AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 12, 2007
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City
Council met in a regular meeting Wednesday December 12, 2007 at 7:00 pm. Mayor
Tom Moore called the meeting to order. Council members present were: Tom
Moore, Cliff Johnson, Frank Lamb, Eric Sjolin and Brian Hitchcock. The Pledge
of Allegiance was recited by the Council and attending audience.
Motion by Frank
Lamb seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to approve the consent agenda with
the addition of 3.5 Local Business Owners and moving #’s 9, 13 and 14 up after
3.5 since Frank would have to leave the meeting early.
Nels Kramer,
Mike Duclos, Warren Scouton, Don and Kathy Wicks, Lisa Smith and Toney Hermes
were present as business owners who were concerned about the raise in their
taxes. Frank Lamb stated that assessments done the past few years had been
assessed equally and that there had been none assessed as commercial until this
last year. The new assessor assessed the businesses as commercial businesses
rather than residential. Nels Kramer stated that since they don’t live in town,
they can’t do anything about the taxes and suggested that since the town doesn’t
have a City Manager that the businesses would like to form a committee who would
aid the HRA in searching for and applying for grants for the City of Akeley.
Mike Duclos said those on the committee did not expect to be paid.
Motion by Frank
Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve to allow Nels Kramer to
organize a committee and come to next month’s meeting to tell the Council who is
on the committee and what their aspirations are.
Discussion was
held on the 2008 budget and levy. Brian Hitchcock suggested cutting 4 hours per
week from the City Hall office which would reduce Wendy Klein’s work week from
36 hours to 32 hours. A rounded figure of $3,000 was recommended to be trimmed
from the General Payroll Expense as the result of reduced office hours bringing
the General Levy Amount to 58,052.00 and the Total Levy Amount to $21,652.00.
Brian Hitchcock also suggested cutting back Eric Klein’s health insurance
benefits to get them in line with the other full time employees’ benefits. He
felt they should be phased out over the next 3 years since the City has been
paying for Eric’s family insurance and he stated the Council wasn’t aware of it
until this year and it would cost the City $9,280.52 in 2008 to pay. Cliff
Johnson asked Frank Lamb and Brian Hitchcock as past council members when Eric
was hired, if they were aware of Eric being hired under these circumstances.
Both stated they were aware of the wage but not the insurance benefits.
Although it isn’t acknowledged in any of the council meeting minutes, Eric Klein
stated that two and a half years ago he was offered the position of chief of
police and accepted the position after 3 phone calls from the past mayor which
involved negotiation of his wages and benefits. The benefits that were offered
to and accepted by Eric included 75% of his health insurance and 100% of his
family’s health insurance which would be paid for by the City. Eric stated he
wouldn’t be in Akeley right now if that wasn’t what had been offered to him and
said that he was not the person who put the numbers into the computer when the
insurance was paid by the City for the past 2 ½ years. Cliff Johnson stated
that other full time employees would want the same benefits and that the City
could not afford it.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by
Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve to change the final 2008 Levy amount from
$213,652.00 to $210,652.00.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Tom
Moore and carried to approve to appoint Marilyn Ferrie to the Fire Board.
Some discussion was held regarding
the campground rates. A suggestion was made to have a work session on Thursday,
January 3, 2008 at 7:00 pm to further discuss recommendations of rate changes.
Frank Lamb left the meeting at this
time.
Liquor Store Report – Bob
Winner
Bob was not present so no report was
given.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report
- Frank Thelin
·
The fuel pump is going out in the plow truck and the price quoted
would be about $2,000.00 if it could be rebuilt and about $5,000.00 if it can’t
be rebuilt.
·
The grader radiator will need to be cleaned and repaired and may
cost about $285.00.
Eric Klein
suggested that the updating of §71.04 “Declaration of Snow Emergency; Parking
Prohibited” be discussed at a work session since changes will have to be made.
Motion by Eric
Sjolin seconded by Tom Moore and carried to approve to discuss possible changes
of §71.04 “Declaration of Snow Emergency; Parking Prohibited” at the January 3,
2008 Work Session.
Police
Report - Chief Eric Klein
·
Eric is waiting to hear from the insurance adjuster to see if any
more information is required from the police reports regarding the two light
poles which were struck near T&M and the CurtiSinn.
·
There were concerns last month from a citizen regarding the
upcoming spring thaw on Crow Wing Lake Drive. The Akeley Street Department
graded a trench along the road which Eric has pictures of and belief is that the
issue has been resolved.
·
There have been some concerns with speed on County Road 49. Eric
would like to see the “End Speed Limit 30” sign moved to the crest of the hill
which would extend the 30 mile per hour speed limit zone. Eric would type a
letter of approval from the City Council to the county engineer stating that the
sign should be moved in the spring 965 feet to the south.
Motion by Brian
Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve to fill out a signed
request from the City Council to the county engineer to have the speed limit
sign moved in the spring.
Motion by Brian
Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve the 3.2 Malt Liquor Off
Sale Licenses for Bunyan’s, CurtiSinn and T&M.
Motion by Tom
Moore seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve to approve ACS transfer
of the franchise to the new entity.
Motion by Eric
Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve to pay MN DOT
Commissioner of Transportation $16,387.47 of which $10,000.00 would be paid from
the Community Fund and $6,387.47 would be paid from the Administration Fines
Fund.
Motion by Brian
Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve to change to the 2008
standard mileage rate of 50.5 cents per mile.
Denise Rittgers
will collect proposals from auditors which can be looked over at the January 3rd
Work Session so a decision can be made at the next regular council meeting as to
which auditor should be hired.
Old Business
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff
Johnson and carried to approve to have Tom Moore and Eric Sjolin look for
possible money to help with the Highway 34 project in the near future.
New Business
Mark Johnson was present to discuss
the water/sewer bill of the vacant house in Akeley which he owns and is trying
to sell.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by
Tom Moore and carried to approve to do away with late fees for 6 months on Mark
Johnson’s water/sewer bill as long if he gets the house sold in 6 months and as
long as he pays his water/sewer bill. Eric Sjolin abstained.
Eric Sjolin congratulated Brian
Hitchcock for the idea of getting the smoke shack put into place although
according to the State of Minnesota a couple of the panels would have to be
popped out to make it meet code.
Motion by Tom Moore seconded by
Brian Hitchcock and carried to adjourn.
Denise Rittgers
Clerk
Treasurer
City of
Akeley
Wendy Klein
Deputy Clerk
City of Akeley
