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August 17, 2020 Item No.
RESOLUTION CALLING PUBLIC HEARING ON
UNPAID SPECIAL CHARGES
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve Resolution Calling Public
Hearing on Unpaid Special Charges.
Overview
Staff requests that the City Council call a public hearing to be conducted on October 5, 2020 for
2020 Unpaid Special Charges. These charges include costs and charges incurred by the City for
mowing of grass, removal of weeds, property maintenance on nuisance properties, and unpaid
utility bills and false alarm charges. In order to recover the unpaid special charges, the City must
follow State Statute procedures. Those procedures provide that the City must adopt a resolution
declaring the unpaid special charges to be assessed and establish a date for the assessment hearing
for those charges. Public notice of the hearing will be mailed to customers and published in the
legal newspaper.
Delinquent utilities
In addition to certifying the amount delinquent, the City also collects a $35 service charge to cover
the cost of certification and interest at a rate of 18% per annum of the amount delinquent for the
period of October 5, 2020 until December 31, 2021. The certification process affects about 7% of
the Lakeville utility customers.
Nuisance Abatement & Unpaid False Alarm Charges
The affected parcels will each be assessed the actual contractual cost incurred, re-inspection fees, a
$35 administrative fee to cover the cost of the assessment, and interest at a rate of 18% per annum
of the amount delinquent for the period October 5, 2020 until December 31, 2021.
Primary Issues to Consider
• Is certification the most efficient method of collecting delinquent accounts? In the staff’s
opinion, certification is the least labor-intensive method of collecting delinquent
accounts. It is also the process least likely to foster ill will amongst customers.
Supporting Information
• Approximately 40% of the delinquent utility customers will pay their balances in full
prior to the public hearing. A final list of the accounts to be certified will be provided
to the City Council at the public hearing.
Financial Impact: $ Budgeted: Y☐ N☒ Source:
Related Documents: (CIP, ERP, etc.):
Envision Lakeville Community Values: Good Value for Public Services
Report Completed by: Julie Werner, Assistant Finance Director/Daryl Morey, Planning Director
Varies
CITY OF LAKEVILLE
RESOLUTION No______
RESOLUTION CALLING PUBLIC HEARING ON 2020 FALL
UNPAID SPECIAL CHARGES
WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. 444.075, Subd. 3 authorizes the City to certify unpaid
sanitary sewer, water and storm sewer charges (“utility charges”) to the County Auditor-
Treasurer for collection with taxes; and
WHEREAS, Minn. Stat, 429.101 authorizes the City to special assess unpaid
streetlight charges, and weed elimination from streets or private property (“special
charges”); and
WHEREAS, Title 8-5-4 of the City Ordinance authorizes the City to special assess
unpaid emergency service charges (“special charges”) to the County Auditor-Treasurer
for collection with taxes; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Lakeville:
1. A public hearing shall be held on the 5th day of October 2020 at the Lakeville
Council Chambers, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, at 6:30 p.m. to consider certifying
unpaid utility charges to the County Auditor-Treasurer for collection with taxes
and assessment of special charges.
2. The City Clerk is hereby directed to cause a notice of the hearing to be published
once in the official newspaper at least two (2) weeks prior to the hearing. The City
Clerk shall also cause mailed notice to be given to the owner of each parcel
described in the unpaid utility charge list not less than two (2) weeks prior to the
hearing.
ADOPTED this 17th day of August 2020 by the City Council of the City of
Lakeville
CITY OF LAKEVILLE
By: ________________________________
Douglas P. Anderson
ATTEST:
________________________________
Charlene Friedges, City Clerk