Minutes of the Local Board of Review hearing of April 16, 2002, were approved after a single correction was made, following a motion by Heidgerken, s/Boelter, and carried by a 5-0 margin. The special meeting minutes following that hearing on April 16th were also reviewed and again, with several typographical errors were corrected, moved for passage upon a motion by Heidgerken, s/Thelen, and adopted on a unanimous vote.

Appeals

The matter of the Carrie Pohlkamp utility billing was again brought before the council and after studying both her earlier letter stating the reasons for the heavy water useage and the formula prepared by Mayor Atkinson, Heidgerken introduced a motion that would utilize the mayor's formula and reduce some $479 in charges for her. Boelter seconded the motion and after a call for the vote, the motion was defeated when Boelter and Heidgerken voted aye, Humbert, Thelen and Atkinson voted nay.

The pending special assessment appeal of Melrose Fertilzer, Inc., laid over from the previous meeting to allow the clerk to research whether the city had taken proper steps in the year 2000 when it conducted the assessment hearing and subsequent notice of final assessment, was again considered. After hearing from the owner who stated that the cost of the sewer and water fees of $14,212.00 was not being utilized at the site, the council studied other properties' assessments that were levied at the same time. After finding that the assessments were made consistent with the city's policy, no action was taken.

With Elmer Boecker, Oak Township Chairman, present, he confirmed the fact that the mayor and city clerk had appeared at their May 6th board meeting to review both the road maintenance agreement (Sentry and Rimcreast Streets) and the joint Resolution No. 2002-09, calling for the annexation of some 96 acreas into the city. He stated that the board had adopted both, with conditions that the phrasing in the road agreement be amended to delete reference to the township having to improve Rimcreast St. by possible tarring and also to correct a single typo error contained in the resolution. After studying the maintenance agreement, Humbert moved to approve, s/Heidgerken, and all voted aye.

RESOLUTION NO. 2002-09, a "Resolution Annexing Certain Lands Within Sections 3,4 and 10, T-125N, R-32W, Amounting to 95.66 Acres, Into The City Of Freeport", was then introduced for consideration. After referring to the prepared annexation map for review and clarification, a motion to adopt was offered bt Heidgerken, s/Humbert. By a voice vote, all voted in the affirmative to pass.

Carrie Pohlkamp then appeared in person to seek relief in her utility bills. Since the issue had been dealt with earlier, Thelen moved to reconsider the matter, s/Heidgerken, and this motion was approved on a 4-1 vote, with Atkinson voting nay. Humber then spoke of granting her credit on her bill for the month of January only and Heidgerken stated that this small amount of $199 was a small pittance when compared with her total payments.

Heidgerken then introduced a motion to use the formula created by the mayor as the basis for granting her credit and by voice vote, Heidgerken and Boelter voted aye, Humbert and Atkinson voted nay, Thelen abstained, and the motion thus failed. Before leaving, Pohlkamp was instructed by members to continue to pay only the recent average of $30 per month until this matter was laid to rest.

Dave Anderson appeared to talk about his progress on the energy homes on Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, Welle's Addition, and presented a checklist of items determined by the Building Codes Division to be unresolved. An on-site meeting with state staff was held May 8th and Anderson revealed that a followup session was scheduled there again for May 21st.

Anderson also went on to state that Hometech Construction will longer be the lead builder for the project, since he had now passed his contractor license test and would become the contractor of record. In order to hear from an impartial party, the consensus of the council was to invite inspector Dan Marthaler to the next meeting to determine if Anderson was complying with the state's orders for corrective action.

The Industrial Park improvement project was next addressed and the clerk first spoke of his recent phone call with Steve Anderson of Franklin Sign Company, whereby they were willing to meet with city officials here in the next two weeks. After talking about alternative dates, the clerk was instructed to try to arrange a meeting next Tuesday night. Romness then presented his firm's cost estimate of improving the first four lots of the plat to show that with street construction, the costs would rise to $307,230. This cost also included the installation of drainage swale just west of the farm buildings and after some debate, the placing of curb and gutter all the way to the west lot line of Lot 2 was approved but the installation of blacktop would end at the west lines of Lot 1 - to accommodate the pending Ellingson development. With that, Resolution No. 2002-10, a "Resolution Ordering Preparation Of Report On Improvements For Freeport Industrial Park-Phase #1" was introduced. Thelen moved, s/Hedigerken, to adopt this documen and by unanimous vote of 5-0, the motion was passed.

The council reviewed the written report from Joel Dasher, Public Works Director, that addressed several issues. Following the reading of his report, Thelen moved to purchase a fluoride pump for well #2 for a cost estimate of $650, s/Heidgerken. With no debate, the motion passed on a 5-0 vote. By consent, the members also agreed that the purchase of two street sweeper brushes for $417 each would be desireable at this time.

A written proposal offered by Schreffler Construction, for cracksealing material to be installed at a price of $1.07 per pound, was read. After trying to determine which city streets should be added to the repair list, Romness offered to provide a color-coded map to pass along to the contractor to lay out the project scope. The clerk was instructed to follow up with Schreffler with a map in order to secure a more definite price so that a comparison to the city's street maintenance budget could be studied. In other street NEW related discussion, the clerk was asked to include the blacktop extension for 7th St. SE to be added to the future resolution when sealed bids are secured for this year's project cycle and Romness agreed to begin preparation of necessary quanities for this area.

A response to the clerk's earlier letter to the Stearns County Engineer about the movement of a current speed limit sign south along County Road No. 11, was received and read aloud. In summary, the 4/30/02 memo stated that the request would be passed along to the MNDOT staff for their comments, a standard procedure in these cases.

New Business

Once again, the status of the hiring of a summer recreation director was advanced by the clerk. Boelter and Heidgerken agree to speak personally to local students in order to have a person in place for ratification at the May 28th meeting. As a last resort, they would be in contact with the school administration at both Melrose and Albany if no local person is willing to act in this capacity.

A recent letter from the Minnesota Department of Health announced the fact that the city's lead and copper monitoring, as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act, had resulted in these readings:

  • Lead level 9.0 ug/l
  • Copper level 1530.0 ug/l

The memo went on to say that no action was required for the lead levels, however, the copper limits were above the action level and the MDH would be in contact with the city soon on future requirements. No action was taken.

The Compliance Monitoring Survey report had prompted MPCA to issue a non-compliance letter dated April 29, 2002. Predischarge sampling conducted by the Public Works Director Joel Dasher on April 24th had revealed TSS over the acceptable level and this agency went on to state that a response from the city must be received within 30 days. The clerk indicated that he would discuss the issue with Dasher and replay letter would be ready for council action by the May 28th meeting.

In another notice of non-compliance, the Minnesota Department of Employee Relations had written on April 25th that the city had failed to reply by Janaury 31, 2002, to the filing of a new updated Pay Equity report. Although the city had received the instructions in late November, 2001, the clerk's office had either set aside or destroyed the necessary paperwork, stated Clerk Heinen. The clerk stated that the required report would be submitted in a timely fashion, since the failure to do so would result in loss of state aid.

At this time, claims amounting to $2,133.83 were presented for review and payment approval. Thelen moved to approve, s/Boelter, to pay the list of claims introduced. All members voted unanimously in favor.

Following a motion by Humbert, s/Boelter, the meeting was declared adjourned at 10:55 P.M.