1. Call the Meeting to
Order
2. Pledge of
Allegiance
3. Approve Consent Agenda
of…
a)
Minutes
b)
Treasurers Report
c)
Bills for Payment
4. Toney – Heartland
Hardware regarding water issues.
5. Bob Winner – Microwave
for Liquor Store, New Beer Tent for Paul Bunyan Days
6. Liquor Store
responsibilites/pay/benefits for Melissa
Niblick, Suzette Zallar
full time employee benefits, employee raises on anniversary date or
beginning of the year
7. Approve Step # for
Denise Rittgers
8. Police Chief Eric Klein
– Police Report
9. Approve bill submitted
by Dave Moore for work in Liquor Store
10. Approve $800.00
advertisement
to Pool League
11. Determine seasonal rate
at campground
12. Campground advertisement
in “Minnesota Trails” magazine
13. Headwaters Intervention
Center/SAFE Parks Program financial support
14. Amend Ordinance No.
102-2004 regarding wages of Clerk/Treasurer
15. House number ordinance
16. Update Employee Handbook
Policy # 36
17. Akeley Website
suggestions
18. Availability of Paint
for Community Restoration/Beautification Projects
19. Clerks Conference in
July 2007 to be Certified for Denise
Rittgers
20. Old Business
21. New Business
22. Adjourn
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR
MEETING Minutes
FEBRUARY 14, 2007
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City Council met in a regular meeting
Wednesday February 14, 2007 at 7:00 pm. Tom Moore called the meeting to
order. Council members present were Tom Moore, Brian Hitchcock, Frank
Lamb and Cliff Johnson. Eric Sjolin was absent. The Pledge of
Allegiance was recited by the Council and attending audience.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to approve the consent agenda with a change to item eleven on
the agenda replacing donation with advertisement.
Toney Hermes from Heartland Hardware was concerned about
the hardness of the water in Akeley and suggested that the city look
into what the cost would be to soften the water. He also stated he
would like to get lines painted on the west side of his business for
customer parking and will check with the county since Graceson is a
county road. Eric Klein will check with MN DOT to see if 15 or 30
Minute Parking signs can be placed in front of the store since it is a
state highway.
Bob Winner was on the agenda regarding a microwave for
the liquor store and a new beer tent for Paul Bunyan Days but was not
present.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff Johnson and
carried to approve to table the new beer tent for Paul Bunyan Days but
Bob could proceed with purchasing a microwave for the liquor store.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to approve to give raises to full time employees on their
anniversary date after a performance evaluation has been performed and
part time employees will be reviewed and given raises at their
supervisor’s discretion.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and
carried to approve to pay Melissa Niblick $10.00 an hour while
performing managerial duties and then $8.50 an hour when she returns to
her regular duties and to give her retroactive pay back to December 11th
when she assumed the temporary manager position.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to approve to retroactively award sick and vacation hours to
Suzette Zallar who was originally hired as a full time employee for the
liquor store in June of 2006.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff Johnson and
carried to approve to table the accrual of benefits for employees who
work approximately 32 hours per week or less until more information can
be found out regarding this.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to approve to table the meeting hall guidelines until more
information can be obtained from the League of Minnesota Cities.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and
carried to approve to place Denise at Step #4 on the step program for
raises.
Police Report - Chief Eric
Klein
·
Due to complaints of speeding as
motorists enter the city limits, Eric is working with a supervisor from
MN DOT to set up a ride along in which they will survey the speed of the
traffic from inside the police squad.
·
A fax was received from the League
of Minnesota Cities regarding administrative citations which were being
reviewed by Legislature to determine whether law enforcement should be
allowed to use them rather than state citations. He will provide an
update when he knows the results.
·
The issue regarding drivers who
cross the lane of traffic to use the mail box in front of the post
office continues. Eric has given many warnings and will begin to issue
citations for this due to the hazards of driving on the wrong side of
the road and then attempting to pull back into the proper lane of
traffic.
·
Eric congratulated part time
officer Kerri Johnson for receiving the position of Board Member for the
Minnesota Association of Women Police in which she will be a voting
member as well as an ambassador to promote their mission and
professionalism.
Roger Curtiss asked Eric if he receives excessive calls
from individuals within the City of Akeley. He stated that the City of
St. Paul has an ordinance in place which states that a fine will be
issued to any individual who excessively contacts the police for
unreasonable concerns within a specific period of time. Roger offered
to contact the St. Paul city office to request a copy of the ordinance
for the council and police department to review.
Motion by Cliff Johnson seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to approve to pay Dave Moore the bill he submitted for work in
the liquor store containing the additional charges for unexpected repair
with the understanding that Bob Winner has seen the bill and agrees with
it.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to approve to pay $800.00 to advertise the Pool League at the
Akeley Municipal Liquor Store.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and
carried to approve to raise the seasonal rate of the lot near the
campground to $2,000.00 per year and give the current occupant a chance
to remain there at that price before offering it to another interested
party.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff Johnson and
carried to approve to not advertise the campground in the “MN Trails”
magazine.
Toney Hermes stated that the Akeley C&C contacted the DNR
who will allow the C&C to place signs on the Heartland Trail which would
state that the signs are sponsored by area businesses informing trail
users of the services offered in Akeley.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to approve to donate $500.00 from the Community Fund to the
Headwaters Intervention Center/SAFE Parks Program.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff Johnson and
carried to approve to remove “Clerk/Treasure” from both paragraphs in
Ordinance No. 102-2004 and to continue with the required steps to
complete amendment.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to approve to table creating an ordinance requiring house
numbers until more information can be found out from the county but a
notice in the water and sewer bills would be acceptable as a reminder to
residents that displaying numbers on their homes would benefit them in
emergency situations.
An email from the Akeley site webmaster was discussed
which suggested possible online registration for the campground and a
request for more information from the Municipal Liquor Store in regard
to entertainment and food served which would be an excellent opportunity
for advertising. Greg Everett and Bob Winner will receive copies of the
email so they are aware of these suggestions.
Discussion was held regarding a letter received about the
availability of paint for community restoration/beautification projects.
The city applied for a grant last year and was denied and since the due
date is March 1st decided not to apply for it this year.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and
carried to approve to send Denise Rittgers to the 2007 Minnesota
Municipal Clerks Institute from July 9-13, 2007 with the understanding
that she is applying for a grant to help fund the costs and that
employee paid expenses will be reimbursed according to Policy #13 in the
Employee Handbook.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff Johnson and
carried to approve to eliminate sections b) and c) of Personnel Policy
#34 in the Employee Handbook.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff Johnson and
carried to approve to add “Alcohol sold by liquor store employees at the
liquor store is exempt from the above statement” to Personnel Policy #36
in the Employee Handbook.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to approve to state “Part time employees will be paid time and a
half for paid holidays if worked” to Personnel Policy #16 in the
Employee Handbook.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to approve a meeting of the Local Board of Appeals and
Equalization for the City of Akeley on April 17, 2007 at 11:00 am.
Old Business
Brian Hitchcock stated he didn’t have any more to report
in regard to the storm shelter grant for the liquor store basement and
said pictures have been faxed but it is a slow process.
Eric Klein stated the subject of tornado sirens had come
up at an EMS meeting he had attended and wondered if he should check
into funding for new or improved sirens for the City of Akeley. He and
Brian Hitchcock will work together on this since the siren and storm
shelter are related issues.
New Business
Denise Rittgers discussed advertising the campground in
the Summer Guide which is distributed in four summer issues by the
Northwoods Press at the cost of $197.20.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and
carried to approve to advertise the campground in the Summer Guide.
Frank Lamb asked Mayor Tom Moore to attend the Akeley C&C
meeting scheduled on Monday, March 12th at 6:30 pm at the
fire hall.
Frank Lamb questioned the status of the community signs.
It was reported that the signs are not finished yet so are not ready for
installation.
Frank Lamb noted the heating bill at city hall has been
rather high and that we will try to keep the thermostat turned down at
night.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and
carried to adjourn.
Denise Rittgers
Clerk Treasure
City of Akeley
Wendy Klein
Deputy Clerk
City of Akeley
