Freeport City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - February 24, 2009

A regular meeting of the Freeport City Council was convened at 7:30 P.M. by Mayor Matt Worms with Council Members Dave Humbert, Charles Balderston, and Ken Goebel also in attendance.

Also in attendance: Herman Lensing and Carol Moorman.

Staff person in attendance: Paul Hetland, Noah Van Beck, Wayne Revering , John Gilk, and April Bielejeski.

The Pledge of Allegiance was said by those in attendance.

Open Public Forum

No one addressed City Council.

Consent Agenda

Balderston moved and seconded Humbert a motion approving the Consent Agenda which included the following: Approval of the agenda; approval of the minutes from the January 27, 2009 Regular Council Meeting; claims in the amount of $59,893.48; employee payroll in the amount of $6412.98; Resolution 2009-004 - Waste Hauling Exemption Request to Stearns County; Resolution 2009-005 - Approval of Paul Hetland to assume the officer roles of Secretary, Vice President, and President ending in 2012 for the Minnesota Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association; Resolution 2009-006 - Approval of Improvements to the Senior Center by the Freeport Lions Club not to exceed $25,000; setting March 31, 2009 for a Conditional Use Permit hearing to consider a day care facility at 311 1st Ave. N.; and setting March 31, 2009 for consideration of an ordinance to approve of the City's land use fees, adding clarification for the Winter Parking exemptions, and the consideration of prohibiting exterior wood burners. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.

Annual Area Fire Service Meeting

At 7:35 P.M. the Annual Meeting Area Fire Service was called to order. In attendance were the following:

City of Freeport

• Matt Worms
• Dave Humbert
• Joe Hennen
• Charlie Balderston
• Ken Goebel

City of St. Anthony

Not present

City of St. Rosa

• John Stoermann

Krain Township

• Arnie Blommel

Millwood Township

• Adolph Wensmann
• Steve Notch
• Irene Bredth

Oak Township

• Bob Timp
• Peter Welle
• Mike Rosner

Albany Township

• Paul Luethmers
• Jamie Luethmers

Budget

Hetland and Van Beck presented the financial documents regarding the 2008 fiscal year and proposed a 2010 budget.

There was extensive discussion regarding collecting fees opposed to leaning more toward the service fee from the governmental entities of the fire service. Millwood Township moved and St. Rosa seconded a motion keeping the service fees and ate the same rate. Discussion offered. Motion carried 6-0.

Hetland and Van Beck also pointed out that there have been many discussions on adding a late fee on the fire and rescue bills in the past few years, but no late fee exists. St. Rosa moved and Albany Township seconded a motion setting a $100 late fee for a bill over 90 days past due. Discussion included that the fee would accommodate the lengthy insurance process often associated with the invoices. Hetland also noted that over 80% of the bills are collected and that the uncollected bills this year would be forwarded to the Minnesota Department of Revenue's Revenue Recapture Program, which would help collect unpaid bills for hose living outside of the fire service in Minnesota. Motion carried 6-0.

Albany Township moved and Millwood Township seconded a motion approving the 2010 Fire and Rescue Department Budget as proposed with $120,532.50 in revenue and $120, 483.47 with $49.03 left unallocated. Discussion offered. Motion carried 6-0.

New Business

Mike Rosner from Oak Township noted on behalf of everyone his appreciation of the fire fighters and their hard wok to make a great department. He also noted that the department should be more assertive with soliciting donations. The firefighters present duly noted the request and would consider it, but also commented that they had previously determined that they would be asking for donations via letters approximately every 3 to 5 years as not to upset most donors that the requests are too frequent. Rosner further noted that maybe a special project solicitation could be sent out which would allow for more focused donations.

Freeport moved and Albany Township seconded a motion to adjourn the Annual Meeting of the Area Fire Service. Motion carried 6-0.

Old Business

Hearing Wood Burning Stoves

No one approached Council on the matter.

New business

Worms mentioned that he is the only one currently on City Council that is officially trained for the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. He noted that per state law, at least one person needs to be trained and should be absent from the annual meeting, the meeting could not e conducted. Discussion followed on how to remedy the situation. It was generally agreed that the Acting Mayor should be trained as that person would be chairing the meeting in the Mayor's absence. Hetland was asked to draft a resolution for the next meeting requiring the Mayor and Acting Mayor to be trained to conduct a Local Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting.

Worms further noted that the Mayor and Council Members should also attend training through the League of Minnesota Cities. It was discussed that the training should be early in the person's term of office and a concession should be made to accommodate the Mayor's two-year term, perhaps requiring training every four years to match that of a Council Member's requirement. Hetland was asked to draft an ordinance and the hearing was set for March 31. 2009.

Reports

City Clerk/Treasurer's Report, Paul Hetland

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

April Bielejeski, City Engineer, S.E.H.

Bielejeski noted that the work on the USDA Rural Development program continues and expected to explain the program and its costs in greater detail at the March meeting. She also noted that the Mayor and Clerk have been working with her in their monthly meetings making revisions to the assessment policy and expected a draft for review by the next meeting. Worms also note to Bielejeski that some settling had occurred in the Welle Estates Plat 2 area along 10th Street SE and 2nd Avenue SE. Bielejeski noted that the warranty period had ended regarding the contractor's responsibility, but that she would investigate the area and report back at a later point.

At 9:33 P.M. Worms moved and Balderston seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.