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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 [01] Jan 19 Page 2544 January 19, 1995 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council :for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Thursday, January 19, 1995 at 7:0Ø p.m. in the City Hall. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Donald Bud Reber; Councilors Ross Rieke, Bob Loso, Ken Hiemenz, Cory Ehlert; Clerk/Administrator Rachel Stapleton. OTHERS PRESENT: Stephanie Hazen, Jim Kacures, Edith Hiemenz, Dick Taufen, JudyWeyrens, Bradley Lindgren, Ron Euteneuer, Art Reber. Mayor Reber called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with all members of the Council present. AGENDA APPROVAL: Rieke made a motion to approve the agenda; seconded by Hiemenz. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Mayes: None. Motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA: Loso made a motion to approve the consent agenda items as :follow; seconded by Rieke. a) January 5, 1995 minutes. b) Bills payable check numbers 20547 - 20576. c) Overtime and callouts. d) Installation of blue emergency lights on patrol vehicles, total cost under $150. e) Purchase of an additional Portable Breath Tester ( PBT ) , cost $334 with half the cost to be funded through the Safe and Sober grant funds. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert . Nayes: None. Motion carried. TREASURER·S REPORT: Judy Weyrens, Deputy Clerk, gave the treasurer's report for November. Rieke made a motion to approve the transferring the balances in the Capital Project Funds to the associated Debt Service Fund, as recommended by Weyrens; seconded by Hiemenz. 409 Water Storage to 309 1992 Imp. - Water Storage 410 92 Imp - DBL to 310 1992 Imp - DBL Sewer Fund 412 East Minn Utility to 312 93 East Minn Utility 413 West Minn Street to 313 93 Impr. West Minn. Street Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Mayes: None. Motion carried. Loso made a motion to trans:fer $56,000 from Fund 601 \~ater Fund to 309 Debt Service Fund for the Water Storage Facility as recommended by Weyrens; seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Mayes: None. Motion carried. MAYOR REPORTS: 1) At the APO Executive Board meeting it was discussed that they will have to deny some requests :for projects and are currently behind because of staff difficulties. 2) Right of eminent domain Or adoption of an o.f.ficial map would Page 2545 JanuaT'y 19, 1995 pre~eñlpt a conservation easement to prohibit development on property. 3) The Highway 15 bridge was named the Bridge of Hope. 4) Mayor Reber reported that he is on the hiring committee of APO for the process of hiring a new engineer. The applicants have been narrowed down to three. 5) At the Stearns County League meeting, MaT'v in Klug of Stearns County Emergency Services discussed disaster plan information. Emergency Services Director Bob Loso stated that a meeting has been set with Marvin Klug to meet with officials in St. Joseph responsible for handling emergencies and disasters. Mayor Reber also informed the Council that consideration is being given to forming a group to cove:c approximately 2Ø mile radius around St. Cloud :for Emergency Services officials to meet periodically to share information and services. 6) Mayor Reber stated that St. Joseph will offer to host a Stea:r-ns County League meeting soon. 7) Information from APO established about 25Y. of the residents of St. Joseph arE? at an incomE? level below the poverty level. COUNCIL REPORTS RIEKE: Employees and Personnel Committee met with an Insurance agent to discuss insurance options available for the employee group. EHLERT: 1) Ehlert asked if the letterhead could be updated. Stapleton stated that the printer has been contacted to do it. 2) Ehlert stated that he would like to be appointed to the CORE Committee. Mayor Reber told him Clerk/Administrator Stapleton, Chie:f Lindgren and Councilor Rieke are already representatives. Rieke said he would like to see him attend CORE meetings and be involved in CORE activities. LOSO: 1) At the Joint City Township meeting annexation of Bill Wasner's proper'ty was discussed and the affect on it. City Zoning Ordinance 52.14 Subdivision 4 addresses annexation of land and pre- existing uses. Hiemenz felt that another area of the zoning ordinance would control the use of property after annexation. 2) Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has a offered a grant program for development of Parks and Trailways. Loso requested authorization to apply with an application request :form seeking funding through available grant programs. Rieke made a motion to approve the application as proposed; seconded by Ehlert. Discussion - Hiemr=nz questioned if the City's share was budgeted for 1995. Loso stated that it was not budgeted for 1995. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. HIEMENZ: 1 ) Star City met January 14th with the Design Team and on the 18th they met to establish committees for the Spring 1995 visit. 2) Hiemenz reported that he met with a committee on a two year project to develop a wetland plan for the State of Minnesota. Page 2646 January 19, 1995 3) Hiemenz made a motion to approve an on sale non-intoxicating malt liquor license for the College o:f St. Benedict that was missed when licenses were renewed in December 1994; seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. 4) Hiemenz presented and discussed information on the allowable number of Park Board members. After a short discussion Loso made a motion to send a letter to Bill Nelson stating that the Park Board had the maximum number of members allowed prior to his joining the Park Board. Therefore his appointment to the Park Board was in error. The motion was seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Loso felt the Planning Commission Enabling Ordinance also addresses the number of members. Concern was expressed on the appropriateness of the recent re-appointments. Council re:ferred the matter to the City Attorney. HEALTH INSURANCE: Deputy Clerk Judy Weyrens discussed that the City employee health plan could be changed to a Preferred Provider plan with a reduction in premium costs. The employees are supportive of the change and are requesting to have disability insurance included in the package change. Changing to the PPO plan and including disability insurance would result in a savings to the City o:f over $18Ø0 per year. Rieke made a motion to approve health insurance plan change to PPO and include disability insurance :for the employees. Discussion - Loso questioned the actual bene:fits of disability insurance. Hiemenz asked how much the City would save if no disability insurance were included and was told $420 per month ($5,040 per year) . Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: Loso. Motion carried. CLERK/ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS: 1) Stearns County Commissioners denied the request to place a four way stop at the Minnesota Street and Second Avenue intersection, since the intersection does not meet the Minnesota Manual and Uniform Traffic Control Devices Warrants criteria. 2) The Design Team :for the Star City program presented a contract which clarifies the scope o:f services, method of per:forming the work, fee of $3,0Ø0, other costs, community responsibility, and other needs :for their assistance to the community. Loso made a motion to approve the contract; seconded by Hiemenz. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. 3) Stapleton presented a professional (16 by 20 inch) photograph of the water tower. The photograph is a gì:ft to the City :from the City Engineer's firm of Short Elliot Hendrickson. Rieke made a motion to have the photograph framed at a cost o:f $80; seconded by Reber. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Page 2547 January 19, 199~1 Nayes: None. Motion ca:n,'ied. CHIEF OF POLICE REPORTS: Chief Brad Lindgren presented his monthly report and discussed enhancing communication with St. Ben's officials concerning security for College sponsored special events. He reported that the College of St. Ben's held a "first annual" Sno-Stock event. This was a non-alcoholic event with bands. The Police Department was asked at the last minute to provide coverage. The Council was generally supportive allowing off duty City police officers to work for st. Ben's providing security for their functions. Chie:f Lindgren also reported that a local business person has commended Officer Brad Meyer for his professionalism and :for the way he immediately attended to a potential problem. Chief Lindgren also discussed that the City received $70Ø from a forfeiture and requested to purchase dash lights :for the unmarked car with these funds. Loso made a motion to approve the purchase of dash lights as proposed; seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Mayor Reber stated that he would like to see published in the paper the volume of work the police do, as the monthly police report shows. Lindgren stated that he gave the information to the Newsleader. POLICE CHIEF CONTRACT: After a short discussion Mayor Reber made a motion to approve Lindgren's Attorney and the City Attorney include terminology in the contract of option number 3, as laid out by the City Attorney, which provides the same protection that the Federation officers have under their Labor Agreement, and that ter'mination shall be only for ca use. The motion was seconded by Ehlert. Discussion - This agreement will be brought back to the Council for review and approval. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. BUILDING OFFICIAL: Ron Euteneuer presented a proposal for Building Inspection for the City and asked to be reappointed as Building Official fo).- 1995. He also discussed the name and location change of his firm. After short discussion Loso made a motion to appoint Great Northern Building Inspection as Building Official for 1995; seconded by Hiemenz. Discussion - Hiemenz stated that Ron Euteneuer's fee schedule presents the better package. Ayes: Loso, Hiemenz. Nayes: Reber, Rieke, Ehlert. Motion failed. UPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Art Reber discussed with the Council the problems associated with his alley being on the designated sno\,¡ Page 2648 January 19, 1995 mobile route. Ehlert agreed to get the Snow-Joes involved to see if the trail can be rerouted, and Chief of Police will discuss with them methods to control the problems. Jim Kacures discussed the assessed valuation o£ his property, since there was an oil spill on it. He also discussed concerns about the oil spill and cleanup on his property and boulevard area and asked for assurance he could sell the property with out going through a big clean up expense. Mr. Kacures stated that the spill was the £ault of a local business. The Mayor said he would look into the si tuation. Loso made a motion to recess at 8:20 p. m. ; seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Mayor Reber reconvened the meeting at 8:35 p. ffi. OLD BUSINESS EXEMPT - NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEES: Loso discussed £unction of exempt, non-exempt employees. Clerk/Administrator Stapleton said there are definite guidelines that must be £ollowed when you are non-exempt and this will put her and the Deputy Clerk in az bind since many times they work late or weekends. Loso stated that all employees are considered non-exempt since Council passed a motion at the September 1, 1994 meeting. Loso, Rieke and the City Attorney will meet this issue. City officials met recently to discuss a Capital Improvement plan. This group will meet again to prepare presentation £or Council. Hiemenz made a motion to adjourn at 8:40; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Q Rachel Staplet n Clerk/Administrator