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<br />unreasonable to request receipts for items the City will be paying for. The auditor would not <br />look favorably on the City paying bills without receipts. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen questioned if Mr. Hegg is claiming breach of contract. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated Council felt they gave clear direction as to what the contract was <br />and that there were no other expenses to be paid. Council is disputing the validity that the City <br />asked for all of these services to be fulfilled. They are looking for input from HSP Associates to <br />justify payment and have not received it. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen stated the original authorization prior to the China trip was for an <br />amount not to exceed $4,500, and the City then received a bill that vastly exceeded the <br />authorized amount. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich indicated Mr. Hegg is alleging the mayor and Mr. Norman authorized <br />work to be done. He has taken the position with Mr. Hegg that only the City Council can <br />ultimately authorize any service to be rendered to the City. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen questioned if the position of Mr. Hegg is that from the standpoint of HSP <br />Associates, they do not care who authorized the work as long as the mayor and City <br />Administrator authorized the work with him. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich responded in the affirmative. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated Mr. Hegg was in front of the Council when they stated the approval <br />was for the not to exceed amount. At that time there was a sizable debate about whether Council <br />would authorize proceeding with this. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen asked if there is any documented evidence that Mayor Gamec or Mr. <br />Norman authorized work to be done. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich replied he has heard rumors, but has not seen supporting information. <br /> <br />Finance Officer Lund stated with the $5,000 contract, she sent a message dated April 18 to Mr. <br />Hegg stating that before he exceeds the $5,000 not to exceed amount, further authorization is <br />needed from City Council. Mr. Hegg responded back to her on April 22nd stating "Thank you for <br />the letter clearing up how the invoices should look. I am wondering what other surprises are <br />coming" . <br /> <br />Councilmember Jeffrey stated he feels the same way he did at the September 11 meeting that the <br />City will not proceed and pay this any further. Furthermore, there cannot be payment without <br />receipts for auditing purposes. He questioned how it is known that Ramsey would not be paying <br />expenses for other cities that attended the China trip. He also questioned whether the Ramsey <br />Foundation, which Mr. Hegg is part of, could have paid for part ofthe trip as well. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / January 23, 2007 <br />Page 6 of8 <br />