Call to Order
Agenda
Public Comment
Consent Agenda
Approval of Bills
Public Hearings
Unfinished Business
New Business
Police Report
Council Reports
Administrator Report
Adjournment / CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Monday, August 3, 2015
Mahnomen City Hall
6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL PRESENT:Lee, Durant,and Schouveiller. Mayor Wiemer arrived later in the meeting.
COUNCIL ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT: Sue Kraft,Todd Wise, Lee Cariveau, Brian Ose, Adam Woltjer, Jackie Meixner, Steve McArthur, Mike LaRoque, Derrick Cardinal, Carl Malmstrom and Mitchell Berg.
Pledge of Allegiance
The meeting was called to order by Vice Mayor Lee.
Durantmade a motion to approve the agenda with changes. The motion was seconded by Schouveillerand the motion passed 3-0.
Woltjer asked if it was permissible to allow not just the officers to have access to the internet, once it is brought into the fire hall, but to allow all of the fireman access. Berg suggested this item should be discussed under the portion of the consent calendar.
There were no further public comments
There was discussion on giving the fireman access to the internet at the fire hall. Berg said he was ok with that provided each employee sign a copy of the computer use policy.
Durantmade a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended:
- July 20, 2015 City of Mahnomen meeting minutes
- Computer use policy and to allow all of the fire department members access to the computer and internet, provided they all sign a copy of the computer use policy.
- Hiring of Devin Donovan-Larson as a PT liquor store employee at $9.00 an hour
The motion was seconded by Schouveillerand the motion passed 3-0.
Schouveillermade a motion to approve payment of the bills for August 3, 2015 of $114,174.27. The motion was seconded by Lee and the motion passed 3-0.
Berg mentioned to the Council the property owner at 323 4th Street NE abated the nuisance and therefore no public hearing was warranted.
Jackie Meixner from HRDC was present to update the council on the SCDP grant that was funded last year. She indicated that of the commercial portion of the grant there are enough applicants to award all of the available funding; however, of the residential owner-occupied portion the city is still taking applications.
Vice-Mayor Lee opened the public hearing at 6:46 p.m..
Vice-Mayor Lee asked what the income eligibility guidelines were to be able to participate in the program. Meixner indicated for a family of four to qualify for the owner-occupied program they would need to have an income of less than $51,050 to qualify.
Hearing no additional comments, Durant made a motion to close the public hearing. The motion was seconded by Schouveiller and the motion passed 3-0. The public hearing was then closed at 6:49 p.m.
Interim City Administrator Berg updated the council on the status of the zoning code complaint at 215 4th Street NE informing the council that a complaint was filed on Thursday. Berg also updated the council on the other complaints, indicating the city abated one nuisance and would be billing the property owner for the cost of the abatement. Berg said he wanted to work with the City Attorney to streamline the abatement process for tall weeds and vegetation.
Schouveillermade a motion to direct city staff to issue a destruction order to the property owner at 405 W. Monroe St. and 509 W. Monroe St. for violating section 92.38(a) of the city’s ordinance requiring that grass be not in excess of 12 inches in height. The motion was seconded by Lee and the motion passed 3-0.
Interim City Administrator Berg mentioned the city received seven bids to remove the metal pole building at 959 N. Main Street, known as the Trautner Property. Councilmember Schouveiller asked when the building would need to be removed and Berg replied by August 31. Durant made a motion to award the winning bid for the removal of the pole building to Rebecca Wening for $526.00. The motion was seconded by Schouveillerand the motion passed 3-0.
Chief Ose mentioned the fire department received a total of five SCBA bids and was recommending awarding the bid to Grand Forks Fire for a price of $97,857.75. Ose indicated although Grand Forks Fire was not the lowest of the five bids, it was the next lowest and the reason why the department is recommending going with them is because:
- Grand Forks Fire can provide a 15 year warranty, whereas the lowest bidder could only provide a 5 year warranty
- Grand Forks Fire has a service operator that travels through the area on a frequent basis
- The Mahnomen Fire Department prefers the brand of air packs from Grand Forks Fire over that of the lowest bidder
Due to complications with the title, both the Interim City Administrator and City Engineer recommended the city expend the money to create a new survey of the south well house. Durant made a motion to expend an additional $5,400 to complete a new survey of the well house along South Main Street. The motion was seconded by Schouveiller and the motion passed 3-0.
Interim City Administrator Berg mentioned the police committee met to discuss a number of items, including if the city was going to solicit proposals for the 2015-2017 Police Services Contract.
Berg requested a proposal from the White Earth Police Department and the number that they gave him was $134,977 for a less than 1.5% increase. He indicated the 2016-2017 would be less than 4.5% which were both reasonable and within budget.
Mayor Wiemer arrived at the meeting and took over the duties of chair.
Berg indicated the council had a choice of re-entering into a new agreement with the White Earth Police Department or soliciting proposals. Berg and City Attorney Malmstrom discussed with the council both the pros and cons to doing both.
Chief LaRoque spoke of the need for more policing and expressed an interest of going to the Tribal Council and asking them to support bringing on another officer and if the city were to do the same than the WEPD could almost provide 24/7 coverage. The only added cost would be that of an extra officer.
Schouveiller made a motion to accept the “non-official proposal” from the White Earth Police Department. The motion was seconded by Durant and the motion passed 4-0.
Schouveiller made a motion to move the Monday, October 5 and Monday, November 2, 2015 City Council meeting to Wednesday, October7 and Wednesday, November 4 or to cancel them, if it determined by the Mayor that no meeting is needed. The motion was seconded by Durant and the motion passed 4-0.
Lee made a motion to send the Interim City Administrator to the 2015 Northern MN Tribal and Economic Development Summit at a cost not to exceed $300. The motion was seconded by Schouveiller and the motion passed 4-0.
Durant made a motion accepting the resignation of council member Sue Schoenborn and the passage of Resolution 8-3-2015-1: A Resolution Declaring a Vacancy on the City Council. The motion was seconded by Lee and the motion passed 4-0.
Berg indicated the visitor intercept survey that is being conducted by the University of Minnesota Extension office, in partnership with WETCC, the casino and the tribe would like the city to contribute a donation of Mahnomen Booster Bucks to pass out to recipients that have completed a survey. The First National Bank of Mahnomen and the Boosters Association has agreed to match any donation from the city. Lee made a motion to have both the Lucky 7 and Wild Rice Lounge issue a $200 donation for the purchase of Mahnomen Booster Bucks for the University of Minnesota Extension Visitor Intercept Survey project. The motion was seconded by Durant and the motion passed 4-0.
White Earth Tribal Police Department Officer Todd Wise there was nothing additional to report.
Council member Durant mentioned she attended the last Police Committee meeting.
Council member Schouveiller informed the council that the new tractor has arrived.
Mayor Wiemer indicated the property owner at 215 NE 4th Street has sold his property and that as a condition of the sale he would need to remove everything off the property within 30 days.
Interim Administrator Berg provided the council with his report.
Lee made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 pm. The motion was seconded by Schouveiller and the motion passed 4-0.
Mitchell Berg, Interim Administrator Dave Wiemer, Mayor