May Council Meeting

Twin Valley City Council Minutes | May 2024 | Page 1 MONDAY, May 13, 2024 – TWIN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING Twin Valley Community Center – 7:00 PM MEMBERS: Mark Askelson, Tracy Christianson VIA PHONE: Mike Lampton ABSENT: Michael Bolton, Paul Bekkerus OTHERS: Kerry Askelson, Jason Douville, Toni Nysetvold, Taylor & Kelsey Bennefeld, Dean Bentley, Hunter Pederson, Deb Opsahl, Prestin Douville, Alex Ranz, Kris Carlson, Tammy Carlsrud, Greg Crader, Shelley Gordon, Ashley Diepenbrock, Connie Hamernik, Angie Korsgaden, Jamie & Michael Kitchell. PURSUANT DUE TO CALL and notice thereof the Twin Valley City Council held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024. Councilmember Askelson called the meeting to order at 7:02PM and apologized for the lack of Council member attendance due to extenuating circumstances, noting that some new items on the agenda would be tabled at the present meeting that should have the full council’s attention. MONTHLY BUSINESS Minutes—TC/ML-m/s/p to approve April minutes as written. Disbursements—ML/TC-m/s/p to approve disbursements totaling $185,337.81. A full copy of claims and payroll disbursements is available at the Clerk’s office. COMMUNITY—Christina Lien, on behalf of the Flom Community Club and the greater Twin Valley Community attended the meeting to promote positivity and continued growth in the area. Concerns on local negativity in regards to the upcoming school referendum inspired her and a multitude of other local community members to want to express their support for the community and willingness to help in anyway they can to keep Twin Valley a prosperous and valuable place to live, work and raise families. Discussion about needed housing was addressed, lots are still available in Herold Court for building new homes, however with current prices it was noted that this isn’t a feasible option for many. Discussed possibly creating a community revitalization committee to continue to brainstorm and promote and bring action to ideas. WWTP PROJECT UPDATE—Kris Carlson and Alex Ranz from Ulteig updated Council on upcoming waste water treatment service line and plant project. A second application for an additional $770,000 has been approved by the USDA-RD, this will come as a secondary loan to the City increasing the yearly debt liability by $28,000. The majority of necessary additions to the original plan include new MPCA requirements regarding the pond liner, sludge removal, as well as rip rap around the area. Estimated project start date is in early June, with an anticipated finish to the sewer line portion of the project by fall. The ponds portion of the project may be pushed into next spring due to necessary sludge removal. Bids were opened for the project on Tuesday, April 12, 2024 with the lowest bid coming from Sellin Brothers, Inc. from Hawley, MN. Councilmember Christianson motioned to accept the lowest bid and award the project in like, seconded by Councilmember Lampton the following Resolution was adopted. RESOLUTION 2024—08 WHEREAS, pursuant to an advertisement for bids for 2024 Sanitary Sewer Collection System and Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements bids were received, opened, and tabulated according to the law, and the following bids were received complying with the advertisement: Sellin Brothers, Inc. $3,397,240.00 Gordon Construction of Mahnomen Inc. $3,450,829.00 R.L. Larson Excavating, Inc. $3,868,159.30 AND WHEREAS, it appears that Sellin Brother, Inc. of Hawley, Minnesota is the lowest responsible bidder, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF TWIN VALLEY, MINNESOTA: 1. The mayor and clerk, are hereby authorized and directed to enter into the attached contract with SELLIN BROTHERS, INC. of HAWLEY, MINNESOTA in the name of the CITY OF TWIN VALLEY for the improvement of 1  Twin Valley City Council Minutes | May 2024 | Page 2 Sanitary Sewer Collection and Treatment System and Water Supply System Improvements according to the plans and specifications therefor approved by the city council and on file in the office of the city clerk. Award should be contingent on a favorable funding package from UDSA Rural Development. 2. The city clerk is hereby authorized and directed to return forthwith to all bidders the deposits made with their bids, except that the deposits of the successful bidder and the next lowest bidder shall be retained until a contract has been signed. Upon a roll call vote taken thereon the following voted in favor of said resolution: Mark Askelson, Tracy Christianson, & Mike Lampton; and the following voted against: None. WHEREUPON said resolution was duly adopted this 13th day of May, 2024. ___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ RACHEL JOHNSON, CLERK-TREASURER MIKE LAMPTON, VICE MAYOR ANNEXATION—Briefly discussed request to annex a parcel of land North of the current corporate limits owned by Michel and Jamie Kitchell. The intent of this land is to be developed into a Dollar General Store. Discussed infrastructure needs and anticipated tax benefits to the City based off of land improvements. MA/ML-m/s/p to table discussion for a special meeting to be called at a later date. LIQUOR—Nysetvold gave monthly report. Gross sales for April totaling $44,226.65 with ATM revenue of $402.50. Cash bases accounting shows a positive revenue up to date. TC/MA-m/s/p to approve hiring part-time bartender Michaela Halverson, pending background check. Updated Council on events. Next Steak-Night will be held Friday, May 31st. Nysetvold has had her first outside food vendor and feels sales were positive for both parties, will continue to look into other vendors for the remaining summer months. PUBLIC WORKS—Askelson presented Council with two estimates for the yearly maintenance paving. Zavoral $66,737, Agassiz Asphalt $49,610. Estimates are for the overlay of 4 th St SE from Highway 31 to Pleasant Ave, and Pleasant Ave SE 3rd block meeting up with last years paving. $50,000 has been budgeted for these 2024 street improvements. ML/TC-m/s/p to approve estimate from Agassiz. City signs are having the decorative logs replaced. Discussed additional camping sites at the RV Park, looking into costs associated with having 3 new sites and separately metering the electricity from the Shop building. Askelson has one estimate, waiting for a second before proceeding. Discussed culvert issues in town, looking into ownership of the area culvert before making any repairs. A culvert will be placed at Otterson Bridge at some point during the Highway 29 street project this summer as well. EDA/PARKS—No motorized vehicle and other safety signs have been ordered for the new Heiberg trail and will be put up as time allows. Discussed ramifications for ATV use on prohibited trails, Douville concurred that this would be a criminal matter. Heiberg has already seen a lot of use this fall with camping and fishing. Tentative date for the Splash Park to be put back together is Memorial Day, dependent on weather. EDA committee discussed starting a comprehensive plan for the City, looking at bringing more jobs into the City to move forward and grow as a community. POLICE—Douville had no monthly report available. Community Service Officer Delong has been working on nuisance properties and improvements is beginning to see improvements. Two properties with dilapidated building have already been taken down voluntarily. A building inspector will be in town later in the week to review 5 other properties. Properties where cleanup was requested that have made no contact or taken no action will begin to receive citations in the coming weeks as well. Douville is working on a policy for body worn cameras for the department. A Community Input meeting will be held on Monday, June 10th at 6:30 just prior to the regular monthly council meeting. Douville has attended training for project lifesaver and is now certified. Clerk Johnson has received multiple complains and concerns 2  Twin Valley City Council Minutes | May 2024 | Page 3 regarding the yield signs on Pleasant Ave SW at 3rd St SW, requested these be changed to stop signs. MC/ML- m/s/p to approve and make said intersection a 4-way stop. FIRE/RESCUE—Lampton reported 16 rescue calls and 1 mutual aid fire call for the previous month. Upcoming service and pump testing with be completed on the trucks. Both the Fire Department and the Rescue Squad received donations on behalf of Gary Care’s One Fund Drive. $864 was donated towards the Fire Department and $1,234 was donated towards the Rescue Squad. Councilmember Christianson motioned to accept these donations and express appreciation on behalf of the departments, seconded by Councilmember Lampton the following Resolution was adopted. RESOLUTION 2024—09 RESOLUTION ACCEPTING AND EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR THE DONATIONS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND RESCUE SQUAD FROM THE GARY CARES ONE FUND DRIVE WHEREAS, the Twin Valley City Council expresses appreciation to the individuals, families and organizations for their generous donations towards the Twin Valley Fire Department and Rescue Service through the 2024 One Fund Drive; and WHEREAS, the following donations per department are: $ 1,234.00 Twin Valley Rescue Squad $ 864.00 Twin Valley Fire Department NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Twin Valley, Minnesota that the donations in the amount of $2,098.00 are accepted and acknowledged with gratitude and the donations will be placed into the designated funds. Upon a roll call vote taken thereon the following voted in favor of said resolution: Mark Askelson, Tracy Christianson, & Mike Lampton; and the following voted against: None. WHEREUPON said resolution was duly adopted this 13th day of May, 2024. ___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ RACHEL JOHNSON, CLERK-TREASURER MIKE LAMPTON, VICE MAYOR ADMIN—Financial report for April was distributed, no questions or concerns addressed. Discussion on employee benefits, and the creation of a community fund was tabled for a future special meeting. NEW BUSINESS—Discussed offering citizens of Twin Valley an option for the disposal of Brown Goods. The City of Gary offers residents a type of coupon to take to the Norman County Landfill that allows residents to drop off items they wish to dispose of at the landfill and have a billing sent to the City. Clerk will look into specific options and talk with the owners of the Landfill to see what the City’s options are. TC/ML-m/s/p to approve a commercial license request for Top Hawg to operate a Mobile Food Stand within the City limits. Received a request from the Twin Valley Community Club for a donation towards the 2024 Town and Country Days event. Council tabled for special meeting. Meeting adjourned 8:32PM, TC/ML-m/s/p. Attest: RACHEL JOHNSON, CLERK TREASURER ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** 3