The regular meeting of the Grey Eagle City Council was called to order by Mayor Joe Arnzen at 7:00 p.m., on the 11th day of April 2017 in council chambers. Council members present were Roland Ahrendt, Thom Muellner and Bill Pohlmann. There were no council members absent. Also in attendance were Chico Hellmann, Lori Hellmann and guest George Minerich.
A motion was made by Bill Pohlmann to approve the amended agenda with the following additions: stray cats and volleyball nets. A second was made by Thom Muellner and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to approve the minutes of the March 14, 2017 meeting with the following change: page 1622, last paragraph, should read $200 to Central Minnesota Credit Union. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
George Minerich from the Minnesota Department of Health was present to update the Council on part one of the Wellhead Protection Plan. The purpose of the plan is to determine how safe the city well is from contamination. George provided the council with a map showing three zones. The red zone is the emergency response zone. In this area it takes about one year for the surface water to get to the well. The blue zone is where the city drinking water supply comes from. They could not find any connection linking lake water to city drinking water, and this area takes ten years travel time to reach the city well. The yellow zone is considered the drinking water supply management protection area and this is the biggest area that is not within city jurisdiction.
George explained that the next part of the Wellhead Protection Plan would involve a management plan. With the management plan, the city could qualify for up to $10,000 in grants from the Minnesota Department of Health for things such as sealing old wells, doing a test well to find an alternative well site for the city water supply, putting up a fence along the alley protecting the current city well from outside contaminants from snow removal, or any other items that may help protect the city water supply.
A motion was made by Bill Pohlmann to approve Part I of the Wellhead Protection Plan and authorize the Clerk to sign a letter and submit it to the Hydrologist at the Minnesota Department of Health. A second was made by Thom Muellner and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The following water/wastewater/maintenance items were discussed:
1. Chico received three different quotes from Johnson Jet-Line for cleaning and/or televising the sewer mains. It was the consensus of the council to go with the four year maintenance plan which would involve one fourth of the city per year. However, the council wanted Chico to check with Johnson Jet-Line on what would happen if the sewer project would get done before the fourth year and report at the May meeting.
2. It was the consensus of the council to leave the water connect/disconnect procedures the same with no changes at this time.
3. Discussion was held on whether or not to spray for weeds on the track at the old football field. It was the consensus of the council not to spray the weeds but that they should continue to be cut down when mowing.
4. Discussion was held on street sweeping. MnDOT is scheduled to come in and do State Street (also known as Main Street) and the City of Sauk Centre will be contracted to sweep the remaining city streets.
5. Chico reported that they have been exercising the gate valves. The majority of them are clogged with mud and dirt. Chico will check with the City of Long Prairie to see what they use to clean out their gate valves.
6. Chico reported that he is looking into a battery back- up system for the SCADA system that would last a couple of hours. The current battery back- up only lasts long enough for the SCADA system computer to shut down. Chico will look into prices and options and report at the May meeting.
7. Tires and tubes have been put on the dock that will be placed out at Bass Lake. This dock should be installed over the next couple of weeks.
The council discussed the lawn spraying quote from Terrain Aesthetics. They will no longer be able to do the spraying without fertilizer. A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to contract for summer broadleaf and fertilizer and fall broadleaf and fertilizer at the rate of $173.78 per application with a 5% discount if both applications are pre-paid. A second was made by Thom Muellner and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The Clerk informed the council of a request by a family to plant Peony bushes on each side of a headstone at Lakeview Cemetery. After reviewing the cemetery policy, it was the consensus of the council to deny the request.
The council was presented with a quote to replace the aluminum body of the Rescue Rig that was damaged during the winter. The total cost of replacement of a new aluminum body quoted by Bayer Truck and Equipment is $36,985.00 with insurance reimbursement of $15,210.00. The difference will be paid for out of fire funds. A motion was made by Bill Pohlmann to approve the quote from Bayer Truck and Equipment for $36,985.00 to replace the aluminum body of the Rescue Rig. A second was made by Thom Muellner and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Bill Pohlmann to approve Resolution No. 2017-13, A Resolution Accepting $5,000 Donation from the Grey Eagle Burtrum Lions Club for the Fire Department Purchase of a Lucas Machine. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. The above stated resolution may be read in its entirety at the Clerk’s office.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to approve Resolution No. 2017-14, A Resolution Accepting $500 Donation from the Minnesota Darkhouse Association for Fire Department Equipment. A second was made by Bill Pohlmann and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
Bill Pohlmann was requesting approval of a building permit to build an 8’x16’ composite deck on the back side of his detached garage. A motion was made by Thom Muellner to approve the building permit application by Bill Pohlmann to build an 8’x16’ composite deck. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The council discussed yard clean up around the city. The Clerk was instructed to send letters.
The council discussed stray cats within the city. Since the city does not license and/or regulate cats, the city has no control over them.
Thom Muellner requested that the volleyball nets be put up.
The Clerk was instructed to proceed with delinquent utilities as allowed by ordinance.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to approve the various fund transfers as follows: $748.26 from the Fire Fund to the Fire Hall Debt Service Fund, $101.26 from the General Fund of which $31.26 goes to the Water Fund and $70 goes to the Sewer Fund for Fire Hall and Library utilities, and $26,682.70 from the Central Minnesota Credit Union checking account to the First State Bank of Swanville checking account. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to pay the bills as listed and to include the payment of the additional items as follows: $200 to Central Minnesota Credit Union and $1,240 to Minnesota Pollution Control. A second was made by Thom Muellner and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to adjourn at 8:50 p.m. A second was made by Bill Pohlmann 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, May 9, 2017 in council chambers.
Lori Hellmann, Clerk
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