Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Crosby City Council was held on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the Crosby Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Rick Ferrari presided with Member Debra Shankle, Member Ed Vukelich and Member Dusty Paul present. Absent was Member Liz Hofmann. The Pledge of Allegiance was given. Also present were Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin, Public Works Working Foreman Steve Perpich, City Attorney Virginia Knutson, HCC Maurice Slepica, Fire Chief Alan Woods, Librarian Peggy Beseres and Assistant Clerk Sandy Langley. THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 23, 2012 AS SUBMITTED. MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER PAUL TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT AS PRESENTED. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: NONE PUBLIC FORUM: Todd Cravens, Hallet Antique Emporium and Abbey House Antiques in Crosby, praised the Crosby Police Department for their professional and efficient work relating to thefts which happened at their businesses. The businesses had security cameras and the Police were able to identify the thief and they were apprehended and the stolen items were recovered. Cravens wanted the Council and the public to know how well the department handled the incident. Bonnie Finnerty, event coordinator for the Winter White Out scheduled on March 2 & 3 rd gave the Council an update of the events. Crosby Fire Dept. will be overseeing the bonfires. Maucieri s of Crosby will provide the catering. Finnerty asked the council s approval for beer to be sold at the event. She was told that as long as the caterer had the proper licenses and permits the council had no objection. PUBLIC COMMENTS: NONE UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. ROGER BENTLY SEWER CLAIM Mr. Bently requested he be allowed to view the video the city has received showing the condition of the sewer lines near his home. He claims the sewer problems stem from the City s backup in the manhole on 6 th Avenue. Mayor Ferrari assigned Member Paul to work with Mr. Bently and come up with a resolution after viewing the tapes. B. PROPOSAL FOR HEATER UNIT IN POLICE GARAGE The City has received two very different bids for a new heater for the police garage. The Council asked the bidder to come and explain what is needed at the next Council meeting. C. APPROVE CONTRACT WITH SCR FOR COMMERICAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE The Council tabled action until the next meeting NEW BUSINESS
A. WSB ASSOCIATES DNR TRAIL RE-ROUTE/EASEMENTS MIKE NIELSON - Mr. Nielson presented information to the council regarding the path of the bike trail through Crosby. WSB is working with the Department of Natural Resources and Crow Wing County on the trails next phase. The trail was to be routed past the Cuyuna Range Elementary School but the DNR feels it would be best if the trail went straight along Eighth Street NE through Crosby. The DNR will need to acquire easements along the path and Mayor Ferrari agreed to meet with the property owner and the DNR to discuss the easement. Council discussed a leg of the trail from Eighth Street NE into downtown Crosby to encourage bikers to explore Crosby. B. MIDWAY BAR STREET DANCES, FRIDAY, JULY 6 AND SATURDAY, JULY 7 TH, 2012 AND TO DISCUSS PROMOTION OF HOCKEY COMPETITION DURING WINTER OF 2012-2013. Mr. Peterson noted the dances would be fundraisers. MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ALLOW THE STREET DANCES ON FRIDAY, JULY 6 AND SATURDAY, JULY 7 TH, 2012 FROM 9 TO 1 AM. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. Mr. Peterson stated that Midway Bar would like to sponsor a promotion doing a Pond Hockey Competition on the ice in front of City Hall the week before the annual ice fishing contest in 2013. He is looking into it and would like to move forward with the city s blessings. Council said they had no objection, but he would have to work with the DNR to use the ice on the lake. C. M & D. LLC (SPALDING BAR) STREET DANCE, TUESDAY, JULY 3 RD, 2012. Mark Fletcher asked the Council for permission to hold a street dance on Tuesday, July 3 rd. MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ALLOW M & D. LLC THE STREET DANCE ON TUESDAY, JULY 3 RD, 2012 FROM 4 PM TO 1 AM. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. D. APPOINTMENT OF SETH JACKSON TO LIBRARY BOARD EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 2012. MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER PAUL TO APPOINT SETH JACKSON TO THE LIBRARY BOARD EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 2012. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. E. MNDOT SIGN PLAN FOR MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRAIL ACTION MnDot contacted the city regarding the signage for the Mississippi River Trail which runs through Crosby. The Council could elect to use the MnDot consultant for the signs or the city could opt to prepare a sign plan for our portion of the route. MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO HAVE STANTEC, MNDOT S CONSULTANT COMPLETE A SIGN PLAN (PER MNDOT SPECIFICATIONS) FOR THE ENTIRE ROUTE BETWEEN LAKE ITASCA AND THE IOWA BORDER BY SUMMER 2012 AT THEIR EXPENSE. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. F. EAW RESPONSE AND COMMENTS TO WATER TOWER - TABLED
A. RESOLUTION 2012-4-2/13 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR CROSBY - TABLED B. RESOLUTION 2012-5-2/13 FINDING OF FACTS FOR TOWER DISMANTLING TABLED G. HIRING CITY CLERK/TREASURER Mayor Ferrari announced two people were finalists for the position of City Clerk/Treasurer and they were interviewed and the recommendation was to hire Lisa Sova of Crosby for the position. Member Vukelich commented Sova has no city clerk experience and the other candidate does. Mayor Ferrari noted that Sova has a bachelor s degree in accounting and a master s degree in business administration. Member Vukelich said he was unhappy with the salary Sova would be paid. Member Shankle said the city would be ahead because of Sova s experience and the city would not have to hire as many financial consultants. MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MAYOR FERRARI TO HIRE LISA SOVA FOR THE CLERK/TREASURER POSITION AT A SALARY OF $58,240 PER YEAR STARTING IN MARCH. A VOICE VOTE: MEMBERS SHANKLE, PAUL AND FERRARI VOTED AYE AND VUKELICH VOTED NAY. MOTION CARRIED. REPORTS A. FIRE CHIEF S REPORT Chief Woods stated there were two fires during the month of January. In 2011 there were 35 fire calls and in 2010 there were 54 calls. He noted to-date the Department is at 26 members and they have 10 applications on file. He noted that Shane Jacobs was Fire Fighter of the Year and he is a 12 year member of the Department and handles the Fire Prevention Program at the School. Chief Woods asked to form a committee to look at a program for a rescue ATV. Mayor Ferrari and Member Vukelich stated they would sit on the committee. The Fire Department was awarded a grant in the amount of $6009. B. HCC Maurice Slepica asked the Council for a motion to purchase a mobility lift for the larger pool at the center due to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards required such a lift be installed by March 15, 2012. MOTION BY MEMBER PAUL AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A PORTABLE LIFT FROM COMMERCIAL POOL AND SPA IN THE AMOUNT OF $6525.21. THE PURCHASE WILL COME OUT OF THE CAPITAL OUTLAY FUND. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. Slepica reported that the Aquatic Center has been closed because the air exchanger is not working. The repairs are expected to cost approximately $6,500 and should be completed this week. In the meantime, the Country Inn of Deerwood has allowed center members to use their pool while the pools at the Center are closed. C. LIBRARY Peggi Beseres reported that $7,000 has been raised towards the approximately $35,0000 budget shortfall. Beseres was pleased to report the recent contribution of $1500 from the City of Cuyuna. They are hoping that each area city and township takes ownership and continues to support their local library.
Beseres noted that staff has been trained on the WINWAY resume writing software and Library Board member, Mary Gaviglio is offering free resume writing classes beginning in March. Staff will be attending a non-profit expo on Feb. 16 th at the Bremer Bank in Brainerd to seek ways of securing funding and grant opportunities. A FREE concert featuring Zachary Scot Johnson, a guitarist, songwriter & singer will be held from 6:30-7:30 on Thursday, the 16 th. D. POLICE CHIEF S REPORT- Chief Coughlin gave an informal statistical overview for 2011 showing 3,834 incidents to the 3,350 that was reported in 2010. A more detailed report will be at a future meeting. E. ATTORNEY S REPORT Attorney Virginia Knutson reviewed the information from Crow Wing County regarding tax forfeited properties. The City has the option of purchasing the properties or allowing them to be put up for sale. MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER PAUL TO APPROVE THE CLASSIFICATION AND SEND A LETTER TO CROW WING COUNTY THE CITY HAS NO NEED TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AND PLACE IT UP FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. MOTION CARRIED. F. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT - Public Works supervisor Perpich stated they would like to build 10 to 12 picnic tables before Spring. There is wood left over from Project Revive so there would be no cost to the City. Council encouraged Perpich to continue with the plan. Member Vukelich asked if the stop signs at the corners of Second Avenue and Fourth Street NE could be removed. Residents traveling north and south will no longer be required to stop. Chief Coughlin stated they would look into it. Vukelich said he would like to see them gone and there should be some kind of announcement made in the newspaper etc. to let people know. MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY PAUL TO REMOVE THE STOP SIGNS AT THE CORNERS OF SECOND AVENUE AND FOURTH STREET NW. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. G. ENGINEER S REPORT NONE H. CLERK S REPORT Assistant Clerk Langley reported the 2012 Pay Equity Report has been completed and needs Council approval. MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO APPROVE THE PAY EQUITY IMPLEMENTATION REPORT TO MINNESOTA MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AS REQUIRED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY EQUITY ACT, MINNESOTA STATUTES 471.991 TO 471.999. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. Langley reported that Del Anderson would like to make a donation of a 1913 original framed city plat map and have it placed in public view with the city placing a plaque identifying its origins.
MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO ACCEPT THE DONATION AS REQUESTD. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. I. MAYOR/COMMITTEE REPORT- DNR has requested permission to use the City s boat landing for inspection of boats to curb the spread of invasive species. MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER PAUL TO ALLOW THE DNR TO USE OUR BOAT RAMP TO EDUCATE AND DO INSPECTIONS OF BOATS TO CURB THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. Mayor Ferrari instructed Members Shankle and Hofmann to meet with a construction company to determine exactly what can be done to repair the exterior of the city hall and report back to the Council. 11. ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER PAUL TO ADJOURN AT 7:33 PM. A VOICE VOTE: ALL MEMBERS VOTED AYE. Rick Ferrari, Mayor Sandy Langley, Assistant Clerk