MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HALLOCK CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE HALLOCK CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020
CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Dave Treumer called the regular meeting of the Hallock City Council to order at 5:36 pm on August 3, 2020. Those Present: Mayor Dave Treumer, Kevin Waller, Jennifer Peterson and Mike Totleben.
Also present: City Clerk-Administrator Aimee Sugden, Utility Superintendent Dan Larson, Fire Chief Kevin Klein and Anna Jauhola of the Kittson County Enterprise. Councilor Naomi Larson and Police Chief Mike Docken were absent.
APPROVE AGENDA:
Councilor Totleben moved to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Councilor Peterson and carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Council-or Totleben moved to approve the Minutes of the Hallock City Council Meeting of July 6, 2020 as written. The motion was seconded by Councilor Waller and carried unanimously.
FISCAL & ADMINISTRATIVE 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 $145,595.96, General fund, checks #11545 to #11582, which includes a transfer of $59,000.00 to the payroll account to cover wages, taxes and benefits. The motion was seconded by Councilor Waller and carried unanimously.
Mayor Treumer and Councilor Totleben will review bills for the September 2020 meeting.
Resolution 2020-10; Donation From Wheelz Up Hallock
Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve Resolution 2020-10, accepting a donation From Wheelz Up Hallock. The motion was seconded by Councilor Totleben and carried unanimously.
Resolution 2020-11; Donation From Shirley Rydberg
Motion by Councilor Totleben to approve Resolution 2020-11, accepting a donation from Shirley Rydberg. The motion was seconded by Councilor Waller and carried unanimously.
Personnel Committee, Utility Worker
Motion by Mayor Treumer to move Utility Worker, C. Pinnock, from step 5 to step 6 on the 2020 pay scale. The motion was seconded by Councilor Waller and carried unanimously.
Personnel Committee, City Administrator
Motion by Councilor Waller to retroactively apply a wage increase beginning May 19, 2020. The motion was seconded by Councilor Totleben and carried unanimously.
Jeff Langan, Houston Engineering
Jeff Langan, engineer with Houston Engineering, updated the council on the city’s dam project. He reported that plan specifications would be complete by the end of this week and the firm will begin advertising for bids the following week. They are still awaiting a permit from the DNR and are anticipating that once the final flowage easement is signed. Councilor Waller asked what the next steps in the project are. Langan explained that bids will open in September and close in November. Some work will take place this fall, but the bridge to the golf course will not be taken out until September of 2021 and the project should be completed in April 2022.
Jim Trojanowski, Northwest Regional Library
Jim Trojanowski, Director of the Northwest Regional Library, presented his annual report and funding request to the council. The library is now offering Hoopla, a digital media service that allows library patrons to access digital books, movies and music for no cost. Waller asked Mr. Trojanowski if employees were paid during the library’s COVID closure. Trojanowski replied that yes, they continued to work even though the building itself was closed.
Northwest Regional Library asked the council for a 2% funding increase for the upcoming fiscal year. This amounts to an additional $300.
Motion by Councilor Waller to increase the library funding 2% for the 2021 fiscal year. The motion was seconded by Councilor Totleben and carried unanimously.
Fire Department:
Fire Chief Klein reported to the council that the Fire Department had resumed their regular training and meeting schedule in July. They completed a water rescue training that went well. The department responded to three calls last month and completed their annual flow test. Chief Klein and treasurer R. Anderson went over the department’s budget.
Police Department Report:
Police Chief Docken was not present at the meeting, but gave a report via email. He reported that the control boxes for the new sirens have been ordered and will hopefully arrive in the first part of August. He’s hopeful they will be installed in August or September. He has spoken with most homeowners who have dead/diseased elm trees in their yards about having them removed in short order. He has spoken with the owner of a blighted property who intends to tear it down.
Chief Docken asked the council to approve the purchase of a set of riot gear for him. The county has purchased gear for the Sherriff’s department in anticipation of the upcoming pipeline project. The cost for a set of gear is approximately $300. Motion by Councilor Totleben to approve the purchase of a set of riot gear for Chief Docken. The motion was seconded by Councilor Waller and carried unanimously.
Airport:
Airport Manager Jeremy Seng called into the meeting and reported on a grant from MNDOT to remodel the airport’s arrival/departure building. The grant is a 75/25 split and once accepted, is valid for four years. Seng also reported that the hoses and filters on the fuel system need to be replaced. The flowage fees that have been collected will cover the cost of replacement.
Utility & Parks Department Report:
Utility Superintendent (US) Larson presented the council with paving estimates for various areas around town. These paving projects will be completed in the month of August. He also reported on a few projects that Weleske’s completed during the month. Most were in utility access alleys and were to help alleviate water in rain and melt events. The crew is slowly making progress on the playground equipment but weather has not cooperated. The Council agreed this must be a top priority.
New Business:
Zoning Permit 2020-14; Revelation Ale
The council discussed a permit request by Revelation Ale to place a glycol chiller on the north side of the building. Due to space constraints, the Council asked Mr. Evenson to determine if another location was possible. Evenson will work with Utility Superintendent Larson and City Administrator Sugden to determine a plan.
Zoning Permit 2020-15; S. Froehler
Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve Zoning Permit 2020-15 for S. Froehler. The motion was seconded by Councilor Totleben and carried unanimously.
Zoning Permit 2020-16; K. Klein
Motion by Councilor Totleben to approve Zoning Permit 2020-16 for K. Klein. The motion was seconded by Councilor Waller and carried unanimously.
Zoning Permit 2020-17; K. & A. Lindegard
Motion by Councilor Totleben to approve Zoning Permit 2020-17 for K. & A. Lindegard. The motion was seconded by Councilor Treumer and carried unanimously.
Other Business/Announcements
Election Filing
Three positions are up for election this year, Mayor Treumer and Councilors Waller and Larson. Election filing is July 28-August 11, 2020.
Council Roundtable & Public Comment
Fence
The Council discussed an ongoing dispute over a fence. Administrator Sugden updated the council on previous conversations with the neighbors. No action was taken.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Councilor Waller moved to adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Hallock City Council on August 3, 2020. The motion was seconded by Councilor Peterson and carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m.
Dave Treumer, Mayor
Aimee Sugden, City Administrator
Minutes prepared by Aimee Sugden
(September 16, 2020)
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