Regular Meeting
MountainLakeCity Council
Monday, March 6, 2006
6:30 p.m.
Members Present:Dean Janzen, Mayor; Brian Schultz; Brian Harder
Members Absent:Harvey Stoesz, Mark Hanson
Staff Present:Daryl Mohlenbrock, Electrical Superintendent; Rick Oeltjenbruns, Street and Parks Superintendent, Andy Kehren, City Engineer, Bolton and Menk; Maryellen Suhrhoff, City Attorney; and Wendy Meyer, City Clerk/Administrator
Others Present:Mark Langland, Mt. Lake Utility Commission Member; Dan Juhl and Jeff Bendel, DanMar Associates; Dan O’Neill, Northland Securities; Jamie Quiring; and Gloria McKissick
Mayor Dean Janzen called the meeting to order at 6:30 p. m.
Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion by Brian Harder, seconded by Brian Schultz to approve the agenda and consent
agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Approval of Council Minutes from February 21, 2006
Approval of City Bills (5386 to 5441and 10017 to 10032)
Approval of Utility Commission minutes from February 9, 2006
Approval of Planning and Zoning Commission minutes from January 30, 2006
Approval of February building permits
Pow Wow raffle permit
Appoint Brian Janzen to Planning and Zoning Commission
2006 Street and Utility Project
Andy Kehren, City Engineer, Bolton and Menk, briefly updated the Council on the progress of plans for the project. Assessing the affected property owners was discussed. Motion by Brian Schultz, seconded by Brian Harder to hire a licensed appraiser to determine the value of five representative properties in the improvement area with and without the planned improvements. Motion carried.
Seal Coat, Street Department
Motion by Brian Schultz, seconded by Brian Harder to call for seal coat bids.
Motion carried.
City-Wide Clean Up
The administrator presented a letter from the Cottonwood County Landfill offering half
price tipping fees for city-wide clean up. The clean up will be curbside and will be held
during a regular garbage collection day. The administrator was directed to contact
Waste Management to set a date.
Sidewalk Inspection and Repair Program
In the mid-90s a portion of the city’s sidewalks were inspected and repaired each year.
Street Superintendent Rick Oeltjenbruns and the administrator recommended the
program be revived. Oeltjenbruns presented a city map with six sections. A
section will be inspected and repaired each year. Motion by Brian Harder, seconded
BrianSchultz to re-establish the program. Motion carried.
Trailer Purchase
Street Superintendent Rick Oeltjenbruns presented quotes for a larger lawn mower
trailer. Motion by Brian Harder, seconded by Brian Schultz to purchase a used 63”
by 14’ aluminum trailer from GDF Enterprises, Windom. Motion carried.
Wind Turbine Bids
Daryl Mohlenbrock, Electrical Superintendent and Mark Langland, Utilities
Commission Member explained the history of the project. Based on their research
the Commission believes the project will provide the city’s utility customers with a
low cost source of electricity, add to the diversification of power sources already in place
and allow the utility to meet green energy requirements.
Dan Juhl and Jeff Bendel, DanMar Associates explained the turbine specifications and
discussed the turbine shortage. Timelines for opening bids, awarding bids and
construction, and the expected completion date were discussed.
Dan O’Neill, Northland Securities, explained the Clean Renewable Energy Bonds
(CREBs) program. The city’s application must be submitted by April 26, 2007. Bonds
must be sold by Dec. 31, 2007; construction must begin by Dec. 31, 2012.
Motion by Brian Schultz, seconded by Brian Harder to call for bids for a 1250 to 1650
kw wind turbine. Bids will be opened April 3 and awarded within 30 days. Motion
carried.
Library
The Administrator informed the Council that the Library Board, after interviewing
candidates, is recommending the hiring of Gloria Klassen at $7.50/hour and Grace
Harder at $8.00/ hour. Motion by Brian Harder, seconded by Brian Schultz to hire
Klassen and Harder at the proposed wage. Motion carried.
Demolition of 1113 Third Ave., PIN 22.520.1170
Motion by Brian Harder, seconded by Brian Schultz to award the demolition and
hauling bid to Lohrenz Construction at a cost of $7,450. Work will be completed within
21 days after spring road restrictions are lifted. Motion carried. The CottonwoodCounty
Demolition Fund for government owned properties will be used to pay for 50% of the
tipping fee.
Garage Ordinance, First Reading
The proposed garage ordinance and related changes were reviewed. The Council
directed the Administrator and Attorney to add language requiring accessory buildings to
have concrete footings and to be eliminate Definition 2.
Administrator
The new copier scanner is black and white. It is not possible to get a color scanner on a
black and white copier. Motion by Brian Harder, seconded by Dean
Janzen to purchase a color scanner and purchase RAM for a computer to operate the
scanner for approximately $700 from New Star Sales. Motion carried.
Briggs and Morgan Bill
A legal bill from the Pinebrook Tax Increment Financing Project was discussed. The
Administrator will contact JAND Development to discuss payment.
The Administrator informed the council that the Council of Governments will be
presenting a session on job descriptions. This is the first step in the performance review
process required by the Council before 2007 pay increases are approved.
It was announced that the Sewer/Water Dept. is working to complete a water emergency
management plan; city employees, fire department and emergency medical
technicians will need to take additional National Incident Management System (NIMS)
training; and a Speak-Out releasing the results of a survey of 40 plus professionals and
parents regarding the city’s pre-school citizens will be held Sat. morning, March 25. The
survey is part of the multi-year early child grant awarded to the community by the
Southwest Foundation.
Public
Gloria McKissick asked about the decibel level of ‘turbo’ mufflers and the noise limits
set by city ordinance. She was asked to contact the police directly on this manner.
Adjournment
Motion by Brian Harder, seconded by Brian Schultz to adjourn at 8 p.m. Motion
carried.
Approved March 20, 2006.
______
Dean Janzen, Mayor Wendy Meyer, Clerk/Administrator