AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 9, 2008
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City Council met in a regular meeting Wednesday January
9, 2008 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 Tom Moore and carried to approve
the consent agenda with the addition of 6.5 Nels Kramer.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
approve to hire Don Zirke from Miller McDonald Inc. as City Auditor.
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
-
Don Zirke as City
Auditor
-
Pederson, Smith, and
Roehl as Payroll Auditor
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Tom Moore and carried to approve
to adopt Resolution #1-2008, Resolution to adopt consignments for
2008.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
approve to adopt Resolution #2-2008, Resolution establishing
procedures relating to compliance with reimbursement bond
regulations under the internal revenue code.
Nels
Kramer was present to give an update regarding the group of business
owners whose main interests are housing and economic developments in
the City of Akeley. They would like a council member to be on the
board.
Frank
Lamb made a motion to appoint Tom Moore as liaison to the board but
withdrew his motion since Tom is on the board of city planning and
would be going anyway.
Roger
Curtis stated there were three issues the group is working on: 1)
Development of an active HRA; 2) Put together a planning commission;
and 3) Improvements of parks including the park by the Paul Bunyan
statue and across the trail.
Department Commissioners are as follows:
-
Acting Mayor – Brian
Hitchcock
-
Fire Board - Frank
Lamb & Marilyn Ferrie
-
Public Works & Safety
Commissioner - Brian Hitchcock
-
Personnel, Finance,
Administration & Liquor Commissioner – Clifford Johnson
-
Economic Development
Commissioner – Thomas Moore
-
Park & Recreation
Commissioner – Eric Sjolin
-
Public Streets,
Ordinances & Public Events Commissioner – Eric Sjolin
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve
the 2008 Department Commissioners.
Motion
by Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve a
monthly transfer for the year 2008 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 Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve the
transfer of $12,258.48 from Sewer Savings to the General Fund for
Sewer Pond Indebtedness.
Discussion took place regarding the current and proposed campground
rates. A worksheet had been compiled for the Council to review and
it contained current rates as well as proposed rates which include
sales tax. Current rates did not include sales tax and the
comparison of current and proposed rates is as follows:
|
|
Current RV Site |
Proposed RV Site |
Current Tent Site |
Proposed Tent Site |
|
Daily Rate |
$22.50 |
$29.00
|
$18.00 |
$22.00 |
|
Weekly Rate |
$132.00 |
$183.00
(10 % Discount) |
$80.00 |
$139.00
(10% Discount) |
|
Monthly Rate |
$500.00 |
$674.00
(25% Discount) |
None |
$511.00
(25% Discount) |
Motion
by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve to
adopt the proposed rates for the campground.
Liquor Store Report – Bob Winner
-
Bob stated everything
has been going well the 1st part of the New Year.
-
Frank Lamb asked Bob
if the Liquor Store has complied with all food regulations. Bob
replied that a vent needs to be installed over the fryer and he
is getting bids.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report - Frank Thelin
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to
approve to pay approximately $700.00 to have the mechanic at
Sanquist Construction repair the fuel pump on the plow truck.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Tom Moore and carried to approve
to replace original ordinance §71.04 “Declaration of Snow Emergency;
Parking Prohibited” with the new wording proposed.
The Council suggested putting a copy of the new Snow Plowing
ordinance with “Vehicle Parking Requirements” highlighted when
sending out water/sewer billings to notify citizens of the change.
The ordinance will be published in the city newspaper 1st.
Police Report - Chief Eric Klein
·
Eric has received no word from the insurance adjuster
regarding the street light poles. He would like to see the one by
T&M capped.
·
The written request to move the “End Speed Limit” sign
on County Road 49 will be ready for the Council to sign at the next
meeting.
·
Eric requested permission to attend the MN Chiefs of
Police Convention April 21-24, 2008. Registration cost is $275.00
if sent by March 14th and a percentage of costs accrued
will be reimbursed by POST.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve
to allow Eric Klein to attend the MN Chiefs of Police Convention
which includes mileage and per diem.
·
Eric stated there have been many rumors about him
regarding his employment with the City of Akeley. His plans are to
stay as police chief for the City of Akeley to do the job he was
hired back in 2005 to do. He requested a work session with the City
Council to try to resolve the issue related to his family’s
insurance.
A work session was set for Thursday, February 7th at 7:00
PM.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to
approve to adopt changes made to Personnel Policy # 14 in the
Employee Handbook.
Motion by Tom Moore seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve
to adopt changes made to Personnel Policy # 17 in the Employee
Handbook.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
approve to have as policy that the council packet be ready by
Tuesday at noon prior to the regular council meeting.
Old Business
Bob
Winner asked when he could get the Liquor Store floor finished.
Additional materials may have to be purchased yet but members of the
council replied that he could decide the best time to have the work
completed.
New Business
Bruce
Blaeser asked the Council why it took so long for them to find out
about the difference in insurance benefits and stated it was a shock
for Eric and his family. Brian Hitchcock replied that the
difference in insurance was just found out about.
Eric
Sjolin made a recommendation to consider on sale Sunday liquor since
the last time it was on the ballot, it only lost by about 2 or 3
votes.
Motion
by Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to approve to
put on sale Sunday liquor license on the ballot.
Some
discussion took place regarding families with minors and whether
they could be allowed to eat at the Liquor Store. The question came
up of whether or not 50% of the sales needed to be food sales and
will have to be checked into before minors are allowed into the
Liquor Store to eat.
Frank
Lamb asked if it would be possible to have an alternate on the Fire
Board since he would not be able to attend all of the meetings.
Eric Sjolin expressed interest in being an alternate.
Motion
by Frank Lamb seconded by Tom Moore and carried to approve to have
Eric Sjolin added as the alternate to the Fire Board.
Motion
by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to adjourn.
Denise
Rittgers
Clerk
Treasurer
City of
Akeley
Wendy
Klein
Deputy
Clerk
City of
Akeley
