City Council Meeting

City of Holdingford Public Hearing and Council Meeting Minutes (Unapproved) December 10, 2012 Present: Kim Ebnet, Mike Odden, Lloyd Rausch, Ernie Schmit, Vicki Statz, Sandra Meer, David Blommel, Keith Hommerding, Steve Stoerman, Luke Sjurseth, Robert Pueringer, Pat Meier, Dorine Rausch and Gordon Sjaaheim. Absent: Susan Marstein. Mayor Ernie Schmit called the public hearing to order at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the public hearing was to approve the 2013 budget for the city. The amount levied to the county is the same as previous years. The water tower bond was paid off. After review and public comment, Lloyd Rausch made a motion to close the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. Kim Ebnet seconded the motion. AIF A second public hearing was opened at 7:05 p.m. to hear comments on the city liquor establishment hours. In 2009, the City of Holdingford adopted the Minnesota Basic Code that states in Section 112.33 (A) “the hours of operation and days of sale shall be those set by M.S. Statute 340A.504…except that the City Council may, by resolution or ordinance, provide for more restrictive hours than state law allows.” The State Statute specifies no sale of liquor between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and after 2:00 a.m. on Sundays. The City of Holdingford has not passed a resolution or ordinance that is more restrictive than the state law. After comments were heard, Mike Odden made a motion to close the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. Lloyd Rausch seconded the motion. AIF Mayor Ernie Schmit called the December council meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. Kim Ebnet made a motion to pass the 2013 budget as proposed, with $258,663 levied to the county. Lloyd Rausch seconded the motion. AIF Mayor Schmit called for a resolution to change the hours of sale for liquor establishments in the City of Holdingford to be more restrictive than the state law. No resolution was offered. The current city ordinance that references Minnesota State Statute 340A.504 will apply. Motion to approve checks was made by Lloyd Rausch, seconded by Kim Ebnet. AIF Motion to approve bank reconciliation for November 2012 statements was made by Kim Ebnet, seconded by Mike Odden. AIF Motion to approve electronic transfers and debit card purchases was made by Lloyd Rausch, seconded by Mike Odden. AIF Motion to approve year end account transfer of $165,000 from General Fund to General Reserve was made by Kim Ebnet, seconded by Lloyd Rausch. AIF Motion to approve year end account transfer of $23,000 from EDU (Equivalent Dwelling Unit) account to RD Water Sewer Reserve Savings as required by Rural Development was made by Lloyd Rausch, seconded by Mike Odden. AIF Motion to approve minutes of the November 2012 council meeting was made by Mike Odden, seconded by Kim Ebnet. AIF Pat Meier gave the Liquor Store report. Gross revenue for November was $30,382.04 with expenses at $28,381.52. Lottery revenue was $281.58 for total YTD revenues of $16,590.25. A Tuesday night Dart League has started. The exterior crack in the chimney was not repaired and will wait until spring. Money from ten outstanding NFS checks was collected and letters will go out to the two parties who have not made payment on dishonored checks. There was discussion on accepting second party checks, cashing personal checks, and accepting non-local checks. Check policies from other cities were noted and the council requested that Meier submit a policy for accepting checks at the liquor store. The annual liquor store inventory will be done at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 1, 2013. Keith Hommerding gave the Fire Department report. He reported 81 calls this year to date. Minor repairs were completed on the 600 truck. Pat Meier and Dorine Rausch both completed the EMT Refresher course. Kim Ebnet made a motion to acknowledge a donation to the fire department from the Rod Adolph Family to be used to purchase a piece of equipment. Mike Odden seconded the motion. AIF The calendar fundraiser was a success and calendars have been sent to all residents in the fire area. Steve Stoerman requested that the council approve an extension for him to stay with the department until his May anniversary date although he did not complete the required Fire Fighter II certification before the 2012 year-end deadline. Mayor Schmit called three times for a motion to approve the request that Steve Stoerman stay on until his May anniversary date without the required certification. No motion was offered, citing this would set precedence for other fire fighters who may request the same benefit and the requirements to continue as a qualified fire fighter are clearly established by the Fire Department and members have prior knowledge of those requirements. Maintenance Report was read by Mayor Schmit. Hydrants were winterized and serviced; Freudenrich and Krebs attended a workshop put on by Rural Water and received 6 contact hours; Christmas decorations were hung; sewer line from Gertrude to Park on 2nd Street was rodded; responded to water main break on Park & 3rd Street on Dec. 9th. Mike Odden made a motion to publicly recognize and thank the city’s maintenance crew, Jeremy Freudenrich and Adam Krebs for their efforts going above and beyond when responding to recent emergencies on weekends and after normal working hours. Motion was seconded by Kim Ebnet. AIF Keith Hommerding was hired as part-time help for doing snow removal on the city sidewalks. Ernie Schmit gave his Mayor’s Report. See attached sheet. Old Business Dave Blommel reviewed items to be completed on the street project. Most street signs are up and seeding done. Remaining items will wait through winter. PPE#4 on the 2012 Street and Utility Project to Larson Excavating in the amount of $43,106.67 was approved for payment on a motion by Kim Ebnet, seconded by Mike Odden. AIF Mayor Schmit signed the purchase agreement for Wentland 10 acres. Closing will be completed before the end of December. New Business Mayor Schmit submitted a performance review for Kathy O’Hara. Motion made by Mike Odden, seconded by Lloyd Rausch to approve step change for Kathy O’Hara on her anniversary date in January. AIF Motion made by Kim Ebnet, seconded by Mike Odden to approve pay increase of 2% for non-union employees for fiscal year 2013. AIF Motion made by Kim Ebnet, seconded by Lloyd Rausch to renew agreement with Tri-County Humane Society to provide services for stray or seized dogs for 2013. AIF Holdingford City Council adopted Resolution 12-12-10-01 on a motion made by Lloyd Rausch, seconded by Mike Odden to allow the Holdingford Commercial Club a gambling license for pull tabs at Holdingford Gas & Grocery. AIF Mayor Schmit reported on Community Education summer rec program that utilized the city ball field. It didn’t go as well as planned, but they will try again next summer and hope to get more teams. The delinquent utility bills for the month of November include: Leah Taflinger $413.94; Derek Woidyla $339.66; Mara Glader $363.32; Duane Young $323.52; Jessie Johnson $470.07; Brandon Cottrell $330.26. Clerk Sandra Meer reported on attending the Regional LMC Meeting in Spicer. Beginning January 2013, the clerk’s office will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 12:00 -6:00 p.m. An Open House for retiring City Clerk Vicki Statz will be Wednesday, January 9, 2013 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. The council is seeking quotes from website developers to design a new website for the city. Changes for winter parking restrictions will be discussed at January meeting due to local liquor establishment’s intent to file 2:00 a.m. closing license with State of Minnesota. Current winter parking restrictions are in effect daily from 2:00-6:00 a.m. Motion made by Mike Odden and seconded by Kim Ebnet to approve the fire department payroll for 2012. AIF Council acknowledged Kim Ebnet’s commitment to the city and thanked her for 8 years of service on the City Council. Motion to adjourn regular council meeting was made by Kim Ebnet, seconded by Lloyd Rausch. AIF Meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sandra Meer City Clerk City of Holdingford