AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 8, 2008
7:00 PM CITY HALL
OCTOBER AGENDA
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. Stacy Moore
5. Cleo Lanning – Akeley Senior Center/Load of Gravel
6. Alf Staffenhagen
7. Bob Winner – Liquor Store Report
8. Frank Thelin – Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report
9. Eric Klein – Police Report
10. Determine Budget Work Session Date
11. Approve Update of “City of Akeley Meeting Hall
Facility” Form
12. Approve Delinquent Water/Sewer Accounts Assessed to
2009 Tax Roll
13. Old Business
14. New Business
15. Adjourn
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 8, 2008
7:00 PM CITY HALL
OCTOBER MINUTES
The Akeley City Council met in a regular meeting Wednesday
October 8, 2008 at 7:00 pm. Acting Mayor Brian Hitchcock called
the meeting to order. Council members present were: Brian
Hitchcock, Eric Sjolin, Cliff Johnson and Frank Lamb. The
Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the Council and attending
audience.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to
approve the consent agenda with the additions of Dick Wahlin
from the HRA at 6.5, the Fire Board at 6.75, Dan Stacey at 8.25,
Bill Kramer at 8.50, and Marilyn Ferrie at 8.75. Frank Lamb
abstained.
Stacy Moore was present to discuss dogs in town and pleaded with
dog owners to keep their dogs penned up since her dog had been
viciously attacked while she was walking it and the dog then had
to be put down. Police Chief Eric Klein explained what takes
place when a dog is picked up and taken to Headwaters Animal
Shelter in Park Rapids and that the owner is responsible for the
cost to have the dog released. If it is not known who the owner
is, the City has to pay the costs of boarding etc. Eric stated
that there is a $25.00 fine if a dog is not licensed and a
$25.00 fine if a dog is unleashed.
Cleo Lanning was present to ask the City Council if the road
behind the Senior Center could get a load of gravel put there.
He said the Senior Citizens were willing to pay for it and to do
the work but wanted permission from the City since it is the
City’s alley. He stated that when the Senior Citizens have
pancake breakfasts, some people have a hard time getting back
there and they don’t want anyone to trip and fall. Brian
Hitchcock stated that the City will take care of the alley.
Additional citizens commented that other alleys in town have not
been graded at all this year.
Alf Staffenhagen was present to state that he is a concerned
citizen and taxpayer of the City of Akeley and that the
sidewalks along Hwy 64 from the south have grass and weeds
growing out of them and along the sides and should have been
sprayed or mowed. He also listed other areas that he felt
should have been mowed but had not been and commented that the
streets are the worse that he has seen since 1983.
Dick Wahlin from the HRA was present and stated that the HRA is
waiting on the deed for the tax forfeited land on Park Avenue in
Akeley which they had purchased. They would like to clean up
the area and are looking for volunteers to do this. Dick said
he spoke with the City’s insurance company and the City has
liability insurance but a worker’s comp. policy would be needed
to have volunteers help. Dick said the HRA would pay for a
rider to the City’s insurance policy at a cost of $200 to $300
(for a year) if they had permission from the City Council.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
allow the HRA to use the City’s insurance policy to purchase a
worker’s comp. rider at the cost of $200 to $300 which will be
paid by the HRA.
Eric Klein suggested that it may be possible that the Sentenced
to Serve (STS) crew could help with this too and that they are
probably covered by the county.
Marilyn Ferrie and Vern Peterson were present from the Fire
Board to explain an amendment regarding membership made to the
Joint Powers Agreement to Establish the Eastern Hubbard County
Fire Protection District. A copy of the amendment is on file at
City Hall.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
accept the “Amendment To The Joint Powers Agreement To Establish
The Eastern Hubbard County Fire Protection District”.
Liquor Store Report – Bob Winner was not present.
-
Cliff Johnson
stated the Liquor Store is down $600 this month and that
there was over $2,000 in insurance which had to be paid.
Frank Lamb asked what the net profit is for the year and
Cliff replied that it is at $16,188.
-
The annual chili
cook off is on October 25, 2008 starting at 2:00 PM. The
entry fee is $10.00 and there is a judging fee of $5.00 for
anyone who would like to vote for their favorite chili.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report - Frank Thelin said that he
didn’t have anything to report and wanted to hear what the
citizens had to say.
Dan Stacey introduced himself as spokesperson/caregiver of Wayne
Tennis who is an Akeley resident. He stated that in May some
work had been done by the City in Mr. Tennis’ yard and the yard
still needed some black dirt and grass seed. A note had been
given to Mr. Tennis in September from Frank Thelin stating it
was coming but it had not been done yet. Dan was wondering on
behalf of Mr. Tennis when this would be done. There were
concerns that there may still be some seepage so Frank Thelin
will be checking on this and will see that black dirt and grass
seed are place in Mr. Tennis’ yard if no further digging has to
take place.
Bill Kramer stated that a few years ago, the City removed the
culvert from a lot he owns on Hulet Ave. and told him it would
be replaced but it still has not been replaced. Brian Hitchcock
said the Council was not aware of this and would see that a
culvert gets put back there.
Marilyn Ferrie said she lives on Crow Wing Lake Drive and she
has to leave early in the morning to get to work. She stated
that in the winter Galen Negen would come and plow the road so
she could get to work. Sometimes when she would come home from
work, the road was still not plowed by the City and after the
snowstorm in April, the road was never plowed. She said they
pay a lot in taxes there and she’s wondering what they get for
the money they pay in taxes. Marilyn also stated that Crow Wing
Lake Drive is used a lot during the summer and would like to see
it get graded more often.
Frank Lamb said there are 3 holes in the tar where the old tar
meets the new tar on 1st Street by the Methodist
Church. He said it could cause your tires to go out of line if
driving too fast through there and thought they should be
filled. He also stated that during one of the April storms that
he had company that had to get to the airport so he had to have
Galen Negen plow Crow Wing Lake Drive so they could get out.
Deb Kruse was present and stated her taxes have gone up 120%
since she moved here 4 years ago and that nothing is getting
done. She said the roads aren’t getting graded, nothing is
being mowed around Highway 64 and when it rains nothing can go
down the drains because they are plugged. She also stated that
last April, she and her husband had to park in the church
parking lot because they couldn’t get into their alley for 3
days (which is the only way in and out of their driveway).
Police Report – Eric Klein
-
The crosswalks
had been put on hold due to health issues of people involved
with this project. Eric said he talked to Frank Thelin
about this and due to winter coming and the blades running
across the roads to clear snow, they thought they may want
to wait and have them painted in the spring.
-
Eric spoke about
the reminder that had been sent out in the water and sewer
bills last year regarding dog licenses and dogs running
unleashed and said another one will be sent out this year.
He said he will be dealing with these dog issues.
-
There is some
rust on the squad truck that Eric would like to have
repaired. He will look into what the options are and get
some quotes.
-
Eric asked
citizens to help watch the area since some burglaries have
recently taken place in the area and he urged people to lock
their homes and vehicles and to secure their items.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to
approve to set a budget work session for Monday, November 10th
at 7:00 PM.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
update the City of Akeley Meeting Hall Facility form making the
recommended changes for clarification. Frank Lamb abstained.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to
approve that the 2 delinquent water/sewer accounts, which were
notified by certified mail, be assessed to the 2009 tax roll if
not paid by November 1st.
Old Business
Discussion was held regarding the employee review for Greg
Everett which had been held on October 3rd. Frank
Lamb asked Greg if he had anything to say and Greg stated that
he said what he wanted to on Friday at the meeting. Frank Lamb
stated that he wasn’t at that meeting and asked why it was so
urgent and that it couldn’t have been postponed. Council
members stated that no action had been taken at that meeting.
Frank Lamb asked Eric Sjolin where he is living now. Eric
replied that Akeley is his permanent residence and that he is a
citizen. Frank stated that if Eric wasn’t a resident of the
City of Akeley that the meeting with Greg was an illegal meeting
and was asking because he had heard concerns from citizens.
Greg and Frank Thelin were asked by council members if they
could work together. Frank Lamb suggested that they at least
sit down together to talk and see if they could get the problems
between them resolved.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to
instruct Greg Everett and Frank Thelin to meet in the next few
days with a councilman as a mediator and Police Chief Eric Klein
to see if the problems between them could be resolved. Eric
Sjolin opposed.
New Business
Frank Lamb suggested that next year the bathrooms at the
campground be closed daily for a period of time to allow for
cleaning and re-stocking of supplies.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
approve to hire someone to temporarily close and clean the
bathrooms daily at the campground.
Frank Lamb said he was asked by various citizens if the right
procedure was followed when Tom Moore resigned. He wondered if
Brian Hitchcock should have resigned as councilman when he
became mayor. Brian Hitchcock stated that he is the acting
mayor not the mayor and that when Tom resigned, a vacancy was
declared but no one came in and expressed interest.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
adjourn at 9:08 PM.
Denise Rittgers
Clerk Treasurer
City of Akeley
Wendy Klein
Deputy Clerk
City of Akeley
