The Melrose City Council met in a Regular Meeting on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 6:10 p.m. at the Melrose City Center pursuant to due notice being given thereof. Present were Council Members Tony Klasen, Jenny Mayers, Dick Christenson, Josh Thieschafer, Mayor Joe Finken, and City Clerk Patti Haase. City Administrator Michael Brethorst and Finance Director Tessa Beuning were absent. Mayor Finken presided thereat. The Council then recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
A motion was made by Mr. Christenson, seconded by Mr. Thieschafer and unanimously carried to approve the agenda as amended.
Candace Freeman informed the Public that this year on August 30 the Minnesota State Fair will be holding Melrose Days. Ms. Freeman and Lois Thielen have been competing at the State Fair for more than 20 years. This year they will be showcasing products from Swany White Flour Mills, Stoney Creek Dairy, Jennie-O Turkey Store and Scherer Enterprise. Ms. Freeman stated they will be demonstrating food products from our small town areas. There will be several demonstrations held throughout the day. This has never been done before, it is history-making.
Central Minnesota Credit Union will be sponsoring a free bus to the fair that day. The bus will leave Mayers bus garage at 7:30 a.m. and leave the fairgrounds at 5:30 p.m.
The theme is “Our Family’s Best to Your Family’s Table.”
Ms. Freeman is excited about this great opportunity and invites the community to take part in this historic event.
Mayor Finken stated that St. Mary’s Church will be holding an open house on September 7, 14 and 27. Parishioners will be able to voice their opinions and ask questions regarding the church restoration project.
Mayor Finken then stated that he has been asked by a couple of residents for Council Member Klasen’s vote on the Conditional Use Permit requested by Willow Express. Mr. Finken asked Mr. Klasen for clarification on his vote. Council Member Klasen noted that he had mixed feelings on the issue and therefore abstained. City Attorney Dymoke stated that this is allowable.
Approval of the following:
• The minutes from the Council’s July 26 Regular Meeting
• List of bills in the amount of $485,564.63 (See attached list)
• List of investments for the month of July (See attached list)
• Donation Resolution: 1) Resolution No. 2016-30, donation from the Minnesota Darkhouse & Angling Association in the amount of $629.23 for the purchase of a park bench in memory of Ronald Kettler.
2) Resolution No. 2016-32 donation of gift cards in the amount of $200 from an anonymous donor towards the Melrose Fire Department, Fire Department and Ambulance Department.
• Gambling Resolution: 1) Resolution No. 2016-31 Resolution Approving Gambling License to At. Mary’s Church for an exemption from lawful gambling license to conduct a bingo on October 23, 2016, St. Mary’s School at 302 5th Ave SE in Melrose.
• Ambulance Coordinator Jenn Tschida is requesting approval be given to the appointment of Will Stone to the Ambulance Department. Mr. Stone has completed the EMT Course and had been doing ride-along with the Department. Mr. Stone’s hiring is contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical and drug test.
The Council to take action on the appointment.
• Fire Department uncollectible accounts in the amount of $1,175 have been submitted to Revenue Recapture, collections, or written off. A complete list of accounts is on file at the City Office.
Ambulance Department uncollectible accounts in the amount of $5,107.71 have been submitted to Revenue Recapture, collections, or written off. A complete list of accounts is on file at the City Office. There was also a total of $5,223.23 collected from account holders during the second quarter.
A motion was made by Mr. Thieschafer seconded by Mr. Christenson and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda items.
• Police Chief Craig Maus presented the Police Department’s July report. He noted there were 318 calls for service during that month, compared to 236 for July 2016. The year-to-date number of calls is 2332 compared to 1,766 in 2015. A total of 36 citations were written for the month of July. For the month of July 2016, the Department received 28 agency assist calls. Chief Maus stated over a course of time the Melrose Police Department has collected several bikes. Some of the bikes have been determined to be unfixable and have been taken to Bueckers. The remaining bikes will be on the lawn at the City Office beginning Monday, August 22. Each bike will be sold for $5.00. Some of the bikes are in need of minor repair (i.e. brakes or tires). The bikes are sold as is. Any bikes remaining at the end of the week will either be donated to the Yellow Bike Program or disposed of.
• Community Development Director Mike Creelman reported on the Planning and Zoning Commission’s August 1 Regular Meeting. The Commission received and reviewed the petition from Bri and Carl Worms for the vacation of a public Right of Way for the construction of a new residential home to be constructed in 2017. The Commission also reviewed the requirements and regulations of Conditional Use Permits
• City Attorney Scott Dymoke reported on projects he has been working on for the City:
• Community Development- JOTS Project: Worked with City Administrator, outside counsel, and TIF/Development Contractor on draft of a Pre-Development Agreement. Worked with city staff on potential acquisition of additional property for expansion of east substation.
• Community Development- Willow Express: Prepared closing documents for sale of property to Willow Express
• Library Agreement: Reviewed proposed agreement from GRRL amending terms of existing agreement for library services. Prepared redline copy showing recommended changes to GRRL’s proposal.
• Nuisance Properties: Worked with Chief Maus to review nuisance violations and began preparing for enforcement actions.
• Finance Director Tessa Beuning was not in attendance. The General Fund Financial Second Quarter Report is as presented.
The General Fund Revenue is at 27% and the expenditures are at 58%. Revenues are low because 10% of the first half of Property Tax Revenue is not received until July, as well as the first half of LGA. MADA revenues have exceeded budget due to the early payoff of the GCI/Dynamic Investment loan resulting from the sale of the apartment building. The revenue for the Fire Department is only at 11%. This is due to 90% of the budgeted revenues comes from the Fire Contract charges which is not collected until December. The Ambulance Revenue is at 56% and the Expenditures are at 51%. Both the revenues and expenditures are right on track.
On June 15, 2015 the Council took action adopting Resolution No. 2015-31 A Resolution Approving Case No. 2015-701 – Petition for the Vacation of that Part of Undeveloped 1st Street NE, Located in Borgerding’s Addition to Melrose Between 7th Avenue NE and 8th Avenue NE and the Alley Located in Block 2 in Borgerding’s Addition to Melrose in the City of Melrose. The road right-of-way vacation action request was suggested to Empire by City staff to help facilitate the exchange of identically sized parcels of property between Empire and the City to facilitate the installation of a disc golf course in the Sauk River Park. To finalize this transaction the Council to give consideration to adopting Resolution No. 2016-33, Resolution Approving the Sale of City Owned Property to Empire Memorial.
Mr. Thieschafer introduced Resolution No. 2016-33, Resolution Approving the Sale of City Owned Property to Empire Memorial. The motion was seconded by Mr. Klasen with a roll call vote recorded as follows: For: Council Members Thieschafer, Klasen, Christenson, and Mayor Finken; Against: None; Absent: Council Member Mayers
The following informational items were reviewed:
• The minutes from the Utilities Commission’s July 11 Regular Meeting and the July 11 Special Meeting with Industry.
• The Great River Regional Library Semi-Annual Report
A motion was made by Mr. Christenson seconded by Mr. Thieschafer and unanimously carried that the meeting be adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
Patricia Haase, City Clerk