Minutes of the Swanville City Council meeting held in the Swanville Center on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. The meeting called to order 7:30 p.m. with the following members present: Sandy Peterson, Jay Bartkowicz, Tim Grittner, and Jim Molitor.
Also present: Brenda Schmidt, Lowell Drager, Mark Hallen, Lonny Hutchins and reporter Kerry Drager.
Minutes of the Swanville City Council meeting held Tuesday, August 5, 2014 were read. A motion was made by Jim Molitor to approve the minutes as read. Jay Bartkowicz seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
The treasures report was given. A motion was made by Jay Bartkowicz and seconded by Tim Grittner to approve the treasurer’s report. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Peterson presented Ordinance #4.1.3 Firearms and Explosives. After discussion Jim Molitor made a motion to approve Ordinance #4.1.3 Firearms and Explosives. Tim Grittner seconded the motion. All members present voted in favor, motion passed.
Mark Hallen, city engineer, discussed with the council the four items on the punch list that are left to be completed on the Rhoda Avenue Project. The city will have to have documentation on projects that the city will have done by other contractors to complete the project punch list. Once the project is completed the bills will be taken off of the amount due to Larson Excavating. Council decided to hire Maciej Construction to complete work they can finish on the punch list.
Lonny Hutchins reported that the City of Bertha has a sewer treatment system much like ours and are changing to a different system. Lonny will go to Bertha to see if there would be some things he could use for the city system. Lonny stated that there are some trees on the boulevards that have branches hanging over the streets in the city. Council gave Lonny permission to have the branches/trees taken care of.
There have been some complaints about the mess next to the bus garage by the city shop. A letter will be wrote and sent to the school requesting them to have this problem taken care of.
Mayor Peterson passed out the budget for 2014 and 2015. Council will look over the budgets and have comments for the next regular meeting.
Preliminary levy for 2015 was discussed. Jim Molitor made a motion to raise the proposed levy $6000.00. Mayor Peterson seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
Fees that the city charges for building permits, variances, building rentals, water/sewer rates, refuse/recycling, and other services that are charged were looked at and discussed. Council decided to add $50.00 an hour for mowing lawns and then decided to table until the next meeting.
Mayor Peterson presented to council a proclamation to recognize November as National Hospice Palliative Care Month. Jim Molitor made a motion to have the City of Swanville adopt the Hospice proclamation for the month of November. Tim Grittner seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
AJ Johnson will be leaving the city council as of this month. AJ has been on the council since 2008. Council thanks AJ for his years of service to the community of Swanville.
In the absence of Johnson an acting mayor needs to be appointed. Jay Bartkowicz made a motion to appoint Jim Molitor as acting mayor is the absence of Mayor Peterson. Tim Grittner seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried.
The following claims were presented for payment. Members of the council were furnished with a listing. Jim Molitor made a motion to approve the claims. Jay Bartkowicz seconded the motion. All members voted in favor, motion carried. The next monthly meeting will be held October 7, 2014 at 7:30 pm.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Jay Bartkowicz and seconded by Tim Grittner to adjourn. All members voted in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned 9:10 pm. Julie Hollermann, City Clerk/Treasurer