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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 [04] Apr 01 1 1 Page 3496 April 1, 1999. ¡ .Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council forthe City of St. Joseph met in regular I session on Thursday, April 1, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Joseph City Hall. I Members Present: Mayor Kenneth J. Hiemenz. Councilors Bob Loso, KenTwit, Cory Ehlert. Deputy Clerk Judy Weyrens. Others Present: Public Works Director Dick Taufen, Ellen Wahlstrom, Jim Brimeyer, Pam Wunderloch, Steve Streng. Approve Aoenda: Twit made a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of Outdoor Liquor Permit Application and Request to waive Community Sign Fee. The motion was seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion Carried 4:0:0 Consent Aoenda: Twit made a motion to approve the consent agenda as follows; seconded by Ehert. a. Steams County Sheriff - D.AR.E. Program. Request to expend $85.50 from the DAR.E. Fund for St. Joseph Dare field trip to the Law Enforcement Center. b. loss Control Seminar, April 14, 1999 Sf. Cloud. Attendance of Dick Taufen and pay registration fees of $20.00. . c. Outdoor Liquor Permit - La Playette Bar & Restaurant for an event to be held on Aplil 10, 1999. d. Waive Community Events Sign Fee - St. Joseph Lions for a fundraiser to be held on April 2, 1999. I Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion Carried 4:0:0 Approve Minutes: Ehlert made a motion to approve the minutes of Aplil1, 1999 with the following correction: Page 1: Mayor's Recognition Award: ...Joe Braun and presented him with a certiñcate for...; seconded by Twit. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion Carried 4:0:0 Bills Pavable: TWit made a motion to approve the bills as presented, check numbers 26699 _ 26746; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion Carried 4:0:0 OVertime: Ehlert made a motion to approve the overtime and callouts as presented; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion Carried 4:0:0 Deparlment Head Reports - Dick Taufen 1 Water Tower Maintenance: Public Works Director Dick Taufen discussed with the Council the need to have routine maintenance completed on the water tower. Taufen stated in the past the City had contracted with Water Tower Paint and Repair of Clear Lake JA. The City Engineer has staff that can assist the City with the maintenance. The staff can complete the floatdown and determine if repairs are needed. Taufen stated that the tower has some rust spots that need repair. The best time for routine maintenance is when demand for water is low such as spring or early summer. If approved, Taufen will make the necessary arrangements with SI. Ben's to supply water to the City during the repair and maintenance. Taufen also asked the Council if during the routine maintenance it is found that repairs are needed, will that require further Page 3497 April 1, 1999 authorization from the CRy Council. The Council concurred that it would be cost prohibitive to wait for Council approval. Twit made a motion to autholize SEH to complete the float down and outside inspection to determine what if any repairs are needed. This moltion also approves making necessary repairs to the tower. The motion was seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion Carried 4:0:0 1 Well Cleanina: Taufen discussed the need to clean Well #5 which has belen in operation for three years. (Wells are typically cleaned every three years.) Taufen stated it is his plan to rotate cleaning of all City wells with one being cleaned each year. loso made a motion autholizing Taufen to make the necessary arrangements to have Well #5 cleaned. The motion was seconded by Twit. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion Carried 4:0:0 Holdina Pond Maintenance: Taufen presented a proposal from Nature's Acre to conduct management bums at the St. Joseph holding ponds. It is recommended the ponds be bumed every three years. Taufen stated that he and his department are not famil.iarwith prairie grass and maintenance and recommends the City Council contract with Nature's Acre using Maintenance Staff for additional labor. Assisting Nature's Acre would seIVe as training for the Maintenance Staff and in the future the controlled bums could be completed by the Maintenance Department. Twit made a motion accepting the recommendalion of Taufen and contracting with Nature's Acre for Maintenance bums on the three existing prairies (holdi",~ ponds). The City Maintenance Staff will assist with the buming process. The motion was seconded by loso. Ayes: Hiemenz, loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion Carried 4:0:0 Comments to the Aaenda: No one present wished to speak. I Brimever Executive Search Committee: Jim Brimeyer presented the first draft of the position profile for the position of Clerk/Administrator. The Council spent conside,rable time reviewing and proof reading the proposed draft. Due to the numerous changes, Brimeyer will fax a revised copy to the City Council and requests and additional revisions be forwarded to his office no later than April 5, 1999. Brimeyer proposed the following timetable to the City Council: July 1999 Deadline for applications Present list of candidates to the City Council Interview and select candidate (Candidates will arrive the evening of June 29, 1999 with a small reception. June 30 the candidates will meet with the City staff in the moming and tour the City. Interview will begin sometime after 1 :00 p.m.) Start Date May 17,1999 June 10. 1999 June 29 & June 30 The proposed salary range based on the existing market for the Clerk/Administrator is $ 45,000 to $ 55,000. Twit questioned if the salary range could be adjusted to $45,OIQO to $ 50,000. Brimeyer will review the salary range. Old Business Council and Board Meetino Fee: The Council discussed an opinion letter from the City Attorney regarding increasing the meeting fee for the City Council. The City Attomey concurs with the league of Minnesota Cities whereby the meeting fees for the City Council cannot be increased until after a general election. However, the Council may increase the mBieting fees for subsidiary committees. Hiemenz stated that he is not comfortable increasing the meeting fee for subsidiary boards to the same level as the City Council. Ehlert stated that he does not feel his time is more valuable than that of a subsidiary board member and encourages the Council to increase the 1 1 I- I I Page 3498 April 1, 1999 meeting fee for subsidiary boards $ 5.00 per meeting. Loso made a motion to increase the meeting fee for subsidiary boards to $ 20.00; seconded by Ehlert. Discussion: The Council clarified that Chairpersons of subsidiary boards win continue to be paid $ 20.00 per meeting. Councilor Ehlert stated he will discuss this matter with Chairpersons and report back to the Council. ... Ayes: Loso, Twit, Ehlert Nays: Hiemenz Motion Carried 3:1:0 Housino Studv Uodate: Weyrens reported that EDA Director Chad Carlson discussed the Housing Study with Admark and the study should be available shortly. The Council requested Weyrens review the contract between the City and Admark to determine if a penalty clause was included in the contract. New Business Outlots. Northland Addition: Hiemenz reported that he received a request from Terry Schmid of Avon Lumber One for the City to assume ownership of Outlots A & B in Northland. Since information was not available for the meeting, this matter is tabled to April 15, 1999. I Y2K Uodate: Hiemenz reported on the recent Y2K meeting held with the Department Heads. The planning stages are going well. The Police Department and Administration have completed the inventory stage and will be working on testing equipment.· A major issue that needs to be resolved is the water system, The company whom the City purchased the equipment from has since gone out of business. At this time the City Engineer and Public Works Director have requested autholization for the CitY to hire a professional to evaluate the water system. The cost of an evaluation can range between $ 5,000 and $ 10,000. Loso made a motion authorizing the expenditure up to $ 11,000 to analyze the water panels and system for Y2K readiness. The motion was seconded ~ Ehlert Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion Carried 4:0:0 Hiemenz requested the Council restrict vacation of City employees between December 15 and January 1, 2000. Hiemenz requested the Emergency Services Director Bob Loso contact the company whom the CitY purchased the new siren from to check how long the siren can operate on battery power. Hiemenz also requested Loso to seek costs for adding public address capabifities to the new siren. Recreation Association Promissorv Note: Weyrens presented the Council with a first draft of a promissory note between the City of St. Joseph and the st. Joseph Recreation Association. The City has agreed to underwrite the costs ofthe concession stand for Millstream Park. The ReCreation Association has agreed to re-pay the City twice yearly from gambling proceeds for a term not to exceed three years. The draft promissory note affirms the conditions of underwIiting. Since the Recreation Association has not reviewed the promissory note, Ehlert agreed to discuss the matter with them and report back to the City Council. Mayor Reports Meetinos Attended: Q Weed Inspector meeting Q Area Legislators meeting - Main topic of discussion was transportation, Sales Tax for Local Government and MNDOT Building. . ~I Miscellaneous Matters: Q The St. Joe - Cold Spring Vet Clinic will be sponsoling a dog licensing day in conjunction with the City. ... Page 3499 April 1, 1999 (J The developers of Pond View Ridge will be approaching the City with the final plat for Phase 6 (J Residents along 90th and 91st have been sent a construction update by the City . Engineer. The Newsletter did not include the City Hookup fe,es so a second maiting will take place. (J Forwarded a letter of support to the Central MN Initiative Fund for the Healthy Community Grant. (J Construction on County Road 133 is scheduled to begin mid summer. Councilor Reports KEN TWIT Investment Committee: Twit stated he was contacted by Rich Knowlton c¡f Smith Barney regarding the City investments and monies available tor re-investment The investment committee will be meeting soon to discuss the investment ladder and how funds can be invested to maximize retum. Mailbox Sub Committee: Twit stated that he and Taufen will be meeting to review the placement of mailboxes within the City. CORY EHLERT Central MN Events Center: The task force on the Central MN Events Center has been worldng on the design details ofthe facility. Ehlert reminded the Council of the upcoming FIVe City Council meeting. The meeting is scheduled for Apnl 7, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Cloud Civic Center. Healthv Communities Prooram: Ehlert reported on the behalf of Councilor Niedenfuer. He stated the Central MN Initiative Fund has requested the City appoint a second Council Member to the Committee and request their attendance to the two day training seminar.. Niedenfuer has requested that Councilor Ehlert be part of the Healthy Community progrnm. Loso made a motion appointing Cory Ehlert to the Healthy Community Program and attendarn:e to the two day training seminar, The motion was seconded by Twit. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion Carried 4:0:0 BOB LOSO No report Adioum: Twit made a motion to adjoum; seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Hiemenz, Loso, Twit, Ehlert. Nays: None. Motion CarIied 4:0:0 ~~~ J Y Weyrens Deputy Clerk 1 I 1