Agenda

Balderston moved and Humbert seconded a motion approving the meeting agenda. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Approval of the Minutes

Joe Hennen moved and Balderston seconded a motion approving the meeting minutes for December 26, 2007. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

New Business

Open Public Forum

No one addressed Council under Open Public Forum.

Approval of the 2008 Fire and Rescue Department Officers and authorization to open the fire fighter employment process for up to eight persons.

Chief John Gilk was present to request approval of the 2008 Fire and Rescue Department officers as follows:

  • Chief John Gilk
  • 1st Assistant, Noah Van Beck
  • 2ndAssistant, Wayne Revering
  • Secretary, Steve Notch
  • Treasurer, Scott Hoeschen

Balderston moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion to appoint the 2008 Fire and Rescue Department Officers as recommended. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Gilk also noted that the Relief Association officers for 2008 were approved at their last meeting as follows:

  • President Glen Meyer
  • Vice President John Harren
  • Secretary Loren Goebel
  • Treasurer Scott Hoeschen
  • Director Jerry Meyer
  • Dean Jungles

Gilk further noted that Mayor Matt Worms and City Clerk Paul Hetland serve as full voting members of the Relief Association per state statute.

Gilk mentioned that Gary Thelen and Mike Renneker recently retired leaving eight positions to fill. Gilk requested permission to begin the hiring process for eight additional firefighters bringing the department back to full capacity with 25 people. Tim Hennen moved and Balderston seconded a motion to authorize the Fire Chief and the Freeport Fire and Rescue Department to begin a selection process to fill eight positions in the department. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Gilk also brought forward his concerns for having a control burn drill for a house located at 103 3rd Street NE. He noted that the house is 65 feet from one belonging to David and Sue Malms, 65 feet from one belonging to Rose Hiltner, and 30 feet from an electrical transformer.He further noted that there is a major concern where the water used in such a proposed control burn would go. He stated that the current officers of the Department did not feel this control burn would be safe and they further did not feel that having a control burn anywhere in city limits was a good idea. They felt that there are too many variables to maintain the safety of adjoining properties or of people in close proximity of a control burn. Gilk noted that he would be bringing the discussion to the attention of the full Department for their consideration and discussion to bring a recommendation back to Council at a future point as to the practice on control burns in the City.

Regarding the particular control burn planned for 103 3rd Street NE, Council stated that if the Department is uncomfortable with the control burn than so are they. Council left the decision to the discretion of the Fire and Rescue Department.

Council discussed Chief Gilk's recommendation pertaining to the creation of a City Code making it unlawful to conduct a control burn in the City. Gilk reiterated the point that he would be bringing the issue back to the full Department for further discussion and recommendation. Hetland stated that staff will assist the Department in conducting research into the matter.

Hearing: Possible change to Freeport City Code Section 200 Change to Meeting Schedule, Consideration of Ordinance 2008-01

Worms opened the hearing at 7:57 P.M. Hetland brought forward a draft ordinance changing the meeting frequency in City Code to reflect the practice of City Council since 2003 to meet the second and last Wednesdays of each month. Hetland noted that currently City Code stated that Council shall meet the last Tuesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. Humbert moved and Balderston seconded a motion to accept Ordinance 2008-001 as written. Discussion included concern of whether two meetings per month were necessary and perhaps only one was needed.Motion failed 2-3.

Worms moved and Joe Hennen seconded a motion to change the ordinance to hold meetings on the first Wednesday of each month.Discussion included concern that if one meeting were to be held it should be at the end of the month rather than the beginning. Hetland was asked how such a change would effect payroll and other reporting and after a moment, he stated that staff could accommodate the meeting change. Discussion further noted that if there were to be one meeting per month that it should be at the end of the month rather than the beginning. The motion was pulled by both Worms and Joe Hennen.

Joe Hennen moved a motion to change the ordinance to hold Council meetings on the last Wednesday per month. The motion failed for the lack of a second. Humbert suggested that Council postpone the discussion to the next meeting to give more time for consideration. Worms moved and Balderston seconded a motion to table a decision.After a brief discussion, both Worms and Balderston pulled the motion. There was a discussion on keeping the ordinance as it now reads with the meetings being held on the last Tuesdays of each month. No action was taken on that suggestion.

Worms moved and Balderston seconded a motion to change the wording of Ordinance 2008-001 to read that the Council shall meet the "2nd and last Tuesday" of each month. They further noted that Council would decide at the end of each meeting whether the next meeting was necessary. In discussion of the motion, Tim Hennen mentioned keeping it on Wednesdays seeing Council desired to meet twice a month. Worms responded that he had often had a time conflict on Wednesday nights and would prefer Tuesday nights. It was clarified that due to a couple scheduling issues, the new ordinance would take effect in March if the motion was adopted. Hetland noted that he would work to get the Council packet out the Friday before the meeting if the meetings would be on Tuesdays. Motion carried 5-0.

Worms closed the hearing at 8:36 P.M.

Request for a 4 way stop at 2nd Avenue NE and 2nd Street NE

Mary Schieffer was present to address Council regarding a request to place a four-way stop at the intersection of 2nd Avenue NE and 2nd Street NE. Currently, there are stop signs controlling the intersection for the avenue but not the street. She noted that in her eight month residency on the corner a number of near miss accidents and the concern of speeding vehicles in the presence of children on their way to and from school. She stated that she felt the vehicles frequently travel at speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour. She stated her love of the City and concern for the public's welfare. Council responded by stating their equal concern about the welfare of the public and their concern about the even and safe flow of traffic coming from events in the area. To study the matter further and bring awareness to those who allegedly speed along the street, Joe Hennen suggested, and Council agreed, that staff contact the Stearns County Sheriff's Office in request of the speed wagon to place along the west side of 2nd Street NE for traffic coming off of County Road 11. Schieffer noted that she was pleased with the idea and agreed to stay in contact with the City about the matter. She further noted her appreciation of the time and respect Council gave her concern.

Request for a $250 donation to the 5th Annual Middle Sauk River Water Festival

Hetland provided a request for the 5th Annual Middle Sauk River Water Festival in the amount of $250. Tim Hennen moved and Joe Hennen seconded a motion to respectfully deny the request.Discussion included that there are other organizations like the Sauk River Watershed District that could afford to fund an additional $250 for the valuable program. Motion carried 5-0.

Request for a $500 fee for the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District Urban Conservationist position

Hetland provided a copy of a request from the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District for their Urban Conservationist position in the amount of $500.Humbert moved and Balderston seconded a motion to respectfully deny the request. Hetland noted in discussion that the City had approved a motion the previous year denying the request and to grant it if all cities in the County also gave their allotted amount. Motion carried 5-0.

Staff request for office door installation – estimate of $661.24 from Hennen Lumber

Hetland brought forward a request to install a pre-finished, hinge-style door from the Public Works Director's office to the file room. Hetland noted in his report that the door to the file room was originally designed to exit into the reception area but was moved to the Clerk's office for greater efficiency for the position who would primarily be accessing the files.However, at the time the door was installed, the administrative assistant position was not in existence and there are times when accessing the file room causes a great distraction.Humbert moved and Joe Hennen seconded a motion to approve the proposal to place a door between the file room and the Public Works Director's office using the estimated expense from Hennen Lumber at $661.24. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0 with one abstention from Tim Hennen.

Other

Worms brought to Council's attention his concern of wood burning stoves and the incredible amount of smoke they often produce. Worms suggested whether adoption of a stronger ordinance prohibiting the practice is necessary. Hetland noted that in the City's nuisance codes unreasonable smoke is already noted as a prohibited practice. Worms understood this point but noted that the ordinance would not allow the smoke but would allow the wood burner, which in his estimation, did not seem fair to the person purchasing the furnace in that they could buy it but not operate it. It was taken under advisement by Council and staff was asked to research the matter further and report at a later time.

CapX2020 Report

Hetland gave a report regarding a meeting he had attended earlier that day regarding the placement of high voltage power lines scheduled to be erected somewhere along the Interstate corridor this year. He found that the poles would be approximately 150' high with spans about 1200' apart needed an easement of 150 feet. Council asked is cellphone service would be compromised and Hetland did not have that answer but would investigate the question. Hetland also noted that there was no information presented on whether the lines contribute to any health problems to those whom live along them. He did note that when they are wet from snow or rain, that the lines crack and hum. Council also asked whether the 800 mhz system would in any way be effected. Hetland would further investigate this concern as well. Hetland mentioned that by the end of March that the group was going to recommend to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) at least three possible site plans with directly along the Interstate as one of those concepts.The Governor and the PUC have stated that with the state growth projections that utilities need to increase in the next ten years to accommodate the anticipated growth.

Hetland gave a review.

OLD BUSINESS

Worms mentioned that a comprehensive plan should be adopted by the City of Freeport.He further noted that the Land Use Plan adopted about 15 years ago would be a good guide to begin the process. Worms noted that the City should work out an orderly annexation with Oak Township in contrast to Council's decision made approximately one year earlier seeing no need to adopt an orderly annexation agreement. Hetland noted that he would begin to work on a draft comprehensive plan process to be conducted by the City for review and an orderly annexation process with Oak Township for review as well.No action was taken, but it was generally agreed that the process would conclude by the end of the year.

REPORTS

City Engineer, Jim Schulz, SEH

Hetland gave a brief verbal report on Jim Schulz's report that information was received that day by the City Engineer and that the Main Street Project will be closed out at the next meeting.

Hetland also reported that the cracks in Main Street across from 2nd Avenue NE are being investigated but Schulz felt that they were not due to a lack of properly tamping a buried line, because there was none present, but due to the contraction of unevenly hydrated areas. More information would be present at a future meeting.

Schulz was unable to attend the meeting due to classes he is attending on Wednesday evenings.

Public Works Director, Joel Dasher

Dasher reported that the lead report was going well and noted that the reporting phase will be once every four years opposed to every year.

City Clerk/Treasurer's Report, Paul Hetland

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

CONSENT AGENDA

Balderston moved and Joe Hennen seconded a motion approving the Consent Agenda which included the following: Claims in the amount of $47,330.51, claims in the amount of $324,905.68, claims for employee payroll in the amount of $6625.32, 2008 Appointments (Annual recommendation by the Mayor and Approved by Council), Resolution 2008-001 – Freeport State Bank as an official depository, Resolution 2008-002 – Central Minnesota Federal Credit Union as an official depository, setting February 27, 2008 as the Annual Area Fire Service Meeting, and setting March 11, 2008 as the review and approval of the 2007 audited financial statements. Worms would like to thank Tim Hennen for his service Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Humbert congratulated Hetland on his recommendations received from the chief appointed officials of the cities of Rockville and Albany in his clerks certification application.

At 9:49 P.M. Worms moved and Humbert seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.