AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 11, 2009
7:00 PM CITY HALL
MARCH 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. Appoint Council Vacancy
5. Appoint Fire Board Vacancy – Frank Thelin
6. Bob Winner – Liquor Store Report
7. Frank Thelin – Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report
8. Eric Klein – Police Report
9. Old Business
10. New Business/Public Forum
11. Adjourn
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 11, 2009
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City Council met in a regular meeting Wednesday March
11, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Acting Mayor Cliff Johnson called the
meeting to order. Council members present were: Cliff Johnson,
Eric Sjolin and Troy Hegg. Scott Vettleson was absent. The
Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the Council and attending
audience.
Motion by Troy Hegg seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
approve the consent agenda.
Cliff Johnson read a letter from Mayor Scott Vettleson who was
absent from the meeting stating he nominated Jon Johnson to fill
a vacancy that exists on the Akeley City Council and that he
felt Jon was the most qualified to fill the position at this
time.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to
nominate Jon Johnson to fill the vacancy existing on the Akeley
City Council.
Jon Johnson was sworn in as a council member and joined the
other councilmen for the remainder of the meeting.
The vacancy on the Fire Board still needed to be filled and
Frank Thelin was the only person who expressed interest in the
position.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to
appoint Frank Thelin to fill the vacancy on the Fire Board.
Liquor Store Report – Bob Winner
-
Bob said at this
time last year; the liquor store was behind this year’s
numbers by about $4,000 and he believes the liquor store is
way ahead of last year.
-
One of the doors
at the liquor store should be replaced this next week.
-
The hotdish cook
off will be held at the liquor store next month however the
date has not been set at this time.
-
The Akeley Liquor
Store will host a pool tournament against Nevis this coming
Saturday.
Eric Sjolin asked why the pull tab rent wasn’t included in the
Liquor Store P&L for February. Clerk-Treasurer Denise Rittgers
explained that she had just received the rent payment last week
so it could not be posted to the February P&L, however the
February and March rent would both be included on the March P&L.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report - Frank Thelin
-
The butterfly
valves will be replaced at the water plant on Tuesday.
-
There are
problems with the hydraulics leaking on the backhoe and
Frank has talked to a few people but has not been able to
get anyone to give him an estimate to fix it. A suggestion
was made to contact Lance Mitchell.
-
Galen Negen is
interested in the decrepit dock at the campground near Greg
Everett’s camper. Frank said the dock hasn’t been used for
years and Galen said he would trade a load of gravel for it.
Motion by Cliff Johnson seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
allow Galen Negen to take the old dock at the campground in
exchange for a load of gravel.
Police Report - Eric Klein
·
An email was received from MNDOT stating there
would be no cost reduction for the three signs that Eric had
inquired about regarding engine breaking noise. The cost
remains at $2,430 for three signs including installation by
MNDOT. Eric said he would like to look into another type of
sign which may be cheaper. Frank Thelin said he has three noise
reduction signs at the maintenance shop which may be able to be
used. Eric will check with MNDOT to see if the signs could be
used and placed on the City’s light poles.
·
The teen dances will be handled by the ARCC and
the Youth Council and the police department will assist when
requested.
·
Last month the Council had approved to allow Eric
to attend the Police Chief’s Conference in Rochester but he said
he would like to save the money which would be spent for lodging
and travel. He said he would like to attend training closer to
Akeley where there would be no lodging costs.
·
Eric said he would like to increase the number of
part-time police officers in the department since one of the
part-time officers is shared with a neighboring city and another
is looking at job opportunities out of state. He said he would
like to add Todd Holk as a part-time officer since he has been
an Akeley Police Reserve for over a year and has passed the POST
test. He asked the Council if they would like to be involved in
the hiring process for part-time police officers. Council
members said they should be involved with hiring and firing.
The wage for part-time police officers was also discussed and
wage information for part-time officers from other cities was
shared to give the Council an idea as to what the average pay
is.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Jon Johnson and carried to set
part time police officer wages at $12 per hour.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to
table a decision of hiring part-time police officers until the
Mayor returns so he can be involved.
·
Eric stated he would like permission from the
Council to replace more reserve officers since several have quit
or moved on to full time jobs or licensed positions and he would
like to have enough officers to cover City functions such as
Paul Bunyan Days. Council members stated they didn’t think it
was necessary for them to be involved with the addition of
reserve officers since Eric started the program and the officers
are not paid by the City.
·
Eric had been notified by one of the businesses in
town regarding a fraud call they had received which is called
the Nigerian 419 scam. He said this is the third call like this
that he has received but was informed by the Secret Service that
the only way to fight this scam is by public awareness. He said
if anyone was interested in more information they could talk to
him or Google it on the internet.
Old Business
Eric Sjolin asked if any more information had been obtained
regarding Bruce Beckley’s property. Troy Hegg said he had
spoken with Bruce and told him that an engineer had been
informed of the situation and shared his point of view on what
he thought could be done but Troy told Bruce that no actual
decision has been made yet. Cliff Johnson suggested having a
work session to discuss this when all council members can be
present.
New Business
Larry Holm was present to give an update on the Akeley Regional
Community Center. He said the ARCC took in $43,000 last year of
which $35,000 was for clothing, $5,500 for rooms rented out and
about $3,000 in donations. He said the expenses were about
$43,000 as well with $15,000 going for propane, $9,500 for
electricity, $1,500 for the janitor and the rest for repairs of
the building. Larry said a one bedroom apartment should be
ready to be rented out next month and the ARCC is looking for
used, working refrigerators that anyone may want to donate. He
also said that the DJ’s have been paid for the next dance that
the Youth Council sets up either for March or April. Larry said
the Folklore Theater is being set up by Fred Rogers at the ARCC
and 4-5 plays have been scheduled this year with the first
performance scheduled for June 11th.
Eric Sjolin suggested that a work session be set up to discuss
questions on ordinances that Deputy Clerk Wendy Klein had
brought to his attention. Council members again said they
wanted to wait on setting a date for the work session until the
Mayor returns.
Eric Sjolin read his letter of resignation as City Council
member effective at the end of the meeting due to his moving
from the Akeley area.
Motion by Troy Hegg seconded by Jon Johnson and carried to
accept Eric Sjolin’s resignation from the Akeley City Council.
Motion by Cliff Johnson seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to
declare a vacancy on the City Council and to accept letters of
interest which are to be turned into the City office for review
before the next council meeting.
Motion by Troy Hegg seconded by Jon Johnson and carried to
adjourn at 7:40 PM.
Denise Rittgers
Clerk Treasurer
City of Akeley
Wendy Klein
Deputy Clerk
City of Akeley
