RUGBY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2016 – 7:30PM
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Council Members present: Rheault, Lotvedt, Fossum, Kraft, Bartsch, Berg, Longie, and Steinke. Also present were Mayor Geiszler and City Auditor Stewart. Absent was Attorney Hartl.
Mayor Geiszler called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. Council members recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call of council members was taken by Mayor Geiszler.
There was one addition to the agenda. Lake Region District Health Unit, to present a sample document for alcohol server training. No amendments or deletions to the agenda.
Motion by Kraft to approve the minutes of the September 6, 2016 regular council meeting and the September 22, 2016 special budget meeting. Second by Berg. Correction pointed out by Steinke to strike or under planning and zoning and insert with, all voting yes, motion carried.
Jennifer Stewart was sworn in by Mayor Geiszler as City Auditor.
Bills Paid Since Last Meeting of 09/06/16: Postmaster $235, B & M Laundry $107.79, Convention & Visitors Bureau $14146.47, Envision $650.10, HACTC $560, Heart of America Library $2964.73, Hi-Way Tesoro $695.46, John Deere Financial $459.38, ND Telephone Company $745.07, Northern Plains Electric Coop. $4603.13, Otter Tail Power Company $8695.38, Rugby Job Authority $35267.30, Rugby Park District $7335.34, U.S. Bank St. Paul $450, Valli Information Systems $579.58, Verizon Wireless $80.02, Rugby Sanitation, Inc. $24379.75, Payroll Checks $58092.47, Social Security $8368.04, Medicare Taxes $1957.08, Payroll Taxes $5750.85, AFLAC $385.89, ND Child Support Division $384, NDPERS $540, NDPERS $7745.95, Sanford Health / NDPERS $13904.24, State Tax Commissioner $1741.85, Total Bills For Payroll $98870.37. Grand Total All Bills Paid Since Last Meeting of 09/06/16 $200824.87.
Bills To Be Approved at 10/03/16 Meeting: A & C Tire Repair $295.50, Arland Geiszler $213.36, Bartsch Electric $18116.13, BW Ramkota $545, Dakota Supply Group $5141.41, Environmental Equip. Service $570.22, First District Health Unit $66, G & P Commerical Sales $15, Gretel Vavrovsky $100, H. E. Everson, Co. $30.39, Hawkins $1894.02, HAMC $13.43, iDesign $263.72, Interstate Engineering $1881.18, Jeremy Monroe $175, John Britton $200, Johnson's Plumbing, Inc. $99.48, Knife River Materials $1389, Lotvedt Lumber $7292.58, Municipal Government Academy $75, Napa Auto Parts $3.29, NDLC $570, Northern Improvement $328.95, Northern Lights Inn $370, Otter Tail Power $210.05, Petty Cash $95.13, Pierce County Auditor $2208.33, Power Plan $2394.01, Primetime Electric $3417.16, Quill Corporation $281.18, Rebecca Jordan $110, Rick Larson $5260, Rugby Amateur Hockey Assn. $1500, Rugby Hardware Hank $546.84, Rugby Lumber, Inc .$35.20, Rugby Sanitation, Inc. $206, Rugby Service Center $530.27, Shopko Stores $40.91, SRT Communications $36.01, Team Lab Chemical Corp. $1620, USA Bank $4435, Vanguard Appraisals, Inc. $56032, Verizon Wireless $428.13, Virgil Lemar $343.75, Wes Miiller Construction $2262, Yvonne K. Hagen $175. Total Bills Submitted For Approval $121815.63.
Bills were reviewed by Kraft and Fossum. There was a motion by Kraft to appove payment of the bills and financials, to include the final Vanguard Appraisals payment. Second by Fossum, roll call vote, all voting yes, motion carried.
The Council considered approval of the Municipal Judges Report for September 2016. There was a motion made by Lotvedt to approve the Municipal Judges Report for September 2016. Second by Longie, all voting yes, motion carried.
The Council reviewed the September police report.
CVB/Chamber Director, Shelly Block addressed the Council regarding the Geographical Center trademark. The Geographical Center of North America trademark expired in 2009. States Attorney, Galen Mack and Director Block are working on re-establishing the trademark. A business in Robinson, ND has claimed a trademark, Geographical Center of North America, which has caused some concern.
Bartsch discussed flourosilicic acid that is used in the water treatment plant as fluoride for the water. Flourosilicic acid will cause corrosion to some of the water treatment plant equipment. This corrosion is to be expected over time, even with proper maintenance, to the equipment.
The Council conducted the second reading of the Appropriations Ordinance No. 402 for expenditures and making the annual tax levy submitted for adoption by the Finance Committee. Motion made by Steinke to accept the Appropriation Ordinance No. 402 for expenditures and making the annual tax levy. Second by Kraft, roll call vote, all voting yes, motion carried.
Council considered a Special Raffle Permit for Pierce County Soil Conservation District for the raffle of miscellaneous items. The raffle was reviewed, prior to the meeting, and recommended by Attorney Hartl. They also considered an application for 2:00 A.M. closing for I.C. Dubbles on October 29, 2016. Motion by Lotvedt to approve the raffle permit for Pierce County Soil Conservation and 2 A.M. closing for I.C. Dubbles. Second by Bartsch, roll call vote, all voting yes, motion carried.
Committee Reports: Recreation: Berg reported that Fossum had worked on the drain tile test project at the ball diamonds. The project had become a bit bigger than originally anticipated and the committee had recommended that $1,000 be paid to Fossum for his time, fuel, etc. Motion by Berg to pay Randy Fossum $1,000 for the work he did on the drain tile at the ball diamonds. Second by Bartsch, roll call vote, all voting yes, motion carried. Finance: Longie reported that they had put in a lot of extra time working on the 2017 budget, with a lot of help from Liz Heisey. Ordinance: Steinke reported that they have been looking at the nuisance and fireworks ordinance. They would like some input from Chief Rose as they continue to review these. Public Works: Lotvedt reported that the Chalmers lift station to the north needs to be winterized, because there won’t be enough flow, to avoid freezing up. They will cement around it and construct a structure over the top to help with this. Update on Wells 1 & 2, there will be more meters, etc. added to these. The decision to heat these wells or to winterize them still needs to be decided. There was also discussion on two Aqua-Pure maintenance agreement options. The first one is for a monthly service contract for $425 per month. The second is a guaranteed equipment contract which would be $893 month. The committee is still looking at both options and not ready to make a recommendation to the Council yet. They also recommended approval of $200 payment to John & Jane Britton for compensation of a damaged tree. Bartsch notified the council that Northern Plains Electric had cut through the fiber optic communication line between Wells 8 & 9. They are working on reconnecting this line. Public Safety: Rheault reported that Chief Rose would like to see the crosswalks and parking zones repainted. The parking zones will be repainted in the spring, but the crosswalks uptown will be done as time allows this fall. Fire prevention week is October 9-15. Fire Chief, Will Griffin stated they will be hosting an open house at the fire station October 11 from 5-7. They will also be visiting Ely Elementary and Little Flower School during that week. Liz Bonney from Lake Region District Heath Unit, spoke briefly on Responsible Alcohol Server Training. Public Safety recommended this be implemented. The ordinance committee will review this next. Personnel: Mayor Geiszler discussed that the interview process should be consistent throughout the city departments. The background check policy is an example of this. We need to develop a consistent policy for hiring. Mayor Geiszler also discussed the possibility of some city positions that possibly would be exempt from hourly wage rules. He also pointed out that new overtime rules go into effect December 1, 2016. Buildings/Property/Infrastructure: Lotvedt discussed that there is a grant from the National Guard to fix up some things in the armory before the National Guard leaves. The west entrance is in need of tile. The pool roof will need to be patched this fall in a few spots. Mayor Geiszler noted that the National Guard will pay rent through 2018 for the armory. When they leave, there is a storage building to the east of the Armory that the National Guard will turn over to the city. The city will need to decide what they are going to do with the use of that structure at that time. It may be something that one of the city departments could use for storage. City Planning and Zoning: no meeting was held.
Unfinished business discussed was the final payment to Vanguard. This money had been reserved in the capital equipment fund. Kraft pointed out that the ordinances discussed were updated just a few years ago. Our issue is not to rewrite the ordinance, but to enforce it.
Bartsch questioned the length of the temporary liquor permit that was granted for the patio area of 3rd Street Station. It was discussed that an extension may be necessary for the remainder of the season and that it would need to be looked at by the ordinance committee for the future.
Mayor Geiszler also informed the council that Steven Mattern will be assuming the liquor license for Crooks Lounge.
Rheault questioned what is going on with natural gas issue that was discussed in previous meetings. Geiszler stated that it has to be handled at the legislative level before an individual could come into Rugby and set up anything.
Special meetings and reminders discussed were Enbridge appearing at the December meeting for a 10 minute presentation. City offices will be closed November 11 in observance of Veterans Day, and November 24 for Thanksgiving. The Council reviewed the request be closed the day after Thanksgiving, with employees using a personal day of leave. Motion by Lotvedt to close City Hall the day after Thanksgiving, November 25, second by Kraft, all voting yes, motion carried. Work request form, which was requested by Chief Rose, is now available for City departments to use to track things needing to be completed.
Mayor Geiszler pointed out that public works had put up the new fire hall signs and they were in the correct location.
There being no further business to transact or to come before the council at this time, Rheault made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 pm. Second by Steinke, all voting yes, motion carried.
______10/12/16______
Jennifer Stewart, City Auditor Date Submitted
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Arland Geiszler, Mayor Date Approved