Open Public Forum

Nathan Robertson asked the City Council to require fencing between Freeport Gas & Grocery and his residential property to quiet noise disturbance from the store’s newly installed equipment.

Mayor Worms moved the discussion of Sacred Heart Church Snow Removal Agreement under New Business to the floor for discussion.  Gary Meyer & Jerome Middendorf asked the Council to consider an exchange of services for the City’s continued contract for snow removal services.  Hennen asked whether the liability concerns addressed under a service for fee contract would fall away if the parties reverted to the terms of previous agreements.  Holthaus said that she couldn’t be certain without attorney input, but also questioned the matter. 

Hennen moved and Ritter seconded a motion to offer a new agreement for snow removal services to Sacred Heart Church, free of charge and including the language from the agreement terminated in May of 2011, conditional upon Stueve and the Sacred Heart Board of Directors agreement on in-kind services to be provided by the Sacred Heart Church.  Motion carried 5-0.

Consent Agenda

Hennen moved and C. Goebel seconded a motion approving the Consent Agenda which included the following:  Approval of the agenda; approval of the minutes from the August 30, 2011 Regular Council Meeting; approval of the claims distributed on August 29, 2011 in the amount of $5,131.90; approval of the claims distributed on August 29, 2011 in the amount of $3,711.87; approval of the claims distributed on September 8, 2011 in the amount of $3,109.27; approval of the claims distributed on September 12, 2011 in the amount of $8,670.71; approval of the claims distributed on September 12, 2011 in the amount of $752.72; approval of the claims distributed on September 19, 2011 in the amount of $4,333.02; Approve Road Closure Permit for Freeport State Bank/Landwehr for demolition project 9/10/11-9/11/11 (issued by City Clerk & County Engineer on 9/8/11); and Approve Application for Exempt Permit for Sacred Heart Parish for Raffle on 1/28/12.  Discussion offered.  Motion carried 5-0. 

Old Business

Review of Closed Session on August 30th, 2011 (Employee Reviews)

Mayor Worms summarized the closed session held on August 30th, 2011 for annual employee reviews by stating that all employees received a successful performance review.

Claim 87292, $8,303.93 to Service Master

Council members discussed the response from the property owners to the City’s request for reimbursement.  Council asked Holthaus to request reconsideration by LMC based on the findings of the sanitary sewer televising.  Holthaus will proceed with the request.

K. Goebel moved and C. Goebel seconded a motion to approve Claim 87292, $8,303.93 to Service Master.  Discussion offered.  Motion carried 5-0.

Sacred Heart Church Snow Removal Agreement

Holthaus asked the Council how to proceed with the agreement terms offered to Tri-City Church.  Council consensus was to keep the terms of the agreement with Tri-City as proposed.

Resolution 2011-042 – Tri-Cap Waiver Request Finken Property

Hennen moved and K. Goebel seconded a motion to postpone indefinitely Resolution 2011-042 – Tri-Cap Waiver Request Finken Property.  Motion carried 5-0.

New Business

Resolution 2011-047 - Authorizing Application for a Grant

Hennen asked Holthaus to include the accessibility improvements required by Rural Development as a condition of funding in the EAID grant application.

Hennen moved and K. Goebel seconded a motion to approve Resolution 2011-047 – Authorizing Application for a Grant, including additional items required by Rural Development.  Motion carried 5-0.

Resolution 2011-048 – Calling Public Hearing for Ordinance 2011-010 Establishing Fees for Emergency Fire Protection Services

Hennen moved and C. Goebel seconded a motion to approve Resolution 2011-048 – Calling Public Hearing for Ordinance 2011-010 Establishing Fees for Emergency Fire Protection Services.  Motion carried 5-0.

Reports

City Engineer, S.E.H. – Scott Lange, Dave Blommel

2nd/3rd Street Reconstruction (2010 Water System Improvements Project/J.R. Ferche)

Lange reviewed progress made on the punch list for the 2nd/3rd street reconstruction project (2010 Water System Improvements). 

Water Tower (200,000-gallon Elevated Storage Tank/General Construction)

Lange said the Council will need to begin looking at paint schemes for the 200,000 gallon water storage tank.  K. Goebel would like to see a smiley face added to the new tower because the cost of maintaining the old tower will become high.  Hennen does not care to add a smiley face to the new tower as long as the old tower is standing.  Lange said that space could be left on the new tower for a future addition of a smiley face.

Resolution 2011-049 – General Construction Payment Application No. 3

Hennen moved and K. Goebel seconded a motion to approve Resolution 2011-049 – General Construction Payment Application No. 3 contingent upon approval from Rural Development.  Motion carried 5-0. 

County Road 11 Reconstruction (Stearns County)

Lange reviewed with council tarred sections along CR-11 that needed to be complete by winter. 

Water Meters (Dakota Supply Group)

Lange reviewed the proposals received for water meter replacement.

Resolution 2011-046 – Ordering Improvement & Awarding Contract for Water Meters

Hennen moved and K. Goebel seconded a motion to approve Resolution 2011-046 – Ordering Improvement & Awarding Contract for Water Meters to Dakota Supply Group contingent upon approval from Rural Development.  Motion carried 5-0.

Street light installation (Design Electric)

Lange said that some of the new street lights along CR-11 south of Main Street had been installed.  The conduit placed by Design Electric heading north along CR-11 will sit vacant for the winter months and no tracer wire has been installed.

Other

Lange reported that Rural Development had approved the proposals for new pumps at both wells.  Lange noted that timing is good with replacement of the pumps prior to the installation of the new water tower.

Worms reported that Beuning Masonry would pour the exposed aggregate along CR-11 to match the design along Main Street.

Public Works Report, Jon Stueve

Stueve reported that he was meeting with Mayer’s to discuss options for resolving storm water problems by Sacred Heart Church and Integrated Health and Wellness (IHW).  Stueve noted that the curb sank away by IHW and storm water ponds in front of the business entrance.  Worms suggested Stueve look into mud jacking the section of curb.

Stueve reported two manholes by Whirlwind that need to be lowered and filled with concrete. 

City Clerk/Treasurer’s Report, Vicki Holthaus

Holthaus presented the quote for purchase of fund accounting modules from Black Mountain Software in the amount of $11,290.  Holthaus noted that annual fees of $2,175 would not be eligible for funding under Rural Development.

K. Goebel moved and Ritter seconded a motion to approve the purchase of software from Black Mountain contingent upon approval from Rural Development.  Discussion offered.  Motion carried 5-0.

For IT services not provided under the installation contract with Black Mountain, Hennen recommended Holthaus contact Albanytel, as rates were more competitive than other vendors.

Holthaus reported no updates on the claim submitted to JR Ferche for the sanitary sewer backup during the rain event on 7/15/11.

K. Goebel asked if Council wanted to survey residents in the newsletter about adding a smiley face to the new tower.  Worms stated that the old tower can stay up for the time being and the council could reconsider addition of a smiley face on the new tower at a later date.

At 8:11 P.M. Worms moved and K. Goebel seconded a motion to adjourn the regular meeting.  Motion carried 5-0.