City Council Meetings 2016-2024

MINUTES REGULAR MEETING MOOSE LAKE CITY COUNCIL Wednesday, December 12, 2012 City Hall 6:30 PM Regular Meeting Call to Order: Mayor Ted Shaw called the meeting of the Moose Lake City Council to Order. In addition to Mayor Ted Shaw, the following City Councilors were in attendance: Curt Yort, Kris Huso, Michael Peterson, and Jim Michalski. Also in attendance: City Administrator; Mark Vahlsing, Tom Paull, Eddie Palkie, Joe Rhein, Dean Paulson, Natalie Frohrip, Phil Entner, Mark Skelton, Spencer Skelton, Veronica Fenice, Pat Oman, Commissioner Gary Peterson, Deb Mohelsky. CALL TO ORDER Pledge of Allegiance Motion made by Councilor Peterson to accept agenda seconded by Councilor Michalski with additions. Motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA Minutes -November 28 and December 5 Special Meetings and November 14, 2012 Regular Meeting, Moose Lake City Council. Financial Reports  City Accounts Payable – December 2012  City Financial Statements – November 2012  Liquor Store – Profit & Loss Statement – November 2012  Motion made by Councilor Yort to accept consent agenda, seconded by Councilor Peterson. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT This time is reserved for comments from the public on matters not listed on the agenda. Please keep comments to 3 minutes. Carlton County Commissioner elect Gary Peterson introduced himself to the Council. Mayor Shaw welcomed Mr. Carlson and stated that the City was looking forward to working with him. 6:30 pm, Public Hearing – Review losses of City of Moose Lake Municipal Liquor Store for the years 2009-2011. Administrator Vahlsing stated that profits were trending up and the operation was doing somewhat better then last year. He stated that there was still room for improvement but it was a very good sign to see that sales are up. Mayor Shaw asked for public comment. None was received. Motion to close the public hearing made by Councilor Huso, seconded by Councilor Yort. Motion carried. 7:00 pm, Public Information meeting – City of Moose Lake Wellhead Protection Program – Phase I Joe Rhein stated that the City is required to have a Wellhead Protection Plan on file per Department of Health. This plan was done in 2003 but required to be redone every 10 years. They have reassessed the vulnerability of the wells. Council did approve the plan, submitted to Dept. of Health who also approved. This public hearing is the next step in the process. Formality. After this, Dept. of Health will come back and let the City know what is expected of them in Phase 2. Phase 2 of the Wellhead Protection is more detailed with investigation of potential contaminants and threats to wells. PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED BUSINESS Flood Update Tom Paull updated the Council. FEMA has all the information to complete the reimbursement process. They would be closing joint field office on December 21st. Hopefully by early week, FEMA will be signing off on all 59 sites. The Regional Long Term Recovery organization is opening office in Family Service Center Building. Mayor Shaw recommended to Council to keep Tom Paull on staff until the resolution of all the flood issues. The Council concurred with the idea. Pat Oman updated the Council on the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) Carlton County Economic Development sent out pre and full application to all commercial flood victims in the County. 25 had shown interest including 7 in Moose Lake. The MIF loan program has a 0% interest rate and is 50% forgivable. DNR Mitigation Program Tom Paull stated that three homes in Moose Lake had been submitted for inclusion in the program. The State had the submitted application and will make a decision in February what homes will be funded. Moose Lake Historical Society – Request for City backing for $75,000 loan from Lake Country Power. Historic Society member Dean Paulson told the Council that a Small Cities grant was received for $40,000. Total project came in at $114,000. Historical Society income was $35,041.61 thus far for 2012. Councilor Yort would like to see an itemization of where money is going, i.e. bids submitted and accepted, monies paid out for what and to whom. Motion was made by Councilor Peterson to co-sign the loan for $74,285 for the Historical Society building project, seconded by Councilor Huso. Motion carried. Northeast Service Cooperative Internet Services Agreement No new information. Finalize Hiring process for City Administrator Position and discuss interim staffing options. Administrator Vahlsing reviewed proposals that had been received to conduct a search for a new City Administrator. Springsted had submitted the lowest price lowest quote. They have completed many public sector searches for cities and counties. Motion made by Councilor Yort to approve agreement (excluding negotiation the final compensation) with Springsted Inc. , seconded by Councilor Peterson. Discussion ensued. Councilor Yort amended his Motion amended to accept the full package with Springsted Seconded by Councilor Peterson. Motion carried. Administrator Vahlsing stated that he knew a retired City Administrator that may be interested in serving as an interim. He stated that this individual has served as a City administrator in three communities. Administrator Vahlsing recommended that the City consider using him. Recommendation made by Councilor Yort that the City Personnel Committee (Mayor Shaw and Councilor Huso) meet with the candidate. Mayor Shaw stated that he and Councilor Huso would meet with the individual. If the interview went well the whole Council would meet with him. Pat Oman Carlton County Economic Development – Update on Moose-Tec business planning process. The Water and Light Commission has been working with Pat Oman of Carlton County Economic Development to develop a plan to make Moose-Tec wireless Internet service profitable. The Commission is looking to move forward on identifying some no cost growth initiatives Mr. Oman was trying to find funding programs at the State level. He was reaching out to government units who don’t have Internet access. He hopes to have the plan completed in January. Review final 2013 Friends of Animals Contract Chief Bogenholm and Administrator Vahlsing reviewed an alternative animal control option. After further review Administrator Vahlsing recommended that the City accept the 2013 Friends of Animals Contract. Motion by Councilor Michalski to accept the 2013 Friends of Animals Contract, seconded by Councilor Huso. Motion carried. Draft Mediacom Cable Franchise Agreement. Administrator Vahlsing stated that several areas were successfully improved upon in the new agreement; including public education programming, continued availability of 2-way capability. Mediacom agreed to keep both PEG channels on the basic channel tier, implement a new fee of $1.50 per subscriber per month to fund future PEG capital costs. Mediacom agreed to recover 20-30 cents per subscriber per month over a 5-year period, which would generate approximately $3000. Franchise fees capped at 5% of gross revenues, by law. Motion made by Councilor Peterson to accept the Mediacom Cable Franchise Agreement, seconded by Councilor Huso. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS Review job description Public Works Laborer 2. Administrator Vahlsing requesting Council to approve job description that would create a Laborer 2 position as it would create an employee who can basically serve as a back up and be able to perform duties of Street Superintendent if absent. Administrator Vahlsing also recommends promoting Phil Entner to this Laborer 2 position. Motion by Councilor Huso to accept job description of Public Works Laborer 2, seconded by Councilor Yort. Motion carried. Change of Job Classification – Phil Entner from Public Works Laborer 1 to Public Works Laborer 2. Motion by Councilor Peterson to move Phil Entner to the Laborer 2 position, seconded by Councilor Michalski. Motion carried. Resolution 12-12-01: Approving modification of PFA Wastewater Loan repayments To assist the City during the June flood event the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority allowed the City to make an interest only payment for the FY 09 and FY 10 Clean Water loans. These loans were related to expansion and related improvements to the City sewer collection system and lagoons. The principal payments were re- amortized into the remaining balance of both loans. The proposed revised annual payments are shown as attachments to the resolution. There were two options for revising the payments for the FY-10 loan. (10 and 16 years) Administrator Vahlsing recommended the 10-year option for the FY-10 loan. This action requires Council approval. Motion made by Councilor Peterson to accept Resolution 12-12-01 with the shorter repayment option for FY-10 PFA loan, seconded by Councilor Michalski. Motion carried. Approve Engagement Letter with Clifton, Allen Larson for 2012 City Audit. Motion made by Councilor Yort to approve the Engagement Letter with Clifton, Allen Larson, seconded by Councilor Huso. Motion carried. Trail Extension Project Bill from Carlton County Administrator Vahlsing stated that the City had received a bill from Carlton County Highway Department for a portion of a trail improvement project. City staff could not locate any information on the project. Councilor Yort recommended holding off on paying this bill until we know more about what it is about. REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE Police Department Report – November – Chief Bogenholm not in attendance. City Engineer Joe Rhein The Wastewater Discharge permit had been filed this week with the MPCA. The Phosphorus Management Plan had also been recently submitted to the MPCA. Review quotes for sale of cast iron and PVC pipe from Wastewater Expansion project- Ads will be run again after the first of the year. He stated that 50% of reviewing the tapes of the sewer televising had been completed. Floor Drain installation in concession area of Riverside Arena. Mayor Shaw stated the need to install a floor drain in Riverside Arena. The City had received a quote from Eagle Lake plumbing. The plans for the floor drain had been approved by the State. He recommends talking to the Hockey Association and bring the issue back in January. Councilor Michalski recommends the Hockey Association contribute to the cost of this project. ADJOURN – Motion made by Councilor Michalski to adjourn, seconded by Councilor Peterson. Motion carried. Submitted by: Paula Danelski, Recorder