City Council Meeting

Holdingford City Council Meeting Minutes December 8, 2014 Mayor Ernie Schmit called the public hearing to order at 7:00 p.m. on December 8, 2014. Total tax levy hasn’t changed from last year. Mayor Schmit reviewed all income and expenses and called for questions. There were no questions or comments. Sue Marstein made a motion to close the public hearing. Mike Odden seconded the motion. Hearing closed at 7:08 p.m. The monthly meeting was called to order at 7:09 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was recited. Present: Ernie Schmit, Lewis Becker, Susan Marstein, Mike Odden, Sandra Meer, Keith Hommerding, Patrick Meier, Tim Berscheid, Eric Berscheid, Robb Berscheid, Jeremy Freudenrich, Rod Harren, Scott Lange, Gary & Audrey Lange, Herman Lensing, Al Leinen, Fr. Gregory Mastey, Gordy Sjaaheim, Betty Schmit-Olson, Lenore & Larry Schmit, Lois Schmit, Terry Sunde, and Bob Warzecha. Absent: Lloyd Rausch Motion to approve checks was made by Sue Marstein, seconded by Lewis Becker. AIF Motion to approve electronic transfers and withdrawals was made by Sue Marstein, seconded by Mike Odden. AIF Motion to approve bank reconciliation for November was made by Sue Marstein, seconded by Lewis Becker. AIF Motion to approve minutes of November City Council meeting was made by Mike Odden, seconded by Sue Marstein. AIF Motion to approve minutes of November 19th Special Meeting was made by Sue Marstein, seconded by Lewis Becker. AIF Motion to approve minutes of November 24th Special Meeting was made by Mike Odden, seconded by Sue Marstein. AIF Bob Warzecha presented Mayor Ernie Schmit with a plaque on behalf of the Holdingford Lions and the citizens of Holdingford for his years of service as Mayor of the City. He thanked Mayor Schmit for his foresight and ability to get things done for the betterment of the City, for his integrity and fair treatment, fortitude and honesty. Mayor Schmit noted that in the twelve years he was mayor, he only got chewed out twice! Tim Berscheid requested that ownership of the holding pond to the west of Ridge Way development be transferred to the city. Transfer fees are typically paid by developer. Mike Odden made a motion to approve transfer of ownership of the holding pond to the west of Ridge Way development from Berscheid Properties to the City of Holdingford. Lewis Becker seconded the motion. AIF Tim Berscheid also notified the council that he was planning to lay pipes for utilities on 60 foot easement on his property located and extending south of Main Street. The council was in favor of extending city services south of Main Street and will give formal approval after surveying is completed and plans are drawn up by SEH, who Berscheid is working with. Scott Lange gave update on storm shelter. Heidi Peper has standards approved and completed preliminary meetings with FEMA for the storm shelter. The goal is to have plans submitted by mid-January. Reports Municipal Liquor Store report was given by Pat Meier. Gross profits for November = $32,449.46. Expenses = $45,204.42. YTD lottery = $3,364.94. Inventory is high. Scheduled meat raffle on December 19 and band on December 20. Dart league starting in January. Finishing up online training for full food license. Checking inventory is scheduled for January 1st at 9:30 a.m. Fire Department report was given by Chief Keith Hommerding. 69 calls this year include: 5 fire, 47 medical, 1 hazardous condition, 1 unauthorized fire, 14 canceled in route, 1 false alarm. Donation to the truck fund from gambling proceeds will be made before year end. Annual payroll was submitted. Lewis Becker made a motion to approve payroll for 2014 fire department totaling $22,333.75. Mike Odden seconded the motion. AIF Compressor that was purchased with FEMA grant funds has been delivered and will be wired in tomorrow. Application was made for a 2015 FEMA grant for compression packs. Training in a burn trailer will be held this week. Quotes were considered for converting/replacing the tube heaters and Modine heating units in the Fire Hall. Quote from Albany Heating, A/C & Service for two new tube heaters = $6,880. Option to replace only the burners = $4,640. Quote from Hommerding Plumbing & Heating for two tube heaters and converting the Modine heaters = $3,500. Hommerding was donating his time and enlisting the help of some firefighters to install and convert the heaters. Sue Marstein made a motion to accept quote from Hommerding to replace infrared tube heaters and convert Modine heaters for $3,500. Mike Odden seconded the motion. AIF Quotes were reviewed for a new water heater for the City Center. The current 75 gallon water heater is over 20 years old and could not be converted. Ripplinger Plumbing suggested a 50gallon water heater which would generate enough hot water for City Center usage. Quote for 50 gallon water heater = $1,000, for 75 gallon water heater = $6,500. Hommerding suggested replacing the same size water heater and quoted $4,101.84. Mike Odden made a motion to accept Hommerding bid for a 75 gallon commercial grade water heater to stay consistent with what is currently installed. Lewis Becker seconded the motion. AIF Fire Relief Association calendars are being sent out. No Emergency Managers report. Maintenance Report was read by Mayor Schmit. Snow was removed; equipment was repaired; Christmas lights were repaired and put up; Brian Zapzalka spoke with Tim at Stearns County about parking county plow truck in the Maintenance Garage and will work on mutual agreement; worked with MP Technology on locates and damages during natural gas installations; dialer in left station should be installed next week; sewer jetting will start this week; salt shed is full. Andrew Bartkowicz is newly hired Maintenance Specialist and will start on Tuesday, December 9th. Council Report: Inside and outside garbage containers at the Wobegon Trailhead bathroom should be checked more than once a week. An anonymous donation of $1,000 to the Historical Museum was received. Clerk Sandra Meer noted that donation of an AED device for the City Center was made possible through a grant from the Catholic Health Initiatives. Liability/property and workers comp insurance rates for 2015 were reviewed and will remain relatively unchanged. Review of city light locations and addresses by Xcel Energy determined that one of the lights was located in an alley and the address will be changed to avoid further confusion. A vacancy for Sue Marsteins’ council seat will be declared in January after she takes the oath of office for Mayor. Old Business Mayor Schmit noted three main reasons that taxes increase: property values change, city raises or lowers levy, and population growth. The city has not raised the levy for the past twelve years. Sue Marstein made a motion to approve the levy at $258,663.00 and approve the budget for 2015. Mike Odden seconded the motion. AIF Final payouts for the 2011 and 2012 Utility and Street Projects were made to Larson Excavating. Mike Odden made a motion to close construction account xxx010. Sue Marstein seconded the motion. AIF New Business Mike Odden made a motion to approve Resolution 14-12-08-1 to certify outstanding utility bills to Stearns County to be assessed to 2015 property taxes. Lewis Becker seconded the motion. AIF Health Insurance options for full time employees were discussed. The union contract included two options for insurance coverage. Sue Marstein made motion to approve a two year Union Contract to include insurance and benefits in which the employer will pay a fixed monthly dollar amount and the employee will select insurance coverage through Primary Benefit Services, as well as a 2% wage increase in 2015 and a 3% wage increase in 2016. Lewis Becker seconded the motion. AIF Mayor Schmit noted that the majority of cities only cover new employees for single health coverage whereas the City has been cost sharing single and family health insurance premiums. Since employees with family coverage would lose benefits if that were changed, they will be grandfathered in to the program. New employees would be covered at the single employee rate, currently at $500 per month. Rates would be negotiated on a bi-annual basis. Sue Marstein a motion to pay insurance benefits at a monthly fixed rate to all new employees at the current rate of $500 per month with addendum that the two employees with current family coverage are grandfathered into the program until they leave, at the current rate of $1,300 per month. Lewis Becker seconded the motion. AIF Wage increases for non-union employees were discussed. Sue Marstein made a motion for 2% wage increase for 2015 for non-union employees based on the non-union salary range. Mike Odden seconded the motion. AIF Utility worker Kathy O’Hara is presently paid at Step F2. After her review, Mayor Schmit recommended a step increase to F3. Lewis Becker made a motion to move Kathy O’Hara from Step F2 to Step F3 as of January 1st. Sue Marstein seconded the motion. AIF Mayor Schmit met with Brian Zapzalka for his six month review as Maintenance Specialist. He recommended a raise and moving Brian Zapzalka to position of Maintenance Supervisor. Sue Marstein made motion to move Brian Zapzalka from H1 to H2 and review job responsibilities for Supervisor position with Brian before moving him to supervisor Step J0. Mike Odden seconded the motion. AIF There was discussion on Resolution 14-12-08-2 Establishing Limited Cleanup and Property Damage Protection for Sewer Back-ups and Water Main Breaks for Water and Sewer Customers which changed coverage limits through the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. Lewis Becker made a motion to table the resolution and discussion until January meeting. Sue Marstein seconded the motion. AIF A letter from Friends of Two Rivers Lake Association was reviewed requesting funding to cover the excavating of Ditch 28, which is Two Rivers River. Stearns County has given them clearance to excavate Two Rivers Lake. No action was taken on the request for monetary support since it is unclear how the excavating would affect Two Rivers River near the city. Mike Odden made a motion at approve Tri-County Humane Society contract for accepting stray dogs for 2015. Sue Marstein seconded the motion. AIF Announcements Residents who are delinquent on their utility payments are: Jayson Burghardt, Scott Zehowski, Brian Mader, Steve Horvath, Nicholas McGillivray, Jesse Johnson, Mary Voss and Tim Rudnick. Thanks to Kathy O’Hara for putting up the Christmas tree. Mayor Ernie Schmit gave his final Mayors’ Report. See end of minutes for details Motion to adjourn was made by Ernie Schmit, seconded by Sue Marstein. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sandra Meer City Clerk, Holdingford NOVEMBER 2014 Department Gross Pay General $ 5,158.48 Public Works $ 9,374.17 Fire $ .00 Liquor $ 6,735.41 Total $21,268.06 2 pay periods ending 11/3, 11/17 City of Holdingford - Equal Opportunity Provider Accounts Payable Check Register Report - STEARNS BANK For The Fiscal Periods Range From 2014-11 To 2014-11 For All Vendors And For Outstanding, Cleared, Voided Checks - Computer Generated Check # Type Date Vendor Name Amount Status 30493 C 11/10/2014 328 AllSpec Services, LLC $931.50 C 30494 C 11/10/2014 840 American Legal Publishing $435.00 C 30495 C 11/10/2014 74 Amerigas $370.39 C 30496 C 11/10/2014 432 Appliance Repair Center $246.10 C 30498 C 11/10/2014 326 Auto Value $225.50 C 30499 C 11/10/2014 9 Bernick's Pepsi-Cola $513.85 C 30500 C 11/10/2014 507 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota $3,412.83 C 30501 C 11/10/2014 18 C & L Distributing, Inc $37.10 C 30502 C 11/10/2014 21 Central MN. Alarms, Inc. $128.85 C 30503 C 11/10/2014 655 David Yurczyk $15.65 C 30504 C 11/10/2014 587 Dennis Kunstleben $20.00 C 30505 C 11/10/2014 45 Department of Public Safety $20.00 C 30506 C 11/10/2014 370 Dorine Rausch $138.28 C 30507 C 11/10/2014 52 E. A. Sween Company $88.10 C 30508 C 11/10/2014 56 Emergency Apparatus Maint $1,448.42 C 30509 C 11/10/2014 550 Everything Signs $26.72 C 30510 C 11/10/2014 307 Florence Voss $63.00 C 30511 C 11/10/2014 70 Frito-Lay, Inc $55.92 C 30512 C 11/10/2014 80 Gopher State One-Call, Inc $514.75 C 30513 C 11/10/2014 787 Granite City Jobbing Co $171.72 C 30514 C 11/10/2014 81 Granite Electronics, Inc $283.25 C 30515 C 11/10/2014 829 Gregory L Gerads $63.00 C 30516 C 11/10/2014 92 Headley Hardware $1,072.59 C 30517 C 11/10/2014 97 Henry's Waterworks, Inc $86.75 C 30520 C 11/10/2014 107 Holdingford Fire Relief Assn $185.00 C 30521 C 11/10/2014 614 Holdingford Gas and Grocery $250.35 C 30522 C 11/10/2014 109 Hommerding Plumbing & Heating $2,136.61 C 30523 C 11/10/2014 691 Integra Telecom $271.60 C 30524 C 11/10/2014 116 Jeanette May $72.00 C 30525 C 11/10/2014 117 Jerome Schueler $500.00 C 30527 C 11/10/2014 539 League of MN Cities Ins. Tr/BKLY $322.00 C Check # Type Date Vendor Name Amount Status 30528 C 11/10/2014 842 Lifestyle Lumber $304.00 C 30530 C 11/10/2014 831 Madonna Nentl $72.00 C 30531 C 11/10/2014 730 Midcontinent Business Solutions $169.81 C 30532 C 11/10/2014 161 Mike Odden $75.00 C 30533 C 11/10/2014 794 Paggen's Auto $480.59 C 30534 C 11/10/2014 821 RDJ Specialties, Inc $257.90 C 30535 C 11/10/2014 830 Richard Majeski $63.00 C 30536 C 11/10/2014 465 Sandra Meer $181.95 C 30537 C 11/10/2014 750 St Cloud Times #1076 $32.98 C 30538 C 11/10/2014 685 Star Publications, LLC $330.63 C 30539 C 11/10/2014 242 Stearns Cty Auditor-Treas $50.00 C 30540 C 11/10/2014 258 The Nut Man $27.00 C 30541 C 11/10/2014 804 Toshiba Financial Services $99.12 C 30543 C 11/10/2014 514 Tri-City Paving, Inc. $1,200.00 C 30544 C 11/10/2014 271 UC Lab $918.00 C 30545 C 11/10/2014 276 United Systems Technology $2,415.00 C 30546 C 11/10/2014 281 Viking Coca Cola Bottling $2,392.50 C 30547 C 11/10/2014 359 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655038-6 $1,057.97 C 30548 C 11/10/2014 361 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655039-7 $141.67 C 30549 C 11/10/2014 358 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655040-0 $2,530.42 C 30550 C 11/21/2014 582 Aggressive Masonry Inc $4,500.00 C 30552 C 11/21/2014 6 AmeriPride Linen $133.30 C 30553 C 11/21/2014 9 Bernick's Pepsi-Cola $8,985.75 C 30554 C 11/21/2014 18 C & L Distributing, Inc $8,985.75 C 30556 C 11/21/2014 836 Charles Roth $350.00 C 30558 C 11/21/2014 477 Dan Gerads $30.00 C 30562 C 11/21/2014 316 GERAD'S OIL CO., INC $2,016.35 C 30563 C 11/21/2014 787 Granite City Jobbing Co $989.00 C 30565 C 11/21/2014 481 Heggies Pizza $322.35 C 30568 C 11/21/2014 119 Johnson Brothers Liquor C $1,336.93 C 30570 C 11/21/2014 495 MN Trails $162.00 C 30572 C 11/21/2014 844 Oxbow Solar Professionals $20.80 C 30573 C 11/21/2014 205 Phillips Wine & Spirits $1,930.33 C 30574 C 11/21/2014 207 Postmaster $102.00 C 30575 C 11/21/2014 685 Star Publications, LLC $102.60 C 30577 C 11/21/2014 263 Tom's Refuse $5,063.13 C 30579 C 11/21/2014 281 Viking Coca Cola Bottling $2,136.00 C 30580 C 11/21/2014 359 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655038-6 $235.72 C 30581 C 11/21/2014 519 XCEL ENERGY 51-8242904-3 $31.21 C 30492 C 11/10/2014 409 Albany Heating, A/C & Service, Inc. $3,304.00 O 30497 C 11/10/2014 674 Audrey Lange $179.92 O 30518 C 11/10/2014 564 Holdingford Area Historical Society $795.00 O 30519 C 11/10/2014 841 Holdingford CC Fireworks Account $1,259.00 O 30526 C 11/10/2014 675 Kathy Gerads $72.00 O 30529 C 11/10/2014 613 Lois Schmit $524.54 O 30542 C 11/10/2014 267 Tri-County Septic Service $1,100.00 O 30551 C 11/21/2014 74 Amerigas $1,893.40 O 30555 C 11/21/2014 22 Central Hydraulics $27.50 O 30557 C 11/21/2014 48 D & D Beverage $360.00 O 30559 C 11/21/2014 40 David Drown Associates $2,000.00 O 30560 C 11/21/2014 370 Dorine Rausch $49.81 O 30561 C 11/21/2014 70 Frito-Lay, Inc $92.79 O 30564 C 11/21/2014 90 Harry's Frozen Foods $171.50 O 30567 C 11/21/2014 104 Holdingford Community Ed $3,000.00 O 30569 C 11/21/2014 843 K & S Pharmacy $358.00 O 30571 C 11/21/2014 198 Opatz Excavating $1,265.00 O 30576 C 11/21/2014 258 The Nut Man $35.00 O 30578 C 11/21/2014 339 Verizon Wireless $132.97 O 30566 C 11/21/2014 348 Hiltner Company $75.00 V Cleared $64,339.59 Outstanding $16,620.43 Void $75.00