The regular meeting of the Grey Eagle City Council was called to order by Mayor Joe Arnzen at 7:00 p.m., on the 12th day of December 2017 in council chambers. Council members present were Roland Ahrendt, Thom Muellner, Bill Pohlmann and Brian Hollenkamp. There were no council members absent. Also in attendance were Chico Hellmann, Lori Hellmann and guests George Eilertson and Bryan Bye.
A motion was made by Bill Pohlmann to approve the agenda with no changes. 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 November 14, 2017 meeting as written. A second was made by Bill Pohlmann and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to approve the minutes of the November 27, 2017 Special Meeting as written. A second was made by Brian Hollenkamp and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
Bryan Bye from Widseth Smith Nolting provided the council with an update on the activity that has taken place as we move forward with the sewer project. The surveyors have been busy getting all the information they need but will be back to finish up. Braun Intertec did the soil borings in several locations and they are waiting on the soils report. They have begun the design phase of the project and will be working with Loren Fellbaum on the county road project at the same time. As part of the plan, all utilities (water, sewer, fiber optic, natural gas, electric, etc.,) will all have to be shown.
George Eilertson from Northland Securities was in attendance to discuss interim financing for the sewer project. Since USDA is the only funding source, construction period financing needs to be set up. Typically loan money is spent first and the grant money would be spent last which would require short term financing needs to be in place until the construction is completed. Short term bonding can be paid off early without penalty and could anticipate approximately 11⁄2% depending on how the market is at the time. Financing doesn’t need to be done quite yet, but needs to be on the councils minds as the time gets closer.
The council discussed the property at 304 State Street East. Some clean- up has been done with the remainder to be done by mid spring.
The council discussed the property at 218 Woodman Street North. The culvert needs to be removed and replaced with steel in the spring. The Clerk was instructed to contact the city attorney to see what they can do when building permits are obtained but not completed.
A motion was made by Thom Muellner to approve Resolution No. 2017-26, A Resolution Approving 2018 Final Levy. 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. 2017-26: A Resolution Adopting Final Levy Payable in 2018
Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the following final budget for 2018 was approved and adopted by the Grey Eagle City Council on this 12th day of December, 2017.
Fund Levy Amount & of Total
General $63,107.00 65
Fire $13,190.00 15
St Imp Project $19,711.00 20
Total $96,008.00 100
A motion was made by Bill Pohlmann to approve Resolution No. 2017-27, A Resolution Accepting $9,000 Donation from the Grey Eagle Burtrum Lions Club for Park Maintenance. A second was made by Brian Hollenkamp 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. 2017-28, A Resolution Accepting $1,500 Donation from the Grey Eagle Burtrum Lions Club for the Empty Stocking Program. A second was made by Brian Hollenkamp 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.
It was brought to the council’s attention that some footstones were placed at Lakeview Cemetery that may be in violation of the cemetery policy. The council was instructed to look at the site and the policy will be reviewed at the January meeting.
There were no building permit applications for council consideration.
The Clerk was instructed to proceed with delinquent utility bills as allowed by ordinance.
A motion was made by Roland Ahrendt to approve the various fund transfers as follows: $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, $750.67 from the Fire Fund to the Fire Hall Debt Service Fund and $1,209.10 from the Sewer Fund to the Sewer Rehab Fund. A second was made by Thom Muellner and upon vote, with all members voting in favor, motion carried.
A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to approve the payment of bills as listed and to include the payment of the following additional item: $200 to Central Minnesota Credit Union. 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. Soil borings were done in several locations around the city. Braun Intertec did ten soil borings ranging from fifteen to forty feet deep.
2. The surveyors measured the depths of the manholes and gate valves for the sewer project design.
3. There have been complaints of cloudy water in the city. It appears that there may have been too much air in the system so the bubbler system was unplugged. The cloudiness cleared up and the bubbler system was put back in service.
A motion was made by Brian Hollenkamp to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 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, January 9, 2018 in council chambers.
Lori Hellmann, Clerk