City Council Meeting

Holdingford City Council Meeting May 9, 2016 Mayor Sue Marstein called the Holdingford City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was recited. Present: Susan Marstein, Mike Odden, Alan Walz, Sandra Meer, Lisa Silbernick, Keith Hommerding, Dorine Rausch, Kyle Roach, Kurt Seestrom and Gordy Sjaaheim. Eric Berscheid arrived at 7:15p.m. Alan Walz made a motion to approve the consent agenda, consisting of claims, checks, electronic transfers and withdrawals, bank reconciliation, and minutes of the April 11, 2016 council meeting and April 13, 2016 Board of Appeals meeting. Motion seconded by Mike Odden. AIF Department Reports Liquor Store Report was not available. Manager Pat Meier had a family medical commitment. A report will be forwarded to the council members later in the week. Fire Department report was given by Chief Keith Hommerding. The department has responded to 46 calls, including six in Krain, three in Brockway, 13 in Holding Township, one City of Avon and 23 in Holdingford. Of the 46 calls; two were fires, six were good intent/canceled in route and 38 were medical calls. Contributions to the Fire Relief Association are still coming in. The Association is looking at purchasing an infra-red camera for the department. A $500 equipment reimbursement was received from Stearns County. Fire personnel are prepared to report severe weather and respond to severe weather calls. Citizens who witness severe weather should contact fire department personnel. The mock crash held at the high school parking lot went very well and served as April’s training. Training for May will be a ventilation trailer and June will be a burn trailer. Members will be attending an electrical training exercise at Stearns Electric. Two firefighters are registered for the State Fire Conference in June in Detroit Lakes. Mayor Marstein thanked the department for use of the Ranger for picking up brush and debris on the trail for Holdingford Cares Day. Emergency Managers Report was given by Dorine Rausch. The siren by the school isn’t working properly. The battery has been replaced and it’s working but a defective charger is causing batteries to burn out prematurely. Other cities are having this issue as well and Dorine is checking on options. The Emergency Management Plan has been sent into the county to be reviewed. Copies of the Emergency Management plan will be housed at the school, city hall and W.D. Scepaniak, Inc. Dorine is working on a resource guide to get area business contact information. The city will work with Stearns County to update the All Hazard Mitigation Plan. Dorine reported on the Emergency Managers meeting in Paynesville where they simulated a disaster, gathered information on iPads for a FEMA program and synced all information into a database that the county could then disseminate. Maintenance Report was read by Mayor Sue Marstein. Bio-solids were spread on the city’s field. Outside bathrooms at the park were opened. Sprinklers at the Wobegon Trailhead were serviced as well as sprinklers at the softball park. Seven sprinkler heads have been replaced at the ball field. Mowing and weed whipping are in progress and weeds have been sprayed. Street sweeping is complete and the straight broom for the John Deere needs an estimated $1,000 in repairs on the shaft, bearing and core. 1,929,000 gallons of wastewater were treated in April and 1,439,000 gallons of water were pumped. Guests Kurt Seestrom from Geronimo Energy, a developer of community solar gardens presented information on their solar garden program. Solar garden programs are approved by the State and are part of Xcel Energy’s efforts to provide green energy. Stearns County voted down a moratorium on building solar gardens. Geronimo Energy offers a program that would save one cent per kilowatt hour, based on Xcel Energy’s rates. Savings were estimated at $5,000 for the first year based on the cities past usage. The program is a 25 year commitment and the League of Minnesota Cities has approved a general contract for services between cities and Geronimo Energy. Kyle Rausch from SunShare Community Solar shared their company model which has a different pricing structure. Their escalator options would generate about $3,000 savings in the first year, but is not based on the rates that Excel Energy charges, although they also can offer the fixed rate option like Geronimo. In addition, SunShare offers a program for residential savings. Their program is a 25 year commitment and their contract has been reviewed by the League of Minnesota Cities. There was discussion on the request from Opatz Metals to expand their property, put up fence, extend the storm water line and put in a driveway access on Main Street. The business owners were not available for the meeting but had contacted council members. The council addressed concerns about fencing and noted that fencing should be erected around the entire perimeter including the west side by Two Rivers River. Costs for extending the storm water line, rezoning from residential to commercial including attorney’s fees, administrative, council and public hearing fees would be at Opatz Metals expense. Accessing the property from Main Street across from Spring Street would generate more commercial traffic on a narrow street, gravel and dirt would be spread out onto the street and the existing storm water drains would either need to be moved or worked around so they wouldn’t get filled with excess gravel. Old Business Approval for the bidding process for the water tower reconditioning project will be requested at the June council meeting. There was discussion on purchasing an aerating system to eliminate freezing in the water tower bulb. The system is available direct from the manufacturer for $3,000 less than if it was included in the reconditioning project. Since freezing hasn’t caused undue damage to the inside of the tower in the past and quote will be honored until the end of the year, the decision to purchase the aerator was postponed. The Holdingford Lions Club is willing to help with fundraising for the park shelter/bathhouse facility and St Rosa Lumber is working on building plans so bids can be requested. New Business Two gambling license applications were submitted for council approval. Mike Odden made a motion to approve Resolution 16-05-09-1 Chamber of Commerce Ranger Raffle to be held August 26, 2016. Alan Walz seconded the motion. AIF Alan Walz made a motion to approve Resolution 16-05-09-2 Holdingford FFA Alumni Tractor raffle to be held October 14, 2016. Eric Berscheid seconded the motion. AIF Temporary liquor licenses were requested for upcoming softball tournament weekends. Mark & Kayla Solorz have been working on field maintenance and recruiting teams. Council members expressed their appreciation to Solorz’s for their efforts to revitalize the softball program and also requested an income-expense worksheet from the 2015 tournament season. Mike Odden made a motion to approve a temporary liquor license for the May 20-22 tournament weekend and waive the $25 fee. The fee will also be waived for the Holdingford Daze Tournament if an income-expense report for the prior year is submitted to the council. Eric Berscheid seconded the motion. AIF Rental of city owned tables and chairs was discussed. Concerns were noted regarding loading equipment, returning equipment in same condition, setting rental fees, and renting to private parties and/or local businesses. Council agreed that tables and chairs would only be available for business use, not private parties, donations would be requested instead of setting rental rates, city staff would not be responsible to load and unload equipment and businesses would need to request and pickup equipment during normal city business hours. Eric Berscheid made a motion to allow businesses located within the city to borrow tables and chairs from the city hall for events held within the city and encouraged donations for their use. Alan Walz seconded the motion. AIF Admin Reports Mayors Report was given by Mayor Sue Marstein. See end of minutes for detailed report. Councilmember Reports: There was a suggestion to put up arrow signs on River Road or a Stop Ahead sign before corner curve heading west to County Road 17 to stop sign. The County will be contacted. Mike Odden noted that the veteran who is donating a bench to the Wobegon Trailhead may also make a request to the council to put up flag poles and install a bike rack. There are several dog owners who let their dogs run loose at Veteran’s Park and inside the softball field and don’t clean up after them. It’s difficult for kids playing at the park and softball players to avoid all of the dog piles. As stated in the City Ordinances it is the dog owners’ responsibility to pick up after their dogs and keep them on a leash when on public property. Signs will be hung and a bag dispenser may be put up to remind dog owners to clean up after their pets so that everyone can enjoy the public parks in our city. Eric Berscheid noted that he attended the information hearing on lowering a culvert on County Road 151 for better drainage through Ditch 13, which is located just east of his business. A public hearing has been set for May 17th at the County Commissioners meeting. Clerk Sandra Meer noted that the water tower lease agreement with Stearns Comsis (AMTA) needs to be renewed. Election judge training is being offered in July for the upcoming elections. The Primary Election will be on Tuesday, August 9th. Filing for two council seats and the mayors’ position will open May 17th for candidates who wish to have their name on the November ballot. Information has been sent in for the audit and it’s scheduled to be completed before the June filing deadline. The Annual Consumer Confidence Report is available at city hall and is on the website. Lisa Silbernick reported on gathering information for a monthly newsletter, for area business updates and events on the website, and email addresses for city notices and announcements. She noted that programing for online utility payments is scheduled to be available on May 22, 2016 on the city website. Eric Berscheid asked about pumping water out of the city holding pond behind his house for a sprinkler system. Mayor Marstein will check on feasibility with Maintenance Department. Announcements Residents who are delinquent in their utility payments are: Debra Feld, Dave Hagemann, Ed Ehrlichmann, Jesse Johnson, Brian Caruth, Sheila Lenarz and Dan Ziemer. Mayor Marstein congratulated Sandra Meer on being awarded the Minnesota Certified Municipal Clerk certification. Brian Zapzalka and Andy Bartkowicz were also recognized for receiving a Certificate of Commendation from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) operators’ excellence in operations. Motion to adjourn was made by Eric Berscheid, seconded by Mike Odden. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sandra Meer City Clerk, Holdingford APRIL 2016 Department Gross Pay General $ 5,751.30 Public Works $ 6,744.00 Fire $ Liquor $ 6,755.02 Total $ 19,250.32. 2 pay periods ending 4/4, 4/18 City of Holdingford - Equal Opportunity Provider Accounts Payable Check Register Report - STEARNS BANK For The Fiscal Periods Range From 2016-4 To 2016-4 For All Vendors And For Outstanding, Cleared, Voided Checks - Computer Generated Check # Type Date Vendor Name Amount Status 31796 C 4/11/2016 704 AFSCME Council 65 $102.40 C 31797 C 4/11/2016 6 AmeriPride Linen $64.53 C 31798 C 4/11/2016 9 Bernick's Pepsi-Cola $964.25 C 31799 C 4/11/2016 18 C & L Distributing, Inc $1,478.90 C 31800 C 4/11/2016 21 Central MN. Alarms, Inc. $369.00 C 31801 C 4/11/2016 48 D & D Beverage $100.00 C 31802 C 4/11/2016 550 Everything Signs $61.00 C 31803 C 4/11/2016 70 Frito-Lay, Inc $90.24 C 31804 C 4/11/2016 80 Gopher State One-Call, Inc $1.45 C 31805 C 4/11/2016 787 Granite City Jobbing Co $844.32 C 31806 C 4/11/2016 91 Hawkins, Inc $2,924.63 C 31807 C 4/11/2016 92 Headley Hardware $716.78 C 31809 C 4/11/2016 614 Holdingford Gas and Grocery $256.83 C 31810 C 4/11/2016 109 Hommerding Plumbing & Heating $419.60 C 31811 C 4/11/2016 691 Integra Telecom $291.77 C 31812 C 4/11/2016 134 League of MN Cities Ins. Trust $13,876.00 C 31813 C 4/11/2016 553 Melvin Breth $63.18 C 31814 C 4/11/2016 730 Midcontinent Business Solutions $183.14 C 31815 C 4/11/2016 161 Mike Odden $75.00 C 31816 C 4/11/2016 801 Minnesota/Wisconsin Playground $604.00 C 31817 C 4/11/2016 687 MN Dept Hlth, MDH $456.00 C 31818 C 4/11/2016 431 MPCA $1,240.00 C 31819 C 4/11/2016 895 Rainbow Play Systems of St Cloud $398.55 C 31820 C 4/11/2016 697 Randall J. Radziej $1,781.25 C 31821 C 4/11/2016 685 Star Publications, LLC $35.00 C 31822 C 4/11/2016 242 Stearns Cty Auditor-Treas $413.50 C 31823 C 4/11/2016 454 Sue Marstein $45.36 C 31824 C 4/11/2016 514 Tri-City Paving, Inc. $109.35 C 31825 C 4/11/2016 271 UC Lab $1,380.00 C 31826 C 4/11/2016 276 United Systems Technology $23.36 C 31827 C 4/11/2016 339 Verizon Wireless $89.59 C 31828 C 4/11/2016 360 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655037-5 $1,344.28 C 31829 C 4/11/2016 359 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655038-6 $1,525.41 C 31830 C 4/11/2016 361 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655039-7 $580.21 C 31831 C 4/11/2016 358 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655040-0 $2,521.91 C 31832 C 4/11/2016 383 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655041-1 $607.37 C 31833 C 4/11/2016 519 XCEL ENERGY 51-8242904-3 $30.98 C 31835 C 4/25/2016 469 Barb Konsor $100.93 C 31837 C 4/25/2016 507 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota $345.03 C Check # Type Date Vendor Name Amount Status 31844 C 4/25/2016 550 Everything Signs $120.00 C 31848 C 4/25/2016 787 Granite City Jobbing Co $621.15 C 31850 C 4/25/2016 851 Health Partners $1,016.48 C 31854 C 4/25/2016 144 MEDICA $1,292.36 C 31855 C 4/25/2016 208 Principal Financial Group $106.52 C 31808 C 4/11/2016 100 Holdingford Booster Club $200.00 O 31834 C 4/25/2016 856 Andy Bartkowicz $85.99 O 31836 C 4/25/2016 9 Bernick's Pepsi-Cola $348.71 O 31838 C 4/25/2016 18 C & L Distributing, Inc $6,482.60 O 31839 C 4/25/2016 21 Central MN. Alarms, Inc. $203.85 O 31840 C 4/25/2016 873 CenturyLink $62.89 O 31841 C 4/25/2016 836 Charles Roth $350.00 O 31842 C 4/25/2016 48 D & D Beverage $110.95 O 31843 C 4/25/2016 52 E. A. Sween Company $249.52 O 31845 C 4/25/2016 70 Frito-Lay, Inc $32.24 O 31846 C 4/25/2016 894 Generator Power Systems $1,300.00 O 31847 C 4/25/2016 316 GERAD'S OIL CO., INC $445.28 O 31849 C 4/25/2016 90 Harry's Frozen Foods $139.50 O 31851 C 4/25/2016 481 Heggies Pizza $446.50 O 31852 C 4/25/2016 585 Holdingford Lioness Club $150.00 O 31853 C 4/25/2016 119 Johnson Brothers Liquor C $2,283.39 O 31856 C 4/25/2016 821 RDJ Specialties, Inc $136.40 O 31857 C 4/25/2016 223 S.E.H. $2,970.24 O 31858 C 4/25/2016 451 Servocal Instruments, Inc $300.00 O 31859 C 4/25/2016 750 St Cloud Times #1076 $41.61 O 31860 C 4/25/2016 242 Stearns Cty Auditor-Treas $350.00 O 31861 C 4/25/2016 245 Stearns Cty Public Health $230.00 O 31862 C 4/25/2016 412 Sunset Electric, Inc $1,198.76 O 31863 C 4/25/2016 896 Team Lab $1,750.50 O 31864 C 4/25/2016 258 The Nut Man $37.00 O 31865 C 4/25/2016 263 Tom's Refuse $6,098.58 O 31866 C 4/25/2016 804 Toshiba Financial Services $119.26 O 31867 C 4/25/2016 281 Viking Coca Cola Bottling $1,977.00 O 31868 C 4/25/2016 291 Yes Co. Inc. $110.00 O 31869 C 4/25/2016 292 Ziegler $382.06 O Cleared $39,671.61 Outstanding $28,592.83 Void $0.00