City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-01-25-05 The City Council of the City of Pelican Rapids met in regular session at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, 01-25-05, in Council Chambers, City Hall, 315 N. Broadway. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members John E. Waller, III, Ben Woessner, David Gottenborg and Richard Peterson were present. No one was absent. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Tom Hintgen of The Pelican Press, Jeff Cossette and Boy Scout Chris Cossette were also present. Police Contract, Personnel, Annual Fire Meeting, Update on Public Works Facility and Airport were added to the agenda. Joan Ellison thanked the City of Pelican Rapids for serving as fiscal agent for the Multicultural Grants in the past. She explained funding for the International Friendship Festival and the need for a grant application to the Lake Region Arts Council. Ellison requested that the City serve as fiscal agent for this grant. The grant would be to fund a performance of a mariachi band at the International Friendship Festival. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to approve the request. Motion passed unanimously. Council reviewed the Accounts Payable Listing of 01-25-05. Motion by Waller, seconded by Woessner to approve payment of the Accounts Payable Listing of 01- 25-05. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Gottenborg to approve the contract with the Pelican Rapids Ambulance Service for 2005 in the amount of $23,470 and authorize the mayor and clerk to sign the contract. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Runningen reviewed the state law requiring quorums during locally conducted Board of Reviews. The meeting is scheduled for 04-27-05, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Council Chambers, City Hall. Administrator Don Solga explained the revision to the 1999 Overtime and Compensatory Time Policy, adding the words “City Administrator” as the person approving overtime. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to approve the policy. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Runningen explained that the Police Union Contract has been approved by the Police Union. One contract change reflects a request to place the $110 per month for sergeant’s pay as 68 cent increase to the base hourly rate. The investigator will be paid an additional $75 per month. The Police requested an additional $50 per month for family health insurance. The shift differential will go from 30 cents per hour to 40 cents per hour. Minimum court time will increase from two hours to three hours. Percentage increase would be 3-1/2% for 2005 and 3- 1/2% for 2006. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to approve the Police Union Contract and authorize the mayor and administrator to sign the contract. Motion passed unanimously. The Personnel Committee met and recommended a 3-1/2% wage increase for 2005 and a $50 increase in family insurance for non-union city employees. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Gottenborg to accept the Personnel Committee’s recommendation and to approve the 2005 wage increase and insurance benefit to non-union employees. Motion passed unanimously. Fire Department Annual Meeting with the townships will be 02-07-05 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fire Hall. Liquor Store Inventory will be 02-01-05 at 6:30 a.m. at the Liquor Store. Administrator Solga reported that work on the public works facility will be completed on 01-31-05. Council Members discussed need for better furnishings for the Public Works Facility. The Building Committee will make a recommendation about furnishings and plans for an Open House. Chairman of the Airport Committee and Council Member Peterson discussed the need for another hangar at the airport. He has contacted the State of Minnesota about assistance for building the hangar. The state will loan the city up to 80% of the cost of the hangar, interest free, if the hangar is on the City’s five year plan. The new five year plan submitted in 2004 includes a new hangar. It may be five years before the City’s turn would come up. Peterson suggested putting the current hangar rent into a fund to build the new hangar. In addition to a new hangar, the airport also needs new fuel pumps. The possibility of building a new hangar on a lease purchase agreement was discussed. The airport is an important part of the community. Council Member Woessner suggested maintaining an Items Pending List to send out with agenda. Meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer