By: News Intern Katherine Jones
BEMIDJI- The Bemidji City Council met last night for a work session, followed by a closed meeting.
During the work session, they discussed the 2020 budget and tax levy, which is set to be raised by 3.6 percent. The final levy proposal isn’t due until December, so these numbers have the potential to change in the remaining months.
One subject that didn’t make the council packet, but was discussed at the meeting, was the funding of public parks in Bemidji. The council agreed to allot 25,000 dollars of the budget for improvements and management of local parks.
The preliminary levy is set to be approved before September 16th.
After the work session at City Council, a closed meeting followed to discuss the allegations made against City Manager Nate Matthews.
Council members deliberated from 7:30 until 10:30 last night. 3 motions were made last night, the first of which by Council Member Nancy Erickson. The motion passed, voiding the other motions.
Mathews has been employed by the City since April 2015. The Bemidji Alliance, which filed the complaint, is an organization that includes Bemidji Economic Development, the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce, Visit Bemidji, and the Bemidji Downtown Alliance.
