Meeting Minutes of the
Wednesday March 2, 2011
Regular City Council Meeting
Item #1: Call to Order
Mayor Hemmesch called the meeting
to order at 6:30 p.m. at the
Council Members noted as being present: Jim Hemmesch, Mike Mathiasen, Tim Paczkowski, Jeff Mackedanz and Scott Kron.
Also present were: Martin Bode, Finance Director / Interim Administrator; Adam Ripple, City Attorney; Gordon Dingmann, Public Works Director; Chuck Merten, Fire Chief; Greg Stang, PeopleService; Kevin Mooney, Parks and RLCA Director; Marilyn Zenner, Administrative Assistant; Robert Schaefer, 41 Main Street West; and Ryan, Local TV Channel 10 camera operator.
Item #2: Approval of Agenda
Mayor Hemmesch asked if there were any additions or corrections to the presented agenda.
Attorney Ripple requested to add to the Consent Agenda Resolution 119-11, acceptance of Resignation from Dale Mandelko.
Interim Administrator Bode requested to add to Item #5, Resolution 120-11, Resolution of Support for the Richmond Glacial Lakes Trail Pavilion Legacy Grant Application.
A Motion was Made to Approve Agenda with Additions. Motion Made by Kron, Second by Mackedanz. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Item #3: Approval of City Minutes of February 17, 2011.
Mayor Hemmesch asked if there were any additions or corrections to the draft meeting minutes.
Interim Administrator Bode reviewed with the Council some minor additions that he had made to the February 17, 2011 minutes.
A Motion was Made to Approve the City Council Minutes of February 17, 2011. Motion Made by Mathiasen, Second by Paczkowski. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Item #4. Consent Agenda.
Mayor Hemmesch read aloud the list of the following consent agenda items:
a. Approval of Just and Correct Claims
b. Resolution 119-11 Resolution
Accepting Resignation of Dale Mandelko from the City of
A Motion was Made to Approve the Consent Agenda as Presented. Motion Made by Kron, Second by Mathiasen. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Item #5 Parks, Recreation & Arena Report - Director Kevin Mooney
Director Mooney noted the following regarding the:
RLCA:
-The last hockey event for this season will be on March 6
-There is one more week of figure skating ending on March 12
-Ice will be removed on March 14
-Clean Arena floor on March 15 and install field turf on March 16
-Indoor soccer, baseball and
softball will begin on March 19. The turf will remain in place until mid August
except for a three week period in May-June when it will be removed to
accommodate the Water Festival, State Bank of
-Due to construction at the
Parks Program:
-Due to the warm days in February the outside skating rink stopped operation on February 13. All in all the outside rink saw a lot of usage this season which included a bunch of ROCORI students running a small intramural league on Wednesday nights.
ROCORI Trail:
-BNSF has officially filed for
abandonment of the corridor from
Glacial Lakes Trail:
-The DNR has awarded the bid for
paving the trail from Roscoe to
Trail Head Pavilion Group:
-The group has kicked off a 50-50 cash raffle fundraiser. Raffle tickets can be purchased at most area businesses. 10,000 tickets are available at $1.00 per ticket. If all tickets are sold the pavilion and raffle winner will each receive $5,000.00. The drawing will be held during the Heart of Lakes Fishing Tournament Banquet at 8:00 p.m., Saturday June 11, 2011, at Cozy Corners Campground. So far the group has raised about $ 40,500.00 for the Pavilion project. The group is once again in the process of applying for this years Legacy Grant funds.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS):
-City Engineer Randy Jenniges, City
Grant Writer Heidi Pepper and Director Mooney met with the state coordinator
for this project on February 22, 2011. It does not appear that the change
request for terminus would stop the funding for this project. The State did
potentially offer more money for this project if the trail could be completed
west of
Parks Commission:
-Director Mooney reminded the Council at its December 17, 2010 Council meeting that the Parks Commission Board seats remained open in order to allow time to explore the restructuring of the group. Mooney stated he has met with Chairman Gary Brinkman last week about this and Mr. Brinkman understood the idea of a different structure for this commission. Director Mooney will update the Council again at its next Council meeting.
Security Monitoring System for RLCA:
-Mooney reviewed with the Council the proposed agreement with Safe Guard Security, Inc. It was noted the installation of this security system would not reduce the liability insurance the City has with the LMC.
Consideration of Resolution 118-11, A Resolution Authorizing Security Monitoring with Safe Guard Security, Inc.
A Motion was Made to Approve the Resolution 118-11. Motion Made by Mathiasen, Second by Hemmesch. Motion Passed. In Favor: Mathiasen, Paczkowski and Hemmesch. Opposed: Mackedanz and Kron.
Consideration of Resolution 120-11,
A Resolution Supporting for the
A Motion was Made to Approve the Resolution 120-11. Motion Made by Mackedanz, Second by Paczkowski. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Item # 6 Public Works Report - Director Gordon Dingmann
Director Dingmann noted the following:
-So far for the 2010-2011 winter season the large plow truck has logged 794 miles and used 267 gallons of fuel. Chuck Schmitz Excavating and Anything Outdoors have hauled snow on seven different snow events. Dingmann stated he has put in over 191 hours in 29 days with snowplowing and sanding.
-Again reviewed with the Council the different options for repairing the roof on City Hall. Dingmann will continue to seek additional bids.
-Bids for repairing the City’s non enterprise fund building that were damaged in a hail storm in 2010 will be required to be turned in to City Hall by 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2011. Council can then consider awarding the bids at the Council meeting on March 17, 2011.
-Waiting for East Side Glass to replace front doors of City Hall.
-Reminded the Council that the furnace in the fire hall needs to be replaced. If not this year next year.
-Reviewed with the Council the unfunded State mandated sign replacement that will begin in 2013 with stop sign replacement and by 2018 street signs will need to be replaced.
-City has been meeting with the DNR to begin the process of renewing the City’s Wellhead Protection Plan. This update is required every 10 years.
-City has 3,000 sand bags on hand
for use for potential spring flooding.
Item #7 Water / Waste Water Operator Report – Greg Stang, PeopleService.
Operator Stang reviewed his written report with the Council. Stang also requested the Councils authorization to approve of purchasing a variable frequency drive (VFD) for well #4. This VFD is used to help reduce the shock effect of when the water plant calls for a well to come on line by gradually allowing water to flow into the system as apposed to a sudden surge that results in increased ware on the valves. It was noted that of the City’s three working wells, well #4 is the only well that does not have a VFD installed. It maybe should have been installed at the time it was originally drilled. Stang has received a quote from Schwab Corp for the VFD of $2,352.39, Clearwater Tech for a voltage spike protector (filter) and Liberty Electric for installation of $850.00. Total project cost is $3,942.59. However, Stang noted that Excel Energy has a rebate in the amount of $2,000.00 resulting in a net cost of $1,942.59. As this cost falls within Interim Administrator Bodes spending authority, the consensus of the Council was to approve (not to exceed $2,000.00) but also requested Stang to check with other venders that provide this service.
Operator Stang also noted that the City is once again, for the fourth year in a row, receiving from the Minnesota Pollution and Control Agency, a Certificate of Commendation for outstanding operation and maintenance of the City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). Council expressed their appreciation of Operator Stang and PeopleService handling of the City’s WWTP and Water Treatment Plant.
Item # 8 Fire Department Report – Fire Chief Chuck Merten
Chief Marten reviewed, with the Council, his submitted written report. Noting that for the month of February there was a total of 5 calls: 3 medical, 2 fire. Also noted that new firefighters: Jim Kascht, Derek Mueller, Damion Buck and Mathew (Skip) Halvorson, have completed their 1st Responders Course and have now started their Firefighter One course.
Item # 9 City Attorney Report – Adam Ripple
Attorney Ripple reviewed with the public that the Council had held a closed meeting, earlier this evening, prior to this meeting, at 6:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to conduct an employee review of Volunteer Firefighter Dale Mandelko. At the close of that meeting Dale Mandelko submitted his letter of resignation from the Richmond Fire Department. The letter of resignation was effective immediately.
Item #10 Reports of Council
a. Councilor
Mathiasen reported on behalf of the EDA that the EDA met last Monday, February
28, noting their primary focus is the
Attorney Ripple noted that the Tower Park Purchase Agreement option is expiring at the end of March 2011. Bode noted that he has spoke with EDA Director Andrea Nestor and she has agreed to talk with Lon Negen or Bill Traut to see what their intent is.
b. Councilor
Mackedanz informed the Council that the Planning Commission continues to work
on the
c. Councilor
Paczkowski reported that the next ROCORI Trail meeting was 9:00 a.m. March 3,
2011, at
Item #11 Additional Purchase Requisitions
None presented.
Item #12: Other Matters and Related Issues.
Robert Schaefer, owner commercial
property at 41 Main Street West, was present and requested to address the
Council on why he has to pay a City water and sewer utility bill when the
property behind him, at 43 Main Street West, owned by Jason Muellner, receives
water and sewer off of his commercial line and not directly from the City’s
water and sewer mains. Mr. Schaefer stated he has to pay to heat his property
in order for his water line not to freeze when he does not have a tenant
occupying his place and if the City wants to bill him for a service he’s not
using then he feels he has the right to shut that service off. Attorney Ripple
informed Mr. Schaefer that the issue of the residence at
Item #13. Adjournment.
Mayor Hemmesch asked if there were any additional items for the Council to consider. Hearing no further comments, he asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
A Motion was Made to Adjourn. Motion Made by Mathiasen, Second by Paczkowski. Motion Passed Unanimously.
Mayor Hemmesch declared the meeting adjourned at 7:57 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martin M. Bode