City Council Meeting

Holdingford City Council Minutes Tuesday, October 15th, 2024 Council Members in attendance: Eric Berscheid, Jayme Opatz, Seth Young, Andy Higgins, Tim Winter. Others in attendance: Nicky Lahr, Keith Hommerding, Travis Harlander. Eric opened the City Council meeting at 7:05 and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Jayme made a motion to approve the consent agenda items including October minutes, and financial statements. Tim seconded the motion, and it passed with all in favor. The proposed delinquent utility bills were presented to be assessed to 2025 property taxes. No citizens came forward to oppose the assessments. Tim made a motion to approve resolution 24-11-12-1 to adopt and certify liens for delinquent utilities on exhibit A, which will be updated to reflect payments made before November 27th. Jayme seconded the motion and it passed with all in favor. Keith Hommerding gave the Fire Department report. They have had 152 calls for the year. Keith inquired about the annual payroll. Nicky recommended a motion to approve paper paychecks for those who prefer them. Seth made a motion to approve, Tim seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Keith will provide Nicky with a list of those who prefer paper checks. Jayme made a motion to approve HMLS lead bartender Eric Kohorst’s 6-month review, including a step increase from F3 to F4. Andy seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Nicky gave the Clerks report. She mentioned that final budgets are due for the Dec meeting. Final levy will also be approved at that meeting. Several bond payments are due in the next month. The second LGA and 2 nd Tax payments will also be coming in December. Health insurance costs are going down slightly. Nicky said that the 3 CDs will expire this week. She will reach out to Keith to see if he wants to reinvest the FD money. Eric made a motion to put the other 2 CDs into 9-month CDs again. Andy seconded the motion and it passed with all in favor. Nicky shared that the City terminated the IT contract with Leighton Technology, and will bring on Shift Technology. Jayme made a motion to accept the quote from Hommerding Plumbing to move the outlets on the light poles on Main street lower. Andy seconded the motion and it passed with all in favor. Stearns County’s Cannabis moratorium is ending at the end of the month. The City needs to decide if they will pass their own ordinance for cannabis sales, or if they want to be placed under the County’s ordinance. Jayme made a motion to first check with the county to see if the decision needs to be made now, or if we can easily pass an ordinance in the future. If we cannot easily do that, then a will publish notice of a public hearing for a City Cannabis Ordinance. Andy seconded the motion and it passed with all in favor. Jayme made a motion to approve the canvassing of the election results. Tim seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Nicky stated that several letters need to go out to properties for not pulling land use permits. Discussion around this concluded that an invoice would be sent for double the permit cost in the case of all basic remodel projects. If the permit required committee and/or Council approval, then the individual would be charged double the permit cost and be required to make an appearance the next council meeting for permit approval. If no payment is still made, the fee Minutes are not official until approved by the City Council and signed by the Clerk. will increase more and the building project will be forced to stop. Several nuisance ordinance violation properties will also be receiving fines for failure to comply. Eric mentioned that he followed up with Father Gregory in regard to the safety concerns with St. Hedwig’s Church. Fr Greg said that he will have definitive answers on building a new church within the next few weeks. Eric asked Nicky to follow up with then for a report before the next meeting. Seth made a motion to approve SHE to begin well sampling to help determine the best location for sample drilling for a new well. Andy seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Looking forward: Next meeting is Monday, December 9th at 7pm. This will also be the annual truth in taxation meeting, with the final 2025 levy being set. Jayme made a motion to adjourn at 7:45 p.m. and Andy seconded the motion and it passed with all in favor. Past due water bills: Covered Bridge LLC, Shannon Dalcin, Joseph and Lana Doll, Brooklyn McGillivray, Nathaniel Posch. Signed: Nicky Lahr______________________________________ City Clerk-Treasurer, Holdingford Minutes are not official until approved by the City Council and signed by the Clerk.