CITY OF GRAFTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 13, 2017 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Grafton, North Dakota was held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Grafton, North Dakota at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 13, 2017. President Chris Lipsh presided. Mayor West was out of town. Members present: Dave Fellman, Don Hutson, Chris Lipsh, Shane Mohn, Phil Ray, Mary Stark, and Greg Young. Brian Sieben was out of town and participated via telephone. Others present: Nick Hall, Nick Ziegelmann, Ed Sevigny, Scott Boura, Russ Geddes, Rock Desautel, Chris Harmon, Travis Craig, Joe Chine, Pastor Mark Hale, Melinda Harder, Mike Steinfeldt, and Todd Kjelland. OPEN PETITION Pastor Mark Hale from the Thrive Community Church in Grand Forks was present to introduce himself and invite members to the new church to be located at the former Thrifty White building, Hill Avenue. Thrive Church has been in Grand Forks for just about 10 years and they have 400 people attend Sunday services. He said the church is Bible based, relaxed environment, contemporary and conservative. There is a high priority for children s ministries and families. Mr. Hale said they have a lot of people from Grafton who drive to Grand Forks for services so they are happy to be able to open a church in Grafton. The Grafton services will take place on Sunday evening. They are affiliated with the Church of Nazarene and want to partner with other local churches. They invited everyone to an open house March 26 th ; they are about 30% complete with the renovations. Joe Chine was also present and he explained the church is high tech/high touch on relationships and the use of technology. They are making an effort to use local materials and businesses for the remodel and Pastor Hale asked if the Church would be eligible for the Storefront Improvement Program; President Lipsh referred him to the City Administrator. Mr. Young thanked them for coming and welcomed them to the community. CONSENT AGENDA President Lipsh asked if any Council member wanted to remove any item from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Young asked that a correction be made in the City Council minutes from February 13 th with regard to the industrial rate for electricity. It was moved by Mr. Fellman and seconded by Mr. Young to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: IV. CONSENT AGENDA 4.1 Approval of Minutes: a) City Council regular meeting of January 9 and February 13, 2017. b) Ways and Means Committee meeting of March 6, 2017. c) Public Utilities Committee meetings of February 6 and March 6, 2017. 4.2 Reports of Officers:
a) City Auditor-Treasurer b) Municipal Judge c) Chief of Police d) Building Official e) Parks and Recreation f) Others, if any 4.3 Game of Chance Application: On roll call vote the following voted in favor thereof: Mr. Fellman, Mr. Hutson, Mr. Lipsh, Mr. Mohn, Mr. Ray, Mr. Sieben, Ms. Stark, and Mr. Young. Those opposed: None. President Lipsh BILLS, CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS It was moved by Mr. Mohn and seconded by Mr. Ray that the General, Special, Capital Projects, Debt Service, and Enterprise Funds bills be approved for payment in accordance with the listing submitted; said listing to be a part of these minutes as if herein set out verbatim. On roll call vote the following voted in favor thereof: Mr. Fellman, Mr. Hutson, Mr. Lipsh, Mr. Mohn, Mr. Ray, Mr. Sieben, Ms. Stark, and Mr. Young. Those opposed: None. President Lipsh declared the motion carried. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES On recommendation of the Public Utilities Committee, it was moved by Mr. Sieben and seconded by Ms. Stark that first reading of an ordinance entitled, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRAFTON, ND, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF CHAPTER 24, ARTICLE I UTILITIES OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GRAFTON, NORTH DAKOTA RELATING TO UTILITIES; AND REPLACING AND ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER 24 ARTICLE I OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GRAFTON, NORTH DAKOTA RELATING TO UTILITIES be approved. The ordinance includes an increased deposit to $250 with every new customer and every customer disconnected due to nonpayment; a $30 disconnect/reconnect fee except there is no disconnect fee for a customer disconnected due to non-payment; an unpaid tenant bill will either be paid by the landlord giving the landlord collection authority or the landlord pays 50% of the unpaid bills and signs an assignment of claim giving collection authority to the City, City can then collect 100% from tenant, property owner has final responsibility for unpaid bills; base charges will be charged monthly for all connections unless structure is deemed uninhabitable. On roll call vote the following voted in favor thereof: Mr. Fellman, Mr. Hutson, Mr. Lipsh, Mr. Ray, Mr. Sieben, Ms. Stark, and Mr. Young. Those opposed: Mr. Mohn. President Lipsh declared the motion carried.
On recommendation of the Public Utilities Committee, it was moved by Mr. Young and seconded by Mr. Sieben to approve the bid submitted by Kraulik Construction to snag and clear 3.8 miles of the Park River through Grafton for $38,000, local share of project costs payable from the Water Department. Berger Construction also submitted a bid for $41,420. The State Water Commission and Red River Regional Council will also contribute to the project cost. On roll call vote the following voted in favor thereof: Mr. Fellman, Mr. Hutson, Mr. Lipsh, Mr. Mohn, Mr. Ray, Mr. Sieben, Ms. Stark, and Mr. Young. Those opposed: None. President Lipsh On recommendation of the Public Utilities Committee, it was moved by Mr. Sieben and seconded by Mr. Ray to approve the application for special event alcoholic beverage license from Grafton Co. d/b/a Extra End to extend its Alcoholic Beverage License to the Centennial Center for the Firemen s Fundraiser, Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Mr. Mohn recused himself from voting as he is a member of the Fire Department. On roll call vote the following voted in favor thereof: Mr. Fellman, Mr. Hutson, Mr. Lipsh, Mr. Ray, Mr. Sieben, Ms. Stark, and Mr. Young. Those opposed: None. Recused: Mr. Mohn. President Lipsh On recommendation of the Ways and Means Committee, it was moved by Mr. Lipsh and seconded by Mr. Hutson to add Equipment Breakdown coverage to the Fire and Tornado insurance coverage and to add the Lessard, State School, North Industrial, Monson, and Hill Avenue lift stations to the Fire and Tornado insurance. On roll call vote the following voted in REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a request to rezone Lots 1 to 24, inclusive and the alley adjacent thereto, Block 42 and Lots 1 to 12, inclusive, Block 43, and all of the vacated portion of Kittson Avenue adjacent to said Block 42 and 43, Original Townsite referred to as the former Central School property from R-2 One Family and Two Family District to R-3 Multiple Family District. It was moved by Mr. Hutson and seconded by Mr. Young that first reading of an ordinance entitled, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP ACCOMPANYING APPENDIX A (ZONING ORDINANCE) OF THE CITY OF GRAFTON CODE OF ORDINANCES TO REZONE PROPERTY IN ORIGINAL TOWNSITE be approved. The Auditor was directed to advertise a public hearing to consider protests at the City Council meeting, Monday, April 10, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. On roll call vote the following voted in UNFINISHED BUSINESS City Administrator Ziegelmann gave a brief update on the Flood Risk Reduction Project, explaining the City and KLJ are working on construction management and ownership of the railroad bridge with BNSF; BNSF wants the City to own the crossing and the City does not want ownership. The Army Corps 404 permit was signed and returned to the City. With regard to impacts, he reported he sent a letter to the Governor regarding concerns with the current policy at
the State level as it is more restrictive then the Federal government on how they regulate impacts. Acquisition of the right of way is approximately 80% completed. At this point the City is still scheduled to call for bids the end of April or beginning of May. It was moved by Mr. Fellman and seconded by Mr. Young that Ordinance No. 308 entitled, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRAFTON PROVIDING THAT THE CODE OF REENACTED BY REVISING SECTION 24-201 ELECTRICAL RATE SCHEDULES AND CONDITIONS be placed on second reading and adopted. The ordinance includes an approximate 5.5% electric rate increase and 9.5% increase for off-peak for 2017, and an approximate 2.5 % electric rate increase and 7% increase for off-peak for 2018, increases customer charges, and removes the water heater credit. On roll call vote the following voted in It was moved by Ms. Stark and seconded by Mr. Ray that Ordinance No. 309 entitled, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRAFTON, PROVIDING THAT THE CODE OF REENACTED BY REVISING SECTION 24-136 WATER RATES be placed on second reading and adopted. The ordinance includes a 5.3% water rate increase in 2017. On roll call vote the following voted in favor thereof: Mr. Fellman, Mr. Hutson, Mr. Lipsh, Mr. Mohn, Mr. Ray, Mr. Sieben, Ms. Stark, and Mr. Young. Those opposed: None. President Lipsh declared the motion carried. It was moved by Mr. Young and seconded by Mr. Fellman that Ordinance No. 310 entitled, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRAFTON, PROVIDING THAT THE CODE OF REENACTED BY REVISING ARTICLE VIII SEWER SECTION 24-232 WASTEWATER RATES be placed on second reading and adopted. The ordinance includes a 13.3% wastewater rate increase for 2017. On roll call vote the following voted in favor thereof: Mr. Fellman, Mr. Hutson, Mr. Lipsh, Mr. Mohn, Mr. Ray, Mr. Sieben, Ms. Stark, and Mr. Young. Those opposed: None. President Lipsh NEW BUSINESS It was moved by Mr. Hutson and seconded by Mr. Fellman to approve the Mayor s Proclamation Declaration of Emergency, City of Grafton, North Dakota, Spring Flood 2017. Administrator Ziegelmann explained the Declaration of Emergency will be forwarded to the Walsh County Emergency Manager who will forward it to the ND Department of Emergency Services who in turn forwards it to the Army Corps of Engineers. There is a 92% chance of exceeding the major flood stage of 14.5. On roll call vote the following voted in favor thereof: Mr. Fellman, Mr. Hutson, Mr. Lipsh, Mr. Mohn, Mr. Ray, Mr. Sieben, Ms. Stark, and Mr. Young. Those opposed: None. President Lipsh Administrator Ziegelmann reported the sandbag machine and 100 tons of sand is in the spec building as are the generators, pumps and hose. The City will likely not see any flooding activity
next week but Homme Dam will be opened today and there is projected warmer weather predicted for next week. Currently the river level is 7.5. The Park District is prepping the Park for the flood. Citizens should prepare their property with drain plugs and sump pumps in working condition. Mr. Ziegelmann will be speaking with the Unity Medical Center, Lutheran Sunset Home, and the Life Skills and Transition Center to make sure they have evacuation plans in place. Mr. Lipsh said there is a lot of snow north and west of Grafton. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Board of Equalization meeting will be held Tuesday, April 11 th at 5:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Mr. Hutson, seconded by Ms. Stark and carried to adjourn the meeting. Connie A. Johnson, City Auditor * * * * * * * * * * Chris Lipsh, President