City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MINUTES-03-12-01 The City Council of Pelican Rapids met in regular session on Monday, 03-12-01, at 6:00 p.m. in the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Denise Magnusson, Paulette Nettestad, Dave Gottenborg and John Waller III were all present. No one was absent. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Street and Park Superintendent Vern Benson, Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier, Police Chief Greg Ballard, Gary Peterson of the Pelican Rapids Press, Monte Eastvold of Juran and Moody, Barb Maack and Dave Ellison of Pelican Rapids Ambulance Service were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. The following items were added to the agenda: 12. Library Board Member, Library Salary Schedule. 13. Ambulance Service Contract. 14. West Central Turkeys Inc. Assessed Value. 15. City’s Comprehensive Plan. 16. Adjournment. Monte Eastvold of Juran and Moody was present to discuss refinancing the water tower bonds. This issue is an advance refunding of the tax increment bonds issued in 1996. Council Member John Waller left meeting at 6:15 p.m. due to illness. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Magnusson to authorize a water revenue bond sale in the amount of $620,000. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Gottenborg to sell the bond issue to Juran & Moody and authorize the mayor and clerk to sign the necessary forms. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Nettestad to approve the minutes of 02-12-01 as presented and 02-28-01 as corrected regarding sick leave severance package and wage increase to other employees for 2001. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Nettestad to approve payment of the 03-12-01 Accounts Payable Listing with the following additions. Motion passed unanimously. Utilities Supt. Brent Frazier reported on activities in his departments. Barb Maack and Dave Ellison, M.D., of the Pelican Rapids Ambulance Service were present to request an increase from $4.00 to $5.50 per capita. They explained that Medicare reimbursement rules change on 04-01-01 and will adversely affect the ability of Pelican Rapids Ambulance Service to deliver service. They discussed the resulting deficit. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Magnusson to approve the increase from $4.00 to $5.50 per capita and authorize payment for the 2001 contract year. Motion passed unanimously. Street and Park Superintendent Vern Benson reported on his departments’ activities. He also recommended changes to the ordinance relating to the placement of mailboxes to bring them to the same standard as the Minnesota Department of Transportation and surrounding communities require. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Gottenborg to approve recommended changes for mailbox placement. Motion passed unanimously. Police Chief Greg Ballard was present to give the police report and information on cell phone use by police department. Due to dead spots in the town, cell phones will not work. Working with the local telephone company, Ballard has identified a plan reducing pager costs to about half the current charges. Council expressed appreciation to Ballard for his research and agreed to change in plan. The Liquor Store report was not available. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson advised Council that the Jennie O tax court appeal for 1999 and 2000 has been settled out of court with a substantial reduction in property valuation for the turkey processing plant. Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert reviewed the financial reports. Jenson reported that the City will not be reimbursed for the engineering fees for the Hiking/Biking Trail. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Nettestad to accept the Library Board’s appointment of Lucille Tunheim to the Board. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Magnusson to accept the 2001 Library Salary Schedule as recommended by the Library Board subject to receipt of the appropriate Library Board Minutes. Motion passed unanimously. Council Member Gottenborg said he has been asking for information on the City’s Comprehensive Plan for the past four years. He recommends the City investigate other potential people to write the Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Runningen turned meeting over to Acting Mayor Gottenborg. Acting Mayor Gottenborg said he is hoping to put some information together on City Facilities. He would like to adjourn the meeting to discuss facilities. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Magnusson to adjourn the meeting to Monday, 03- 19-01, at 5:30 p.m. in the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room or the Senior Center. Voting yes: Acting Mayor Gottenborg, Council Members Nettestad and Magnusson. Voting no: none. Abstaining: Runningen. Motion carried. Glenys Ehlert Deputy Clerk-Treasurer