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Council Meeting Minutes
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 10, 2007
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley
City Council met in a regular meeting Wednesday January 10, 2007 at 7:00
pm. Tom Moore called the meeting to order. Council members present
were Tom Moore, Brian Hitchcock, Frank Lamb, Eric Sjolin and Cliff
Johnson. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the Council and
attending audience.
Motion by
Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve the
consent agenda.
Discussion
was held on the consignments. Consignments are as follows:
·
First National Bank of Walker as depository
·
Steve Bolton as City Attorney
·
Northwoods Press as City Newspaper
·
David Johnson as City Assessor
·
Sue Oslund as City Auditor
·
Pederson, Smith and Roehl as Payroll Auditor
Motion by
Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to approve to accept
Resolution # 1-2007, “Resolution to Adopt Consignments For 2007”.
Abstain – Eric Sjolin
Motion by
Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve to accept
Resolution # 2-2007, “Resolution Establishing Procedures Relating to
Compliance with Reimbursement Bond Regulations under the Internal
Revenue Code”.
Department
Liaisons are as follows:
·
Acting Mayor - Brian Hitchcock
·
Fire Board - Brian Hitchcock & Marie Crosby
·
Public Works & Safety Liaison - Brian Hitchcock
·
Personnel, Finance & Administration Liaison – Clifford
Johnson
·
Economic Development Liaison – Thomas Moore
·
Park, Recreation & Public Streets – Eric Sjolin & Frank
Lamb
·
Liquor Liaison - Frank Lamb w/ Citizen/Taxpayer Alfred
Staffenhagen Jr.
Motion by
Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to approve the 2007
Department Liaisons:
Motion by
Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve a monthly
transfer for the year 2007 for professional fees as follows:
·
$500.00 from Liquor Fund to General Fund
·
$120.00 from Park Fund to General Fund
·
$400.00 from Sewer Fund to General Fund
·
$200.00 from Water Fund to General Fund
Motion by
Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve transfers
from Liquor Savings, Park Savings, Water Savings and Sewer Savings to
the General Fund to cover operational bills.
Motion by
Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve transfer
of $12,259.79 from the Sewer Savings to the General Fund for Sewer Pond
Indebtedness.
Josh
Kietzman expressed his concern with the speed zone by Kietz’s Video Game
Rental. He wondered if the reduced speed sign could begin at the city
limits due to the traffic he has in and out of the business driveway.
Police Chief Eric Klein stated a traffic survey would have to be
conducted by MN DOT before this change could take place and that he
would like to see the east, west and south ends of the city surveyed for
reduced speed changes. Some concerns were raised by Eric Sjolin that
the survey could result in higher speed limits if the average speed was
higher in those areas than what is posted. Chief Klein said he would
check into this concern before he would have MN DOT conduct the survey.
Motion by
Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to approve to accept
Resolution #3-2007, resolution for traffic speed survey with the
understanding that the resolution would be shredded if Chief Klein found
out from MN DOT that the speed limits could go up depending on the
survey results.
Randall
Morrison stated that First National Bank of Walker will purchase the
bond for the improvements made to the Senior Center/New City Hall.
Ehlers worked with First National Bank of Walker to get this arranged.
Motion by
Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to approve to pass
Resolution #4-2007, “Resolution Determining the Necessity to Issue Not
to Exceed $77,000 General Obligation Equipment Certificates, series
2007”.
Frank
Thelin thanked the council members responsible for helping him obtain
his water/sewer license. He expressed interest in working additional
hours with the systems and also in the water/sewer position that will be
open when Tony Poncelet retires. Denise Rittgers and Tony Poncelet will
be working together on the ad to be placed to fill Tony’s position.
Cathy
Hamand represented “Audrey’s Purple Dream” and wondered if the City of
Akeley would be able to make a donation to support it. Frank Lamb
stated that even though he thought it was a worthy cause that he didn’t
believe the city could legally make a donation to the organization. The
council will look into whether or not a donation could legally be made
next year to help with advertising.
Kerri
Johnson proposed her willingness to set up a police website which would
be separate from the Akeley website. The police website would provide
information such as victim services, a kid’s page, senior citizen
awareness programs as well as links to the Akeley website, the FBI
website, and Minnesota’s Most Wanted website. The cost is $9.95 per
year to host it. Kerri is willing to volunteer her time to do this and
has the software.
Motion by
Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve to allow
Kerri Johnson to set up a police website at $9.95 per year to host it.
Police
Report - Chief Eric Klein
·
Eric mentioned that since the issue regarding the
resolution for a MN DOT traffic survey for reduction in speed at the
city entrances was already discussed that he would keep Brian Hitchcock
informed of any communication he receives from MN DOT.
·
New Officer Kerri Johnson was present to discuss the
creation of an Akeley Police Department web site.
·
There have been several complaints about drivers crossing
the lane of traffic to put their mail into the mail box in front of the
Post Office. Eric will be issuing citations to drivers in the future
due to the hazards of driving on the wrong side of the street and then
attempting to pull back into the proper lane of traffic. He has spoken
to Tony, the Postmaster who may look into moving the mail box.
·
House numbers at all residences are crucial for emergency
purposes. Eric has received several complaints already from emergency
personnel and is looking for an ordinance which will state that each
house is required to have a number on it.
Motion by
Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve to send a
map of Akeley with the changes made by the council to Arvig
Communication Services for the phone book.
Motion by
Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to approve to
advertise the campground in both “Destinations” and “Summer Scene”
magazines and to add the Municipal Liquor Store to the advertisement for
Akeley in the “Summer Scene” magazine.
Discussion
was held regarding campground rates being increased, paying sales tax
and the park manager’s raise. Sales tax must be paid and with the
increase of the campground rates, the campground manager will
automatically receive a raise since he receives 25% of the profits
gained from campground site rentals, not including sales tax.
Campground Manager Greg Everett also stated he would like to see the
park replace about 10 of the older picnic tables with new picnic tables.
Motion by
Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve to increase
the campground rates to the following which do not include sales tax:
TENTS
RV SITES
$20.00
Daily $25.00 Daily
$85.00 Weekly
$145.00 Weekly
Discussion
was held regarding raising the water and sewer rates due to a letter
received from the State Auditor who encouraged the city to raise the
rates to aid the city in possible future water/sewer emergencies. The
rates had not been raised in approximately two years. Currently the
rates are $19.30 for water and $21.70 for sewer. The council agreed the
rates should be raised but wanted to table it until they had more
information to help them determine what the rates need to be raised to.
Motion by
Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve to table
raising the water and sewer rates. Frank Lamb opposed.
Motion by
Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to approve to start
charging mandatory state sales tax for water on properties which are
currently assessed as commercial properties.
Motion by
Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve to set a
work session date of January 31st at 6:30 PM for
rules/regulations of the meeting hall and salaries, comp. time, holiday
pay for part time employees and raises.
Motion by
Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve to allow Sue
Ostlund from Ostlund Accounting to come in and help with CTAS and to
allow the Clerk/Treasurer to transfer savings accounts over to the
general account to make the bookwork more compatible with CTAS.
Motion by
Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve to allow Vera
Atkinson to come in to assist with job duties that have not been trained
but her time should be as minimal as possible.
Motion by
Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to approve to raise
the mileage rates from 44.5 cents to 48.5 cents per mile per the
announcement from the IRS.
Old Business
Frank Lamb
stated the 2006 net profit for the Liquor Store was $105,505.78.
Cliff
Johnson asked if Dave Moore had presented the city a bill with the over
runs for the liquor store project. At this time the city has not
received one.
New Business
Brian
Hitchcock is checking into a storm shelter grant for the liquor store
basement to get it up to code.
Jon Johnson
suggested having Akeley clean up days 2 or 3 times a year rather than
once in the spring. Brian Hitchcock stated that it costs about
$1,500.00 to get the roll off dumpsters from Hubbard County and it would
be at least that each time which would be additional cost to the City of
Akeley.
Eric Sjolin
stated that Larry Stiffler is willing to post agendas and meeting
minutes from council meetings on the Akeley website. The agendas and
minutes can be e-mailed to Larry and he will place them on the website
for anyone to see.
Motion by
Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve to have
the Deputy Clerk e-mail to Larry Stiffler the agendas and meeting
minutes of the council meetings to have them posted on the Akeley
website and the proposed agendas will have a deadline of 2:00 pm on the
Monday before the council meeting
Bob Winner
asked if the city as a group could join the C&C. Randall Morrison
stated that the city supports the C&C and that people can join
individually but not as a group.
Motion by
Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to adjourn.
Denise
Rittgers
Clerk
Treasure
City of
Akeley
Wendy Klein
Deputy
Clerk
City of
Akeley
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