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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992 [12] Dec 03 December 3, 1992 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the I City of St. Joseph met in regular session, on Thursday, December 3, 1992 at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Steven Dehler (arrived at 7:25 p.m. ) ; Members of the Council Leo Sadlo, Ross Rieke, Bob Loso, Stephanie Hazen. Clerk/Administrator Rachel Stapleton. OTHERS PRESENT: Daniel Nierengarten, Bud Reber, Stuart Goldschen, John Welsh, Mark Lambert, Judy Weyrens, Dick Taufen, Iver Linnemann. Acting Mayor Sadlo called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. AGENDA: Loso made a motion to approve the agenda with additions; seconded by Hazen. Ayes: Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. MINUTES: Hazen made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 19 meeting as presented; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. BILLS PAYABLE: Hazen made a motion to approve the bills payable for December, as presented by Deputy Clerk Judy Weyrens; seconded I by Loso. Ayes: Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Judy also discussed with the Council that the Police Department has had computer problems and has lost data. She requested tape backup equipment, to serve the Police Department and city office computers. Hazen made a motion to approve the tape backup equipment at a cost of $900; seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Sadlo discussed the past request for timers to turn the Christmas lights on and off. Loso made a motion to approve the purchase of seventeen timers at a cost of $272, the cost to be distributed over various applicable departments. The motion was seconded by Hazen. Ayes: Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. COUNCIL REPORTS - LOSO: 1 ) The matter of $11,927 which was donated by the Recreational Association, for the Recreation Center Fund, was referred to the Park Board for their recommendation at the last Council meeting. The Park Board recommended that those I monies be transferred to the Park Development Fund according to the previous contract. Loso made a motion to transfer the $11,927 to Park Development Fund and to accept the Recreation Center COITll1littee I request to retain the balance of the monies in the s Page 2143 December 3, 1992 Recreation Center Fund for the purpose of a recreation center. The motion was seconded by Hazen. Ayes: Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. 2) Loso also read a newspaper article concerning Hibbing , s violation of the open meeting law, and the penalties which were imposed. Concerning the Roske property situation or any matter, the council should make sure that all laws and statutes are followed. Rieke felt that we should have attorney present at more meetings. He also felt that many other matters should have legal council at meetings. Hazen and Sadlo also felt that legal council at a portion of each meeting would be appropriate. 3) Loso also inquired about the location of a tape from a closed meeting, held March 5 , 1992, which the Clerk was not present. The tape is not in the city office. Loso stated that he understood that the Mayor has the tape, and requested that it be returned prior to the Mayor leaving office. HAZEN: No report. RIEKE: Rieke presented an old title opinion, for property located on the Northwest corner of Minnesota Street and Sixth Avenue NW., and stated he has an old abstract for the property, also. An agreement with Mrs. Borresch may be worked out which would allow the City to clean up this property, as a benefit to the community. Dehler arrived at 7:25 p.m. and assumed the Chair. He apologized for his tardiness, which was due to bad weather conditions. SADLO: 1 ) Avon Bank has title to the property, which is next to the City maintenance shop property, and was used by the Mill. The asking price has been reduced but it is still to high, because this property has been used for a private dump in the past. This property would have to be cleaned up, before the City would take possession of it. 2) Fire calls for the second half of the year were presented. There were 64 calls at a cost of $4,453, plus fire drills and officers salaries at a total cost of $8,773. 70% of the calls were medical and 30% were fire calls. Sadlo stated that there is a need for an adequate fire hall and adequate parking for the volunteer firefighters. Response time is important and can be affected by parking problems. 3) The facility for the sanitary sewer project for the North Industrial Park area will be running in December. A water well will be drilled for water supply for the facility. MAYOR REPORTS: 1 ) Mayor Dehler brought up the need for a tape backup for the Police Department computers, and timers for turning the Christmas lights on and off. (These matters has already been addressed.) 2) S. Moira and Mayor discussed property sites for future City well sites. Dehler has asked the Clerk and Engineer to prepare a written request for St. Benedicts to offer property sites of their property, for sites to consider for future wells. They do not wish to release any of the property to the west. 3) Roske property - Dehler asked for discussion of the proposed Page 2144 December 3, 1992 contract for the Roske property, Loso stated that the original petition called for public hearings, which the City did not honor, and for a referendum. The City should honor the request for public hearings. The ballot question asked two things, if the city should purchase that property and if the City should pay up to $150,000 for it. Minnesota Statute requires that the City bow to the wishes of the voters. Also the Statutes do not allow any contact with money down prior to providing for notification and petition for referendum. Minnesota Statute may not even allow this issue to be brought up within six months of the voters turning i t down, Rieke asked i f the Mayor had consulted the City Attorney on this matter. The Mayor stated he did not, and wished to wait until it was approved for legal consultation, Dehler stated that the voters had voted on a different contract. At this time Dehler made a motion to enter into a legal agreement to purchase the Roske property for 130,000 based on a five year contract. Rieke seconded the motion, with the stipulation that the City Attorney advise and approve this action. Other discussion - Sadlo stated that the voters denied this issue by 100 vote spread. 500 voted positively, yet no resident has asked him, nor have they asked anyone he knows, to have the City acquire this property. All contacts have been negative. Therefore the City really does not deserve it. Sadlo will vote against it. Dehler stated the importance of the Council's working together for the good of the people. Ayes: Dehler, Rieke. Nayes: Loso, Sadlo, Hazen, Motion failed, OLD BUSINESS - PERSONNEL POLICY MANUAL: Hazen presented a draft of the completed personnel policy manual and would like to have the Council members and City Offices go through the document, for truth. She has already been shown a correction to page 39 for sick leave. After necessary corrections are made she stated she would like to have the attorney go through it and have the manual in place 1-1-93. Sadlo asked on annual evaluation program. Hazen stated that she would like to have each employee evaluated once a year, and that she has received forms for this purpose. Council could bring their copies with corrections back to the special meeting, for Hazen to make corrections, and then have John review it. Dehler stated that a responsibility should be assigned to specific needs. Hazen stated that she referred a lot to check with the City Offices, because she did not know who to refer responsibilities. Also, as a final document, an 1-9 form is attached, which is required. The City currently is doing this for all new employees. This requirement may be for all employees. She stated that she spent a lot of time on it but wishes to have each one go through it for correctness. This should be reviewed annually and she has it on Work Perfect, which she will give to the City Offices, The corrected manuals are to be reviewed by the 9th and back to Hazen. Page 2145 December 3, 1992 - TREASURERS REPORT: Sadlo made a motion to approve the treasurers report for October; seconded by Loso. Discussion - Hazen stated that a column is to be included for transfer information. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Council discussed having the assessor at the Truth in Taxation hearing. Dehler stated that the property valuation hearing is in the spring at the Board of Review meeting. Also the assessor is responsive to those who call him about valuations. STAR CITY: Dehler stated that the Chamber of Commerce should give a presentation to the City Council in January. The Council members had not had an opportunity to review the information. Hazen stated that Cold Spring has recently become a star city, and they may be able to provide some information. Dehler stated that the Chamber may wish to use them as a resource. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Bud Reber asked if the hookup fees to utilities is $2,285. This amount includes water and sewer hookup, inspection fees, and water meters. Reber stated this is quite high compared with area cities. Rieke stated that this is one area where we can calculate our costs, and he is a proponent of recouping our costs, when they buy into the utility systems. Dehler reminded the Council to consider park development planning, for next year, for the lot in Clinton Village, purchased by the City, for future access to the Tot Lot by Park Terrace. Rieke stated that he received a call from a developer who constructs twin homes, to see if there would be interest in our community. Hazen made a motion to recess for 15 minutes, at 8: 10 p.m. ; seconded by Loso. Discussion - Dehler invited all in attendance to the Nutcracker to be performed at the BAC, at the College of St. Benedict. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Dehler reconvened the meeting at 8:25 p.m. MINUTES: Rieke made a motion to reconsider the minutes of the November 19 meeting, and change 2) under his report on page 2139, that " I t would be very difficult to clear the property of Ii ens and judgements and will be a challenge and time consuming. He also requested to review other portions of the minutes wi th the tape of the meeting. The motion was seconded by Sadlo. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. APARTMENT PROPOSAL: Mark Lambert discussed with the Council that he is getting his financing in place, for his apartment proposal, through a conventional loan. He stated that he would like relief Page 2146 December 3, 1992 from the high hookup costs, of $1,800 per unit. He felt this amount will break the financing on the project. Sadlo felt that he should be required to pay hookup charges 1 i ke everyone else, Dehler stated that other apartment complexes had to pay the charges that were established at the time they were constructed. Our hookup charges were established to buy into a system constructed to a 11 ow for growth, The utility improvements were financed with hookup charges incorporated into the formula. considered in the formula, Mark stated that he has already bought into the system by paying the assessments on the existing units on the property, and felt that 36,000 for 20 additional units is excessive. Mark asked for the same rate as the last apartments, which were constructed in the City. Rieke felt that we should study the matter with the City Engineer, and Attorney and Economic Development, to see if there is a way to make the hookup fees acceptable, without establishing precedence. Hazen made a motion to place this matter on the Old Business of the December 17 meeting, and to have the consultants bring back recommendations; seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None, Motion carried. IMPACT STUDY GROUP: The Counci 1 discussed the Impact Study Group, which is a small group doing a study of the impact of the college on the city, and the benefits, values, and costs to the city, and costs of city services to the college. CLERK/ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS: 1 ) Loso made a motion to approve the attendance of the Water Superintendent at Water Conference in St. Cloud; seconded by Sadlo. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. lv\otion carried. 2) Sadlo made a motion to approve a transfer of the Cigarette license of the St. Joseph Liquor Shoppe, from the old facility to the new facility; seconded by Hazen, Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Loso made a motion to approve the following matters; seconded by Hazen, 1 ) Application for Payment - Sanitary Sewer (North Industrial Park) Contract 1 , S, J. Louis Company, of $113,110,80. 2 ) Application for Payment - Water System Improvement (Water Tower) Contract I I , - CBr Na-Con, Inc. $14,012.50. 3 ) Surplus property - C 800 Ford Truck was advertised for sale. One bid on it from Bill Wasner for $636.00, was received. 4 ) Jerry Hirschfeld has invited the Council etc. to a tour and open house at MCO on some date prior to December 24th. The Council is to select the date. The time will be at 4:00 p.m. Council selected Monday, December 7th. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen, Nayes: None. Motion carried. Page 2147 December 3, 1992 ~ CAPITAL OUTLAY REQUESTS: Clerk/Administrator presented two capital outlay requests from the Street Department. 1 ) Council considered the request for a 1975 -1980 Snow Plow Dump Truck, to put a $250 deposit down to hold the request until the summer or fall of 1993. The actual cost will be $15,000 to $19,000. They agreed to place the matter on the next agenda, and consider it, wi th budget information available. 2) Rieke made a motion to approve the request for a new power hack saw at a cost of $199; seconded by Hazen. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Loso made a motion to adjourn at 9: 10 p.m. ; seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke, Loso, Hazen. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Q Rachel Stapleton Clerk/Administrator Page 2148