City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES– 12-10-01 The City Council of Pelican Rapids met in regular session at 6:00 p.m., Monday, 12-10- 01, in the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Paulette Nettestad, Denise Magnusson and Dave Gottenborg were present. Council Member John E. Waller was absent. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Superintendent of Streets and Parks Vern Benson, Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier, Police Chief Scott Fox and Pat Reisnour of Interstate Engineering were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. No items were added to or deleted from the agenda. Engineer Pat Reisnour reported on financing and final report on the proposed water plant improvements. Council discussed various financing concerns. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Magnusson to accept the Water Plant Improvement Final Report and request to be placed on project priority list. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Nettestad to approve the minutes of 11-13-01 and 11-28-01 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Council reviewed the Accounts Payable Listing of 12-10-01. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Nettestad to approve the Accounts Payable Listing of 12-10-01 with the addition of Municipal Service Co., WWTF, Lagoon - $974.00 and Len Thompson Painting, Fire Hall Partial Payment - $3,000. Library Bill List of 11-08-01 as approved by Jack Ralston of the Library Board was also approved for payment. Motion passed unanimously. Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier reported on activities in his departments. Streets and Parks Superintendent Vern Benson reported on activities in his departments. Police Chief Scott Fox reported on his department. He has been able to avoid overtime in the department by asking officers not to schedule any vacation time or comp time. He has submitted the department’s policy book to the City Attorney for review and hopes to present it to City Council in January. Fox recommended updating the City’s snowmobile policy and he and Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson will work on it. Chief Fox announced Lake Region Electric Cooperative employees have donated $1475 for a portable defibrillator. He has located some grant money to add to this and hopes to purchase a unit for both squad cars. Jenson reported Federal Warning and Branden Communication are able to work together to provide remote control access for civil preparedness siren at a cost of about $4500 to $4600. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Magnusson to approve installation of remote control access for civil preparedness siren at a cost of approximately $4500. Motion passed unanimously. No Liquor Store Report was available. Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert presented the 11-30-01 Financial Reports. Jenson reviewed an inquiry from Otter Tail and Wadena Community Action Council to construct additional panel homes in the city. Council said they are interested, but a new project would need to include additional landscaping to prevent erosion problems. Council questioned if there are other homes available in Pelican Rapids in the same price range. Council considered the 2002 Budget and Levy Approval. The City’s Local Government Aid increased for 2002 based on population and the number of pre-1940 homes. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Nettestad to approve the 2002 Budget as proposed on 09-11-01 and authorize the levy. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Nettestad to authorize purchase of a microfilm reader printer at a cost not to exceed $4,000. Motion passed unanimously. Jenson recommended the City Council approve a donation to the Green Thumb Program in appreciation for the valuable employees the program has provided to the City and continues to provide. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Gottenborg to authorize a $400 donation to the Green Thumb Program. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Runningen reported that the Personnel Committee has met and is recommending a 4% increase to the non-union employees for the year 2002 and to increase the City’s portion of the family health insurance to $400 per month. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Gottenborg to approve the Personnel Committee’s recommendation and authorize a 4% increase to the City’s non-union employees for the year 2002 and to increase the City’s portion of the family health insurance to $400 per month. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Nettestad to cancel the 12-26-01 City Council meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, CMC