Supervisors press for financial info

City post-meeting: Hints of a new athletic field policy, council raises?

Thursday, September 15, 2022

• Council raises? That’s what Stranske said.

• BOS ad-hoc asked for financial info and the conversation was ugly.

City business | Briefly…

What happened last night?

Council members agreed Wednesday to hold an in-person meeting Oct. 12.

Council members and City Hall are ready to return, but keep in mind Vice Mayor Greta Kanne was absent and severe technical problems plagued the meeting. 

“I agree with Gerry (Gonzalez), I am really ready for us to get back together,” Councilman Larry Stranske said. 

Some comments, for example,  were lost to a system that sounded like voices speaking from the bottom of a trash can.

A representative of the state Department of Insurance and anti-tobacco advocate Larry Olson were two whose words are lost–

The city can move on with in-person meetings or it can operate meetings with a hybrid model that allows for in-person attendance and remote participation.

“When we start talking about hybrid meetings it makes me nervous,” City Manager Brian Bender said. 

Council members meet again later this month. 

Keep mendo clean: Contracts for basic janitorial services with two local janitors for a total of $42,120 passed, no problem.

Also approved: An Administrative Specialist position is now on the city’s books, the personnel move was described as a way to keep Finance Director Manuel Orozco away from the front desk.

Briefly…

A remodel of City Hall is moving right along. A local contractor will be used to build an additional wall for the city clerk’s office (not part of original plans).

A new policy for city athletic fields to accommodate different kinds of sports is pending.

After a scare from the Walker Fire, the city would like to thin trees near its water treatment plant south of town.

It could have been worse: “It is operational,” Bender said, “we sustained no damages to the facility.” 

Stranske is asking the city for a raise. He first spoke last month to no reply from his colleagues or the city.

Again, last night, Stranske asked to talk about boosting compensation to council members.

“We need to bring it up, forget about it or do something about it,” said Stranske. “I just think it is time.”

Council member pay is capped at $300 a month by state law.

Looking back to 2019, The Willits News reported that all council members would see payment of a $200 monthly stipend.

At best, a raise helps council members to afford their service and could encourage more candidates during elections.

Mayor Saprina Rodriguez and Bender said they met with 3rd District Supervisor John Haschak to discuss homeless citizens.

Think about it: For a recent free concert, the community raised about $10,000. In Ukiah from about Perkins Street and spanning the edge of undeveloped land north of Kohl’s workers are erecting a towering new fence.

Point being, if we can build walls, raise $10,000 for a party and remodel City Hall we can help our fellow citizens who live behind Safeway and underneath bridges. 

“We conveyed our concerns to Supervisor Haschak and asked for county assistance,” said Bender. 

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BOS seeks county financial info