These are unapproved minutes.
The regular meeting of the Grey Eagle City Council was called to order by Mayor Jim Gohman at 7:00 p.m., on the 12th day of January, 2016 in council chambers. Council members present were Thom Muellner, Roland Ahrendt and Joe Arnzen. Council member Ralph Muellner was absent. Also in attendance were Chico Hellmann, Lori Hellmann and guests Loren Roe, Mike & Judy Meagher and Bob Veldkamp.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to approve the amended agenda. A second was made by Joe Arnzen and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Joe Arnzen to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2015 Truth in Taxation meeting as written. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Joe Arnzen to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2015 regular meeting as written. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The following water/wastewater/maintenance items were discussed:
1. One of the pumps at the east lift station was pulled. Someone had flushed long johns into the sewer system and they wrapped around the pump. Electric Pump is trying to make the necessary repairs. They could not provide a loaner because the pumps have changed and they no longer have one that will fit with the current piping at the lift station. Residents are reminded to only flush toilet paper into the sanitary sewer system. These repairs to the lift station pumps are very costly and can cause major issues for the lift station. If these pumps fail, it can cause back- ups.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to approve Resolution No. 2016-01, A Resolution Approving 2016 Committee Appointments. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. The resolution is as follows:
Resolution NO. 2016-01: A Resolution Adopting 2016 Appointments
Whereas, the Mayor and Council members can only act collectively as one unit, Streets, Parks, Utilities, Hall, Health & Welfare, Building Permits, Revolving Loan Fund, Library and Community Builders will be the responsibility of the entire Council. The other official designations are as follows:
Building Permit Administrator: City Clerk
Acting Mayor: Thom Muellner
Official Depositories: First State Bank of Swanville – Grey Eagle Office; Central Minnesota Credit Union – Grey Eagle Office
Official Auditor: Dennis Bacon, CPA
Official City Attorney, Civil: Peters & Churchwell
Official City Attorney, Criminal: Todd County Attorney
Adopted this 12th day of January, 2016.
A motion was made by Joe Arnzen to approve the liability waver form for League of Minnesota Cities. A second was made by Thom Muellner and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to approve Resolution NO. 2016-02, A Resolution Accepting $375 Donation from Swanville Dollars for Scholars for Fire Department Equipment. A second was made by Thom Muellner and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. The resolution is as follows:
Resolution No. 2016-02: A Resolution Accepting $375 Donation from Swanville Dollars for Scholars for Fire Department Equipment
Whereas, monies have been donated by the Swanville Dollars for Scholars, and
Whereas, the City Council feels that the donation will benefit citizens of the area;
1. That the City Council of the City of Grey Eagle formally accepts the donation from the Swanville Dollars for Scholars for Fire Department Equipment.
2. That the City Clerk is authorized and directed to make the appropriate revenue and expenditure budget adjustments as needed to reflect this donation and its intended use.
Adopted by the Council this 12th day of January, 2016.
Loren Roe, representing a task force of the Lions Club was in attendance to know why things that were discussed at the December meeting was not what the council discussed at the November meeting regarding the property at 304 State Street East. Council member Joe Arnzen stated that the council decided that a direct approach in meeting with the owner to discuss the appearance of the property and the complaints that have been received was the best way to go at this point. The task force put together an action plan for council consideration. The action plan was a suggested time line on how they felt the matter could be addressed.
Mike and Judy Meagher were in attendance to discuss the Central Minnesota Pond Races event that were held on Trace Lake January 17th. They requested that the Grey Eagle Rescue Squad be in attendance for this event from noon until 3:00 p.m. The council discussed the matter in regards to costs the city incurs when the Rescue Squad is at these events. It is sometimes difficult to get enough people to make time to do some of these events. A minimum of two people must be with the rescue vehicle and each member is paid by the city. This event is a little different than the Race on Trace, as the Lions Club donates money to the Fire Department each year which more than covers the costs for that event. A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to charge $100 per race for the Central Minnesota Pond Races to cover man hours and fuel. A second was made by Thom Muellner and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The council discussed a deck that was built without a permit at 115 Minnesota Street East. A motion was made by Joe Arnzen to impose $100 penalty for building without a permit per Resolution NO. 2009-07. Upon payment of the penalty, a building permit for the deck may be obtained. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The council looked over applications for the seasonal employee position.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to call a special meeting for Friday, January 22, 2016 for the purpose of interviewing applicants for seasonal employee position, starting at 10:00 a.m. A second was made by Joe Arnzen and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Joe Arnzen to approve the various fund transfers as follows: $748.26 from the Fire Fund to the Fire Hall Debt Service Fund, $87.28 from the General Fund of which $27.78 to the Water Fund and $59.50 to the Sewer Fund for Fire Hall and Library utilities, $8,704.13 from the Sewer Fund to the PFA Debt Service Fund, $10,045.61 from the Water Fund to the Street Improvement Fund, $4,188.03 from the Sewer Fund to the Street Improvement Fund, and $76.30 from the Sewer Fund to the Sewer Rehab Fund. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to approve payment of the bills as listed and to include payment of the following additional items: $2,260.30 to Minnesota Power and $375 to Ralph Finken. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. A second was made by Joe Arnzen and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The next regular meeting of the Grey Eagle City Council will be held on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 in council chambers.
Lori Hellmann, Clerk