City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-11-13-06 The City of Pelican Rapids met in regular session at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, 11-13-06, in Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Ben Woessner, John E. Waller, III, Richard Peterson and David Gottenborg were present. No one was absent. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier, Police Chief Scott Fox, Street and Park Superintendent Brian Olson, Library Director Annie Wrigg and Kelley Gorman of the Pelican Rapids Press were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. Additions to the Agenda: Election Update Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to approve the minutes of 10-09-06, 10-24- 06 and 10-31-06 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Council considered the Accounts Payable Listing of 11-13-06 with the additions of CT Corp., legal expense, $50; Northland Trust, Project 71 interest, $8,570.63 and the Library Bill Listing of 11-09-06 as approved by the Library Board. Hawkins Water Treatment bill in the amount of $1,163.64 was deleted from the Accounts Payable Listing. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Peterson to approve the Accounts Payable Listing of 11- 13-06 with the above additions and deletion and the 11-09-06 Library Bill Listing. Motion passed unanimously. Police Chief Scott Fox presented a report on the police department. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to accept Police Chief Scott Fox’s recommendation to hire Travis Macleod as a part time police officer, pending successful completion of background check, physical and psychological testing. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Don Solga reported for the interview committee and presented their recommendation to hire Ross Blakeway at $15.60 per hour with a start date of 12-11-06, contingent on successful completion of background check, physical and psychological testing. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to authorize the hiring of Ross Blakeway as a full time police officer. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Runningen thanked the members of the interview committee and office staff for their work during the hiring process. He requested city staff send letters thanking committee members. Administrator Don Solga reviewed the police union contracts which will expire 12-31- 06. The police union requests negotiation meetings. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to appoint Administrator Don Solga and Mayor Wayne Runningen to the police contract negotiating committee. Motion passed unanimously. Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier reported on the wastewater facilities. Mayor Runningen asked about Well No. 12 which is not pumping up to previous capacity. It is pumping at 270 gallons per minute, a decline from 500 gallons per minutes. The estimate for replacing Well No. 12 is $61,075. Thein Well thinks a new well in the same location would pump 300 gallons per minute. Mayor Runningen and Administrator Solga agreed a letter needs to be sent to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regarding this well concern. Street and Park Superintendent Brian Olson presented his departments’ reports. He requested authorization to advertise for skating rink attendants. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Gottenborg to advertise for skating rink attendants. Motion passed unanimously. Olson reported five new park benches were donated by Thrivent. He has identified a couple of manholes in the road on the north side of Associated Milk Producers, Inc., that are deteriorating. These are located along a line that runs north and south on the west side of Park Region Coop. He has estimates of about $1500 to $2000 per manhole if the underground portion is not too badly damaged. The Council reviewed a letter from Brandon Bakken regarding the skate park. The City Council will refer the matter to the Park Board. Library Director Annie Wrigg reported on the library. They have several events planned for this week. Election Day was very busy with two townships voting in the library and ESL classes meeting. The building was fully utilized. Council Members Peterson and Gottenborg questioned why the door closest to Mill Ave. is locked. They pointed out that additional parking is available on Mill and they requested consideration of opening the east door. Liquor Store Manager Bob Leslie arrived at 6:00 p.m. Council reviewed the Daily Productivity Report and the Liquor Store Income Statement. Council and Leslie discussed the possibility of upgrading and expanding the number of cameras for the liquor store. Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert presented the 10-31-06 financial reports. Council considered a resolution to decertify the Tax Increment Financing District No. 5 – Lake Region Electric, effective 12-31-06. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to introduce the following resolution, entitled A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DECERTIFICATION BY THE CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS OF ITS TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT NO. 5 “LAKE REGION ELECTRIC COOP (LREC)”. (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. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to approve the Charitable Gambling Application for Exempt Permit by St. Leonard’s Church to conduct a raffle at the Pelican Rapids High School on 05-05-07. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Don Solga reported on the request for a street light on Maplewood Dr. Council Members discussed locations for a street light. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Peterson to approve the installation of a street light in the block at location of extension of 5th Ave. SE, and Maplewood Dr. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Don Solga reviewed the agreement drawn by City Attorney Greg Larson regarding the Larsen Property Donation. The donation is contingent on the soil borings. Council stated that anything left in the building at the time of the transfer belongs to the City of Pelican Rapids. Administrator Don Solga provided a 2005 Public Nuisance Update. He reported that the property owner of parcel no. 31-001 corrected the problem the night prior to the court hearing. Property 54-000 is going to court on 12-05-06, unless it is cleaned up prior to court date. Property at 781-000 had a court date set. The court established 09-01-07 as the date all properties in the city limits owned by this person will be in compliance. If any property is out of compliance, the property owner will go to a sentencing hearing. Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert provided an election update. In response to a request from a candidate in the city council race, Ehlert provided information on election recount procedures. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer