These minutes are not approved.
Call to Order/Attendance: The City Council meeting was called to order at Upsala City Hall by Mayor Rollie Johnson at 7:00 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was said.
On roll call members present were: Mayor Rollie Johnson, Joan Olson, Brian Lange, Dennis Westrich, and Robert Maciej. People present: Tyler Ohmann, MC Record; Elmdale Board members Ken Abrahamson, Jerry Theisen, Walt Beneke and Clerk Neil Frieler; Frank Koopmeiners, Upsala Public Works; and Michelle Stevens, Clerk/Treasurer.
Minutes: Maciej moved to approve minutes from October 5, 2015 City Council Meeting, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.
Added agenda items: Maciej moved to accept the agenda adding Liquor Licenses under new business, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.
Presentation, Citizen Appeals:
Elmdale Township: Elmdale Board members presented their bill for grading and plowing and maintaining some of the City’s roads at cost of $5,106.00 for the 2014-2015 year. The City’s bill to the Township for plowing and salt/sand is $3,205.00; the difference being $1,901.
Olson made a motion to pay the bill from Elmdale Township in the amount of $5,06.00 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
The township will continue their maintenance plan with the City of Upsala as in the past and will bill the city on a monthly basis from here on out.
UBA will be attending a future Council meeting after the beginning of the year.
Department Reports:
Maintenance Report: Frank Koopmeiners reported the pit-less unit will be installed next week by Thien Well.
The ponds will be discharged this week.
Hydrants were flushed using approximately 75,000 gallons of water.
Finished jetting the sewer lines and cleaned the main lift station.
The snow plow truck without the plow attached does fit in the fire hall but is tight.
Holiday lights will be put up and turned on the 21st of November, and left on until February 1st.
Koopmeiners reviewed the quote for a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) at a cost of $3495.00 including materials to wire a transducer in existing water pipeline to control the water pressure automatically.
Koopmeiners review the bid for a 4’x6’ window for the council chambers. Olson made a motion to purchase a Thermo-Tech window from Reis Lumber at an estimated cost of $945.00 installed, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Koopmeiners and Council Members also discussed the needed space for the snow plow along with salt/sand storage.
• Fire Department Report: Brian Lange reported the water truck will be here in a couple of weeks.
There are new remotes for the garage door openers.
Jay Baggenstoss, Jeff Czech, Brian Lange and Steve Hanson extended a thank you to the City to allow the Fire Department to take a rig up to the funeral for Deputy Sandberg from Aitkin.
The department was denied on the FEMA grant for both the fire truck and the turnout gear.
City Office Report: Michelle Stevens asked to add the assessment of overdue utilities to the Special Meeting Agenda on November 16th.
Lange moved to add the special assessment of utilities onto property taxes to the November 16th Special Meeting, 2nd by Olson. Motion carried unanimously.
Planning Commission: No meeting was held.
UCDC: Joan Olson presented the regular October 20th meeting minutes of the Upsala Community Development Committee; the next meeting will beat 7:00 p.m., January 19, 2016 at City Hall.
Recreation Board: Rollie Johnson reviewed the October 27th minutes from the Recreation Board meeting.
Unfinished Business: Barn, hen house and granary razing. Dennis Westrich reported he did not get any more quotes. Johnson will look for another quote.
MN Transportation System Stakeholders Meeting in Brainerd. No council members will be attending the meeting.
New Business: Dog Ordinance: Residences have complained about dogs running at large and damaging others’ property; owners are not cleaning up after their dogs. The council is looking to see owners leashing their dogs when they are outside.
Snow Removal Agreement on Trunk Highways: Westrich stated he will take care of the agreement with MNDOT to provide hauling and disposal of snow along Highway 238.
Region 5 Elected Officials Summit: Olson and Johnson expressed interest in attending the Region 5 Elected Officials Summit in Staples on Dec. 10th.
Liquor Licenses: Lange moved to approve the On/Off Sale and Sunday Liquor License for Time Out Bar and Grill for January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 pending the receipt of their Liquor Liability Insurance, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Lange moved to approve the On/Off Sale and Sunday Liquor License for Bullfrogs Bar and Grill for January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 pending the receipt of their Liquor Liability Insurance, 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Westrich moved to approve the On Sale for the Upsala Bluejays Amateur Baseball Team – UBA for January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 pending the receipt of their Liquor Liability Insurance and a check for $25.00, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Financial: Maciej moved to approve the checks vouchers # 16695 – #16989, 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Updates/FYI: None.
Adjourn: Olson moved to adjourn at 8:30 p.m., 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Michelle Stevens, Clerk/Treasurer