Meeting Minutes of the Richmond City Council

Thursday, November 20, 2014

City Council Meeting & Workshop

 

Item #1: Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance

 

Mayor Mathiasen called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at Richmond City Hall.

 

Council Members noted as being present: Pat Evens, Jeff Mackedanz, Mike Mathiasen, Tim Paczkowski, Jim Hemmesch

 

Also present were: Martin Bode, Administrator; Josh Worm, Council Elect; Gordy Dingmann, Public Works Director; Chuck Merten, Fire Department Chief;   Kim Schmitz, Resident

 

Item #2: Approval of Agenda

 

Mayor Mathiasen asked if there were any additions or changes to the Agenda.  

            Please add to item #5 – Tier Ratings, Apartments Base Fees, 2015 Budget Amendments, Bob           Stewart, Unpaid Wac/Sac fees, Name Plates

            Mayor Mathiasen asked for the Approval of Agenda.

                       

Motion made by Councilor Evens to Approve Agenda with additions, seconded by Councilor Mackedanz.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Item #3: Unpaid Utility Bills & Special Assessment 25 Main St W

 

Resolution 195 -14 Consideration of Resolution waiving past due utility bills/special Assessments 25 Main St W.

 

Kim Schmitz, 260 1st St SW requested that the City Council wave the outstanding water bill of approximately $31,000.00 and the assessments prior to 2012.

 

Council discussed the benefits for the business and the community as a whole.

Councilor Mackedanz disclosed that the business owner making the request was his 2nd cousin.  Councilor Mackedanz suggested removing the 2005 WWTP Assessment, Mayor Mathiasen concurred.

 

Council outlined their requirements:

*        The 2007 $4,800.00 & 2013 $4,650.00 Special Assessment place on tax rolls for 10 years at 5% interest.

*        2005 WWTP $312.31 Special Assessment must be paid at time of sale. 

*        Wave the Outstanding Utility Bill of $31,752.62

*        The purchaser must build prior to the Jan. 1st, 2016 or the outstanding balance will be placed on tax rolls.

 

Motion made by Councilor Evens to Approve Resolution 195 - 14 Consideration of waiving past due utility bills/special Assessments 25 Main St W with above requirements included, seconded by Councilor Paczkowski. 

 

Roll call vote:  Evens-Yes, Hemmesch-Yes, Mathiasen-No; Paczkowski-Yes; Mackedanz-No

 

Item #4: 2015 Budget

Council discussed the 2015 budget.

 

Item #5a: Water and Sewer Hook-ups(no action)

Discussed Options –

Southside – needs to hook-up by July 1st

Those annexed in need to hook-up in 5 years, unless sale or failure (which-ever comes first)

Those that have resided in the city must hook-up by July 1st.

 

Item #5b: Water Tier

Bode reviewed the state requirement of having a tier rating system in place by Jan 1, 2015.  He reviewed the recommended tiers.  Bode state that he will have a resolution prepared with the specific tiers and rates.

Item #5c: Apartment Rates

Bode discussed the base rates being paid by apartment complexes.   He explained that 1 apartment complex pays base rates per unit (livable dwelling) and the other 3 pay only 1 base fee for the entire building.  

Item #5d: Budget Amendents

Bode reviewed the amendments to the 2014 budget.  Council also authorized replacing the furnace at the Arena, with the Wenner Plumbing and Heating quoted furnace.

Motion made by Councilor Mackedanz to Approve the 2014 Budget Amendments with addition, seconded by Councilor Paczkowski.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Item #5e: Rich River

Bode explained that he spoke with Stewart who has an interested buyer.  Stewart wants to know if the Council would agree to a private well/septic until the City gets water and sewer to the land.   Council discussed various options. 

Item #5f: Name Plates

Discussed replacing the ones we have or keeping the white homemade ones and saving the money..  Consensus is to keep the white ones.

Item #5g: Resolution 200-14 Unpaid sac/wac fees to tax rolls

Administrator Bode explained that parcel # 74.41048.0000 has an outstanding sac/wac Fees.  The owner was sent an invoice giving him one year to pay the fees, the owner had agreed to pay them by November 1st of 2014.  As of today the sac/wac fees have not been paid.

 

Motion made by Councilor Evens to Approve Resolution 200-14, Certifying Unpaid SAC/WAC Fees to tax rolls, seconded by Councilor Hemmesch.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Per Minn. Stat 13D.01, subd 3. Minn. Stat 13D.05, subd.3(a)

8:06 pm Temporary close meeting for Employee Performance Evaluation (EPE) of City Administrator Martin Bode and review the EPE of Parks and Arena Director Kevin Mooney, Public Works Director Gordon Dingmann and Utility Billing Clerk Cindy Anderson.

 

8:88 Reopen Council Meeting

 

Item #6: Council Action

a)      Summarize results of closed meeting: Council’s overall rating of Administrator Bode stated he meets expectation.  Council concurred with Bode’s evaluation of Kevin Mooney, Gordon Dingmann and Cindy Anderson.

 

b)      Resolution 196-14 Consideration of Renewal of City Administrators Contract

 

Motion made by Councilor Mackedanz to Approve Resolution 196-14 3 year Employment Agreement with Administrator-Clerk-Treasurer Martin Bode, seconded by Councilor Evens. Motion passed.

 

c)      Consideration of Employee Step or COL Adjustments

 

Resolution 197-14 Authorizing the COL (based on the May 2014 CPI) adjustment for Parks and Arena Director Kevin Mooney

 

Motion made by Councilor Hemmesch to Approve for Resolution 197-14 Authorization of COL adjustment for Parks and Arena Director, Kevin Mooney, seconded by Councilor Paczkowski.  Motion unanimously.

 

Resolution 198-14 Authorizing the Step Increase for Public Works Director Gordon Dingmann

 

Motion made by Councilor Paczkowski to Approve for Resolution 198-14 Authorization of Step Increase for Public Works Director Gordon Dingmann, seconded by Councilor Mackedanz; Roll Call Vote: Evens- No; Hemmesch-Yes; Mathiasen-Yes; Paczkowksi-Yes, Mackedanz-Yes.  Motion passed 4-1.

 

Resolution 199-14 Authorizing the Step Increase for Utility Billing Clerk, Cindy Anderson

 

Motion made by Councilor Hemmesch to Approve for Resolution 199-14 Authorization of 2 Step Increase for Utility Billing Clerk, Cindy Anderson, seconded by Councilor Evens; Roll Call Vote: Evens- Yes; Hemmesch-Yes; Mathiasen-Yes; Paczkowski-No; Mackedanz-Yes;  Motion passed 4-1.

 

d)      Purchase Requisitions, Allocation or Transfers – no additional ones

 

 

Item #7: Other Matters of Concern and Related Items-

 

a)      Tree-mendous Night in Richmond December 4 5-8 pm (Tim will be out of town).  The trailer will be parked on Hall avenue the night before.

b)      August 2014 Police Activity Report

c)      Fire Department – Chuck Merten.  Chief Merten went over the expense to repair pumper one and two.  Council discussed the repairs and how often they would be needed compared to the number of fires they are going to. 

d)      Snow removal around the mail boxes – Home owners are responsible for plowing around their own mail boxes.

e)      River lake days brain storming meeting – question asked if the Council had appointed someone or are they representing themselves.

f)       Home Owners Please remove snow around the Fire Hydrants.

 

Item #8: Next Meeting Date December 3, 2014 6:30 pm

 

Item #5: Adjournment

           

Mayor Mathiasen asked for a motion to adjourn. 

Councilor Evens made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilor Mackedanz.  Motion passed

Mayor Mathiasen declared the meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Martin M. Bode

City Administrator