Minutes of July 12, 2004 Council Meeting
Attendance: Council: Richard Senum, Beverly Burke, Nancy Thompson, Kyle Dorion, John Feldman, Pat Burton, Mayor Warren Hillukka. Absent: none
Present: K. Johnson, Aud./Adm.
Others Present: Jim Hovey, Pearson & Christensen; Ken Norby, Dan and Martha Anderson, Chris Benson, Tom Hanson of WFW and Dan Johnson, WSN
Public Hearing called to order at 7:05 by Mayor Hillukka.
· Andersons presented a petition signed by several neighbors requesting a stop sign be placed on Division St. as it enters 2nd Street. Street Committee will review this; meeting date set for July 26 at 7 p.m.
Regular Meeting called to order at 7:25 P.M.
1. Changes to agenda – street dance, tree removal, MCI. Oath of office was taken by recently elected council member Pat Burton.
2. Motion by Burton, second by Feldman, to approve June 7 minutes as corrected. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Feldman, second by Burton, to approve June 28 minutes as printed. Motion carried unanimously.
3. City Attorney Update: a) Spraying contract: attorney recommends statement about liability. b) FEMA is asking for affidavit of marketable title on S. Pembina properties, as recommended by Fleming. Can proceed soon. c) MCI bond satisfaction omitted one property, but grant & conveyance nearly complete now.
4. Employee Report: a) Goals/priority lists reviewed. Ken will order mosquito spray. Lagoon riprap project is 4/5 completed, and will require more riprap to finish. Fish found in water plant – grinders were not working. Plans to have Twamley help with dike wall repair in August. b) Motion by Feldman, second by Senum to send auditor to Hillsboro workshop on municipal ordinances. Motion carried unanimously. c) USACE recommends tree removal by dike wall. Ken recommended removing about 15 ft. of trees and brush from dike between Catholic Church and old Masonic park where erosion could be a problem. d) Long term water study – Tom Hanson presented the pre-final spreadsheets with adjustments made. Council would like an estimate comparing an average water bill. e) Hanson also agreed to conference call GSA re: flow test billing. f) Friendship, Inc, proposes to increase their recycling collection to the full community twice monthly. This change would be accompanied by a fee increase. Motion by Feldman, second by Burton, to approve these changes. Senum voting nay, motion carried. g) Berm trees at Rolette & 3rd are reported hazardous. Property owner requests removal. As this is a potential danger to the public, the city council directed auditor to contact Shade Tree Committee consultant to review the problem.
5. Mayor’s Report: a) St. Vincent is asking for mosquito spraying. Motion by Feldman, second by Dorion, to allow our contractors to spray St. Vincent provided Pembina is sprayed during the prime time. The city will bill St. Vincent a charge $75/hour. b) Motion by Burton, second by Feldman to purchase signage to commemorate the ball field in honor of Lewis Gooselaw. Motion carried unanimously.
6. Aud./Adm. Update: a) June collections/disbursements, general ledger, transfers, and budget ratio reviewed and approved. b) July bills presented and approved. c) Motion by Burton, second by Dorion, to approve the American Legion’s request for special liquor licenses during the rodeo. Motion carried unanimously.
7. Committee Reports: a) Building and Zoning – 1. Upon recommendation by the mayor, motion was made by Senum, second by Thompson, directing auditor to send a letter to Valley Crete concerning its violation of sight/sound barrier requirements. Accrued penalties may be forgiven after the project completion. 2. A public hearing will be held August 2 at 6:30 to consider the petition to close a portion of Ramsey St. 3. Letter will be sent to Cosleys re: fence in alley.
b) Streets – directed auditor to contact Pembina County reminding them of the crack sealing we wish completed this year.
c) Personnel Committee – following appraisals, recommends the following raises to be effective as of August 1, 2004: $.40/hr increase for public works assistant, city hall maintenance and office assistant to $8.75/hr; public works superintendent to $15/hr; and auditor/administrator to $1950/mo. Motion by Feldman, second by Burke, to accept the committee’s recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. Committee will try to set up a pay scale for all positions in the future.
d) Recreation Board – finished summer ball programs & working on events for Rodeo weekend. Will meet July 19th at 7 p.m. Plans to set up the street dance Aug. 14 in S. Pembina discussed.
e) Growth Committee – motel paperwork turned in. Have ordered new city tourism maps.
8. MCI – production will go up in August & September, with employees being recalled. The county has hired Mel Carson to do an assessment of the property upon MCI’s request to decrease their taxable value. The county tax hearing will be July 20.
9. Motion to adjourn by Burke at 9:50 p.m.
By: Warren Hillukka, Mayor
Attested to: K. Johnson, City Aud/Adm
