Minutes of the regular March 9, 2010 Motley City Council meeting

REGULAR MEETING - MOTLEY CITY COUNCIL

MOTLEY MN March 9, 2010

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Alexander called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following council members present: Bruce Mills, Rob Sampson and Nancy Nieken. Duane Solga was absent. The meeting took place at city hall.

The following persons were present for all or part of the meeting: Cliff Goodwater; Dawn Timbs; Bruce Brotherton; Wayne Barros; Dave Greig; Brian Madison; Gayle Quinn; Steve Johnson; Ben Oleson and Larry Beckner.

The pledge of allegiance to the flag was given.

Alexander moved with a second by Sampson, to approve the consent agenda, as follows:

A. Outstanding bills - Claim # 5699-5721

Check # 26269-26284

Check # 12940-12946

B.  Minutes of the Regular February 23, 2010 meeting.

C.  Employee Leave Report

Alexander, Nieken, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Ben Oleson was present to discuss an amendment to Ordinance 153, Motley’s Land Use Ordinance. The amendment was made due to state statute changes and zoning map changes to reflect the Downtown Mixed Use Zone.

Alexander moved, with a second by Sampson, to adopt Ordinance 153.05 and the proposed map changes reflecting the Downtown Mixed Use Zone. Nieken, Alexander, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Larry Beckner, Motley Two Rivers Fest Committee, was present to review a few changes to the 2010 Festival. He requested support from the City of Motley in the forms of “in kind” services and a monetary donation. The council will review the requirements for the 10% contributions that have been received from the Motley Lions Club.

The committee for tables and chairs received quotes from three (3) vendors. The committee recommends purchasing nine (9) 6' x 24" flip top tables, two (2) 5' x 24" flip top tables and sixty (60) padded folding chairs. Total merchandise cost would be $4,657.51 with an additional $95.00 estimated for shipping. The tables and 40 chairs will be used in the large meeting room and 20 chairs will be used in the council chambers.

Alexander moved, with a second by Nieken, to purchase the tables and chairs as presented by the committee. Nieken, Alexander, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Sealed bids were opened for the 1979 International Fire Truck. The lone bid was from the City of Gonvick in the amount of $5,150.00.

Alexander moved, with a second by Sampson, to accept the $5,150.00 bid from the City of Gonvick for the 1979 International Fire Truck. Nieken, Alexander, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

The 2010 Fee Schedule was discussed with the addition of new charges as follows:

Pool fills - $50.00 per load plus water charges, fuel charges will apply over 5 miles

Zero turn mower - $ 50.00 per hour with a two (2) hour minimum

Sampson moved, with a second by Alexander, to approve the fee schedule with amendments for pool fills and mowing charges. Nieken, Alexander, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

The FEMA Grant has been extended until June 5, 2010. The purchase that was to be made for face masks fell through. The department requested authorization to purchase from the other quote from Fire Safety.

Alexander moved, with a second by Nieken, to approve the purchase of face masks under the FEMA grant from Fire Safety. Nieken, Alexander, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Greig sent letters to two fire fighters on leave of absence requesting the return of pagers and keys. He did not receive a response. The city will adopt a policy within the personnel policy manual to address the return of city property by all employees when requested.

Greig informed the council that he had scheduled a house burn for training however had not told the property owner that they would be responsible for the cost to have the training done by a professional company. The cost for FIRE, Inc. to do the training is $700.00 and Greig asked to proceed with the training with the city bearing the cost of the training without reimbursement from the property owner.

Alexander moved, with a second by Sampson, authorizing the $700.00 fee for the training from FIRE, Inc. Nieken, Alexander, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Nieken moved, with a second by Alexander, to hire a grant writer for $575.00 for a possible FEMA grant for fire department equipment. Nieken, Alexander, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

After reviewing the February police report, Mills asked if the hours at the school could be increased.

The council expects the police department will have the Crown Vic in rotation once every two weeks.

Alexander, Barros and Smith will meet with school board officials regarding the outstanding bill for repairs to lift station #5.

Nieken moved, with a second by Sampson, approving the Recycling Agreement with Morrison County. Nieken, Alexander, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Nieken moved, with a second by Alexander, approving the Clean Up Day Grant Agreement with Morrison County. Nieken, Alexander, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Nieken moved, with a second by Alexander, to change to holding one (1) regular council meeting per month on the second Tuesday of each month. Upon roll call vote Nieken, Alexander, and Mills, Sampson voted nay. The mayor declared the motion carried. (Sampson explained that his vote reflected that his preference that all council members be present for this vote)

Rod Enberg will be invited to the April meeting to discuss his lease of property in Industrial Park.

After further consideration of a suggestion that had she had previously made, Nieken suggested that city offices be closed one day per week however the clerk will still be in the office that day. If urgent business is needed on a Friday, arrangements can be made with the clerk in the week prior.

Nieken moved, with a second by Sampson, to close city hall on Friday’s beginning April 2, 2010. Nieken, Alexander, Mills and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Nieken asked that the department heads be moved up on the agenda and when their department business is finished, they leave the meeting. This would reduce the amount of paid meeting time for city staff. A sample agenda will be included in the next meeting packet to see how it would work.

Alexander moved, with a second by Sampson, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was duly adjourned at 9:02 p.m.

Terri Smith

Clerk Treasurer

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