Meeting Minutes of the Richmond City Council

Wednesday November 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 Richmond City Hall and asked those present to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Members noted as being present: Jim Hemmesch, Mike Mathiasen, Jeff Mackedanz and Scott Kron.

 

Absent: Tim Paczkowski

 

Also present were: Martin M. Bode, City Administrator; Chuck Merten, Fire Chief; Stephanie Dickrell, St. Cloud Times; Phil Jones, Richmond/Cold Spring Police Chief; Gordon Dingmann, Public Works Director, Randy Jenniges, City Engineer; Troy Niewind and Ryan Meyer, Local TV Channel 10 camera operator.

 

Item #2: Approval of Agenda

 

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

 

A Motion was Made to Approve Agenda.  Motion Made by Mackedanz, Second by Kron.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

Item #3: Approval of City Minutes of October 5, 2011 (Regular and Closed).

 

A Motion was Made to Approve the City Council Minutes of October 5, 2011 (Regular and Closed).  Motion Made by Mathiasen, Second by Mackedanz.  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.         Purchase Requisitions

            c.         Resolution 184-11 Approval of October 2011 Journal Entries

            d.         Resolution 185-11 Approval of Glacial Lakes Site Plan

            e.         Resolution 186-11 Authorization of Tax Exempt Gambling Permit For River Lakes Figure Skating Club

 

A Motion was Made to Approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion Made by Kron, Second by Mackedanz.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

Item #5: Presentation of Action Items

 

None Presented

 

 

 

 

Item #6: St. Cloud Times – Stephanie Dickrell

 

Ms. Dickrell wanted to introduce herself to the Council and stated that she has been with St. Cloud Times for one and a half years and approximately two months ago took on a new position as this area's reporter and she also noted to the Council that she is the editor for the ROCORI Times.

 

Item #7: Police Department Report – Police Chief Phil Jones

 

Chief Jones stated that he had nothing special to report on but wanted to make himself available to any questions the Council might have for him.  Jones noted that it is “business as usual” regarding policing duties inside the City of Richmond.  Jones noted that winter is just around the corner and reminded residents to be aware of the City's winter parking and snow removal requirements as well as to remind the residents to please keep their sidewalks clear of snow and ice.

 

Item #8: Parks, Recreation and Arena Director's Report –  Kevin Mooney, written report

 

Item #9: Public Works Director's Report – Gordon Dingmann

 

Dingmann reported to the Council that the City’s snow plow truck is ready to go for the new winter season.  Dingmann noted that because of the differences in the width of certain City streets if homeowners wish to put up flags to mark where their property line is or where their lawn ends that would be helpful to him while plowing the City streets.

 

Dingmann again stated to the Council that he continues to work on obtaining quotes for installing French Drains near the intersection of 7th Street and County Road 23.

 

Dingmann reported to the Council that he has started doing some dirt work at the new cold storage site and hopes to have the polls installed before winter sets in.

 

Dingmann noted that the compost site, if the weather stays nice, will stay open until approximately December 1.

 

Item #10: City Engineer's Report – Randy Jenniges

 

Jenniges reviewed with the Council the bid tabs for the private electrical quotes regarding the moving of overhead electrical power off of Main Street to the alley.  The project is moving forward as planned and it would appear that it will come in under budget.  Jenniges further stated that now that this project is coming to a close he will be able to spend more time on the 2013 Main Street project i.e. funding and streetscapeing.

 

Jenniges report to the Council that he has sent letters to property owners affected with the Safe Routes to School Project providing them an update on the project.

 

Jenniges updated the Council on the Glacial Lakes Trail Pavilion construction in that the storm sewer, waste water and water hookups have been completed.

 

Item #11: Water/Waste Water Operator Report  Greg Stang, written report

 

 

 

 

Item #12: Fire Department Report – Fire Chief Chuck Merten

 

Chief Merten reviewed, with the Council, his submitted written report.  Noting that for the month of October there was a total of 110 calls: 9 medical and 1 equipment fire.  Merten also stated that he is looking into the details of one particular medical call and the response time of the ambulance service was apparently somewhat lengthy.

 

Merten reported to the Council that the oral interview and agility test process of the three perspective new firefighters has been completed.  The next step is to conduct a background check and physical.

 

It was noted that the City has not received any request for any type of mutual aid agreement from the Township's new fire department.

 

There was brief discussion regarding the new fire department potentially using 2nd Street as their route to get to County Road 23 North, noting that 2nd Street is mostly a residential street that has a public and private school on it.  The Council suggested to Chief Merten that once a line of communication opens up between himself and the new fire chief of that Township Fire Department to discuss these concerns.

 

Item #13: City Attorney Report – Adam Ripple, no report

 

Item #14: City Administrators Report – Martin M. Bode

 

Bode noted that the office is working on getting the bi-monthly utility bills processed and hopefully in the mail next week and that month end reports have been completed.

 

Item #15: Council Reports -

 

a.                   EDA, next meeting to be held on 11/21/11, 6:00 p.m. at the City Maintenance Building.

It was also noted that there is an EDA commission position open effective January 1, 2012.

 

b.                  Planning Commission, next meeting to be held on 12/7/11, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, joint meeting with City Council for the purpose of conducting two public hearings, one public hearing for floodplain ordinance revision and the second public hearing for rezoning of Tower Acres.

It was also noted that the Planning Commission has a commission position open effective January 1, 2012.

 

c.                   ROCORI Trail, next meeting to be held on 11/3/11, 9:00 a.m. at City Hall in Rockville.

 

Mayor Hemmesch reported that Stearns County Sentence to Serve program, between the months of April and September, will now cost $100 per day for four or more people.

 

Item #16: Additional Purchase Requisitions

 

None Presented

 

Item #17: Other Matters and Related Issues.

 

 

 

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 Kron, Second by Mathiasen.  Motion Passed Unanimously.

 

Mayor Hemmesch declared the meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Martin M. Bode

Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer