No rodeo in Riverside this year

RIVERSIDE ? Riverside resident Larry Schluttenhofer informed the Riverside City Council Monday that he looked into the possibility of putting on a rodeo this summer and determined there was not enough time left to plan one. He said he?d like to bring a rodeo to town next year, and that it would take about $22,000 to put on a two-day rodeo.

The council debated whether to hire temporary summer help or a fourth public works employee. Kevin Engel, who is in charge of the city?s water and sewer, said he is convinced the city needs a fourth employee. The council agreed to discuss the matter during a work session March 13 at 5 p.m.

Councilor Bob Schneider said the council may have committed an impropriety at its special meeting Thursday. The council voted to cease interviews for the deputy clerk position at the meeting. Schneider said that may have violated the open meetings law since the agenda simply stated ?Employee committee: interview criteria.? The council agreed to direct City Attorney Les Lamping to look into the matter to see if that was a violation.    

The council accepted Lois Schneider?s resignation from the Planning and Zoning Committee. Schneider wrote in an e-mail that it was a conflict of interest for her to serve on the committee while her husband Bob is on the council.

The tax rate the council approved in its budget was the same property tax rate as last year, which was $5.1 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The council will have a work session April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at which time new information about the proposed splashpad will be presented to the council.

Councilor Christine Kirkwood spoke about her position on the Visioning Committee. She said that she got a legal opinion which indicated she could serve on both the council and the committee. She said she would refrain from voting on any matters at the committee meetings. Schneider said he also inquired about the issue but that he received a different legal opinion, so the matter would have to be discussed at a later meeting.

The council agreed to pay $6,000 to ?Stumptown Shooters? to provide fireworks during TrekFest. Resident Donna Palmer requested that Stumptown Shooters remain a safe distance from her property near Hall Park.