City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council Mayor Steve Washburn Lindsay Guetzkow Adam Pawelk Michael Walters Dan Schuette 1/26/2021 - Minutes 1. Call To Order And Roll Call Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Watertown City Council was called to order in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 6:36 p.m. Tuesday, January 26, 2021 by Mayor Steve Washburn. Council Members present: Washburn, Michael Walters, Lindsay Guetzkow, Dan Schuette, and Adam Pawelk. City Staff present: City Administrator Shane Fineran, Administrative Services Director Lynn Tschudi, Public Services Superintendent Mike Dressel, and Utilities Superintendent Doug Kammerer. 2. Adopt Agenda PAWELK MOVED, SCHUETTE SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3.A. Adopt A Motion To Approve City Council Regular Meeting Minutes From January 12, 2021 3.B. Adopt A Motion To Approve City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes From January 12, 2021 3.C. Adopt A Motion To Approve City Council Special Meeting Minutes From January 7, 2021 3.D. Consider Resolution #2021-08, Appointing Seasonal Maintenance Assistant 3.E. Consider Resolution #2021-12, Approving Step Movement For Logan Pysick 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business 5.A. Capital Project #CI119 – Loader Plow Approval Of Quotes Public Services Superintendent Mike Dressel said he solicited a quote from Lano Equipment for a new loader plow. The plow is 10 feet wide by 4 feet tall. Dressel said the cost is $35,462.75 with additional costs not included in the quote that will need to cover transportation and installation. He is recommending the approval of the quote not to exceed the budgeted amount of $38,000.  5.A. Capital Project #CI119 – Loader Plow Approval Of Quotes Public Services Superintendent Mike Dressel said he solicited a quote from Lano Equipment for a new loader plow. The plow is 10 feet wide by 4 feet tall. Dressel said the cost is $35,462.75 with additional costs not included in the quote that will need to cover transportation and installation. He is recommending the approval of the quote not to exceed the budgeted amount of $38,000. Council Member Pawelk asked if City staff will be able to remove the plow from the loader once it is installed. Dressel said the reason special installation is needed for the new plow is because a new joy- stick is required. After that, the plow will be removed the same as a skid steer. Pawelk asked if the plow is in stock. Dressel said yes. Schuette asked if Lano is the only vendor in the state cooperative purchasing contract. Dressel explained that the state cooperative agreement means that all vendors agree on predetermined pricing so the City can choose one vendor. Council Member Guetzkow asked if there is a warranty on this item. Dressel said he did not look at the warranty, but most of the plows include a one-year warranty. Guetzkow asked if there is any trade in value on the old plow. Dressel said he would like to put the old plow on GovDeals.com. Mayor Washburn asked if Dressel could talk about the other uses for the loader and the wear and tear on the equipment. Dressel said there are around 2,000 hours on the loader and the lifespan is 15 years. The replacement is planned for 2033 with the only major expense being new tires. Dressel said the main use for the loader is snow removal and moving piles of snow. Staff also carries material to alleyways for repair, hauling supplies, pushing brush pile, turning compost pile, installation of signposts, and loading trucks. Washburn commended Dressel on snow removal operations. Washburn asked Dressel if this is the right tool for snow removal. Dressel said for now he feels that pushing the snow into piles with the loader and using the loader for removal is the best solution for now. If more buildings are built downtown, a new solution will need to be used. GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #2021-11, APPROVING QUOTE FOR LOADER PLOW. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5.B. Capital Project #UC041 – Lift Station Generator Utilities Superintendent Doug Kammerer explained the process staff takes when the City experiences power outages. He said staff has been rating the lift stations in order of importance to receive back-up generators. Currently staff is looking to install a generator at the Hutch Road lift station. Kammerer would like to install a natural gas generator if the resource is available. Council Member Schuette asked the cost difference of the natural gas from the diesel generators. Kammerer said the cost is around $4,000. He explained the natural gas hook-up could be an additional cost. WALTERS MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2021-09, AUTHORIZING THE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR STAND BY GENERATOR. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5.C. Capital Project #UC038 – Utility Truck, Service Body, And Crane Utilities Superintendent Doug Kammerer explained that the City has identified the need for a utility truck with a service body and crane. This would allow staff to lift pumps onto trucks and trailers using the crane rather than possibly injuring employees. The service body allows storage of tools that are needed daily. Council Member Schuette asked if there is any need to go bigger than a 1 Ton. Kammerer said he is looking at a 5500 with a Duramax but the cost is more. Council Member Pawelk asked what the cost would be to install the crane on the existing truck. Kammerer said the truck would need to be adapted to fit the crane and he would rather acquire a new truck with a crane especially with an expanding utility department. Guetzkow asked if a duplicate set of tools will need to be purchased to equip this truck. Kammerer said yes, but they will be purchased slowly. GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2021-10, AUTHORIZING THE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR TRUCK CHASSIS, SERVICE BODY AND CRANE. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6. Other Reports Utilities Superintendent Kammerer updated that the storm ponds are in good shape however the outlets will  GUETZKOW MOVED, PAWELK SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2021-10, AUTHORIZING THE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR TRUCK CHASSIS, SERVICE BODY AND CRANE. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6. Other Reports Utilities Superintendent Kammerer updated that the storm ponds are in good shape however the outlets will need to be serviced. Kammerer showed pictures of the outlets and explained how they should work. Staff will need to service the outlets in the storm ponds to allow them to operate appropriately. Kammerer said the work will start next week to clear trees and the outlets will be cleaned in the spring. Letters will be sent to all residents. Guetzkow suggested to remind residents that they can dispose grass clippings and leaves at the compost pile for free. Kammerer agreed and noted that it is important to educate people. Schuette asked if staff will be entering on the easement. Kammerer said yes and all trees being removed are small. Guetzkow suggested advertising an adopt a drain program. Administrative Services Director Lynn Tschudi updated on the Accounting Software investigation. City Administrator Shane Fineran updated that Watertown Pharmacy has been contacted to be a community vaccinator if they are provided with the COVID-19 vaccine. If the service becomes available in a large capacity, the Community Center would be the location used. Fineran updated that eight vehicles were towed over the weekend due to violation of the winter parking ordinance (no parking between 2:00 am and 6:00 am). Mayor Washburn updated that the local businesses that applied for grants through Carver County were approved. Washburn updated that there are a few people in the community at the school and at Westwood who have been vaccinated. When there are vaccinations available, the City will get the word out to residents. 7. Claims PAWELK MOVED, SCHUETTE SECONDED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE 2020 AND 2021 CLAIMS AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 7.A. Approve Claims For 2020 Budget 7.B. Approve Claims For 2021 Budget 8. Adjournment GUETZKOW MOVED, WALTERS SECONDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:44 PM. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388