1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Snow Removal Ordinance
3 Campsite Rental Rates & Reservation Issues
4. Speed Limit Sign on County 49
5. City Auditor
6. Police Chief Benefits
7. Policy #’s 14 and 17
8. Information to Write Letter to Representative Regarding Grant
for Hwy 34/Water Main Project
9. Council Meeting Agenda/Minutes – When to Distribute to
Council Members
10. Determine Frequency of Work Sessions
11. Adjourn
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
JANUARY 3, 2008
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City Council met in a work session Thursday, January 3,
2008 at 7:00 PM. Tom Moore called the meeting to order. Members
present were Tom Moore, Eric Sjolin, Brian Hitchcock, Frank Lamb and
Cliff Johnson. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the Council
and attending audience.
The Snow Removal Ordinance was looked at as well as snow removal
ordinances used by other towns to help determine possible changes to
be made. Frank Thelin, Greg Everett and Eric Sjolin will work
together on the ordinance and the proposal will be presented at the
next regular council meeting.
Discussion was held on the campsite rates. It was felt that the
prices per site should go up again this year but that sales tax
would be included in the rate to make it easier for the campground
manager as well as the customer when making payments. Greg Everett
suggested that during Paul Bunyan Days and on 3 day holiday weekends
that customers should make reservations for the full 3 days and not
just 1 or 2 days. A question had been made as to whether
reservations could be made before February 1st as stated
in the brochure. Thoughts by most were to leave it as it is.
Eric Klein said he will write up a letter for the Council to sign to
have the County move the “End 30 MPH Zone” south 965 feet on County
49.
Sue Ostlund quit as city auditor so Denise Rittgers contacted names
of potential city auditors. Two of the four auditors do not perform
city audits and the lower cost of the two auditors who do perform
city audits is from Bemidji and the fee is $7,500.00. A decision as
to which auditor to hire will take place at the next regular council
meeting.
Eric Klein spoke of the email he had received from Gary Hendricks in
February of 2005 of which all council members had received a copy of
prior to this meeting. The email spoke of the wage and health
insurance benefits of his family that he had been offered and
accepted. A copy of the email is on file at City Hall. Frank Lamb
stated he was looking for a compromise. A suggestion was made to
pay Eric $20.66 which is the amount stated on the email which
included his wage as well as $3.66 which covered the costs of his
family’s health insurance. Denise Rittgers will figure the cost
comparison and present it to the council at the next regular
meeting. Cliff Johnson stated he wanted to make it clear that to
offer something special (to an employee) a policy has to change and
the Council is allowed to change policies.
Changes to Personnel Policy #’s 14 and 17 were suggested to clarify
the policies, # 14 because it is not specific regarding health
insurance and # 17 to clarify the benefit was for “full time” hourly
employees.
Eric Sjolin came up with an idea for a letter which could be sent to
our Representative explaining that the City of Akeley will need some
financial help when the Highway 34 project comes through. The water
main will have to be replaced at that time since it was 1961 when
the current water main was put in.
Some discussion was held regarding the time the council packets
should be ready for the council members to review. A suggestion was
to have them ready by noon on the Tuesday before the council
meeting. Currently the agenda is ready and posted by 2:00 pm on the
Monday before the council meeting and is emailed to the webmaster of
the Akeley website and to the two newspapers at the same time.
A suggestion had been made to have one work session per month. Some
council members stated they felt work sessions should just be
scheduled as needed.
Motion
made by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Tom Moore and carried to
adjourn.
Denise
Rittgers
Clerk/Treasurer
City of
Akeley
Wendy
Klein
Deputy
Clerk
City of
Akeley
