City Commission

MEETING MINUTES OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DEVILS LAKE, ND April 07, 2025 The regular meeting of the Devils Lake City Commission was held on April 07, 2025 with the following members present: President Moe and Commissioners Hach, Knowski, Pierce and Uhlenkamp. MEETING ITEMS 1) Call to Order 2) Approval of Minutes – March 03, 2025 Commissioner Pierce made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 03, 2025 City Commission meeting. Commissioner Uhlenkamp seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 3) Approval of Minutes – March 17, 2025 Commissioner Uhlenkamp made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 17, 2025 City Commission meeting. Commissioner Knowski seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 4) Approval of Minutes – March 26, 2025, Special Meeting Commissioner Pierce made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 26, 2025 City Commission meeting. Commissioner Hach seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. AWARDS AND PROCLAMATIONS PUBLIC HEARINGS – 5:30 PM 1) Pine Meadows Subdivision – TABLED Commissioner Pierce made a motion to table the public hearing. Commissioner Uhlenkamp seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. BID OPENINGS – 5:30 PM VISITORS OR DELEGATIONS *Limited to five minutes per guest, unless extended by presiding officer 1) Devils Lake Chamber & Tourism – Suzie Kenner Suzie Kenner with the Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce and Tourism provided an update to the City Commission on what they have been involved with and have planned in the near future. She said they are in the third year of their 3-year strategic plan. She said she is proud of the strides that have been taken in the area on the tourism and promotion front. She said they will have a dedication on June 8th for the ADA Accessible fishing dock project. Ms. Kenner said military family appreciation night will be held at Dockside Entertainment Center on May 1st. She said they will not be having Ribfest this year due to the declining number of rib cookers. Commissioner Pierce made a motion to release the quarter one and quarter two sponsorship funds to the Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce. Commissioner Uhlenkamp seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously on a roll call vote. 2) Edie Johnson – Utility Bill Appeal Edie Johnson appealed to the City Commission for a high utility bill she received the last two months. She said she had a running toilet in her basement that she could not hear due to her limited hearing. She added that she is recently widowed and had knee surgery, which prevented her from going downstairs to check her basement like she normally does. She said she is on a fixed income and the two bills over $700 is a heavy cost for her to bare. The City Administrator said the Commission is usually pretty firm on the utility bill but said there are instances when they have forgiven the sewer charge. He said because of financial hardship, knee replacement, and being recently widowed, if the Commission was inclined, they could consider waiving the sewer portion of the bill and having him work with Ms. Johnson on a repayment plan through the end of the year. Commissioner Pierce made a motion to waive the sewer charges for the last two months on Ms. Johnson’s utility bill and forward Ms. Johnson to work with the City Administrator on a payment plan for the remaining expenses. Commissioner Knowski seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. COMMISSION PORTFOLIOS Commissioner Knowski – the Assistant City Engineer said there were a couple job openings in the Utilities Department. He said job descriptions are on the website. Commissioner Pierce asked when the street would be fixed near the water tower. The Assistant City Engineer said they intend to wait until the frost recedes and the weather warms up, then they’ll re-examine the situation and patch up the street. Commissioner Hach – The Assistant City Engineer said garbage cans that are normally placed in the alley need to be moved out onto the boulevard for the time being. Commissioner Uhlenkamp – The Assistant City Engineer Streets is focused on sweeping and patch up potholes. Commissioner Pierce – The Fire Chief said they have some people at FDIC training. He said they are doing some training for the ARFF mission surrounding self-inspections. President Moe – The Police Chief said everything was going well in their department. 1) Engineering: Authorize Call for Bids – Curb, Gutter, & Sidewalk Commissioner Pierce made a motion to authorize the call for bids. Commissioner Uhlenkamp seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 2) Engineering: Authorize Call for Bids – Street Repair Commissioner Knowski made a motion to authorize the call for bids. Commissioner Hach seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 3) Engineering: Authorize Call for Bids – Automated Sanitation Truck Commissioner Uhlenkamp made a motion to authorize the call for bids. Commissioner Pierce seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 4) Engineering: Acknowledgement of Hwy 19 Closure for Devils Run Commissioner Pierce made a motion to approve the agreement for the closure of Highway 19 for Devils Run. Commissioner Knowski seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 5) Police: Letter from US Department of the Interior President Moe acknowledged the letter from the US Department of the Interior thanking the Police Department for their support during the incident on Spirit Lake Nation a few weeks prior. 6) City Administrator: Out of State Travel Request The City Administrator requested out of state travel to a city manager’s conference in Kalispell, Montana. Commissioner Pierce made a motion to approve the out-of-state travel request. Commissioner Uhlenkamp seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. OLD BUSINESS CONSENT AGENDA NEW BUSINESS 1) Ordinance 1006 – Planning & Zoning Commission – Camp Grafton The City Administrator reviewed the proposed ordinance, which adds the Commander of Camp Grafton or their designee as a non-voting ex-officio member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. This was the first reading of the ordinance. 2) Ordinance 1007 – City Code 8.04.015 : Nuisances – Purpose The City Administrator said he met with the Fire Chief and City Attorney on ordinances related to nuisances. He said the fall into a variety of buckets, like grass, garbage, junk, blighted structures, and overlaying all of it, habitual offenders. He said the ordinances proposed specifically relate to grass and habitual offenders. The City Administrator said they are proposing moving away from certified mail to alert properties of nuisance violations and transitioning towards personal service from the Police Department. He said he spoke with the Police Chief and they are aligned that they could be counted on to support the nuisance officer in this regard. He said the notice to address grass and weed related nuisances is recommended to be reduced from eight days to five days. The City Administrator said in regards to habitual offenders, the City Attorney recommended adding a criminal component to the penalty structure. He said the first offense would be handled on a normal basis, but then the second and third violations would be noted as an infraction with a monetary penalty, with the fourth being able to be charged as a B misdemeanor. The City Attorney reviewed the changes to the ordinance. This was the first reading of the ordinance. 3) Ordinance 1008 – City Code 8.04.030 : Nuisances – Abatement Notice The City Attorney reviewed the changes to the ordinance. The City Administrator spoke about the ability to special assess delinquent nuisance-related bills to the property. He spoke about instances where the special assessment process takes place in concurrence with a property transaction. He said that delinquent bills are assessed but that when property transactions take place, the new owners are sometimes not aware and become upset with having to pay the delinquent bill from the previous owner. He said there are not many effective avenues for recouping funds from residents that don’t pay their bills, other than turning their water off in applicable circumstances or special assessing the property. He asked the Commission if they would uphold the standard, that should a property be issued a nuisance related bill, just like a utility bill, and they do not pay, that the City will special assess the delinquent bill to the property, regardless if they sell the property. The Commission agreed that there were no better alternatives and authorized the City Administrator to write a letter to the realtors who do most of the business in town to encourage them to inform their clients that the City’s policy is the special assess delinquent bills to the property, regardless if the owner changes. This was the first reading of the ordinance. 4) Ordinance 1009- City Code 8.04.050 : Nuisances – Exemptions The City Attorney reviewed the changes to the ordinance. This was the first reading of the ordinance. 5) Ordinance 1010 – City Code 8.04.060 : Nuisances – Maintaining Public Nuisance – Penalty The City Attorney reviewed the changes to the ordinance. This was the first reading of the ordinance. 5) Ordinance 1011 - City Code 8.08.080 : Nuisances – Penalty The City Attorney reviewed the changes to the ordinance. This was the first reading of the ordinance. 6) Dedication of Right of Way Commissioner Knowski made a motion to approve the dedication of the right of way. Commissioner Hach seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 7) 2025 Aerial Mosquito Control Agreement Commissioner Pierce made a motion to approve 2025 Aerial Mosquito Control Agreement. Commissioner Knowski seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 8) 2025 Summer Maintenance Contract with Ramsey County Commissioner Uhlenkamp made a motion to approve the 2025 Summer Maintenance Contract with Ramsey County. Commissioner Pierce seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously on a roll call vote. 9) Property Transfer via Quit Claim Deed to Jobs Development Authority Commissioner Knowski made a motion to transfer the properties with the legal description of “Lots One (1), Two (2), Three (3), and Four (4), Outlot B, Smith Sub Replat, City of Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota” to the Jobs Development Authority via quit claim deed. Commissioner Uhlenkamp seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. Citizen Comment Informational Items 1) February 2025 Finances LIST OF BILLS Commissioner Pierce made a motion to approve the list of bills as submitted. Commissioner Hach seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously on a roll call vote. __________________________________ __________________________________ SPENCER HALVORSON JIM MOE CITY ADMINISTRATOR/AUDITOR PRESIDENT OF CITY COMMISSION