Agenda

Humbert moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion approving the meeting agenda. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.

Approval of the Minutes

Tim Hennen moved and Joe Hennen seconded a motion approving the meeting minutes for October 10, 2007. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.

New Business

Erv Bueckers Request

Erv Bueckers was present with a request to occasionally dump septic tank water into Freeport's waste water stabilization ponds. He noted that the biggest load would be about 2500 gallons with an average of 1600 gallons. Tim Hennen asked Joe Dasher about if ponds had enough capacity to accommodate the request. Dasher answered that a few thousand gallons per day would not be significant. Joe Hennen moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion to amend the waste water dumping fee to $25 per load. Discussion included information on the charges of other cities, but more importantly per state statute, the actual costs to the City to justify the fee. Motion carried 4-0.

Law Enforcement Report

Lieutenant Jon Lentz was present to report on law enforcement activities in the City. He noted a few citations of careless driving, no proof of insurance, speeding, two alarm responses, one animal complaint, attempt to locate a missing person, two citizen contacts, one motorist assist, a couple no paying customers gas drive offs, theft, suspicious vehicle call, and routine checks. Council thanked Lt. Lentz for his time and service.

Open Public Forum

No one was present to address Council.

Wetland Monitoring Proposal

Schulz discussed and presented a five year requirement proposal of the wetland monitoring totaling $16,000. Extensive discussion followed regarding the cost and the proposed tasks of monitoring the wetland area. Joe Hennen said that he thought the City should ask for other bids and the cost should be based on an hourly basis for bids. Hetland was requested to contact Greg Bechtold of Stearns County Environmental Services for more information and to gather more information for consideration at a future meeting.

Flower Pots

Council and staff discussed the littered condition of the Main Street flower pots. Due to the lack of decorating attention to the pots and the problematic winter maintenance concerns, staff was requested to store the flower pots in the City Maintenance Building for the winter season.

Canceling November 14 Meeting Discussion

Hetland noted that there is a scheduled class for Board of Appeal and Equalization scheduled for November 14, the next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting and that a couple Council Members expressed interest in attending the class. He further noted, that with this in mind, and the lack of immediate necessity to conduct a meeting that a meeting could be called if necessary by the Mayor on November 12. Council decided that the Mayor and City Clerk should discuss the matte on November 12 if a Council Meeting needs to occur.

Reports

City Engineer, Jim Schulz, SEH

Schulz reported that he is waiting for final paperwork from Tri-City Paving and scheduled concrete work is expected in the next couple weeks. He also noted that he expects paperwork from Annandale Contracting in the next few weeks as well.

Public Works Director, Joel Dasher

Dasher presented a written report that is on file for review.

Dasher noted the tower was cleaned out and the company's report on its condition. Hetland suggested that for planning purposes, a year should be chosen for a tower project to help determine the availability of raising capital funds for the project. Council agreed that information should be compiled for review if the tower was constructed in the year 2013. It was further noted that the analysis should focus on the site just west of the Middendorf farm and southeast of the newly developed sedimentary pond in the Industrial Park.

Dasher mentioned the storm water issues along the Creamery and that City Staff should cleaned out the ditch culvert. Dasher noted that if the elevated water would freeze, the concrete culvert most likely crack. Council instructed Dasher to clean out the culvert and discuss a reimbursement with the Creamery Coop Board for the City's expenses to the fill from their driveway that filled the culvert.

City Clerk/Treasurer's Report, Paul Hetland

Hetland presented a written report that is on file for review.

There was a discussion on sheep being used for weed control in waste water ponds in some cities. Hetland was asked to gather information on this practice and report at a later meeting.

Consent Agenda

Joe Hennen moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion approving the Consent Agenda which included the following: Claims in the amount of $13,135.98 and claims for payroll in the amount of $7028.68. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.

Worms, with no objection, moved into closed session at 9:29 P.M. for the annual review of Joel Dasher, Public Works Director. Worms moved and Humbert seconded a motion to approve a cost of living adjustment of 3.3% bring his hourly wage to $16.69 per hour. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.

At 9:55 P.M. Worms moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.