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Tuesday, October 11, 2005
CITY OF WAUBUN MN REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, September 13, 2005 The regular September meeting of the Waubun City Council was held on Tuesday September 13, 2005 at the Waubun Community Center beginning at 6:30 PM. Mayor Peter Haddeland called the meeting to order. Council members present were: Leonard Wells, Peter Haddeland, and Milo Winter. Larry Swiers and Ken Kylmanen were absent. Staff present was G. Riegert, Dan Murray and Paul Brehm. Guests and delegations: Ronald and Carol Moore The following items were added to the agenda: None Winter made a motion to approve the agenda. Wells seconded it. The motion carried. The Clerk reported that Pam Stall had called requesting that the July minutes be changed to indicate that her objections were toward the cemetery care only and not to other issues as implied in the minutes. A motion was made by Winter and seconded by Wells to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting and special meetings as sent out and posted. Motion carried by a unanimous vote. The following monthly bills were reviewed: GENERAL FUND: Mohawk Paving 38,800.00 PERA 403.68 Midwest Bank 1,120.18 Chad Smith 200.00 Lunde Blade and Gravel 2,240.18 Pitney Bowes PBM 12.00 League of MN Cities 423.00 Waubun Feed & Hardware 108.02 Thomas Fire Equipment 15.00 Daniel Murray 40.10 Pitney Bowes 31.15 Gopher State One-Call 6.75 ACS 177.07 True Value Hardware 59.18 Auto Value (Wilsons) 164.80 Mahnomen Pioneer 68.90 KRJM 300.00 Larke’s Lock & Key 11.91 Bement’s Oil Co. 194.18 William Eck Constr. 800.00 Ottertail Power Co. 1,193.84 Wambach & Hanson 282.60 Team Laboratories 257.73 WATER AND SEWER FUND: RMB Laboratories 107.00 Ottertail Power Co 314.01 MN Department of Health 235.00 MVTL Laboratories 51.00 Daniel Murray 46.00 TAX INCREMENT FINANCING: Debt Retirement Fund 3,649.88 GROCERY STORE ESCROW FUND: Debt Retirement Fund 3,849.00 DEBT RETIREMENT FUND: Midwest Bank 7,079.12 WATER REVENUE BOND FUND: Ulteig Engineers 1,032.15 Winter made a motion to pay the bills. Wells seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The clerk reported that the only bills issued for September were the water and sewer charges. The following monies were received since the last meeting: W/S transfer to Gen. Fund $4,700.43 Sale of gravel $130.00 Park Use 25.00 Building permit 75.00 Cemetery Lot 50.00 Car Fire 450.00 Interest (20416-20415) 145.99 LMC Ins. 250.00 Liquor License (1/4) 500.00 Old Business: Water Treatment Plant. Dan reported that testing for iron bacteria has been done and it appears that some of the problem is being caused by the well. Tonka is working on it—the filter bed will be super chlorinated tomorrow and that LTP will be in on Wednesday of Thursday to pull the wells which will also be super chlorinated. Everything should be back on line by Friday. A pre-chlorination system will be installed by Hawkins. This should prevent reoccurrence of the problems. Several items remain for the plant renovation to be complete. The high service pump needs to be changed out and a plug compatible with our generator needs to be installed. After some discussion it was decided to have an open house on October 4, from 2-4:30 PM at the facility. There would be tours and coffee and cookies would be available. Wells made a motion to do this and Winter seconded it. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Haddeland noted that Chris Proulx has been reassigned to the Waubun account by Ulteig Engineers. He will attend the October meeting, if possible. Ethel Avenue Ken Johnson had questioned the property line but it was determined that the driveway to the 4-plex is on his property. The Council directed the Clerk to send the agreement of vacation to the County Auditor for recording. This action is thereby completed. During the discussion about Ethel Avenue, the Council determined that the stumps on the part that will be split between Dorow and Berger need to be removed. Dan responded that he has had Gene Moore do those and two in the Park. No response has ever been received from Mr. Lhotka about the pine tree damaged on the Berger property. It appears that it will not recover from the damage. The Clerk was directed to send a certified letter requesting definitive action in the matter. Bement Center The White Earth Youth Project manager contacted Mr. Haddeland regarding whether or not the City was still interested in cooperating with them as they were sending in a grant proposal for funding. Attorney Elroy Hanson prepared a sample lease agreement which the Clerk gave to Council members for review. Winter made a motion to proceed with the project. Wells seconded it and it carried unanimously. The Clerk was directed to send a copy along with a support letter to the Tribal offices. One bid was received for closing the garage doors on the south side of the building and putting a new entrance on the north side. The bidder was Bill Eck Construction for the sum of $13,140.00. After some discussion, Wells made a motion to table this matter to the October meeting when all members could be present. Winter seconded it and the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Eck reclaimed the bid and said he will resubmit in October. Dog Ordinance Mayor Haddeland reviewed the terms of the new Dog Ordinance prepared by City Attorney Elroy Hanson. It mirrors the Tribal Dog Ordinance and while we have no control of what the Tribal Courts do with related matters, it should stand the test of enforcement by either or both entities. Winter made a motion to adopt the Ordinance # 2005-01. Wells seconded it and the motion carried unanimously. The clerk was directed to send it for publication as required. When the process is completed it will be necessary to rescind the entire prior ordinance. City Cemetery Mayor Haddeland reported that he had called Pastor Frank Harrison-Rogers about the UCC Church taking over the operation of the Cemetery. His calls were never returned so the next step is to contact the Trinity Lutheran Church. Discussion followed on what to do if the Churches won’t accept the responsibility of the Cemetery. Winter made a motion to table the issue until the October meeting when all of the Council members are present. Wells seconded it and the motion passed unanimously. Clarification of Probationary Period The City Public Works/Water and Sewer manager has been employed for six months and a periodic review should have been scheduled according to the Employee Handbook. One of the terms of employment was that the person hired would get the necessary licensure during this period. This has not been done. Mr. Murray has taken and passed the Water license test and is Class C certified. He did not pass the Wastewater test and the test scheduled for September 23 has been cancelled by the State of MN. It will be given on October 20 at Alexandria. After some discussion it was decided that the probationary period will be extended until after Dan has an opportunity to take the test in October. Winter made a motion to extend the probationary period to November 1, as discussed and that action on the salary increase request would be made retroactive to the date of the six month review if the test is passed. Wells seconded the motion and all three council members present voted aye. It was the consensus of the members present that this issue was not one which would happen often and that the Personnel Policy would remain as is. Life Insurance PERA has notified the City that they have entered into an agreement to provide life insurance to municipal employees at a fee-per-month rate. The Clerk would like to take advantage of this. Winter made a motion to allow employees to become part of this program as long as it is no cost to the City. Wells seconded it and the motion carried unanimously. 2006 Budget and Levy Certification The Clerk presented copies of the proposed 2006 budget. It is based on the LGA rate announced by the State. It was noted that the Levy of 2005 taxes, payable in 2006, does not have to be raised according to the projected figures. After some discussion, Winter made a motion to accept the proposed budget of $203, 940.00 for the year of 2006, and to set the levy for 2006 at $70,000.00. Wells seconded the motion and all council members voted aye. Water and Sewer Policy Roger Winter of Callaway owns a duplex in the City of Waubun which has been vacant for several months. The Clerk called about this and was told to keep the water on. In August, Mr. Winter called and requested that the accumulated monies due be abated as he has not found tenants. A review of the property in question was held. Wells made a motion to grant Mr. Winter relief at the present time but to notify him that when the units are rented there will be a $15 hookup fee in addition to the $23 per unit prepayment. Winter seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The Clerk was asked to bring a copy of a revised Water and Sewer Policy to a future meeting for discussion and possible adoption. Snow Removal Contract The Clerk presented a letter from the MN Department of Transportation about costs of snow removal for the coming winter. Since we have our own equipment now, we do not have to bid it out but they still want to know what it would cost for the use of our own equipment. The letter was given to Dan. He will investigate the issue and prepare the necessary reply. STAFF REPORTS: Paul Brehm: Copies of the police reports were presented. The furnace at fire station needs to be serviced. The Council, by consensus, directed the Chief to get the work done. A FEMA, National Incident Management Grant was awarded to the City of Mahnomen, the City of Waubun and Twin Lakes Fire Departments and the White Earth Reservation Ambulance Service and Mahnomen County Sheriffs Office for improving emergency communications systems in the area. The fire hall will have to be wired to meet the needs of the new equipment. The Council approved the request to hire a local electrician to get it done. Swanson’s Equipment was in and serviced the trucks. The front mount is not working properly and will need repair. The MAC truck was sent to Callaway. Costs of repairs will be split between Waubun and Callaway. A check of hoses revealed that there is a section of 100’ hose that is pin holed. A new hose will cost about $500. The Council approved this expenditure by a voice vote. Mr. Wells asked if the mileage reports are being turned in monthly for both fire and police vehicles. He also asked if all of the fire extinguishers had been checked. Paul agreed to find someone to do this as soon as possible. Dan Murray reported that he has been working on the ponds and they are in compliance with MPCA regulations. He will be having hernia surgery on Monday, September 19 and will be off work for several weeks. There will be at least six weeks of no heavy lifting. He said Joyce knows how to read the meters, etc. and will help him with that. He will be able to get the reports done. He requested that the City of Waubun reimburse him the base cost of $46 a month for his cellular phone as he uses it for the job most of the time. Winter made a motion to pay Dan Murray $46 per month as the base rate for use of his cellular phone on City business. Wells seconded it and the motion carried. He also reported that the transmission in the Dodge pickup is slipping. This matter was tabled until October by a voice vote of the Council. As soon as he is feeling better, he will get more gravel put on the streets by Winter’s and Swiers’ and do some repairs by the park. Germaine Riegert had no additional information to share. The flag pole in the park needs to be set at half mast. Paul Brehm said he know how to do it and would take care of it. There was no further business brought forward. Winter made a motion to adjourn at 8:45 PM. Wells seconded it and the motion carried unanimously. ___________________________________ ________________________________ Mayor Clerk |
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