City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES-05-08-06 The City Council of Pelican Rapids met in regular session at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, 05-08-06, Council Chambers, City Hall. Acting Mayor Ben Woessner, Council Members John E. Waller, III, Richard Peterson and David Gottenborg were present. Mayor Wayne Runningen was absent. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk- Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Police Chief Scott Fox, Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier, Street and Park Superintendent Brian Olson, Library Director Pam Westby, Gary Nansen and Jon Olson of Ulteig Engineers, Monte Eastvold of Northland Securities, Inc., and Paul King of Moore Engineering were also present. Meeting called to order at 5:30 p.m., by Acting Mayor Ben Woessner. Agenda additions: VFW Post 5252 Auxiliary Charitable Gambling. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to approve the minutes of 04-10- 06 and 04-25-06 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to approve payment of the 05-08- 06 Accounts Payable Listing as presented. Motion includes approval of the Library Accounts Payable of 05-08-06 as approved by Library Board Member Gary Lage. Motion passed unanimously. Gary Nansen of Ulteig Engineers presented a Project Design Summary on the Sanitary Sewer and Water Main Extension on Maplewood Drive. Nansen reviewed the project. He said soil borings have been conducted and the results will be included in the bid documents to the contractors. If there are any soil concerns, Nansen will contact City Administrator Don Solga and City Council. The next step for the City Council is the Resolution Approving Plans and Specifications and Ordering Advertisement for Bids. Nansen suggested bid opening on Thursday, 06- 01-06, at 2:00 p.m. This will allow time to review the bids prior to the 06-11- 06 meeting. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Peterson to introduce the following resolution, entitled, RESOLUTION APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND ORDERING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 71. (A complete text of this resolution is part of permanent public record in the city clerk’s office.) Motion passed unanimously and resolution declared duly adopted. Monte Eastvold of Northland Securities, Inc., presented information regarding the issuance of $340,000 General Obligation Utility Revenue Bonds, Series 2006A. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to authorize the sale of $340,000 General Obligation Utility Revenue Bonds, Series 2006A. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to introduce the following resolution, entitled, RESOLUTION AWARDING SALE OF $340,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION UTILITY REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2006A, FIXING THE FORM AND SPECIFICATIONS THEREOF, PROVIDING FOR THEIR EXECUTION AND DELIVERY AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR PAYMENT. (A complete text of this resolution is part of permanent public record in the city clerk's office.) Motion passed unanimously and resolution declared duly adopted. Administrator Don Solga reported that the City has every expectation that we will be reimbursed for Well No. 14 expenses and those funds will help pay back the above bonds. Solga said he was notified today by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that they will be taking over the replacement of Well No. 14 from Park Region Coop. Solga is setting up a meeting with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to determine what the implications are to the City. Police Chief Scott Fox presented his report. Street and Park Superintendent Brian Olson presented a report on his departments activities. He also presented quotes for 72 blocks of seal coating and crack sealing. He recommends L & M Services for the project. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to accept L & M Services’ quote of $22,090 for Seal Coat and Crack Sealing 2006. Motion passed unanimously. He recommended hiring several seasonal employees: Richard Peterson, Benjamin L. Woessner, Jr. and Matthew J. Wright. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to hire Richard Peterson as a seasonal employee for the street department at $8.80 per hour. Acting Mayor Woessner and Council Members Waller and Gottenborg voted yes. No one voted no. Council Member Peterson abstained. Motion carried. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to hire Benjamin L. Woessner, Jr., and Matthew J. Wright as seasonal employees for the park department at $7.27 per hour. Council Members Peterson, Waller and Gottenborg voted yes. No one voted no. Acting Mayor Woessner abstained. Motion carried. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to authorize the interview committee to offer the position for the Aquatic Director a rate of pay at $10.35 per hour. Motion passed unanimously. Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier reported that In Control has been here doing service work on the water pumps. He said he has received complaints on the odor coming from the lagoons, specifically the larger anaerobic pond and the aerated pond. Pumping from the equalization pond to the aerated pond did not work. Ferric chloride did not work. Bleach did not work. He has two more possibilities to review – aeration or bugs. Library Director Pam Westby presented the Library Report. Minnesota Public Radio’s show “All Things Considered” will broadcast from the Library on May 30th. The Library Board is near completion of a Disaster Plan in the event of an emergency. Administrator Solga presented the liquor store report. He reviewed the income statement which showed an improvement from a $2,000 loss in March to over $10,000 in net operating income. He also recommended hiring Katherine Lynnes as a part time employee at the liquor store. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to hire Katherine L. Lynnes as a part time liquor store employee at $7.00 per hour. Motion passed unanimously. Clerk Treasurer Glenys Ehlert reviewed the 04-30-06 financial reports. Paul King of Moore Engineering reviewed the Facility PLan he is working on and his efforts to secure funding through low interest loans from state agencies for various water and sewer infrastructure improvements needed in Pelican Rapids. He discussed the ranking for the Project Priority List for the Minnesota Department of Health and the Intended User Plan with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The City’s ranking in the water fund is approximately 10 points and funding has been extended to cities with rankings of 12 points for the Project Priority List. He anticipates that the City will be ranked somewhere in the neighborhood of 64 points with funding usually available down to 54 points for wastewater improvements. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to accept the Facility Plan and to authorize application for the Intended User Plan. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to approve charitable gambling for the VFW Post 5252 Auxiliary. The VFW Post 5252 Auxiliary’s charitable gambling license was previously approved in December, 2005 for January through December, 2006. Motion passed unanimously. Council Members requested updated emergency information prior to Severe Weather Exercise at 3:30 p.m., on 05-30-06. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to adjourn the meeting at 7:07 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer