Minutes for May 13^th,2024, Pembina City Council Meeting

Date: May 13^th, 2024, at 6:04 p.m.

Location: Professional Building

Present: Mayor Mike Fitzgerald; Jeff Watts (5 min. late), Pat Burton (arrived 6:20 p.m.), Ken Norby (arrived 7:32          p.m.), Connor Snitker, Al Huttanen

One seat vacant until June 2024 election

Guests: Rob Fleming, City Attorney; Dustin Fanfulik, City Engineer; Greg Korpatnicki, City Super; Teri Stoiber, City Auditor; Nicole (Sharp Shears by Nicole); Phil Hall; Keith Needham; Sherri Carattini; Ben Kneeshaw

 Public Meeting:

• Mayor Mike called for Public Discussion at 6:04 p.m.
• No discussion, Public Meeting closed at 6:07 p.m.

Regular Meeting called to order at 6:07 p.m.

Changes to Agenda: Greg added questions about the stop signs; lift station sign (relay ordered); outside dike wall mowing. Motion to approve changes by Connor, 2^nd by Al. All ayes present. Motion carries.  

Approval/Changes toApril 8^th ; April 23^rd and April 29, 2024 Meeting Minutes: Motion to approve minutes as presented by Al,    seconded by Jeff Watts. All ayes present. Motion carries.

Old Business:

·        422 N. 5^th Street Demolition – Chad has it on his schedule. Greg Wilmer requested both hedges on N & E side of property be removed. Motion to remove all hedges by Al, 2^nd by Connor. All ayes present. Motion carries.

• Garbage/Recycling/City Clean Up Day –Al to work on this for June Council Meeting.
• Automated WaterMeterReaders – 157 installed as of 5/14/2024
• Spot Bar Lot – Rob F is looking for the legal and abstract--will draw up the contract & pertinent documentation.
• Northeast Regional Water Fees Contract – Rob discussed with Jeremy-Jeremy doesn’t want to change the verbiage.
• Replacement Street Sweeper? Similar one is about $235,000; Greg to look into options.
• Daycare Center—to remove the old freezer will require it to be sawzalled, so it will stay in the basement for now, along with another stove. Playground equipment and sandbox need repairs/removal.
• Generator Update—Maintenance Contract for Fire Department & Community Center—Greg called Todd and has no reply; Mike to reach out to Todd
• Cole International—plans to cut away curb on 5^th Street? Any updates? Tabled.
• DFA condemnation for property at 601 W Stutsman: Rob spoke with inspector and trying to set up for Monday, May 20, 2024. Zee, Art or Lisa must have key; Mike will ask Zee
• Professional Building Interior Painting Quote – set aside? Tabled.
• Sharp Shears by Nicole lease? Nicole negotiated pricing to $250/month; new lease to start June 1, 2024. Motion to accept by Al, 2^nd by Connor. All ayes present. Motion carries.

Committee Reports:

• Fire Department -  no report – Pete was going to stop by; requesting dropdowns for electrical
• Rec Board – Agenda submitted as minutes; Jennifer White going to sit on Rec Board starting in June. Requesting shelving in the storage area—Al to get pricing  
• 4^th of July Committee – Steel Canopy & Table? Language for limitation for South Pembina Buyout allows building so long as water can flow through, according to Rob F. Connor made motion to approve the steel canopy & table for the picnic area. 2^nd by Al. All ayes present. Motion carries.

Employees Report/Concerns

• Greg –
• Quote from Knife River for 12 road repairs including Stutsman St. Motion by Jeff W. to accept. 2^nd by Pat. Al nay. Majority ayes present. Motion carries.
• Stop sign ordered from Hardware Store—current sign base too small and cement around base is no longer sturdy—wind takes it. Pat made motion to remove and replace with 7’ tall sign with 250# base for cost of about $500. 2^nd by Al. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• Lift station sign: Greg has re-ordered the relay
• Outside dike wall mowing—Owen will do it for the same as last year. Motion to accept by Al. 2^nd by Pat. All ayes present. Motion carries.

Engineer Report – Dustin Fanfulik

• Lagoon—contacted DEQ about funding breakdown; facility plan is next step

Attorney Update—Rob Fleming

• Discussion on utility disconnections for non-payment and/or non-compliance with meter changes and Lead Line Inventory—according to ordinances, can shut off or charge $50/month if they don’t let Greg in after 3 attempts to get access. Motion by Pat for the $50 charge. 2^nd by Al. Recall motion. Rob to get exact wording to add to ordinances.
• Levee Setbacks—provided manual
• FEMA Green Space Regulations—provided deed
• Otter Tail Power franchise agreement—done every 10 years. Motion to approve by Al. 2^nd by Jeff. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• ND Sewage Pump & Lift Station –$800/year for maintenance contract. Al made motion to approve. 2^nd by Connor. All ayes present. Motion Carries.
• Frank Moll Will Distribution—bulk of money will be sent June or July—undedicated funds.

Update & Business: Mayor/Mike Fitzgerald

• What to do with waste dump in S Pembina—camera not the answer; trash being dumped everywhere; path being destroyed. Suggesting $500 fine for illegal dumping signage.

Update & Business: CityAuditor/Teri Stoiber

• April Bills & Financials + cash balance report: Motion to approve by Connor. 2^nd by Pat. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• Delinquent Accounts Update
• All vacant lots have the $13.20/month minimum utility bills; all others $68.12/month minimum utility bills.
• Past due Accounts List
• $1400 in Closed Accounts. Motion to write off by Jeff. 2^nd by Pat. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• North Dakota Water Resources offering to provide cost share up to 75% of dam safety issue remedies
• Completed Banyon training.
• Completed NDLC City Auditor’s Course
• Second Day of Grant Writing Course—5/14/2024
• Flood Account Certificate of Deposit scheduled to renew. Call for special meeting May 16, 2024, to further discuss.
• The American Recovery Act balance of $36,011.19 needs to be used by 2026. Al made motion to use towards water tower repairs & maintenance. 2^nd by Jeff. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• Lagoon Fees: minimum charge each month ($1 or $2) to make sure the lagoon is being funded by the entire town? Tabled.
• Requesting 2 new file cabinets from Red River Freight $377 each. Connor made motion to approve. 2^nd by Al. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• Credit balance with PowerPlan—received  refund--$1287.40
• Municipal Finance Officer Association is offering a free “Regional Auditor Workshop” on June 17^th –In Devil’s Lake. Connor made motion for City to pay for hotel, meals, and mileage. 2^nd by Pat. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• $6682.84 NDPERS error. Motion by Connor to reimburse employees affected. 2^nd by Al. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• $1200 credit with Chale’s Service
• Credit balance with Neptune/Ferguson hadn’t been used—has been applied.
• Account for Christmas tree & street lights from Otter Tail Power hasn’t been paid since 2021. Paid $924.12.
• Due date for utility bills is 20^th. If not paid by 20^th, late fees incur on 21st.
• Fire Department requests $18,000 annual payment per minutes last year. Connor made motion to approve with condition that each year Fire Department needs to address amount. 2^nd by Pat. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• Frank Moll Will Distribution—Looking into money market or CD—looking for highest interest rate possible. Special meeting to further discuss May 16, 2024 at special meeting
• Special Assessment and Sales Taxes—Connor made motion to make separate bank accounts for each. Pat 2^nd. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• SUTA/FUTA—Wages for State Unemployment were understated last year; Form 940 for 2023 wasn’t completed—wb assessed interest and penalties.

• New Business
• Offices in Professional building—need to get rented and refurbished—tabled
• Connor made motion to approve building permits for Garrett Masloski & Jeff Watts. 2^nd by Pat. Jeff abstained. Majority ayes present. Motion carries.
• Summer Help—wages to be discussed May 16, 2024 at special meeting.
• T-Ball Assistance Coach Application: Valarie Berry—accepted.
• Need approval of wages for Assistant T-Ball Coach ($500), T-Ball Coach ($700), Matt G ($1400 + mileage), Mayor Mike (mileage—pay comes from Walhalla) Motion by Al to accept. 2^nd by Connor. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• Raffle Permit for Pembina Catfish Committee-motion to approve by Al. 2^nd by Connor. All ayes present. Motion carries.
• Ambulance Building Maintenance—who should take care of it? Public works is not building maintenance.
• Sign in front of Professional Building needs to be reviewed and updated.

Motion to adjourn at 7:58 p.m. by Al.

• By: Mayor Mike Fitzgerald
• Attested to: Teri Stoiber, City Auditor

• The next City Council Meeting will be held on June 10^th, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Professional Building.