Osakis City Council s3

Osakis City Council – Regular Meeting August 7, 2017 7:00 PM

Present: Keith Emerson, Randy Anderson, Jim Snyder, Justin Dahlheimer, Jerry Olson Absent: None

Others Present: Angela Jacobson, Kurt Haakinson, Jason Schultz, Chad Gulbranson, Sheila Krohse, Julie Didier, Chad Mathews, Sharon Fredrickson, Nikki Nessman, Janie Helm, Greg Gottwald, Sam Larson, Roberta Olson

Meeting called to order by Mayor Keith Emerson at 7:00 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance was spoken.

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Dahlheimer, to approve the agenda as presented with the addition of the next council meeting to be scheduled for Tuesday, September 5th, 2017. All Ayes

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Dahlheimer, to approve the general consent items, including the July city bills in the amount of $629,380.74, and meeting minutes from July 3rd, 2017, EDA meeting, Planning & Zoning meeting and the Safety meeting. All Ayes

Project #24: Liquor Store

Julie Didier was in attendance. Didier updated the council on the Sunday sales, new part-time employees and promotions that are being worked on.

The council will have a special workshop meeting on August 9th, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss the Liquor Store Operations with Gary Buysse from the Municipal Beverage Association.

Council received the July reports for the Liquor Store Sales.

The Liquor Store Revenue and Expenditures sheet includes an adjustment for the inventory increase and the new purchases for the compressor in July. After the adjustments, total profit for July is $31,320.

Emerson said it was a good month and to keep it up.

Project #73: First Responders

Jason Schultz was in attendance. Council received the July run reports.

Clerk Jacobson had heard from the Secretary of the State, State Auditor’s Office and our city attorney. The conclusion is, that because it is a volunteer First Responder unit, the city cannot offer them public retirement plan.

of 6, August 7th, 2017 Schultz, Snyder and Jacobson will be working together to present some information on a compensation plan and the details of how this would work and how it would be funded.

The First Responders had 18 calls in July with a total of 118 for the year.

Schultz inform the council that the decals for the First Responder rig will be put on later this week.

Project #74: Fire Department

Chad Mathews was in attendance.

Mathews updated the council on the following:  Had 4 calls in July  No word on the FEMA Grant  New grass rig was delivered last week. The skid unit and the stickers have been put on. Should be in service next week.

Mathews stated that a DNR Grant was submitted for accessories for the grass rig but no funding was received. Mathews is asking the council to approve $2,500 for the accessories for the grass rig.

Motion by Emerson, seconded by Olson, to approve the equipment for the grass rig. All Ayes Abstain: Dahlheimer

Project #13: Fire Relief

Mayor Emerson attended the Fire Relief meeting. The department is reviewing the by-laws and updating for PERA. They will review the by-laws again by January 1st, 2018.

Project #76: Police

Chad Gulbranson was in attendance. Council received the July Police Report.

At the last meeting, the council asked for more information on the city ordinances and how we can enforce them. Council received a letter from city attorney, Megan Burkhammer regarding nuisance enforcement and commercial living.

The letter explains the process of how to enforce these nuisance violations. Clerk Jacobson feels we have adequate ordinances to enforce what we as a city want to accomplish. We need to have a process and direction of how this should get done in a timely matter.

 Reference 10.20. Instead of a search warrant, the city can disconnect services to a property. o Ask for permission to enter the property. o If the occupant refuses, a letter is mailed to them stating their services will be disconnected. o An appeal can be sent to the city council. o Service is cut off.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Dahlheimer, to approve to enforce the ordinance, criminal or shutting of water service to be more restrictive. All Ayes

of 6, August 7th, 2017 Gulbranson asked about snow removal on sidewalks. Gulbranson would like to add all of Main Street and Lake Street.

The ordinance would need to be changed for the removal of snow on all sidewalks.

The street department can clean boulevards when all other snow removal is complete and if needed.

Gulbranson also would like the council to consider a no parking ordinance from November 1st to April 1st. This can be discussed at the next council meeting.

Project #205: City Crew

Kurt Haakinson was in attendance. Council received the public works report for July.

Haakinson informed the council of the following:  Sump pump ordinance – I & I issue with heavy rains.  Visitor’s Center reroofing is complete.  Slid at the beach is running good.  There has been no lake itch reported at the beach.

Council received a letter of resignation from Kurt Haakinson as the Public Works Director as of August 25th, 2017.

Haakinson’s letter of resignation comes after 11 years of service. He stated that he will miss working for the city.

Emerson stated that Kurt has made it easy to serve his 5 terms as mayor. Snyder said this is a sad day for Osakis but a great day for you.

Olson said that Ron Kleinschmidt had recommended Kurt for the job and you have done a good job.

Everyone gave Haakinson a round of applause for a job well done. Darrin, Greg and Kurt go above and beyond to accomplish their tasks.

Snyder brought up the 4-sided clock. Jan Moore and Sharon Fredrickson have asked about it. Snyder feels the NE corner of the bump out would be a good location along with the bike repair station. Power would need to be run to the clock and wondering who would pay the bill?

In the bid documents, the total cost for the clock removal and installation was $1,500. They have been paid $750 for removal. C & L Excavating will install the clock if the city decides if we want it and where it should be placed.

Project #197: Water

Council received a copy of the meeting minutes from November 2014. The minutes included the council’s vote to allow the creamery to run water lines outside city limits.

At this time, the creamery has not yet run the line to the fertilizer plant and are now exploring the cost to do that. Clerk Jacobson suggested the council revisit this matter before they proceed.

of 6, August 7th, 2017 Clerk Jacobson does not recommend the council allow water lines outside of city limits. This would set a presidency and does not allow the city to receive the tax base for the property receiving the public utilities.

It is suggested that after the creamery decides, they should contact the city for approval being the property is outside of city limits and we can discuss at that time.

Project #444: Wastewater Project

Council received a bill from Hall & Associates regarding their work on our MPCA issue. The bill is in the amount of $572.60.

Council received a letter from the MPCA regarding our point trading requirements. Our attorneys are reviewing this information and will give us some direction on how to proceed.

Motion by Dahlheimer, seconded by Snyder, to approve the bill of $572.60 to Hall & Associates. All Ayes

Project #460: Downtown Project

Sheila Krohse was in attendance to update the council.

Council received payment request #8 for C & L Excavating in the amount of $176,535.56. This is a partial payment. It leaves 5% retainage or $127,606.82.

Krohse explained that there are a few issues that need to be finished with the Downtown Project. The lighting caps are still not on the street lights.

Krohse has asked that these items be complete before anymore payments are paid to C & L Excavating. With this pay application, the remaining portion for the lights is $17,000. Some decorative bases are still missing along with the top caps. The concrete by the Swenstad building and brick fascia need to be completed before final project payment.

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Dahlheimer, to approve payment request #8 to C & L Excavating in the amount of $176,535.56. All Ayes

Project #467: 2017 Project

Krohse updated the council on the 2017 Project also.

Council received payment request #3 for Riley Brothers Construction in the amount of $587,261.81.

Council also received the engineering bill from Bolton & Menk for the June bill in the amount of $57,701.60.

Krohse informed the council of the following:  Services for Lake Street and the lift station are being worked on.  They are working on 1st Avenue West and 1st Avenue East.  The retaining wall on 1st Avenue West is not finished. There is a property dispute between the Galeon and Grahams.

of 6, August 7th, 2017 Motion by Snyder, seconded by Anderson, to approve to pay Riley Brothers pay request #3 in the amount of $587,261.81. All Ayes

Motion by Emerson, seconded by Snyder, to approve to pay Bolton & Menk’s June bill in the amount of $57,701.60. All Ayes

Project #463: Moonshine Madness

Council received information for the Mad Dash 5K. This event will be held during Moonshine Madness.

Gulbranson reviewed the route and does not have any issues with the route layout.

Council received the request and map for the 5K run. The athletic department will be putting on the event on September 9th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Snyder, to approve the Mad Dash 5K route. All Ayes

Project #6: Ordinance Change

Council received a copy of Ordinance #50.05 for accounting and billing for water and sewer bills. The sheet shows the current ordinance with the highlighted proposed changes city staff would like to make to this ordinance.

Currently, all bills are to be in the owner’s name but we have not been enforcing this. City staff would like to have all bills in the owner’s name. Letters would be sent to the owners that currently in the renters name and give them time to adjust their bill or rent to reflect this change before the change takes place.

Council received Ordinance #112 which shows the proposed sections city staff would like to see changed.

Proposed changes:  After hours charge to turn on water – from $75 to $150. If city staff is called out, it cost the city 4 hours for staff to turn the water on. With this change, the city could recoup most of that cost.  Change from 90 days overdue to 60 days. Monthly bills average from $80 to $100 and if they are not paid for 90 days, the bill can be quite high if the water is shut off and the resident has to come up with the total bill.  Change from a 14 day notice to 10 days. The 14 day notice runs into the next billing cycle and when their bill is printed, they are another month overdue. Giving them 10 days to pay, payments can be credited to their accounts before the bills are printed.

Motion by Dahlheimer, seconded by Emerson, to approve Ordinance Change #112 and waive the second reading. All Ayes

Project #84: Budget

Clerk Jacobson is working on the 2018 Budget. The council will receive a draft copy when the budget is complete.

The budget meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. Estimated time to go over the budget is about 2 hours. Page 5 of 6, August 7th, 2017 The preliminary levy figures must be sent to Douglas County by September 29th, 2017.

Project #167: Tax Increment

Council received information from David Drowns for the 2016 Tax Increment Financing report.

Project #43: Board of Review

Clerk Jacobson informed the council that the Board of Review training is now open. Clerk Jacobson recommended a few of the council members go through the training to receive better knowledge for the process of the Board of Review.

Anderson is going through the training.

Project #143: Cable TV

Council received an update from Charter TV regarding some programming changes.

Open Floor:

Dahlheimer stated that we should look at a Rental Ordinance to have some guidance for property owners and enforcement procedures. Would also like to gather information for vacation properties.

Olson asked about the tiny houses that have been discussed. Olson doesn’t like the value and look of the tiny houses. He feels it would open up problems for the city if it goes forward.

Emerson does not want them in town. Feels there would also be issues if they are allowed.

Dahlheimer stated there may be other options for the small lots in town. The Planning & Zoning will look into those matters.

Olson stated that he did not like the idea of allowing them in the ordinance.

Meeting adjourned by Mayor Emerson 8:20 p.m. All Ayes

______Mayor – Keith E. Emerson Admin/Clerk/Treasurer – Angela A. Jacobson

of 6, August 7th, 2017