City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Regular Council Meeting Minutes January 15, :00pm

Transcription

1 City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Regular Council Meeting Minutes January 15, :00pm A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on January 15, 2014 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion. The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm by Mayor Samuel A. Clark. Present: Absent: Employees: Others Present: Public: Mayor: Samuel Clark Council Members: Lisa Lund, Ray Lally, Warren Peters, Tom Borglund None Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), LuAnn Freiermuth (City Clerk-Treasurer), Tom Johnson (Maintenance) John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering Steve Bridge, Mike Peterson, Scott Lehti, Jen Anderson, Deb Switzer, Rob Switzer, County Commissioner Gary Peterson 1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA Under Fire and Ambulance add B Resolution to accept the bequest from Frances V. Flattum estate. Motion by Lally to approve the Agenda with additions, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously. 2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL County Commissioner Gary Peterson was present to inform us of various county projects and issues: The State of Minnesota has approved the Limited Use Permit for a culvert on North Highway 73 for the ATV trail. Moose Lake Airport has received a special award for its improvements at the airport. The Moose Lake Star Gazette ran an article on this. Text for Life Program, a suicide prevention program, has been organized in the Moose Lake High School. It has been so successful that it looks like it will be going state-wide and possibly nationwide. A land exchange, based from a treaty from 1854, has taken place between the Fond du Lac reservation and the county. The reservation will gain land for housing and the county will gain timber land. The County Transfer Station has had financial issues and Heather Cunningham is working on solutions. The court system is also working to recoup taxpayer s money. Sappi has had a $50 million remodeling project and is now producing cellulose. Cellulose is used in textile products and consumer goods and is being shipped world-wide.

2 Locally Laid Egg Company is a local business out of Wrenshall that has received national recognition on Facebook and is a finalist for a commercial during the Super Bowl. Commissioner Peterson mentioned the county has finished their budget. There are many budget needs and the county is continually looking at how to stay within the budget. One example was there were requests to hire 10 new employees but they had to cut it down to 2 new hires. One jailer and a Human Resource person. Questions were asked pertaining to the maintenance on Swede Lake Road, which is in the 5-year plan, and the East Four Corners Road. Commissioner Peterson explained that our country s infrastructure is in great need of repair and that finding a solution in the budget is difficult. Options include levying for road work which would increase taxes, the county could add a wheelage tax on vehicles when licenses/tabs are due, or another solution would be to add a half-a-cent sales tax in the county. Enbridge is in the process of bringing the oil pipeline through the county. There is a mining company buying up land in the Tamarack area. 3. OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior meeting minutes. B. Pavilion calendar C. General Ledger for December (listing receipts and disbursements) D. Claims list for approval E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report F. Pull tab totals for November $ G. Treasurer s Monthly Report Correction to the December 18, 2013 minutes: Under Parks and Recreation, letter B, delete Motion made by Borglund to approve purchasing playground equipment from Landscape Structures and keeping $12,500 in the city general fund earmarked for playground equipment, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously. It should be corrected to state, Discussion on purchasing playground equipment from Landscape Structures and $12,500 from Cromwell Economic Development Corp would remain earmarked for playground equipment. Corrections to the Special Meeting held on January 9, 2014: Delete: Either city may back out at any time but there would be a substantial penalty after the 2 year trial period. It should be corrected to state, Either city may back out at any time and there would be no penalty for leaving the Joint Powers Agreement. Delete: Attorney Yetka will write up the final draft of the Joint Powers Agreement and present it at the next meeting. It should be corrected to state, Attorney Yetka will write up the final draft of the Joint Powers Agreement for consideration at the next regular city council meeting. Motion by Lally, seconded by Peters to approve the consent agenda with noted changes. Motion carried unanimously.

3 5. WATER/SEWER/MAINTENANCE A. Maintenance Report a. Replaced transducer in water tower. It is now working well. b. All lift stations are in good working condition and all paperwork is complete. c. Four electrical outlets in the clinic need to be replaced. d. Maintenance is needed on the pavilion water heater, a curb stop needs repair, and a water line in the clinic needs repair to eliminate dripping. e. OSHA showed up for an inspection. The city received a good report. No citations, just recommendations for minor details. f. The city now has a new truck. Tom requested getting a City of Cromwell sign for the doors. g. Tom put in a request that the city purchase a trailer and a skidster sometime in the future. The council agreed that a trailer could be purchased and that Tom could begin checking on prices. h. Tom put in a request for a spray-on bed liner for the new truck. The council agreed and told Tom he should look into pricing. B. Project Status Report from John Mattonen. a. Looking into exterior water tower drain valve options. b. No recent reconstruction activity. 6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager s Report by Paul Lampi. a. January 18 Free juke box night Vintage Run b. February 8 Live Bait (tentatively) c. February 22 Save A Boob Fishing Contest should be good for business d. March 15 Simpson Road e. Pool League on Thursday nights. 10 teams. Pool money and juke box business are good on these nights. f. Dash for Cash is into its 3 rd week. Snowmobiling business has been good. g. Discussed ideas for new promotions at employee meetings: Possible Casino Night. Need to check on the legalities and details. h. March 15 - St. Patrick s Day Promo. Starting in March possibly having a ticket drawing for each Irish drink purchased. i. Miller Beer is having a Retro Can Promo in February. There will be a special on the Miller Retro cans of beer at $2.50. j. Other promo ideas: Get Kinky in February, Mexican Monday, Bloody Mary Bar, pajama party. k. Inventory is done. Paperwork is being completed. l. Re-addressed Brent Vigness s hourly wage. Manager Lampi recommended that step increases be more than 20 cents for this position. The clerk will check with the State and the council will look at updating the wage scale. m. The felt has been replaced on the pool table.

4 n. Discussion on Karen Johnson s position. She was hired on a temporary basis until interviews could be conducted per the June 19, 2013 meeting. The probationary period does not apply to temporary positions. Due to the lapse between the resignation of the city clerk and the hiring of a new clerk, interviews were delayed until into October. Karen s status was not changed from temporary, therefore her hourly wage remained the same. No action taken to make changes in wage. 7. PARKS AND RECREATION/PAVILION A. Steve Bridge and Jennifer Anderson were present to give an update on the playground project. Money has been raised from several events, donations, and grants totaling $62,000. Application for a DNR matching funds grant will be submitted by the March 31 deadline. With the current funds, a down payment, and an estimated $10,000 from the 2014 Kaleb Anderson Memorial Fun Run/Walk the plan is to purchase and install playground equipment this year. B. Resolution to accept money donated to the pavilion for replacing the floors in the restrooms. Motion made by Peters to accept $200 from the YOT Club for the purpose of replacing the flooring in the pavilion restrooms, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously. Motion made by Peters to accept $200 from the Cardinal Quilters for the purpose of replacing the flooring in the pavilion restrooms, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously. C. Deb and Rob Switzer were present to request that the Harvest Fest checking account funds be moved back from the city playground fund to the Harvest Fest account. Mayor Clark called a recess to the regular council city meeting to discuss Cromwell Economic Development Corp business. Motion made to recess by Borglund, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting recessed at 8:33 pm. Motion to reconvene the regular city council meeting at 8:49 pm. Motion made by Peters, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously. Resolution to accept Harvest Fest funds will be postponed until the next regular city council meeting. 8. GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY A. City Clerk requested approval from the council to attend the 2014 Municipal Clerks & Finance Officers Association Conference in St. Cloud to be held March Cost of the conference is $200 and motel accommodations at $85 plus tax per night for two nights. Motion made by Lund to approve sending LuAnn Freiermuth to this conference, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously. B. City clerk requested approval from the city council for time off from work from Jan 27 Feb 12. Motion made by Peters to approve clerk s time off from work, seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously. C.Renewal of annual Pavilion Contract at no charge. Clerk will get updated information from the Minnesota Department of Health regarding the sale of food.

5 D. Renewal of Annual Appointments. Lund will replace Lally on Civil Defense, and Lally will replace Lund on the Program Liaison/Census Bureau. Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, & Pritchett will be deleted and the new appointment will be inserted after February s meeting with approval of city attorney for Motion made by Borglund to approve Annual Appointments with noted changes, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously. E. Annual review of council wages. No action taken. F. Annual review of Fee Schedule. No action taken. G. Review of RFP s. Request for Proposals for city attorney and city auditor were opened, reviewed and discussed. Decision tabled until the next regular city council meeting. 9.FIRE DEPARTMENT/AMBULANCE A. Discussion on Joint Powers Agreement with the Cromwell and Wright Fire Departments. Mayor Clark had some concern with the wording in section 10.1, Notice of intent to withdraw from participation in the Joint Powers District may be given at any time but will only be given effect on a calendar year basis with a minimum of twelve months notice of intent to withdraw. Clark recommend changing the wording to state, Notice of intent to withdraw from participation in the Joint Powers District may be given at any time but will not take effect until the end of the current fiscal year. 1/3 Haugen township was omitted from section 1.1 General Purpose. Attorney Yetka will be notified to include 1/3 Haugen township. Discussion concerning tax implications and who will ultimately be making those decisions. Mike Peterson, Steve Bridge, and Scott Lehti explained the benefits to this joint agreement with combining resources, combining members, and a more efficient department. They also explained that this would be a two year trial period and if either city is not satisfied they may back out. Motion by Lally to approve the Joint Powers Agreement with noted changes, seconded by Lund. Motion carried unanimously. B. Resolution to approve accepting donation of $126, from the estate of Frances V. Flattum with limitations to be used for capital expenditures for the Cromwell Fire Department. Motion by Peters to approve accepting donation of $126, to be used exclusively for capital expenditures, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously. 10. Clerk/Treasurer A. Congressman Nolan will be at the Cloquet City Hall on January 23 from noon until 1:30 pm for anyone interested. B. Sales and Use Tax audit went well. C. Sealed bids will be accepted for the old city truck. Clerk will place an ad in the paper. Sealed bids will be opened at the regular February city council meeting. D. Request approval for monthly meeting dates for the Cromwell City Council on each 3 rd Wednesday of the month for Motion by Lally to approve monthly meeting dates on each 3 rd Wednesday of the month, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously. 11. TRUSTEE S NOTES

6 Ray Lally Warren Peters Lisa Lund Tom Borglund Requested that when a city trailer is purchased that it be large enough to haul a skidster and/or several lawnmowers 12. Mayor s Notes ADJOURN Motion made by Borglund, seconded by Peters to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 pm. Motion carried unanimously. ATTEST: LuAnn Freiermuth, City Clerk-Treasurer Mayor Samuel A. Clark