Hallock City Council – October 7, 2019 meeting

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE HALLOCK CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2019
CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Dave Truemer called the regular meeting of the Hallock City Council to order at 5:30pm on October 7, 2019. Those Present: Mayor Dave Treumer, Naomi Larson, Jennifer Peterson, Mike Totleben, and Kevin Waller.
Members absent: None.
Also present: Acting City Clerk Kendra Johnson, Utility Superintendent Dan Larson, Chief of Police Mike Docken, Fire Chief Kevin Klein, Anna Jauhola of the Kittson County Enterprise, Jodi Johnson, and David Kaul.
APPROVE AGENDA:
Councilor Larson moved to approve the agenda as presented.  The motion was seconded by Councilor Waller and carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Councilor Totleben moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular Hallock City Council Meeting of September 9, 2019 as written.  The motion was seconded by Councilor Larson and carried unanimously.
Councilor Peterson moved to approve the Minutes of the Special Hallock City Council Meeting of September 23, 2019 as written.  The motion was seconded by Councilor Waller and carried unanimously.
Fall Fest:
Jodi Johnson gave an update on how things were coming along for the October 27th Fall Fest fundraiser at the Hallock Fire Hall. Mrs. Johnson asked about having a few roads temporarily closed off during the kiddie bike parade. The route will be from the water tower to Assembly of God Church. Later in the evening, the zombie fun run will include cones placed to close 13 access roads. Johnson said they did not want to use barricades to shut down streets as a few spotters with flashlights and cones would be easier to handle, as the cones can be picked up and roads reopened as soon as runners have finished that section of the run. The route for the run is as follows: begin at the fire hall at 12th St S, turn north onto S Forest Ave, down 9th St S, turn north on S Birch towards the water tower, turn east onto S Douglas, and follow 7th St SE until they reach the pool.
FISCAL ISSUES:
Approval of Bills:
Mayor Treumer and Councilor Totleben reviewed bills.
Motion by Councilor Totleben to authorize payment of City bills in the amount of $191,166.08, General fund, checks #11076 to #11129, which includes a transfer of $31,534.26 to the payroll account to cover wages, taxes and benefits.  The motion was seconded by Councilor Larson and carried unanimously.
Mayor Treumer and Councilor Totleben will review bills for the November 4, 2019 meeting.
Sanitation Services Agreement
Council reviewed the sanitation services agreement with the proposed rate increase, the last rate increase was 9 years ago. Council reviewed the franchise agreement, city ordinances, and Minnesota Statue 366.012 for collection of unpaid service charges. They discussed concerns about the fees and the 3-year agreement but they agreed Anderson Sanitation does a good job and at this point they have no reason to seek other sanitation services.
Councilor Waller moved to approve the Anderson Sanitation 3-year service contract and the slight increase they are proposing. The motion was seconded by Councilor Totleben and carried unanimously.
Personnel Committee updates:
No update from Salary Committee
The City Clerk/Administrator/Treasurer job posting closed September 15, 2019 there were approximately 14 total applicants, they have narrowed it down to 6 applicants to interview, one had not shown up so they are down to 5. They have started interviewing the candidates and feel they have a selection of good, qualified applicants. It will be difficult to narrow it down to 2 or 3 for final interviews Councilor Waller stated.
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
Mayor Treumer asked about the selling of the fire department jaws pickup. The Fire Department will advertise the pickup for sealed bid to submit to the Hallock City Office opened October 28, 2019 at 9am. Chief Klein said at the next council meeting they will be coming with a resolution for the bylaws for the Relief Association. Klein also reported that they have redone their fireman application and want to restructure their fireman hiring process.
Klein also reported four firemen helped fill 300 sandbags for the dam in Bronson with the concern of it going over due to the current flood stage.
POLICE / PARKS DEPARTMENT:
Chief of Police, Mike Docken reported that the rising waters is like a spring flood. The water is at flood stage but had leveled off at this point. American Crystal has workers staying in both Gilbert Olson and Horse Shoe Park. An American Crystal Supervisor stopped into the Hallock City office and gave his contact information in the event of any issues with the campers who are working for American Crystal.
There are 7 hunters signed up for the deer hunt in town, only 1 tag.
AIRPORT:
Councilor Totleben reported that after a follow up with City Deputy Clerk, Kendra Johnson on the door that seems like it might need some attention. Bryan from KLJ would follow up with the contractor to ensure everything is finished correctly. MAK Construction needs to do a few more little things to hopefully finish up this project before winter.
UTILITY DEPARTMENT:
Utility Superintendent Dan Larson gave an update on their second go around with the flooding this year.
The pool is primed for next spring Larson said were going to paint the pool but they had bad paint so chose to wait until spring. Larson gave an update on more estimates he had received and some more options for the Kiddie pool. We could schedule a time for Bob LeDuke to come to speak with the City Council if they have more questions for him about our options.
If something else does goes go wrong with the pool and the city had to construct a new pool, the parts we are currently replacing and putting into the existing pool they are capable of being transferred into a new pool.
Playground equipment is still on hold due to the weather not cooperating and it being too wet, the plan is to try finish it up before winter.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mayor Dave Treumer gave a brief update on Dam Project. Jeff Langan from Houston Engineering sent a project summary for the council to look over. The DNR is concerned with raising water levels upstream to the same conditions that were there ~30 or more years ago. This is a concern that they will address but may take a few iterations of submittals. Critical issue since relates to floodplain, insurance, and legal items.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Resolutions:
Councilor Totleben motioned to pass Resolution 2019-07 authorizing Two Rivers Golf Club to dispense liquor at City Hall on November 2, 2019 for the Deer Hunters Banquet.   Motion seconded by Councilor Peterson and carried unanimously.
Zoning Permits:
Councilor Waller motioned to approve Zoning Permit 2019-15 for Mike Docken.   Motion seconded by Councilor Larson and carried unanimously.
Councilor Larson motioned to approve Zoning Permit 2019-16 for CHS Ag Service.   Motion seconded by Councilor Totleben and carried unanimously.
Council Roundtable
It was noticed that a streetlight north of town is missing the glass around the streetlamp bulb. The LED lights do not have the glass around the bulb.
Replacing Christmas decorations around town. The candle decorations have all been retired so a few new decorations may need to be picked out for winter.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, Councilor Larson moved to adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Hallock City Council of October 7, 2019.   The motion was seconded by Councilor Peterson and carried unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Dave Treumer, Mayor             Kendra Johnson, Acting City Clerk
(October 30, 2019)