AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 11, 2009
7:00 PM CITY HALL
FEBRUARY AGENDA
1. Call the Meeting to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approve Consent Agenda of…
a)
Minutes
b)
Treasurers Report
c)
Bills for Payment
4. Bruce Beckley – Property Split & Consider Options to
Hook Up to City Sewer
5. Park Manager Contract – Approve Final Draft
6. Approve Campground Ad $163/5 Months in Destinations,
The Cabin Reader & Summer Scene
7. USDA Rural Development Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) for
Water Payment
8. Bob Winner – Liquor Store Report
9. Frank Thelin – Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report
10. Eric Klein – Police Report
11. Old Business
12. New Business/Public Forum
13. Adjourn
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 11, 2009
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City Council met in a regular meeting Wednesday
February 11, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Mayor Scott Vettleson called the
meeting to order. Council members present were: Scott
Vettleson, Cliff Johnson, Eric Sjolin, Brian Hitchcock, and Troy
Hegg. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the Council and
attending audience.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
approve the consent agenda.
Bruce Beckley was present to discuss his desire to split parcel
# 29.22.00510 into two equal portions with existing homes on
each property. He submitted the existing legal description and
proposed legal descriptions for the Council to review.
Motion by Cliff Johnson seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried
to allow Bruce Beckley to have his parcel # 29.22.00510 divided
into the descriptions he had proposed but he would be
responsible for getting the records updated.
Bruce Beckley also wanted to discuss options of hooking up a
private sewer system located at 220 Staff St. to the last sewer
man hole located about 300 feet past 220 Staff St. Scott
Vettleson said he would like to sit down with Bruce, Frank
Thelin and an engineer to discuss the options before any
decision is made.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
table a decision regarding Bruce Beckley’s request until after a
meeting can be held with an engineer.
A final draft of the park manager’s contract was provided for
the Council to review before having it signed by the park
manager.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried
to approve the park manager’s contract.
Some discussion was held regarding work at the park performed by
City maintenance and if wages for that work would be paid out of
the park fund or the maintenance budget.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried
to pay wages for park related maintenance out of the park fund.
Advertising the campground in Destinations, The Cabin Reader and
Summer Scene magazines was discussed. The price to advertise
the campground in these three magazines would be $163 per month
for 5 months. Council members stated they would like to see the
City’s website added to the ads.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to
approve to pay from the park fund $163 per month for 5 months to
advertise the City campground in Destinations, The Cabin Reader
and Summer Scene magazines and to include the City’s website to
the ads.
The City of Akeley received a letter in January from USDA Rural
Development who strongly encouraged their borrowers to use the
Pre-authorized Debit (PAD) payment process. Clerk-Treasurer
Denise Rittgers stated that the City Auditors like to see a
paper trail so she made a recommendation to the Council that the
City continues to pay USDA Rural Development with checks. No
action was taken.
Liquor Store Report – Bob Winner was not present.
At last month’s meeting discussion had been held regarding
replacement of two new doors at the liquor store and a motion
had been made to place an ad in the newspaper in which bids were
being accepted. After the meeting it had been determined that
bids would not have to be advertised for this type of project so
estimates were collected instead and the motion would have to be
rescinded at the next meeting.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
rescind the motion made at the January 14th council
meeting to place an ad in the newspaper stating the City of
Akeley is accepting bids to replace the two doors at the liquor
store and that bids must be received by January 30th.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report - Frank Thelin
-
Gary Kennedy from
MN DOT was present to discuss snow removal on Highway 64 and
the sidewalks along 64 as well as the concerns with the high
piles of snow on the corners of intersections. He said he
is addressing with personnel that the sidewalks are to be
cleaned in a more timely manner after Highway 64 has been
cleaned and he is working with Frank Thelin regarding other
issues.
-
Frank said he is
looking into getting internet at the maintenance garage and
received a quote from Arvig Communication Systems stating
installation would be $125 and would then cost $14.40
monthly.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to
pay Arvig Communication Systems $125 for internet installation
at the maintenance garage and then to pay $14.40 per month from
the maintenance budget.
-
Frank said the
person who leases the site near the boat landing inquired
about the City extending sewer to that site. Council
members stated that other RV sites aren’t hooked up to sewer
and the RV’s camping at those sites use the dump station.
No action was taken.
-
Frank said 2 of
the high service pumps have had the bearings packed and he
will be packing the bearings on the high service pump at the
sewer pond.
-
Frank said he has
been working with Denise Rittgers on the upgrade for water
billing and eventually they will be able to determine water
usage vs. pumpage.
-
The butterfly
valves at the water plant should be replaced in March.
-
Brian Hitchcock
asked about the amount of water that had been used for the
house fire that had just occurred in town. Some discussion
was held on the amount of water used, the cost of chemicals
used to treat the water and if in the future the City should
look at trying to recoup some of the costs by charging the
insurance companies.
Police Report - Eric Klein
·
The storage cabinets for the police office are on
hold due to the cost of building, installation and funding.
·
Eric said he had talked with Mr. Gary Kennedy from
MN DOT prior to the meeting about the signs for engine breaking
and Gary said he would see if the costs could be lowered. Eric
also said that he has spoken with the County Attorney to see
about charging under the city noise ordinance.
·
Eric stated that the emergency equipment
(Millennium Light Bar and Mobile Vision in squad camera) the
police department had received free from the Cass County
Sheriff’s Dept. and the two laptop computers which the police
department had received free from Target Corporation had not
been mentioned in the paper last month. He wanted to state it
once more since the equipment received would have cost the
police department thousands of dollars if they would have had to
purchase it.
·
The ARCC is interested in taking over the Teen
Dances which had been started by the police department. All
bills have been paid from the Police/Youth Program fund and
there is still pop, candy, pizza as well as start up money
available. Eric said the police department will continue to
work with those who are planning the dances and asked if the
Council wanted all remaining items to go to the group running
the dances.
Motion by Troy Hegg seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
approve to give all remaining items and money from the
Police/Youth Program fund to the ARCC for future dances.
·
Eric stated that Minnesota Chief of Police
Association Training will be taking place in Rochester on April
6th through the 9th. He hadn’t decided if
he would be going or not but wanted to get the Council’s
approval ahead of time in case he would go since there is a
reduction in cost if paid early. He also stated that in the
past he and his commissioner agreed that it was cheaper to drive
the squad rather than get reimbursed for mileage so with the
Council’s approval he would do that again.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried
to allow Eric Klein to attend the Minnesota Chief of Police
Association Training in Rochester from April 6th
through the 9th paying $325 for the training, per
diem and to drive the squad.
·
Currently there is one active part-time police
officer in the department who is looking for a full-time
position in the cities, another officer who is shared with a
neighboring city and one who needs to be field trained. Eric
asked the Council if they would like to see the part-time police
roster increased to help cover city events and vacation/sick
time etc. and if so what number. Council members stated they
would like to see the starting wage for part-time police
officers lowered and suggested that Eric and Cliff Johnson set
down to discuss this.
Old Business
None
New Business
Brian Hitchcock read a letter stating he is taking a leave of
absence from his position as councilman effective at the end of
this meeting due to his deployment in the Army National Guard
early next month. He is hoping to return in mid 2010 to finish
the remainder of his term. Mayor Scott Vettleson thanked him
for his years of service and wished him well.
Motion by Scott Vettleson seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to
accept Brian Hitchcock’s leave of absence from his position as
councilman until he returns in mid 2010. Brian Hitchcock
abstained.
Motion by Cliff Johnson seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
declare a vacancy for councilman.
Judy Merritt asked if the vacancy being left by Councilman Brian
Hitchcock would be filled. The reply was that it would be
filled.
Jon
Johnson asked where the sewer line runs by Bruce Beckley’s
place. Frank Thelin explained the location.
Motion by Cliff Johnson seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
adjourn at 7:48 PM.
Denise Rittgers
Clerk Treasurer
City of Akeley
Wendy Klein
Deputy Clerk
City of Akeley
