AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 14, 2007
7:00 PM CITY HALL
MARCH AGENDA
1. Call the Meeting to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approve Consent Agenda of…
a)
Minutes
b)
Treasurers Report
c)
Bills for Payment
4. Eric Wolff – Coldwell Banker regarding Lynn
Gustafson Duplex converting to twin home
5. Toney Hermes – Heartland Hardware regarding
water issues.
6. Michael Reid – Ordinance for dangerous dogs
7. Police Chief Eric Klein – Police Report
8. Meeting hall guidelines
9. Water/Sewer payment drop box
10. Advertising for Water/Wastewater Superintendent
11. Review 2008 Fire Contract
12. Lawful Gambling Monthly Rent Percentage
13. Approval of Forfeited Land
14. Staff Street & Township 240th Street
15. Update Personnel Policy #19
16. Old Business
17. New Business
18.
Adjourn
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 14, 2007
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City Council met in a regular
meeting Wednesday March 14, 2007 at 7:00 pm. Tom Moore called the
meeting to order. Council members present were Tom Moore, Brian
Hitchcock, Frank Lamb, Eric Sjolin and Cliff Johnson. The Pledge of
Allegiance was recited by the Council and attending audience.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian
Hitchcock and carried to approve the consent agenda with the addition of
Mike Duclos to the agenda.
Eric Wolff from Coldwell Banker was on the
agenda to discuss the possibility of converting the Lynn Gustafson
duplex to a twin home. He was not present however Frank was aware of
the request so discussion took place.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian
Hitchcock and carried to approve to allow the Lynn Gustafson duplex to
become two separate parcels and that the legal requirements are met
regarding the separation of the property lines.
Mike Duclos is interested in starting a
radiator shop in the former Hamand gas station. A floor drain would
have to be installed but he wanted to get permission from the Council
before proceeding with it.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Cliff
Johnson and carried to approve to allow the installation of a floor
drain at the former Hamand gas station with the understanding that it
would meet code.
Toney Hermes from Heartland Hardware
re-addressed the Council with water issues which he says have cost him
$485.00 to replace valves in the washing machines at the Laundromat. He
requested that Heartland Hardware not receive a water bill for the next
three months which would be similar in cost to his expense paid in
repairs.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Frank
Lamb and carried to approve to allow Heartland Hardware to not receive a
water/sewer bill for the next three months.
Toney Hermes asked how often the City of
Akeley flushes the fire hydrants. The fire hydrants are flushed twice
per year. He also thanked Tom Moore for attending the C&C meeting and
mentioned that “Akeley Clean Up Days” would be on Saturday, April 28th.
Police Report - Chief Eric Klein
·
Michael Reid was present and
requested that the Council consider giving him another chance to keep
his dog within the City of Akeley since the dog had been removed due to
a non-provoked bite to a 9 year old girl. After discussion, the Council
agreed that the ordinance needs to be followed and that the dog would
not be allowed back into the city limits unless all of the precautionary
steps are taken as specified in the ordinance.
·
The plans to meet with MN
DOT to survey the speed zones on Highways 34 and 64 will have to be
rescheduled since the weather prevented the meeting from taking place.
·
Legislature was reviewing
the topic of administration citations and it appears that due to many
calls and e-mail to representatives that the administration citations
will be allowed to continue.
·
Eric would like to see a
meeting set up regarding the issue of Excessive Consumption of Police
Services. There are some concerns that would have to be discussed
before an ordinance could be created.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by
Frank Lamb and carried to approve to table the issue of Excessive
Consumption of Police Services.
·
Eric requested permission
from the Council to attend the MN Chief of Police Association Training
in St. Cloud from April 16th through April 19th.
Classes are POST accredited and all expenses including wages, meals,
hotel cost, and registration fees are reimbursed through POST.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric
Sjolin and carried to approve to allow Eric to attend the MN Chief of
Police Association Training from April 16th through April 19th.
Discussion was held regarding the Meeting
Hall Guidelines after Denise Rittgers read the proposed copy.
Suggestions were made to charge $10.00 to Akeley Non-Profit
Organizations for the use of the hall.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric
Sjolin and carried to approve to accept the Meeting Hall Guidelines with
the changes noted.
Discussion was held regarding the purchase
of a water/sewer payment drop box outside of city hall. Due to the
option of paying 24 hours a day 7 days a week at the bank night deposit
box, no action was taken.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian
Hitchcock and carried to approve to advertise the Water/Sewer Supervisor
position in the Park Rapids Enterprise, the Northwoods Press, the Walker
Pilot, and 1 issue of the MN Rural Water Association Magazine with a
deadline for accepting applications of April 27th.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric
Sjolin and carried to approve to accept the Fire Contract 4-1-2008 to
3-31-2009 for $27,161.69.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric
Sjolin and carried to approve to not have a $10,000.00 Emergency Fund
that was suggested by the EHCFD.
Lawful Gambling Monthly Rent Percentage
was on the agenda but no one was present to discuss the rate change so
it will remain at 20%.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric
Sjolin and carried to approve to allow Hubbard County to sell Lots 2 & 3
of Block 21 which is forfeited land.
Complaints have been made regarding the
mud on Staff Street and Township 240th Street. Discussion
was held in relation to Tony Poncelet using his judgment when gravel or
sand needs to be hauled in for street improvements as long as it was
planned for in the budget. Tony would be required to go to the Council
for approval if it would exceed his budget.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by
Cliff Johnson and carried to approve to table updating Personnel Policy
# 19 which was a request to allow quarter hour increments for vacation
and also to allow an employee to carry over more than 80 hours of
vacation at the end of a year.
Old Business
None
New Business
Bob Winner would like to move his office
to the back room of the liquor store and purchase a new desk and file
cabinet for the liquor store office.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by
Frank Lamb and carried to approve to allow Bob to move his office and
purchase the desk and file cabinet for $279.97.
Bob also mentioned he would like to have a
fund created from liquor store profits which would be used for building
improvements or additional items which would be used by the liquor
store. No action was taken.
Tony Poncelet injured his knee and would
be out until Monday. Greg Everett is covering for Tony while he is
out. If Frank Thelin is needed, he will be notified.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by
Frank Lamb and carried to approve to move Eric Klein to Step 6 on the
Step Program for raises based on a positive annual review.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by
Cliff Johnson and carried to approve to give Tony Poncelet a 1% raise.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian
Hitchcock and carried to approve to change Personnel Policy # 14 from
$10,000.00 to $20,000 for accidental death and dismemberment.
Wendy Klein shared information from the MS
Tram Coordinator regarding the MS Bike Tour which will be coming through
Akeley July 23rd and will be using Memorial Park as a rest
stop from approximately 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The MS Society encourages
local organizations to sell food at the park for the riders and is also
looking for volunteers to help the MS Society.
Eric Klein brought up the concern of a
trench being dug on a city street to allow water drainage which caused
problems for other citizens. Eric is investigating the ordinance which
affects the ordinary public use of streets and will make sure that the
street with the trench is repaired.
Toney Hermes questioned if the land on the
corner by the bank that was bought from the City of Akeley had to be
used within two years. The land was sold as is so does not have any
requirements.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by
Cliff Johnson and carried to adjourn.
Denise Rittgers
Clerk Treasure
City of Akeley
Wendy Klein
Deputy Clerk
City of Akeley
