These are unofficial minutes.
Call to Order/Attendance: The City Council meeting was called to order at Upsala City Hall by Mayor Rollie Johnson at 7:02 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was said. On roll call members present: Mayor Rollie Johnson, Joan Olson, Brian Lange, Dennis Westrich, and Lana Bartells. People present Morrison County Record reporter Sheila McCoy, Public Works Superintendent Frank Koopmeiners, and City Clerk/Treasurer Michelle Stevens.
Minutes: Lange moved to approve minutes from June 5, 2017 Regular City Council Meeting, 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Olson moved to approve minutes from June 12, 2017 Special City Council Meeting, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.
Added agenda items: Lange moved to approve the agenda with one addition: junk in yards and businesses, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Presentation, Citizen Appeals: None.
Department Reports:
Maintenance Report: Koopmeiners reported on water and sewer levels. He finished discharging for the spring. Approximately 20,000 gallons of water was used for the fire in Sobieski.
Borgstrom Street Sewer: The sewer lines on Borgstrom Street are working as expected since the repairs made by Kraemer Trucking & Excavating.
Well #3: Koopmeiners showed the council pictures of the old water filter and the new water filter for well #3 – explaining that the old filter has a large buildup of iron. This iron buildup caused the water flowing through the filter to decrease tremendously. Koopmeiners replaced the filter and motor.
Fire Department Report: The May report was submitted.
Lange updated the council stating the Fire Department is ready for Heritage Days; they will have a bouncy house and kids games at the Rec Building for the kids in the evening.
The Fire Department received a donation from Monsanto towards grain bin extrication equipment.
They also will be receiving a donation from the American Dairy Association for assisting with parking at ‘Breakfast On the Farm.’
The old tanker Freightliner will be going on the K-Bid online auction.
First Responders: No report submitted.
City Office Report: Stevens reviewed the July Calendar and upcoming events.
Stevens shared the final drafts of the City’s new brochure. Alex Determann, city intern, has been working with local community leaders to help develop the final drafts.
Bartells moved to approve Layout #2 as the finished product and to contract with Weber Printing to print 2000 brochures at a cost of $777.60, 2nd by Olson. Motion carried unanimously.
Stevens discussed the electronics that the Fire Dept. wants to keep at the Fire Hall vs. moving them to the new City Hall location.
The new website is scheduled to be launched this next Monday, July 10.
Planning Commission: The Planning and Zoning Commission approved two permits; one for a chain link fence, the second for Wolstad’s permit to renovate Mt. Olive church to a residential home at 211 Johnson Street.
The Commissioners also discussed a sump pump and storm water runoff ordinance.
UCDC: Report Submitted.
Bartells explained they are taking pre-orders for centennial t-shirts and sweatshirts.
The Frosted Cookie will be selling 3- inch cookies with the Heritage Days logo for $1.30 each.
The committee will be meeting in the park prior to the meeting to get the layout set up.
Recreation Board: No meeting held. Next meeting is July 25.
Unfinished Business:
Mount Olive Update: John and Marilyn Wolstad purchased Mount Olive and are renovating it into a house.
Stevens was directed to use a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Mount Olive to go towards the new City Hall Location.
Maintenance Building: Westrich moved to approve the Maintenance Building Plan that has been submitted by S.E.H. pending the Building Committee’s and Planning and Zoning Commission’s review and approval, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.
Borgstrom Street: Lange moved to approve final payment to KTE (Kraemer Trucking and Excavating) for $14,240.00, 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
New Business:
LED Street Lights: Olson discussed the upgrade of the city street lights to LEDs.
The Council directed Stevens to contact Minnesota Power to install 99- watt street lights along Main Street and 45- watt on the residential streets.
Library Book Drop Box: Library Service Coordinator Wanda Erickson sent a letter to the council explaining their recent safety audit. She is requesting the Council consider a different means to reduce the potential risk from malicious drops in the book drop box.
Fee Schedule Update: Bartells moved to approve the updated Fee Schedule that reflects the new water rate structure and the fee of $250 for residents and non-residents for inurnments at the City’s cemetery with a maximum of six (6) inurnments per lot, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.
Thriving Communities, Initiative Foundation: Johnson explained the Thriving Communities Project offered by the Initiative Foundation stating that he will be asking various residents to participate in the project.
ServLine Program, MN Rural Water: Minnesota Rural Water is offering an educational lunch on protecting utilities against losses from residential customers.
Added Agenda Items
Junk Yards: Johnson stated that there is still junk is some yards and businesses that needs to be cleaned up. The Council directed Johnson and Stevens to send letters to the houses and businesses that have not cleaned up the junk in their yards.
Rec. Building: Johnson discussed the water runoff behind the Rec Building. The Council directed Koopmeiners to bring in black dirt and seed and sod the area that has been washed out behind the Rec Building sometime after Heritage Days.
Thank you and Acknowledgements
Thank you to Dalton Welinski for volunteering to help Frank Koopmeiners clean up the City Park. It is an honor to have young people like Dalton living in our community.
Financial: Lange moved to approve the bills as presented, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Adjourn: Lange moved to adjourn at 9:21 p.m. 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Michelle Stevens, Clerk/Treasurer
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