These are unapproved minutes.
Call to Order/Attendance: The City Council meeting was called to order at Upsala City Hall by Mayor Rollie Johnson at 7:10 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was said.
On roll call, members present: Mayor Rollie Johnson, Brian Lange, Robert Maciej, and Dennis Westrich. Absent: Joan Olson. People present: Residents Mark Gilles and Don Marty, S.E.H. Project Manager Scott Hedlund, Morrison County Record Reporter Sheila McCoy, Public Works Superintendent Frank Koopmeiners, and Clerk/Treasurer Michelle Stevens.
Minutes: Lange moved to approve the minutes for the October 3, 2016 City Council Meeting, 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Added agenda items: Lange moved to approve the agenda, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Presentations, Citizen Appeals: Cleaning & Video of Sewer Lines: City Engineer Scott Hedlund reviewed the Johnson JetLine report. We do have infiltration coming into the system. Hedlund reviewed financial resources to alleviate the infiltration issues.
Borgstrom Street: Hedlund reported that he spoke with Chad Kraemer at Kraemer Trucking and Excavating. He estimates his start date for Borgstrom Street Sewer is mid next week; around November 16, 2016. The weather outlook still looks reasonable.
Public Hearing on Franchise Fees to the Minnesota Power bills: Mayor Johnson recessed the regularly scheduled meeting at 7: 44 p.m. and called to order the public hearing to consider adding a franchise fee of $5.00 onto each resident’s Minnesota Power bill.
Public Comments were heard by Upsala residents.
Don Marty stated that $5.00 is not outrageous.
After citizen comments were heard, Mayor Johnson asked the City Council members for their input.
Lange moved to adjourn the public hearing at 7:53 p.m., 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Johnson called the regular City Council Meeting back to order at 7:53 p.m.
Johnson moved to add a $5.00 franchise fee onto each residents Minnesota Power bill, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Gloria Pazik –unkempt properties: Gloria Pazik submitted a letter to the City Council outlining her concerns about the unkempt properties in Upsala. Mayor Johnson said he has talked with Mrs. Pazik, and explained that he will talk with each of the homeowners who need to take care of their yard in the spring before Cleanup Day, and will offer them support and possible help to clean up their yards.
Department Reports: Maintenance Report: Koopmeiners reported on the water and sewer levels.
Koopmeiners informed the council that a seal is leaking on the lift station. The service repairman should be here this week. Koopmeiners will have them go through both lift stations, since they have not been serviced for approximately 5 years.
Winter Holiday Lights will go up Nov. 19; and will be turned on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
In August, Minnesota Department of Health required the City to do lead and copper testing in five different locations. The reports came back; we have not exceeded any levels and are well within our limits for both lead and copper. We will test again in three years.
Fire Department Report: Report submitted. The FEMA grant rough draft is finished for new turnout gear for the Upsala Fire Dept. It is under peer review before being submitted. The deadline for submission is 5:00 p.m., November 18, 2016.
Rescue Department: No report submitted.
City Office Report: Stevens reviewed the November calendar.
Stevens reported that the Fax line is used approximately two to three times a year. She felt that with technology changes, Faxes are becoming an outdated means of communication.
Lange moved to remove the Fax line, 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Stevens presented that annual disclosure report of Tax Increment Districts for the year ended December 31, 2015.
The first step in creating a new website is to pick out a design. The council picked the page 3 design. Stevens will work with GoveOffice to develop the final color scheme for the new website.
Planning Commission: The Commission discussed the winter parking restriction ordinance. Westrich moved to hold a public hearing on December 5 at 7:15 during the regular city Council meeting to review changes to the Winter Parking Ordinance, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.
UCDC: No report submitted.
Recreation Board: Report submitted. The southeast corner of the rec building has a water runoff issue. The council will deal with this issue in the spring.
Unfinished Business: Personnel Policy: The personnel policy is tabled until the December meeting.
New Business: Adopt Final Budget: Lange moved to adopt the final budget with expenses of $410.192, debt service of $100,329, and revenues of $58,099, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Adopt Final Levy: Lange moved to adopt the final property tax levy, payable 2017, of $185,000, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Great River Regional Library Contract: Stevens explained the GRRL’s desire is to have one uniform contract with all the cities in its system. Many of the cities met with GRRL to review and edit the proposed contract. Now it is up for council review.
Certify Past Due Utilities: Lange moved to adopt resolution 2016-11-1 A Resolution certifying past due billings to the Morrison county auditor for collection with property taxes, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Liquor Licenses: Maciej moved to approve the On Sale, Off Sale and Sunday Liquor License for Time Out Bar and Grill for January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Lange moved to approve the On Sale, Off Sale and Sunday Liquor License for Bullfrogs Bar and Grill for January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Lange moved to approve the On Sale for the Upsala Blue Jays Amateur Baseball Team for January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 pending the receipt of their Liquor Liability Insurance, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Gambling License for UBA January 28: Lange moved to approve the lawful gambling permit for UBA’s winter fund-raiser at the Rec Building January 28, 2017 with no waiting period, 2nd Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Minute Books: Currently the minute books for the last 32 years have been stored in 3-ring binders. The minutes before this are stored in Minute books. Stevens explained that it would cost approximately $600 to store all the minutes in minute books.
Lange moved to purchase minute books and paper and directed Stevens to create official minute books from the minutes that are stored in 3-ring binders, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Thank-you and Acknowledgements: Mayor Johnson extended a huge thank you Craig Erickson for mowing Margaret Stenholm’s lawn on a regular basis. Thank you to Don Trettel and the Scholz’ family for taking caring of her yard before Craig Erickson took over the lawn care.
Mayor Johnson also thanked the Upsala Community Development Committee for hosting a well-lead and productive community meeting on the 18th of October to receive input as to when Heritage Days should be.
Financial: Lange moved to pay all bills as presented, 2nd by Maciej. Motion carried unanimously.
Updates/FYI: Canvas The Election Results: 3:30 p.m., Monday, November 14.
Next regular Meeting: 7:00 p.m., Monday, December 5.
Public Hearing on Winter Parking ordinance: December 5 at 7:15 p.m.
Adjourn: Lange moved to adjourn at 9:08 p.m., 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Michelle Stevens, Clerk/Treasurer