Also in attendance were the following: Carol Moorman, Jim Schulz, Herman Lensing, Carol Moorman, Kent Roessler, Al Roessler, and Don Anderson.

Staff persons on hand were Paul Hetland, Mark Middendorf, and Joel Dasher.

The Pledge of Allegiance was said by those in attendance.

Agenda

Humbert moved and Hennen seconded a motion approving the meeting agenda with additions and corrections. Discussion offered. Other reports city maintenance building report added. Motion carried 5-0.

Minutes

Goebel moved and Humbert seconded a motion to approve the August 31, 2005 meeting minutes with minor corrections. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

New Business

Welle Plat 2 – Issue of Side Yard Set Backs, Kent Roessler, Freeport Properties, LLC

Kent Roessler, Freeport Properties, LLC was present to request an amendment to the Planned Unit Development that the side yard set backs be changed to be measured from the property line to the building sidewall instead of the overhang. Roessler clarified that a carport could not be installed to violate the proposed change due to the fact that a structural support beam would be considered a part of the measurable structure. He also brought forward research that the cities of Melrose, Albany, Rockville, Avon, St. Joseph, and Cold Spring determine their sideyard setbacks from the sidewall and not the overhang. Roessler commented that he misunderstood the planned unit development. It was mentioned that a compromise proposal would allow the sideyard set back to be measured from the sidewall, but the overhang could not continue 2' beyond the sidewall. Worms requested to table the issue to gather more information from the City's building official Dan Marthaler. Hetland would check on the legalities in altering the document. Humbert moved and Goebel seconded the motion to table the issue to the next regularly scheduled meeting. Discussion offered. Motion carried.

Main Street Project – Possible Sidewalk Extension on East Side

Jim Schulz presented a copy of a breakdown of the costs for the proposed extension of sidewalks on the east end of Main Street East. The total cost would be approximately $10,454, which is 2880 sq. ft. at $2.38 which equals $6,854 and a retaining wall at 180 sq. ft. at $20.00 which equals $3600. Goebel mentioned that sidewalk should not be on the west end of the Main Street Project to the west of First Stop through the properties to the west. Goebel moved approve the proposed sidewalks on the east end and to delete the sidewalks from the First Stop to Gerads' Oil Company. The motion failed for lack of a seconded.

Goebel moved and Joe Hennen seconded a motion to add sidewalk on east end of project as proposed from the current end of sidewalk to the westerly edge of 7th Avenue NE. Discussion. It was understood that the assessment would be approximately $200 for a 50' wide lot. Motion failed 2-3.

Open Public Forum

No one addressed Council.

Proposed Levy 2006

Hetland presented a preliminary budget, including a draft of current actual revenue and expenses for 2005, and a preliminary levy for review and discussion. Humbert moved and Joe Hennen seconded a 2006 preliminary levy in following amounts: General Fund $130,000; Main Street Bond $34,160; Waste Water Pond Levy 24,930; 2003 Improvements $16,047; EDA Welle Bond $22,598; and the EDA levy $9,500 with a grand total of $237,235 which is 13% increase from the final levy for 2005.

Accounting Proposal

Hetland presented a proposal from KDV to follow through on the recommendations made in the 2004 audit. The proposal was from Hetland and Joe Rigdon, KDV municipal finance specialist to adapt the City's financial structure and processes to be more efficient and to comply with all laws and policies governed by the Office of the State Auditor as soon as possible. Hetland stated that KDV was impressed with the initiative the City of Freeport was undertaking to rectify and amend the City's accounting systems. Hetland further explained that the risk of not taking immediate and appropriate action in this matter could lead to further withholdings of the City's local government aid (LGA), fines, and public scandal. Humbert moved and Joe Hennen seconded to go forward with the proposal which is on file for review. Discussion followed. Motion carried 5-0.

Snow Removal

Danny Bueckers had submitted a contract for snow removal for the Council's review. Much discussion followed regarding the system of clearing snow on the sidewalks and the issues of liability and responsibility of sidewalk snow maintenance. There were also questions regarding the aspects of commerce on sidewalks in front of businesses. Hetland was asked to work with the other businesses to see if they would like to also contract with Bueckers. Joe Hennen moved and Humbert seconded a motion to approve of the contract for city owned sidewalks when Bueckers is contacted. Discussion followed. Motion carried 5-0.

Consent Agenda

Joe Hennen moved and Humbert seconded a motion to approve the consent agenda.

Which included the following: Claims in the amount of $549,843.48 and approval of Payment Application No. 3 for the Main Street Project. . Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Report – Jim Schulz, SEH, City Engineer

Schulz gave a verbal report and written report which is on file for review.

Regarding Main Street, there was a discussion on electric power by the park shelter. It was noted that the plans did not include power for the park shelter. Joe Hennen moved and Humbert seconded a motion to add the electrical lines to the Main Street Park. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Joe Hennen moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion to approve of the catch basin to be placed in to the ditch by Loretta Ostendorf, by her request, in the amount of $2300 which would be intended to be assessed to the property. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Tim Hennen requested that the city engineer work to completely restore the properties on the east end of Main Street as soon as possible. Schulz stated that he would convey the instructions to the contractor, Tri-City Paving.

Worms mentioned that the street lights wire was unattended and left on the outside of the curb of which he witnessed a vehicle drive over the line. Worms also mentioned that at this stage of the project, the attention to detail and timeliness seemed to be waning. Schulz responded that he would address the issues raised with the contractor and sub-contractors.

Hetland brought forward a request to stripe the parking lot before winter, and Schulz responded that it was the contractor's desire to stripe the parking lot this year after the final ware course is laid.

Report – Joel Dasher, Public Works Director

Dasher provided a verbal report and written report which is on file for review.

Council discussed when the final street sweeping would occur. Dasher would provide more details at a future meeting.

Discussion followed regarding the restoration of 2nd Street North. Worms noted that about $1300 was omitted from the project until next summer. The discussion on possible other sites along the street would be addressed in the spring.

Dasher mentioned an inflow and infiltration (I&I) issue for the lift station on the south side of the Interstate. It was noted that the liftstation only services the Welle Country Acres and Welle Plat 2 waste water lines. Dasher discovered larger than normal levels after the significant recent rainfalls. It is uncertain the exact cause for the larger levels, but more investigative work will be needed to determine a corrective course of action.

Report – Paul Hetland, City Clerk/Treasurer

Hetland provided a written and verbal report which is on file for review.

Hetland mentioned is attendance at the Quad County Economic Development Professionals meeting earlier in the morning at the Stearns County HRA in Cold Spring. The group is a loose coalition of private, public, and non-profit professionals from Wright, Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns counties. He further explained that the four counties are not represented by an organized economic development organization and that this group is one of the only forums for economic development. Hetland further explained that through attending one of the past meetings and discussions with Nancy Hoffman, Benton County economic development professional, that the City of Freeport was able to apply and gain the JOBZ designation for the Industrial Park.

Hetland gave an update that with some of the changes enacted by the Legislature in the last session, that DEED (Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development) is drafting policy guidelines on waivers to some aspects of administering the new laws. Hetland specifically asked Paul Moe of DEED if the Millwood Metalworks project could be a candidate for the proposed waiver system and Moe responded that only if the business could produce 4 new jobs, which Jim Herdering responded to Hetland that he could not.

At 11:52 P.M. Humbert moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.