewing. Mayor Pownell said they went through a 6 month planning process with Arts Lab Midwest. There were a number of people from the community to develop the cultural plan. They then presented it to the ACC. It will now be presented to the general public. That will be held from 6:30 to 8:30pm. They’re looking for feedback from the community on the plan. Herzog Melby added that they’re not looking for “wide-scale revisions” as they’ve put a lot of time and effort into it but they’d like “buy-in” and also want to know if they’re “missing anything big, that that’s brought to our attention”. The plan is on the Arts & Culture Commission page on the City’s website. There’s much more on Arts Lab Midwest with Herzog Melby and Pownell on their interview on kymn.net.
Community Services recruiting for school-year recreation
Community Services is recruiting students and adults for ALL school-year recreation positions! A booth will be set up at the fall sports parent meeting between 7 – 9 pm tonight between the lower and upper cafeteria of the high school. Stop by before, during or after the meeting to obtain information on available positions, sign up for an interview and receive information on how to officially apply! Applicants must be age 16 by the start of their desired position.
