Open Public Forum
No one addressed City Council.
Consent Agenda
Humbert moved and Goebel seconded a motion approving the Consent Agenda which included the following: Approval of the agenda; approval of the minutes from the June 30, 2009 Regular Meeting; Claims in the amount of $5081.29 paid on July 10, 2009; claims in the amount of $105,869.16; approval of the revised Senior Center Rental Contract stipulating a $50 cleaning deposit; Resolution 2009-011 - Declaring the official intent of Freeport to reimburse certain expenditures from the proceeds of bonds to be issued by the City; and payroll in the amount of $7790.71. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.
New Business
Consideration of employing firefighters - Noah Van Beck, Fire Chief
Noah Van Beck addressed City Council regarding the hiring of two new firefighters. He reported that the Fire and Rescue Department currently has 19 firefighters out of 25 total positions. He noted that the hiring committee of the Department interviewed 5 individuals and recommended two candidates to be hired and to hold the remaining files until a later date. Van Beck recommended hiring Bryan Scherping and Dylan Risberg as firefighters. Van Beck noted that Risberg is also currently on Holdingford's department, but works in the City during the day when firefighters are most needed. It was agreed on that Risberg only has to make one drill per month and make the monthly meeting in an effort to know his fellow fighters, but no training was needed because he was receiving it to Department standards from the City of Holdingford. Balderston moved and Humbert seconded a motion to approve Bryan Scherping and Dylan Risberg as firefighters in the Freeport Fire and Rescue Department. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.
Hearing: Conditional Use Permit hearing to consider a day care facility at 301 10th Street SE
Worms open the hearing at 7:39 P.M. Sara Hinnenkamp presented her request for a conditional use permit for a daycare facility out of her home in a area zoned R-1 residential. She noted that she is in the process of obtaining her State license, but expects them shortly. Hetland reported that all was in order to process the conditional use permit and met Freeport City Code. Humbert moved and Goebel seconded a motion approving the conditional use permit for a daycare facility at 301 10th Street SE for Sara Hinnenkamp contingent upon showing proof of her license to the City Clerk once it is obtained. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0. Worms moved and Humbert seconded a motion to close the hearing at 7:42 P.M. Motion carried 4-0.
Old Business
USDA Rural Development Projects Update
Scott Lange reported that Freeport's project is still awaiting review and comment from the USDA RD's state engineer's office which is comprised of two people . Lange noted that there are multiple projects awaiting review from across Minnesota. Hetland noted that per a discussion with Lange that he contacted Congresswoman Michele Bachmann's office about the issue and that her office suggested waivers as a remedy and would work to see if the process could be expedited to free up Recovery Act monies into communities. Lange noted that he would still try to conduct the survey this fall to keep as much as possible of the project moving. He noted that once the review comments are received, the project can begin moving much quicker.
Reports
City Clerk/Treasurer's Report, Paul Hetland
Hetland provided a written report that is on file for review.
Hetland reported that he and Council Member Goebel recently attended a CapX2020 open house in Melrose regarding the proposed powerlines through the area. They were pleased to report that the CapX2020 project team had three routing proposals for the Freeport area and none of them went through the City negating the use for eminent domain. The CapX2020 project team did want to convey that it is only a proposal to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and through their formal process and hearings, they may ultimately decide another route.
Humbert moved and Goebel seconded Resolution 2009-012 extending Ordinance 2008-04 for one more year placing a moratorium on mobile homes until July 31, 2010. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.
Hetland reported that with the change in the summer recreation program for 2009, there will likely be some monies left over in the budget for the program. Worms noted that recreation monies should remain in that area and that there will be a future need for something in the Welle Estates park area. Balderston moved and Humbert seconded a motion to transfer any remaining funds in the $2500 Contractor line item of the Recreation section of the 2009 General Fund budget to be placed in the general Park Fund. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.
City Engineer's Report, Scott Lange
Lange provided a written report which is on file for review.
Worms noted that the contractor A-1 Concrete would be returning to the City on August 10 to complete the restoration work on sidewalks and curbs.
At 8:29 P.M. Worms moved and Balderston seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 4-0.
