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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 [08] Aug 29 I I I August29,2005 Page 1 of2 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in special session on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 5:30 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Richard Carlbom. Councilors AI Rassier, Ross Rieke, Dale Wick, Renee Symanietz. Administrator Judy Weyrens. City Representatives Present: City Attorney Tom Jovanovich, City Engineers Joe Bettendorf and Tracy Ekola, Public Works Director Dick Taufen, Police Chief Pete Jansky, Finance Officer Leslie Valiant. Meadowvale Lawsuit Update: City Attorney Tom Jovanovich informed the Council that a decision must be made on how to proceed with the CR 121 Meadowvale loss claim. The City has asserted a loss claim against Meadowvale for approximately $ 225,000. The loss includes a sewer line that appears to be sagging causing gaps in the joints. It is not reasonable to excavate the pipe and make the necessary corrections. Rather the City can line the pipe at the areas of concern. However, unless the entire pipe is lined the City will have additional maintenance in cleaning the line more frequently. Therefore, the damages include maintenance for a 25 year period. Meadowvale has filed a loss claim against Bauerly Brothers and they are seeking damages for additional work. Stearns County served as the contract administrator as the improvements involved a County Road. The City had concerns from the start of the project and had documented the concerns via letters to the County Engineer and general contractor Bauerly Brothers. While the City has not been named in the lawsuit, the City's insurance carrier (League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust - LMCIT) has agreed that the City has a potential loss and have agreed to represent the City of St. Joseph. Mediation has been scheduled for September 26 and all interested parties will be present. Jovanovich stated that the Council must determine if they are willing to negotiate a settlement and if so what that amount would be. Jovanovich stated that it is unlikely the claim will be settled in mediation. Rassier stated that the City should not have to suffer damages for a faulty sewer line. The residents have been following the developments of the action and have indicated that they should not have to settle for a bad pipe. The Council concurred with Rassier and requested that Jovanovich proceed with the understanding that St. Joseph will not settle. Jovanovich questioned if any of the Council members would be available to attend mediation. He further stated that both Joe Bettendorf and Judy Weyrens should attend the mediation as well. Rassier and Carlbom agreed to be part of the mediation team. Leqal Description Clarification. Ash Street: Weyrens reported that the property owner at 110 Ash Street West has recently sold their property and the abstract company is requesting clarification of the legal description. The City owns the property to the south and the clarification provides for a more accurate legal description. Clarification of legal descriptions is not uncommon in the old section of the City. The City Attorney has reviewed the clarification and recommended the City execute the Quit Claim Deed as presented by the property owner. Rieke made a motion authorizing the Mayor and Administrator to execute a Quit Claim Deed clarifying the legal description for 110 Ash Street West. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. 2006 Proposed Budqet: Finance Officer Leslie Valiant presented the Council with the proposed budget for 2006. The proposed budget does not include the addition of any staff. Departments requesting additional staffing have included a request for staff along with an estimated budget impact. Weyrens stated that as the City is completing a job analysis and comparable worth study, it would be prudent to not add any staff until the study is complete. For budget purposes the Council needs to determine the additional funds that need to be added if staff is increased. Staffing requests include: Police Department Police Secretary - increasing the position to full time Police Officer or Sergeant Administration One additional office staff person to assist with Planning August 29,2005 Page 2 of 2 The Council discussed membership in the S1. Cloud Partnership. Rieke and Carlbom stated that the EDA reviewed the budget and recommended approval of the 2006 budget, which included membership to the I St. Cloud Partnership. The annual membership has increased from current $ 7,500 to $ 8,000. The Council discussed the benefit received from the membership and if the EDA services provided by the City are more cost effective. Currently the City has limited land for commercial/industrial development, again questioning the benefit from membership to the Partnership. The Council discussed whether or not $8,000 would be better spent on engineering or land acquisition. Weyrens stated that the City will be requesting a refund of the $ 25,000 the City contributed to the Minnesota Community Capital Foundation (MCCF). The purpose of the MCCF is to provide gap financing for the region. While the City only contributed $ 25,000, the amount available to development was far greater. Over the past three years the program has not been utilized by business for location or expansion. Weyrens suggested that the Council designate the $ 25,000 to the EDA for land acquisition or development for a future industrial park. Rassier made a motion to reduce the EDA budget $ 8,000, the amount equivalent to the dues for the St. Cloud Partnership. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. The Council discussed the regional gang strike police officer position discussed at the Area Cities meeting. The City of S1. Cloud is coordinating an effort to hire one officer for the gang strike task force that will be funded by the Cities of Waite Park, S1. Joseph, Sartell and Sauk Rapids. The City of S1. Cloud will dedicate three officers to the gang strike task force. Weyrens stated that the area Administrators met to discuss funding allocations for the position and agreed to use the same formula used by the Cities for sharing lobbying expenses. That alternative allocates the sharing based on population. Therefore, St. Joseph will have the lowest contribution, estimated at approximately $ 8,000 for the first year. The Council questioned the Police Chief as to his thoughts on funding an area gang strike police officer. I Police Chief Jansky stated that the area Chiefs have discussed the proposal and question why the Counties are not involved and if the gang strike task force and drug task force will become one division. Jansky stated that he has concerns that approval of the gang strike officer will reduce the police budget for 2006. Jansky stated the City needs to consider adding the next officer in 2006 and if he had to choose between funding the gang strike officer and a City officer, he would choose the City. The Council discussed the need to prioritize the needs of the City and just like reviewing the Partnership for City benefit, the same must be done for the gang strike officer. The Council recognized a need for the S1. Cloud Area to hire and maintain a gang strike task force but questioned if St. Joseph has a need for such. Jansky stated that S1. Joseph is seeing minor gang activity; it will only increase if enforcement becomes proactive in the St. Cloud area. The Council agreed to reconsider this matter during the budget process. Adiourn: Rassier made a motion to adjourn at 8:40 PM; seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. c~~~ I