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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 [02] Feb 19 ! Page 3280 . February 19, 1998 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Thursday, February 19, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall. I MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Kenneth J. Hiemenz; Councilors Bob Loso, Cory Ehlert, Mary Niedenfuer, Ken Twit. Clerk/Administrator Rachel Stapleton. I OTHERS PRESENT: Judy Weyrens, Chad Carlson, Dave Theisen, Richard Taufen, Peter Omann, Jim Graeve. Mayor Hiemenz called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with all Councilors present. AGENDA: Twit made a motion to approve the agenda; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. MINUTES: Loso made a motion to approve the minutes of February 3, February 5, and February 10, 1998; seconded by Ehlert. Discussion - Niedenfuer stated the rrunutes of February 5, 1998, page 3276, second paragraph should reflect that Niedenfuer did not concur with elimination of the Mayor and Council reports, but recommended shortening them with presenting written information on as many matters as possible. The Council agreed with the correction and the motion is amended. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA: The Council considered the consent agenda as follows: 1. 3rd Phase Development, Brian Klinefelter Memorial Park, Approve purchase of "Big Toy," $4,100. 2. Special Use Permit for Construction of an 84' x 50' Truck Storage Facility, Mike Kittridge. 3. Police Officer Intoxilyzer Certification in St. Paul- Gustin, Meyer and Young, registration $40 each. 4. DNR Cooperative Forestry Assistance Reimbursement Agreement, $500, matching grant for pagers for Fire Department. 5. Fire Department Purchase 10 replacement pagers, estimated coS!t $400 each; two portable lights for 1adder truck, estimated cost $110 each. 6. League of Minnesota Cities Legislative Conference February 26 - Approve attendance of 2 attendees. I Discussion" Twit questioned reducing the front yard setback to 80 feet, for the Truck Storage Facility Special Use Permit request of Mike Kittridge. Mayor Hiemenz recommended no truck access from the front of the building be part of the Special Use. Ehlert made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda items with the stipulation that Item Number 2. Special Use Permit for a truck storage facility provide no semi-truck access from the front of the building to . Joseph Street. The motion was seconded by Loso. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. BILLS PAYABLE: After short discussion Loso made a motion to approve the bills payable as presented check numbers 25106 - 25151; seconded by Twit Discussion - Council requested to have the new Police Officer introduced to them at the next meeting. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. Loso made a motion to approve the overtime and callouts with a typo correction; seconded by Twit. Discussion - Richard Taufen's vacation hours carryover at the end of the fiscal year exceeded the allowed carry over. Council rèquested a response if this matter has been addressed. I I Loso made a motion to allow office staff up to 20 hours overtime/comp time for audit preparation as requested; seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. - I Page 3281 i February 19, 1998 PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE AGENDA: Fire Chief Dave Theisen stated a total of $1,750 in grants was received for funding assistance for the Fire Department pagers. : i EDA REPORT: EDA Director Chad Carlson reported on the summary of activities during the year and discussed his annual report. After short discussion of various projects, Twit made a motion to accept the EDA Annual Report; seconded by Niedenfuer. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. CENTRAL MINNESOTA EVENTS CENTER: Ehlert presented and discussed a Resolution Requesting the Minnesota Legislature to Adopt Legislation enab~ng the City of SI. of SI. Joseph tolmpose a Sales and Use Tax of up to one Percent, and an Additional Sales Tax on Lodging and Food and Beverage of up to One Percent to pay for all cost Associated with Developing the Central Minnesota Events Center. Ehlert stated the proposed legislation is intended to provide taxing allowances for the cities in the SI. Cloud area. The proposal provides for eXcess revenue, beyond that needed to provide for debt service for the proposed Events Center, to be placed in a pool for the participating CITies use for specific projects. He further stated any benefi! the Events Center would have to SI. Joseph cannot be measured until the location is identified. Twit stated he had contacted City Attorney as directed by the Mayor, conceming this resoMion. Scherer advised the resolution does not ob~gate the City as it is written. Twit further discussed the costs of administration of the proposed tax as well as the costs to businesses in implementing- il. Niedenfuer stated before SI. Joseph considers funding a facility to benefit SI. Cloud, consideration needs to be given if SI. Joseph is willing to sacrifice its needs for a SI. Cloud facility. Mayor Hiemenz stated SI. Joseph has many priorities. I Ehlert recommended delaying consideration of the resolution, as it may be significantly chang-ed. SI. Joseph's involvement is to have aCCess to the potential future excess funding. , I SPACE NEEDS PROPOSAL: The Council received a proposal for the space needs update of Bradley E. Forbrook, SEH. There was considerable discussion of the role of Department Heads, costs, the need for public input, and need to plan for the future. Mayor Hiemenz stated the Council needs are great enough that Council chambers should be reserved for Council, rather than to also accommodate community use. Loso and Twit felt a facility should be planned, with departments sharing use of some areas and with possible future expansion capabilities. Chad Carlson discussed the implications of G. O. Bonds and Revenue Bonds as well as debt limITs. He indicated he could send information to several architects to prepare sketches of their perception of our needs. There was discussion of including a basement and possibly a second floo\. ! Alter further discussion Twit made a motion to direct the Department Heads to compile and report their anticipated space needs to the EDA Office by Friday, February 27; seconded by Ehlert Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twil. Nays: None. Motion carried. I INSURANCE UPDATE, LIABILITY, COMPREHENSIVE, MUNICIPAL PROPERTY AND CASUALTY: Peter Omann, Insurance Agent, discussed the current claim for the damage due tò the roof leaking. Mayo~ Hiemenz indicated the damage, due to the freezing and thawing, caused the Patc~on the roof to open up. I Omann also presented and discussed the current insurance coverage. Buildings are covered WITh blanket i coverage, with flood insurance now included. Inland marine items under $25,000 have blanket coverage, I WITh over $25,000 ITems listed.. Coverage includes open meeting law (cost $500 annually). On auto and i general liability the Council needs to decide if they wish to agree to a waiver of immunity. This waiver i would increase general liability and auto coverageirom $300,000 to $750,000 at an additional cost of $750 annually. Omann also presented an umbrella policy, which would increase coverage to one million doliars,l at an additional premium with waiver of immunity - $5301, and without the waiver - $4,264 . Loso made a motion to decline the umbrella coverage; seconded by TWIT. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twil. Nays: None. Page 3282 FebmaIy 19, 1998 Motion carried. Twit made a motion to accept the waiver of immunity, increasing general liability and auto insurance coverage to $750,000 limit; seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit Nays: None. Motion carried. I Omann discussed the role of the Insurance Agent for employee health insurance, stating the City may elect any agent they so chose. He can give the same service with our current insurance company (Principal), as well as provide quotes from other carriers. He also requested to be the agent for Principal should the City stay with Principal. The Council genernlly agreed-to entertain any proposals Omann may receive from his companies. PURCHASE REQUEST FOR ROTARY BROOM: Loso made a motion to approve the request to purchase a new rotary broom for the John Deere from Mies Equipment at $2,250; seconded by Twit Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. DIRECTOR OF PUBUC WORKS REPORTS: Richard Taufen reported 1) Wells number 3 and number 4 both need cleaning, estimated cost is $2,000 to $2,500 perwelL Loso moved to approve the request to clean wells as presented; seconded by Twit Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. 2) Taufen also reported the meters at wells number 3 and number 4 need to be re-calibrated, estimated cost is $300 to $500 per meter. Twit made a motion to approve the re-calibration as presented; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit Nays: None. Motion carried. I 3) Taufen reported serious drainage problems again this year with Joseph StreeL Also the roadway is breaking up badly. City Maintenance has hauled seven loads of gravel to it already. Loso stated the need is immediate with Joseph Street. A construction project for it should include storm drainage and utilities along with construction of the roadway. Niedenfuer recommended consideration of drainage with something other than curb and gutter. Mayor Hiemenz stated there is no room for ditches. 4) The owner of Horizon Roofing, the roofing company that has been repairing the City Hall roof, recently came out to view the roof and repair it He felt the leak was fixed but stated the crack large. 5) The City has accumufated surplus items, and needs to dispose of them. Tauf,,,, recommended holding an auction at the end of April or early May. Taufen will check on consignment possibility with St Cloud's next auction, also if area Cities would wish to join St. Joseph in an auction. 6) The Community Fire Hall will hold an open house on March 29 from 9 am. !C. 4 p.m. with a pancake breakfast and a ceremony in the afternoon. 7) The property owner at 208 Rr Street E, in Northland Addition complained about a drainage problem in front of her driveway. Taufen stated this seems to be a yearly occurrence that mmedies itself, with the water gone now. Council recommended the City Engineer review the matter neJ<t time he is in that area. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT: Twit reported the employee job description updates are nearty completed. Council will hold a special meeting on February 24 at 6:00 p.m. to o,,"sider changes needed to come into compliance with Pay Equity. Loso questioned how the City became 'out of compliance" and recommended and Council concurred to request Consultant Kathleen Murphy (previously assisted the City with wage and pay equity issues) to assist the City in this matter. MAYOR'S REPORT: 1) Mayor Hiemenz received a letter from the City of St ClIJud requesting St Joseph meet with them to discuss the compensation for their sewer system regarding sections 1, 12, and 13 of St Joseph Township. These sections were included in the Orderly Annexation agreement. but were previously included in the St. Cloud sewer service area. 2) This year the Transportation Alliance is giving its support to the 3'" Street upgmde (in St Cloud). The 3'" Street project is on the APO 1998 Transportation Plan as well. I I 3) Steams County is setting up cluster meetings through LESA (Land Evaluation Site Assessment) to accommodate their land use plan controlling urban sprawl and preserving ag land. I , I i Page 3283' February 19, 1998 , i i 4) Mayor Hiemenz discussed Information sent to the Council concerning a parcel of land adjacent to and west of the Roske property on Minnesota street locally known as the Roth property. Twit felt the City should pursue consideration of purchasing that parcel as it would benefit the property owned jointly by the C~y and Township. Loso felt consideration should be given after the City's space needs are determined. COUNCILORS REPORT TWIT: No report EHLERT: No report. LOSO: 1) An estimate for fencing the area by the maintenance shop (due to a safety concern, to deter children sledding on the hill) will be brought to the Council at the next regular meeting. 2) The minutes of the last Fire Board minutes were received in the packet. NIEDENFUER: 1) The CORE Committee met recently. One of the community members expressed concern that the "Disorderly House Ordinance" is going to another committee. Linda Sniezek discussed some of the problems the Landlords have with the way parts of the document is w~tten. Mayor Hiemenz extended the meeting at 10:00 p.m. I 2) A student intern w~h the Minnesota Project is working on a project that will predict st. Joseph's future outlooks and growth using a program called Luf-net. He will be contacting community persons to assist in the project. CLERK/ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS: Because the City received the radio license for the SCADA system, John Scherer recommended payment to Bentec of $2,000. The City is retaining $4,000 for warranty. ' MISCELLANEOUS OR ANNOUNCEMENT ITEMS: 1) Mayor Hiemenz reported he is getting a committee of Students, Landlords, Residents, and Councilors to consider, and make recommendation to the Council on the proposed Ordinances relating to rental housing (Disorderly House Ordinance). Board of Review meeting for the City has been set for 7:00 p.m., April 7, 1998. Stapleton reported the City Officelocat 90vernment band radio no longer receives the emergency frequencies and therefore staff is unaware when Police and Fire are responding to emergency calls. This. has caused City Office communication problems. Granite Electronics is able to program the radio system to scan the needed channels for reception in the City Office for about $100. Niedenfuer made a motion to approve the re-programming of the radio as requested; seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. Mayor Hiemenz reported Mark Lambert called to check on the status cf the request to install a light on the emergency siren pole to light his parking lot. The effect it may have on the radio communication has not yet been determined. I The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. with a motion by Loso; seconded by Twit. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Ehlert, Niedenfuer, Twit. Nays: None. Motion carried. ~a;Æ~ Clerk/Administrator i