MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
Call to Order. Mayor Ted Shaw called the Wednesday, September 09, 2009, Regular Meeting of the Moose Lake City Council to Order. After calling the meeting to Order, Mayor Shaw asked those in attendance to join with the City Council in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. In addition to Mayor Shaw the following City Councilors were in attendance: Bill Carlson, Curt Yort and Kris Huso. City Councilors absent: None. Also in attendance was City Administrator David Talbot, Jr.
Upon being seated, Mayor Shaw asked if there were any additions or changes to the Agenda that members of the City Council or the Administration wished to present at this time. City Councilor Bill Carlson presented his request that City Administrator Talbot provide an update on the street lighting plan for Jon Brown Drive. Mayor Shaw asked that the Agenda be amended to include item 1., under Reports of Officers, subdivision, C. City Administrator. Mayor Shaw stated that he would entertain a Motion to accept the Agenda, as amended. Under a Motion being made by City Councilor Kris Huso, and with a second to the Motion being made and offered by City Councilor Curt Yort, the Agenda, as amended, was approved unanimously via voice vote. [4-0].
Minutes. Mayor Shaw reported that the Official Minutes from the August 12, 2009, Regular Meeting of the Moose Lake City Council have been completed and are presented for formal adoption as part of the Agenda. Mayor Shaw went on to state that the Minutes from the Regular Meeting of the Moose Lake Power [Water and Light] Commission that was held on August 12, 2009, and the August 11, 2009, Minutes from the Regular Meeting of the Moose Lake Area Fire Protection District are presented and marked as ‘informational’ in that they are presented to update the City Council about the operations of the City’s Electric Utility Enterprise and the Fire Protection District and they do not need to be approved by formal action of the City Council. A Motion was made by City Councilor Bill Carlson, and with a second to the Motion being made and introduced by City Councilor Curt Yort, the aforementioned delineated Minutes were approved, if and when required. Approved unanimously via voice vote. [4-0].
Consent Agenda Adoption. Mayor Shaw offered the adoption of the Consent Agenda for the Wednesday, September 09, 2009, Regular Meeting of the Moose Lake City Council under a single Motion from the floor, which includes acceptance of the Accounts Payable for September, and the Financial Statements and the Municipal Liquor Store - Profit and Loss Statement for the month of August. Under a Motion made by City Councilor Curt Yort, and with a second to the Motion being made and offered by City Councilor Kris Huso, the Consent Agenda was adopted and was approved unanimously via voice vote. [4-0].
Petitions, Complaints and Presentation of Claims.
1. Rummage/Garage/Yard Sale Signage Prohibition.
Reports of Officers.
1. Introduction of New Moose Lake Power [Water and Light] Commission Office Manager - Ms. Deb Mohelski. Mayor Shaw reported that Mr. Leland Johnson, the long serving Office Manager for the Moose Lake Power [Water and Light] Commission has tendered his official notification of his intent to retire. Mayor Shaw introduced Ms. Deb Mohelski, the incoming Office Manager to the members of the Moose Lake City Council, those in attendance at the proceedings and to those watching on Public Access Television. Ms. Mohelski appeared at the podium and gave a summary of her work history, her educational background, and how she became a Moose Lake area resident. Mayor Shaw and members of the Moose Lake City Council welcomed her aboard and City Administrator expressed his appreciation that he, Talbot, was asked by the Moose Lake Power [Water and Light] Commission to sit in on the applicant interviews. City Administrator Talbot commented that the Commission was fortunate in that they, the Commission, had received seventeen [17] applicants to choose from, with the final top five [5] being interviewed and from those interviews, Ms. Mohelski was selected to serve as Office Manager.
1. Project Summary Report - City Engineer and Architect (LHB Memorandum). The report is self-explanatory in its design and presentation, and unless the members of the City Council have questions on any of the projects delineated therein, the document should be viewed as being informational in nature and does not require any formal action or acceptance by the Moose Lake City Council. In addition to the normal monthly City Engineer Report, copies of the MnPCA Monthly Project Update, and Sanitary Sewer Project Weekly Construction Meeting Minutes were also included in the Agenda packet. The Moose Lake City Council and the City Administrator spent a considerable amount of time reviewing these documents and commenting on the progress of the Sanitary Sewer Collection and Treatment System[s].
2. City Attorney - Monthly Summary. The preparation and submission of this report is intended to provide the City Council and the public with information regarding the status of matters presently before, and being handled by, the City Attorney. Like the previous report, this report is self-explanatory in its design and presentation and therefore, unless the members of the City Council have specific questions on any of the matters delineated therein, the document should be viewed as being informational in nature and does not require any action or formal acceptance by the Moose Lake City Council.
1. Residential Street Lighting Plan - Jon Brown Drive. City Councilor Bill Carlson inquired as to the status of the placement of street lights along Jon Brown Drive. According to City Administrator Talbot, he, Talbot, is working with Mike Komula, Superintendent, Moose Lake Power [Water and Light] Commission and several lighting vendors, regarding the acquisition and placement of ornamental street lighting along not only Jon Brown Drive, but Talbot Drive, South Arrowhead Lane, Lakeshore Drive and the North end of town [State Highway No 27] as well. City Administrator Talbot went on to state that the cost of said acquisition and placement of street lighting according to the plan is in excess of several hundred thousand dollars. City Talbot concluded his overview by stating that there will be a savings in the electrical usage and cost of operating the new lighting using LED or other current technology. Whether the savings is significant enough to offset the cost of acquisition and placement is yet to be determined. Members of the Moose Lake City Council engaged in a dialogue with the City Administrator and expressed their, the City Council’s, collective concern over the safety concerns expressed by several residents. City Administrator Talbot was directed to work with the Commission regarding the possibility of erecting ‘temporary’ street lights until a final decision has been made regarding the funding of ornamental lighting. City Administrator Talbot was also directed to work with the City Engineer and the Police Chief regarding traffic signage for Jon Brown Drive and the two [2] cul de sacs on Jon Brown Drive, and also Talbot and Clausen Drive[s]. City Councilor Bill Carlson thanked City Administrator Talbot for his report and concluded by saying that he, Carlson, ‘did his job’ and got an answer for the citizen of Moose Lake who inquired as to the status of the lighting project.
Unfinished Business.
1. Penalty Provision - City Ordinance violation[s].
2. City Personnel Policy.
3. Sign Ordinance - City Zoning Ordinance No 104 - Article XX.
4. Adoption of the Water, Sewer and Electric Utility Ordinance - Ordinance No 152.
5. Livestock Ordinance.
6. Moose Lake GIS Project.
New Business.
1. Resolution No 09-09-01 - A Resolution Accepting Resignation by City Councilor John Unzen and Declaring a Vacancy. City Administrator Talbot reported that even though the Moose Lake City Council received and accepted, with regret, the resignation of City Councilor John Unzen, a formal Resolution adopted by the Moose Lake City Council is required. With that said, a Motion to adopt City of Moose Lake Resolution No 09-09-01, was introduced by City Councilor Bill Carlson, and with a second to the Motion being made and offered for consideration and discussion, the Motion was approved unanimously via voice vote. [4-0].
2. City Council Vacancy - Applicant Letters. City Administrator Talbot went on to state that the City is in receipt of three [3] letters of interest regarding the vacated City Council seat. The applicants are: Ms. Beth Virden; Ms Lisa Hoche-Mathews; and, Mr. James Michalski. In accordance with past practice, the Moose Lake City Council will need to schedule interviews and after the interviews have been conducted, one of the candidates will be selected to fill said Moose Lake City Council vacancy. City Administrator Talbot offered that given the fact the Moose Lake City Council would be holding a Special Meeting on Monday, September 14, 2009, perhaps the interviews could be conducted then. With that said, and given the time that would be required to interview all three [3] candidates, the time of the Special Meeting was changed from 5:30 p.m., to 5:00 p.m., and the interviews would be limited to fifteen [15] minutes each. City Administrator Talbot was instructed to contact the candidates as early as possible to ensure their, the candidates, availability for an interview.
3. Sanitary Sewer Collection and Treatment System[s]. City Administrator Talbot reported that the sanitary sewer collection system contractor, Utility Systems of America [USA] would commence work on the Main Liftstation shortly and will be bypassing the current main liftstation. City Administrator Talbot went on to state that the Mayor and City Administrator Talbot, and others, met with representatives from the Mn Department of Corrections [DOC] and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program [MSOP] to discuss current rates, the installation of grinder pumps and a permanent measurement device to determine the actual amount of effluent that is being sent through the sanitary sewer collection system for processing. Given the factual information at hand, and given the fact that it appears by all accounts that the Mn Department of Human Services will receive funding for Phase II of the MSOP construction program and plan, and given the further fact that the results of televising the current City of Moose Lake sanitary sewer service lines and mains along Lakeshore Drive need to be upgraded and improved, City Administrator Talbot, and City Engineer Greg Stoewer, recommend to the Moose Lake City Council that we, the City, award a contract to USA to complete the anticipated improvements in accordance with the change order, Change Order No 1, in the amount of $244,736.50, subject to approval by the State of Minnesota, Public Facilities Authority [PFA] for funding purposes. City Administrator Talbot also stated that the he, City Administrator Talbot, along with the City Attorney and City Engineer, would begin the process of acquiring land for the Spring construction of the sanitary sewer treatment ponds. City Councilor Bill Carlson asked about increases in rates due to this segment of the project, to which City Administrator Talbot reported that the majority of the cost would be assess in the form of increased rates to the State of Minnesota, and that a large portion of the total project cost is attributable to City of Moose Lake improvements and rates will be increasing in that the debt service payments on the PFA low interest loan have begun. Mayor Ted Shaw expressed his desire to inform the citizens of Moose Lake that the Sanitary Sewer District and the State are now paying for actual metered costs, and at the same rates as those being charged to Moose Lake residents and businesses. There being no further discussion or dialogue, Mayor Ted Shaw stated that he would entertain a Motion. Under a Motion being made by City Councilor Curt Yort, and with a second to the Motion being made and offered by City Councilor Kris Huso, Change Order No 1, in the amount of $244,736.50, was approved by unanimous vote of the Moose Lake City Council. [4-0].
Communications. None
Announcements.
Mayor Shaw reported that the next Regular Meeting of the Moose Lake City Council would be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Shaw went on to report that the next regular meeting of the Moose Lake Planning Commission would be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2009, at 5:00 p.m., if a meeting is needed. Mayor Shaw concluded by stating that a Special Meeting of the Moose Lake City Council will be held on Monday, September 14, 2009, at 5:00 p.m., to interview candidates for the open City Council seat and to approve the 2010 Preliminary Property Tax Levy and General Operating Budget. All of the aforementioned meetings will be held in the City Council/Town Board Chambers in the Moose Lake Civic and Community Center, located at 313 Elm Avenue, Moose Lake, Minnesota.
Adjournment.
There being no further business to come before the Moose Lake City Council, Mayor Ted Shaw called for a Motion to Adjourn the Wednesday, September 09, 2009, Regular Meeting of the Moose Lake City Council. A Motion to Adjourn was introduced by City Councilor Bill Carlson, and a second to the Motion to Adjourn was made and offered by City Councilor Curt Yort. Meeting adjourned by Mayor Ted Shaw.
Respectfully submitted,
David R. Talbot, Jr.
City Administrator