Meeting Minutes of the Richmond City Council

Wednesday January 5, 2011

Regular City Council Meeting

Item #1:  Call to Order 

 

Mayor Hemmesch called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Richmond City Hall and asked those present to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Council Members noted as being present:  Andrea Nestor, Jeff Mackedanz and Scott Kron.

 

Also present were:  Adam Ripple, City Attorney; Martin Bode, Finance Director / Interim Administrator, Phil Jones, Police Chief, Kevin Mooney, Park / Recreation and Arena Director, Gordon Dingmann, Public Works Director, David Blommel, SEH, Greg Stang, PeopleService, Deborah Bode, Olivia Keaton and Marilyn Zenner, Administrative Assistant.

 

Item #2:  Approval of City Minutes of December 16, 2010.

 

Mayor Hemmesch asked if there were any additions or corrections to the draft meeting minutes.

 

A motion was made to approve the City Council Minutes of December 16, 2010.  Motion made by Nestor, seconded by Mackedanz.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Item #3:  Administration of Oaths of Office

 

Interim Administrator Martin Bode administered the oaths of office to Mayor Jim Hemmesch and Councilmember Elect Scott Kron.

 

Item #4:  Presentation of Civic Leadership Award

 

Mayor Hemmesch presented a Civic Leadership award to out going Councilmember Andrea Nestor for her four years of service as a Councilmember for the City of Richmond.  Ms. Nestor expressed her appreciation to the Mayor and Council for such an award. She also expressed her appreciation to the City of Richmond for the honor of serving as a Councilmember for the City of Richmond for the past four years.

 

Item #5:  Approval of Agenda

 

Mayor Hemmesch asked if there were any additions or corrections to the presented agenda.

 

A motion was made to approve Agenda as Presented.  Motion made by Kron, Seconded by Mackedanz.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

Item #6.  Consent Agenda.

 

Mayor Hemmesch read aloud the list of the following consent agenda items:

 

a.             Approval of Just and Correct Claims

b.             Purchase Requisition

c.             Resolution 100-11 Annual Resolution for 2011

d.             Resolution 101-11 Corporate Resolution with the State Bank of Richmond

e.             Resolution 102-11 Acceptance December 2010 Donations

f.              Resolution 103-11 Approve of Tax Exempt License for Knights of Columbus

g.             Resolution 104-11 Approve of Tax Exempt License for Knights of Columbus

h.             Resolution 105-11 Approve of 2011 City of Richmond Fee and Charge for Service Schedule

i.               Resolution 106-11 Updated City Administrators Job Description

 

A motion was made to approve the Consent Agenda as Presented.  Motion made by Mackedanz, seconded by Hemmesch.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

Item #7  Presentations and action Items

 

            None Presented.

 

Item # 8 Police Department Report

 

Police Chief Phil Jones reported the following:

 

-2010 calls to the City of Richmond were up by 100 this year as compared to 2009. He also noted that the 2009 calls were down compared to 2008 so it appears to all level out.

 

-Due to the large amount snow fall so far this winter, snowmobile complaints are up this year as compared to last year.

 

- He continues to work with Public Works Director, Gordon Dingmann, in managing parking restrictions during snow emergencies.

 

-There was a case of vandalism on Main Street, i.e. broken windows, that was possibly caused by a slingshot and marbles.

 

 

Item #9  Parks, Recreation & Arena Director Report

 

Arena Director Kevin Mooney reported the following:

 

- For the most part the ice arena is going very well, with the exception of the numerous cancelations due to snow storms.

 

-A couple of leaks have developed in the arena roof.  Eagle Construction Company has been lined up to do the repairs for the roof. However, the project is on hold at the moment due to the extreme cold temperatures.

 

-The outdoor rink is up and running and he would like to thank Jason Buerman for the great job of putting the ice down.

 

-The outdoor warming house doors are in bad shape and will need to be replaced soon.

 

-It is the City of Richmond’s turn to chair the ROCORI Trail Board for the year 2011.  Interim Administrator Bode will take over the board position previously held by Dan Coughlin and Director Mooney is already on the Board and would like to put his name in for the position of chairman.

 

-The Minnesota DNR is removing the old Glacial Lakes trail bridge.  A new bridge is planned to be in place sometime this summer.

 

-To date $38,000.00 has been raised for the Glacial Lakes Trail Pavilion.

 

Item # 10  Public Works Director Report

 

Director Gordon Dingmann reported:

 

            -That with all the snow storms he has been busy with street plowing and snow removal.

 

-He continues to work with Mark Hennen of Hennen Water Works in getting the Main Street business sewers camerad in preparation of SEH feasibility study for the planned 2013 Main Street Project.

 

-City Hall furnace has seen its better days and needs to be replaced.  Gordon provided the Council with a bid from Wenner Plumbing and Heating to replace the old furnace at a cost of $4,356.00.  The council approved of adding the item onto Additional Purchase Requisitions and not to exceed $4,500.00.

 

Item #11  City Engineer Report

 

            Engineer David Blommel provided to the Council with the results of the bid opining for the 2010 storm damage of the City’s Enterprise Building i.e. Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the River Lakes Civic Arena (RLCA). The low bid for the WWTP is $46,507.26 submitted by Worms Lumber out of New Munich, MN.  The low bid for RLCA is $88,398.00 submitted by KUE Contractors out of Watkins, MN.  Engineer Blommel recommends that the Council approves of awarding the repair contract to the two lowest bidders, Worms Lumber for WWTP and KUE Contractors for the RLCA.

 

A motion was made to Approve the Engineer Blommel recommendation.  Motion made by Kron,  seconded by Mackedanz.  Motion passed unanimously.  It was noted that a formal resolution reflecting this action would be drawn up and acted on at the next Council meeting.

 

Public Works Director Dingmann noted that the bids for repairing the non-enterprise city building i.e. Royal Park, Centennial Park, Library and City Hall would be towards the end of February.

 

Engineer Blommel and Attorney Ripple up dated the Council on the progress of putting together a Development Agreement with Anything Outdoors, stating that the agreement is about 99% completed.

 

Item #12  Water / Waste Water Report

 

PeopleService Operator Greg Stang reported:

 

            -The Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and WWTP are operating normally.

 

-There appears to be a little more build up of ice in the ditch this year but so far it has not caused any problems.

 

-During last year’s inspection of the new water tower it was noted that there is a build up of bird droppings on the top of the tower.  It was recommended that steps be taken to have these dropping removed in order to prevent acid formation which could cause damage to the water tower.  It was also recommended that the City not use the base of the tower for storage of city records enc.  Director Dingmann will be working on making storage shelves to be used at the WWTP for the purpose of storing city records.

 

-Director Dingmann is asking the Council to consider using the damaged steel roof, siding, and doors from the Maintenance Building to build a small cold storage shed near the WTP.  Director Dingmann will put together an estimate for the cost of framing materials that would be needed.

 

Item # 13  Fire Department Report

 

            Fire Chief Chuck Marten reviewed with the Council his submitted written report.

 

-Council directed that the discussion of Ambulance service for the Richmond community that is scheduled for the Council workshop of January 20, 2011, be moved to the Council workshop of February 17, 2011.  Clerk Bode will contact the parties involved of this meeting change.

 

Item # 14  City Attorney Report

 

            Attorney Adam Ripple reviewed with the Council the legal retainer proposal that he had provided to the Council at its December 7th, 2010 Council meeting.  Council thanked Attorney Ripple for the review but asked that the matter be tabled until the February 2nd, 2011 Council meeting, where hopefully, all members of the Council would be present.

 

Item #15  Administrator Report

 

Interim Administrator Martin Bode indicated that this time of year is one of the more intense times of year for government entities i.e. month end, quarter end and year end, State and Federal reports all needed to be completed at the same time.  Most of the City of Richmond’s reporting requirements have been completed.  Administrator Bode stated that due in large part to great City employees and the City’s professional staff, City Hall is running very smoothly.

 

            The Council reviewed an invoice the City had received from Minnesota Association of Small Cities (MAOSC).  The invoice is for 2010-2011 membership.  It was noted that the City had been a member of the MAOSC for three years from 1974 to 1977.  The MAOSC is commonly referred to as the “Small Cities League” and represents or lobbies at the State level for the interest of cities with population under 2,500, as opposed to the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) is viewed as the “large League of Cities that represents or lobby for all cities in general.  The City of Richmond is a member of the LMC. In fact it is through the LMC that the City of Richmond gets its property / casualty, work comp, and liability insurance coverage through.  The MAOSC invoice is being offered at a 50% discount for the 2010-2011 membership.  The normal annual fee is $735.00, with the discount it comes to $367.50.  It was the consensus of the Council to approve of becoming a member of MAOSC and adding the invoice to additional purchase requisitions.

 

 

Item #16  Reports of Council

 

No additional reports.

 

Item #17 Additional Purchase Requisitions

 

            Wenner Plumbing & Heating , City Hall furnace, not to exceed $4,500.00.

            MAOSC, 2010-2011 membership, $367.50

 

A motion was made to Approve Additional Purchase Requisitions.  Motion made by Mackedanz,  seconded by Kron.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Item #18:  Other Matters and Related Issues.

 

None reported.

 

Item #19.  Adjournment.

 

Mayor Hemmesch asked if there were any additional items for the Council to consider that evening.  Hearing no further comments, he asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.

 

A motion was made to Adjourn.  Motion made by Kron, seconded by Mackedanz.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mayor Hemmesch declared the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Martin M. Bode

Richmond Interim Administrator