Comments by mmurtaugh
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Posted on August 5 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There were not 7 new people hired by the inspection department, that is simply not correct.
Mike Murtaugh
Mayor
Posted on August 3 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Abraham,
I enjoyed your column, thanks for writing it.
Mike Murtaugh
Posted on July 27 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Although this is off-topic, I'd like to set the record straight regarding the rental ordinance. Keep in mind, this ordinance was passed in October 2008, before the election, as was the fee schedule in December, before I took office. If you look at the Tribune article and comments following passage of the ordinance, you will find some comments from me, I still stand by them.
http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/200...
To date, I have not been approached with specific examples of unreasonable hardships that this ordinance has created, or undue demands being placed by the Inspection Department as a result of the rental inspections. You may certainly contact me and/or your council member – I am not opposed to having the council review the ordinance once given some specific issues. We are doing that tonight with the massage ordinance.
Mike Murtaugh
Mayor, Albert Lea
Posted on July 26 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It should be noted that Councilor Olson was absent due to a family vacation, and I missed due to a medical appointment. I had hoped to be present in time for the Bridge Avenue discussion.
It has been clear that city (and county) residents do not support a full 4-lane design for Bridge Avenue, and I personally have not either. This is both due to the cost, and the resulting destruction of a residential neighborhood and Northside business area.
However, the road and underlying infrastructure will need reconstruction, so we need to look at other alternatives.
Mike Murtaugh
Mayor, Albert Lea
Posted on May 23 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Watcher, thank you for your comment. We need to remember that Albert Lea taxpayers contribute to what the state collects in sales tax, income tax, motor vehicle registration and sales tax fees and more. There is nothing unfair about the state returning a portion of those proceeds to do exactly the things that Watcher lists.
If we as a state want to have a discussion about reducing the income to the state from those sources (income tax, sales tax, etc.), that's fine. But if LGA is cut more as a proportion to the state budget than other programs, that means the taxpayers' money will be spend in other ways, instead of here in Albert Lea and Freeborn County.
As a city, we realize our LGA payment will be cut, we are asking it be cut equitably.
Mike Murtaugh
On Area mayors, legislators call on Pawlenty to minimize LGA cuts
Posted on May 22 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The mayor's and council members' salaries are no secret - $12,000 per year (mayor) and $8,000 per year (council member). As part of our discussions regarding budget cuts, it has been proposed that if city employees' wages and salaries are affected, so will ours.
I took time from my day job, mostly my lunch hour, to attend this press conference. As part of my comments about families struggling (not included in this article) I also noted that a month ago my employer cut wages & salaries for all employees by 10% for at least six months, and that as a result our family will be spending and saving less.
Mike Murtaugh
On Area mayors, legislators call on Pawlenty to minimize LGA cuts
Posted on May 13 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There seems to be some misinformation out there about the parks, particularly the short piece about the park adoption policy that KAAL news had following Monday night's meeting. The Tribune's article today and Monday explained it well, I thought.
The city is going to continue to do park maintenance, unless a community group wishes to take over a portion of it through the 'Adopt-a-Park' policy. For instance, the city will still be mowing grass (although not as often, and are looking at letting some less-used areas grow longer).
Also, as part of the reductions for 2009, the budget for summer workers in Park & Rec has been reduced by $100,000. So the Adopt-a-Park policy can help in doing some of the maintenance that these workers would have done.
Hope this helps clarify things.
Mike Murtaugh
Posted on March 18 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Also, I did receive a response on Mar. 16 from the League of Minnesota Cities, stating that the issue had been discussed with Sen. Moua, and the bill would not receive a hearing.
Posted on March 18 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
After learning about this proposal, on March 15 I sent the following to the bill's chief author, Sen. Mee Moua:
Sen. Moua:
I am writing to respectfully ask that you withdraw S.F. 1121 regarding preliminary City Budget Data. As the recently elected mayor of Albert Lea, I ran on a platform of openness with our citizens. There is no way I could support this personally or as an elected official. Especially in this time when we are asking citizens for input regarding how we must handle budget reductions, we need more openness, not less. I understand that in part this bill was based on the Governor’s preliminary budget proposal, which may be kept secret. I would also support eliminating that provision for the state’s budget for the same reasons.
I am copying League of Minnesota Cities staff in this email, as well as our local legislators, Sen. Dan Sparks and Rep. Robin Brown, and also ask that they do not support this legislation as well.
If you have any questions, please let me know. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Michael K. Murtaugh
Mayor
Albert Lea, Minnesota
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Posted on August 5 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Existing fire department staff were trained to do the inspections.
No hardships in Albert Lea? Please re-read the above article regarding increasing taxes:
“I honestly think people can’t be hit by that right now,” Murtaugh added.
You can also review the following article from May in which I stated:
"Murtaugh said he does not think Albert Lea residents can handle a property tax increase if LGA is cut substantially. Redsidents would probably see a significant reduction in city services.
He talked of local teachers who have talked of the struggles that some of the low-income families in the community are facing to provide lunch for their children.
He said more than half of the city’s school children come from low-income families who qualify for reduced lunch fees.
“Right now, these families are struggling, and the struggling is going to get worse,” Murtaugh said.
http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/200...
Mike Murtaugh
On Council takes first hack at budget for 2010