The regular meeting of the Grey Eagle City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph Arnzen at 7:00 p.m., on the 10th day of December 2019 in council chambers. Council members present were Thom Muellner, Roland Ahrendt, Bill Pohlmann and Brian Hollenkamp. Also in attendance were Chico Hellmann, Lori Hellmann and John Call.
A motion was made by Bill Pohlmann to approve the amended agenda. 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 the minutes of the November 12, 2019 meeting with the following change: page 1734, last paragraph, last sentence, change 2019 to 2020. A second was made by Brian Hollenkamp and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
Chico submitted an estimate for a new office door from Update Building Supplies for approximately $700 with a new frame. The door would be a split door so that the bottom could be locked at all times and does not include installation. A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve the cost of the door and plus installation. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The Council discussed the new quote and contract with PeopleService, Inc. PeopleService, Inc would take care of everything water and wastewater related including monthly water meter readings and customer water turn on or turn off for $1,950 per month. The operator coming in would NOT be here every day, all day so residents and contractors would have to work with the Clerk’s office to make arrangements ahead of time so that the operator would be on hand when needed. The City would still need to have part time help for other day to day duties that would not be part of the water and wastewater duties.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to contract with PeopleService, Inc., for a Water/Wastewater Operator for $1,950 per month for 2020. A second was made by Bill Pohlmann and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Bill Pohlmann to approve Resolution No. 2019-14, A Resolution Re-Establishing Precincts for 2020 Elections. 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. 2019-14: A Resolution Re-establishing the Polling Precinct and Precinct Location for the City of Grey Eagle
WHEREAS, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREY EAGLE, MINNESOTA (“Council” and “City), pursuant to Minnesota Statute 204B.14, is required to establish or re-establish the boundaries of the election precincts within the municipality following the redistricting of the Legislature; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Minnesota has been redistricted; and
WHEREAS, precinct boundaries must be re-established within 60 days of the time when the Legislature has been redistricted or at least 19 weeks before the State Primary, whichever comes first.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREY EAGLE that the following precinct and polling location is hereby re-established as:
Grey Eagle City Hall
202 Woodman Street South, Grey Eagle, MN 56336
Adopted this 10th day of December, 2019
The Council discussed issues with snow removal. Residents are reminded to please keep vehicles, trailers, etc., off the streets when there is snow anticipated. Residents are also being asked to not put items within ten feet of the edge of any road or alley within the city. This would include vehicles, trailers, fence posts, garbage cans or anything else that may impede the snow removal process. Letters will be sent as needed.
The council discussed pay for council members when reading water meters when Chico was unable to. A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to pay Thom Muellner $10 per hour for three hours and Brian Hollenkamp $10 per hour for seven hours. A second was made by Bill Pohlmann and upon vote, with Council member Thom Muellner and Brian Hollenkamp abstaining, motion carried.
The Long Prairie Grey Eagle School Board is requesting use of council chambers for March 23, 2020 and September 28, 2020 for school board meetings from 5:30-8:00 p.m. A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to allow the Long Prairie Grey Eagle School Board use of council chambers for the dates requested. A second was made by Bill Pohlmann and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The Council discussed the 2020 levy and budget. With the decision to contract for a water/wastewater operator, there would be some reduction in wages and benefits for the General Fund. There is an increase of $1,000 for the audit for 2020 but with the reduction in wages this increase should not adversely affect the budget.
A motion was made by Bill Pohlmann to approve Resolution No. 2019-13, A Resolution Approving Final Levy Payable 2020. A second was made by Brian Hollenkamp and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried. The resolution is as follows:
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-13: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING FINAL LEVY PAYABLE IN 2020
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the following final budget for 2020 was approved and adopted by the Grey Eagle City Council on this 10th day of December, 2019.
FUND LEVY AMOUNT % OF TOTAL
GENERAL $74,565.00 71
FIRE $12,404.00 11
ST IMP PROJECT $17,617.00 18
TOTAL $104,586.00 100
Adopted this 10th day of December, 2019.
A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve the engagement letter for audit services provided by Brian Koehn. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
There were no building permits for council review. It was noted that there was a resident that was adding on to the existing garage and instructed the Clerk to send a letter.
A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to approve Resolution No. 2019-15, A Resolution Accepting $6,000 Donation from the Grey Eagle Burtrum Lions Club for Park Maintenance. A second was made by Bill Pohlmann and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The Clerk updated the council on where things are standing with the sewer project. Bryan Bye stated that he is waiting for final review comments from Rural Development but is hoping that we will be able to bid the project in the next month or two. We are still waiting on one permanent easement and three temporary construction easements and will need to get these done after the holidays.
The council discussed water and sewer rates. When the sewer project is complete, the sewer rates will need to be between $42 and $45 per month per connection. These rates were determined during the feasibility study and the median household income for our area based on standards being followed by Rural Development. A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to increase the monthly sewer rate from $39 per month to $40.50 per month effective January 1, 2020. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
After some discussion, it was determined that the cost to take down the practice wall as well as the electric bills for power to the clay track area at the parks will be taken out of funds donated to the city by the Grey Eagle Burtrum Lions Club.
A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve the following fund transfer: $148.12 from the General Fund of which $31.12 goes to the Water Fund and $117 goes to the Sewer Fund for Fire Hall,
Old City Hall and Library utilities. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
The Council discussed the need to hire an additional part time/seasonal employee to help with snow removal during the winter months and lawn care in the summer months. A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to advertise for this position. 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 the payment of bills as listed and to include the payment of the following additional items: $200 to Central Minnesota Credit Union, $2,031.77 to Minnesota Power, $200.45 to First State Bank of Swanville, $30 to Thom Muellner and $70 to Brian Hollenkamp. A second was made by Roland Ahrendt and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Bill Pohlmann to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. A second was made by Brian Hollenkamp 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, January 14, 2020 in council chambers.
Lori Hellmann, Clerk
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