AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 8, 2009
7:00 PM CITY HALL
APRIL 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. Mike Duclos/Nels Kramer – Request City to Appoint
Advisory Board to Work With DNR Property Along Heartland
Trail in Akeley
6. Thomas Haynes – Complaint of Iron in Water
7. Denice Johnson – Paul Bunyan Days Committee
8. Approve Bruce Beckley’s Request to Build Lift Station
at His Expense
9. Approve Engineering Firm to Handle Highway 34 Project
and Capital Improvement Plan
10. Approve Fire Contract
11. Approve Ordinance No. 02-09 “An Ordinance Amending
Chapter 52 Of The Akeley City Code of Ordinances
Relating To Water Regulations”
12. Bob Winner – Liquor Store Report
13. Frank Thelin – Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report
14. Eric Klein – Police Report
15. Old Business
16. New Business/Public Forum
17. Adjourn
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 8, 2009
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City Council met in a regular meeting Wednesday April
8, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Mayor Scott Vettleson called the meeting to
order. Council members present were: Cliff Johnson, Troy Hegg
and Jon Johnson. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the
Council and attending audience.
Motion by Cliff Johnson seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to
approve the consent agenda.
Mayor Vettleson recommended appointing Jennifer Mitchell to fill
the vacancy that exists on the Akeley City Council.
Motion by Cliff Johnson seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to
appoint Jennifer Mitchell to fill the vacancy existing on the
Akeley City Council.
Jennifer Mitchell was sworn in as council member and joined the
other council members for the remainder of the meeting.
Mike Duclos and Nels Kramer were on the agenda to request the
City to appoint an advisory board to work with DNR property
along the Heartland Trail in Akeley but neither of them were
present.
Thomas Haynes, a City of Akeley resident was present to address
the Council about a concern he has with the water. He believes
something in the water is causing a residue on his pots and pans
and would like the City to look into it. A suggestion to Mr.
Haynes was to get a water softener since Frank Thelin stated
that the water is tested monthly and in compliance with the
State of Minnesota.
Denice Johnson was present on behalf of the Paul Bunyan Days
Committee to request that Hulet and 1st Street are
closed during the Paul Bunyan Days celebration. She also stated
that a parade permit would be needed and that Police Chief Eric
Klein usually takes care of that. Denice also requested a
$4,000 donation from the Community Fund and said that was the
amount the committee had received last year. Scott Vettleson
said he was all for giving the committee the money but asked
when the money was needed since he wanted time to make sure that
making such a donation by the City of Akeley is legal.
Motion by Jon Johnson seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to
approve to table until next month’s meeting a decision to give a
$4,000 donation to the Paul Bunyan Days Committee.
Motion by Cliff Johnson seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to
approve Bruce Beckley’s request to build a private sewer lift
system at 220 Staff St. SE per the terms set by the Akeley City
Council in the agreement to be signed by Bruce Beckley and Mayor
Vettleson.
Some discussion was held regarding approval of an engineering
firm to handle the highway 34 project and capital improvement
plan. Cliff Johnson would like to find out how much it would
cost exactly to do each section of town in regard to the capital
improvement plan. He thought a work session would have to be
set up.
Motion by Troy Hegg seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to
approve Ulteig Engineering as the firm to work with.
The council reviewed the Fire Contract for April 1, 2010 to
March 31, 2011.
Motion by Troy Hegg seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to
approve the Fire Contract for next year.
Motion by Jon Johnson seconded by Jennifer Mitchell and carried
to approve Ordinance No. 02-09 “An Ordinance Amending Chapter 52
of the Akeley City Code of Ordinances Relating to Water
Regulations”.
Liquor Store Report – Bob Winner
-
Bob said the
liquor store is doing ok.
-
The doors at the
bar are complete but the cost was a little more than had
been planned due to the condition the floor and wall was in
at the time of installation.
-
A hotdish cook
off has been scheduled at the liquor store on Saturday, May
2nd.
-
A bean bag toss
tournament is being planned in the near future with half of
the proceeds going to Audrey’s Purple Dream.
-
A pool tournament
with the VFW has been scheduled for Saturday, April 25th.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report - Frank Thelin
-
Frank said a City
complaint form for residents had been created and approved
for use by the Council on May 9th, 2007. He said
recently, verbal complaints have been made by residents and
relayed to him by council members or city employees and he
said he would like to have the complaint form filled out by
the resident so that he has a paper trail. He will carry
the forms with him in the truck and they can also be
obtained at the city office.
-
Frank also
requested that whenever a request is made regarding
maintenance, water or sewer that a request form be filled
out. In the past, he has been asked verbally to turn on
water or shut it off and would prefer to have a paper
trail. Again, he will have forms with him or they can be
obtained at the City office.
-
Frank is
collecting estimates for the cost of maintenance on the
sewer lines since the sewer system was installed in 1985.
He said that once cleaning of the lines is done, they could
be televised to see if there are any potential problems with
the lines that the City should correct.
-
Frank reminded
those present that there is a city ordinance in place that
states that water from sump pumps is not to be run into the
sewer system but that it can be run into the storm sewers.
Scott Vettleson suggested placing a reminder of the
ordinance in with the next water and sewer billing.
-
The butterfly
valves at the water plant have been replaced.
-
The backhoe
repairs have been completed.
Police Report - Eric Klein
·
Eric made a recommendation to the Council to hire
Todd Holk as a part-time police officer for the City of Akeley.
Motion by Troy Hegg seconded by Jon Johnson and carried to
approve to hire Todd Holk as a part-time police officer for the
City of Akeley.
·
Eric said he was asked by a citizen if a dog owner
who had their dog removed from town per the dangerous dog
ordinance should be allowed to get another dog or if they had to
go through a probationary period. He said he wasn’t aware of
any reason why the person couldn’t get a new dog and the Council
agreed.
·
Eric is working with the Akeley Lions to have a
bike safety class in May for the children in the area. He
requested permission from the Council to use $100.00 from funds
that were donated to the police department to purchase bike
accessories which will be given away as prizes at the class.
Motion by Jennifer Mitchell seconded by Jon Johnson and carried
to allow $100.00 from the donated funds to be used to purchase
bike accessories for the bike safety class.
·
There have been a few break ins in the area so
Eric suggested that people keep an eye out for their neighbors.
·
Eric Klein suggested the possibility of having a
storage area built in the Liquor Store basement for city
archives.
Old Business
None.
New Business
A
work session was set for April 29th at 6:00 PM.
Monte Eastvold from Northland Securities, Inc. was present to
provide Council members with information regarding the option of
the City of Akeley refinancing the G.O. Water Revenue Bonds of
1996. Mayor Vettleson said he would like time to look at the
information before making a decision. Mr. Eastvold said there
is no deadline to apply.
Mayor Vettleson read a proclamation recognizing the week of May
3 through May 9, 2009 as Municipal Clerks Week and extended
appreciation to Municipal Clerks, Denise Rittgers and Wendy
Klein and to all Municipal Clerks for the vital services they
perform and their exemplary dedication to the communities they
represent.
Mayor Vettleson informed those present of the Habitat for
Humanity informational meeting which will be held on May 7th
at 11:00 AM in the Senior Center regarding the house being built
on Park Ave. and 3rd St.
Motion by Troy Hegg seconded by Jennifer Mitchell and carried to
adjourn at 8:00 PM.
Denise Rittgers
Clerk Treasurer
City of Akeley
Wendy Klein
Deputy Clerk
City of Akeley
