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Apply On-Line Now – It’s Quick and Easy – Deadline is 1/10/20

The City of Carver is currently seeking residents for the following Commissions:

Heritage Preservation Commission – 3 open positions

Parks Commission – 2 open positions

Planning Commission – 2 open positions

These positions will be filled through an interview and appointment process undertaken by the City Council.  In order to be considered for the position, residents should submit a letter of interest no later than Friday, January 10, 2020, at www.cityofcarver.com/Commission-Application.  Please contact Vicky Sons-Eiden at 952-448-8727 with any questions.

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Commissions Applications Due Friday, January 10, 2010

The City of Carver is currently seeking residents for the following Commissions:

Heritage Preservation Commission – 3 open positions

Parks Commission – 2 open positions

Planning Commission – 2 open positions

These positions will be filled through an interview and appointment process undertaken by the City Council.  In order to be considered for the position, residents should submit a letter of interest no later than Friday, January 10, 2020, at www.cityofcarver.com/Commission-Application.  Please contact Vicky Sons-Eiden at 952-448-8727 with any questions.

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City Council Wants Feedback on the Use of Franchise Fees for Street Maintenance Funding

The City of Carver has 21 miles of existing roadway to maintain.  In order to maintain these streets, the City has developed a Street Maintenance Program to extend the roadway’s life before it needs to be reconstructed. The current five year plan includes mill and overlay projects in the Carver Bluffs neighborhood, 6th St. W., Kirche Hill Dr., Sunny Ridge Dr., and Mount Hope Rd.

Over the next 5 years the City will have to dedicate $1.2 million to fully fund the current Street Maintenance Program. In 2020, the Street Maintenance Program is funded at $70,000, with revenue collected primarily from property taxes. The current funding model leaves the City $850,000 short of the needed amount to move forward with mill and overlay projects as planned in the Street Maintenance Program.

In response, the City is evaluating using a franchise fee to fill the revenue gap in the Street Maintenance Program.  The City estimates that it could generate an annual $218,000 in revenue for street maintenance through franchise fees.  In 2020, the cities of Chaska, Chanhassen, and Victoria will generate an estimated $7.6 million in franchise fees.

WHAT ARE FRANCHISE FEES?

Specifically, franchise fees are a method of collecting funds from utility companies who use city rights-of-way. These funds are typically passed directly through to all commercial businesses, tax-exempt properties, and residents that use the street and trail systems.  While not technically considered a “tax”, this is a new dedicated revenue source for the city which would be collected from utility users in Carver; it will have the same effect as a tax. However, it is not levied in the way a property tax is levied, given that franchise fees are not tied to the value of a property. Thus, all single-family homes would pay the same amount toward the Street Maintenance Program assuming they have cable, gas, and electric services.

The City Council will be holding a listening session on Tuesday, January 21 at 7:00 pm (Carver City Hall) to hear from residents and businesses on the topic.

Click here to learn more!