AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 12, 2008
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. Sexual Assault Proclamation – Kim Zimmerman
5. Headwaters Intervention Center – S.A.F.E. Parks Program
6. Flea Market on Paul’s Patio
7. Set up Meeting for Two Council Members, Frank Thelin and
Ulteig Engineering
8. Bob Winner – Liquor Store Report
9. Frank Thelin – Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report
10. Water/Sewer Connect Charges
11. Eric Klein – Police Report
12. Akeley Clean Up Days
13. Eric Klein Pay Raise – Due March
14. Old Business
15. New Business
16. Adjourn
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
March 12, 2008
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City Council met in a regular meeting Wednesday March 12,
2008 at 7:00 pm. Mayor Tom Moore called the meeting to order.
Council members present were: Tom Moore, Cliff Johnson, Frank Lamb,
Eric Sjolin and Brian Hitchcock. The Pledge of Allegiance was
recited by the Council and attending audience.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to
approve the consent agenda with the addition of 5.5 Roger Curtis
from the C&C and to set a work session date to discuss # 13 Eric
Klein Pay Raise – Due March.
Kim Zimmerman of the Sexual Assault Program of Beltrami, Cass and
Hubbard Counties presented a proclamation which was signed by Mayor
Tom Moore stating that the City of Akeley and the office of Mayor,
does hereby proclaim April 2008 as SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH in
honor of all the Minnesotans that have dedicated their lives and
their time to ending sexual violence in our state.
Andrea Thelin was present on behalf of the S.A.F.E. Parks Program.
She stated it was helpful to have the Akeley Reserves present since
at times she had 40 kids there and it wasn’t the kids that would
cause problems but adults that would cause problems. She said last
year was the best year she has had and figured there were about 500
kids total through the summer. Andrea also said if there was any
way the City of Akeley could have the reserves down there again, it
would really be appreciated and that it was good for the kids to
have exposure to law enforcement in a positive way. Last year the
City of Akeley donated $500.00 from the Community Fund to help fund
the S.A.F.E. Parks Program so Andrea asked if it would be possible
for the City to donate the same again this year.
Police Chief Eric Klein presented information to the Council which
showed what the cost would be to have the Akeley Reserves work at
minimum wage, 4 to 5 hours a day, 7 days a week starting from the
Friday of Memorial Day weekend to the Monday of Labor Day weekend
and stated money from the Administration Fines Fund could pay the
costs of the wages.
Ron Vredenburg stated that it is also good to have the squad car
present throughout the park to help slow down drivers since there
are a lot of campers down there and the park is busy all summer.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve
to give in May $500.00 from the Community Fund to the S.A.F.E. Parks
Program contingent upon having the program in Akeley.
Roger Curtis represented the C&C and stated that a motion had been
passed at their last meeting requesting that the City Council turn
over the funds that had been donated by the C&C a few years ago to
build tennis courts. He said the current C&C would like to do
something positive for the City with the money and one of their
suggestions includes tearing down the old RR depot and building
public bathrooms for Veteran’s Park. A work session is being held
on April 3, 2008 at 6:00 PM and Roger is invited to attend to
represent the C&C so that more discussion can take place regarding
what the options are.
Kathy Duclos and Kathy Wicks were present from the C&C and stated
that as a way to bring more people to town, they are looking at the
possibility of having a Farmer’s/Flea Market at Paul’s Patio from
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Fridays. Denise Rittgers asked if the C&C
carries liability insurance since this activity would not be covered
on the City’s policy. She also asked that the C&C bring a
certificate of liability to City Hall.
Denise Rittgers stated that Ulteig Engineering would like to meet
with Frank Thelin and two council members sometime either in March
or early April to discuss the Highway 34 project. Brian Hitchcock,
Eric Sjolin and Frank Thelin will get together after the meeting to
decide when they will meet.
Liquor Store Report – Bob Winner
-
Bob stated the hood
fan has been installed and works well.
-
Bob would like to get
the floor around the bar area finished but will wait due to the
unexpected expense of installing the hood fan. Bob and Cliff
Johnson are to determine when the best time would be to buy the
additional supplies needed to finish the floor since the Council
has already approved the project. (As of today’s date per
Clerk/Treasurer Denise Rittgers, the Liquor Store Fund has
$33,375.78).
Water/Sewer/Maintenance
Report - Frank Thelin
-
Frank stated he has
been talking with the DNR about repairing the fishing pier. He
said the way he understands it, the DNR will buy floats for the
dock as well as a new gangway board and ramp. The City would be
obligated to do the railings, all wood around the sides of it,
and the surface. He is still getting bids but has received one
rough bid for $1,700.00 which is to resurface the whole deck and
railings but does not include the nuts and bolts. Frank said he
will get copies of the other bids to the Council once he
receives them. Frank is hoping to get volunteers from the
community to help with the labor and is wondering if there is
any way that the City could help out by providing food and
beverages to the volunteers. Suggestions were made to have
local businesses help cater food and beverages which would be
paid for out of the Community Fund and members of the Council
advised having a waiver form for volunteers to sign to protect
the City.
-
Frank is checking on
the prices of some campground needs which include the following:
-
Some new picnic tables
-
Repair water line
-
Class 5 on park roads
-
Fix fish grinder at the fish house
-
Put a lid on the dump station top
-
Doors for the beach bathrooms (Could possibly wait until next
year per Frank)
-
1 or 2 new docks
-
Frank is getting a
quote from the same person who repaired the plow truck to fix
the neutral safety switch on the grader. He would also like to
get the radiator on the grader repaired.
-
Frank is looking into
getting maintenance done on the high service pumps which include
the two at the pump house, one at the sewer ponds and possibly
the backwash pump. He said he would be shown how it is done and
then he would be able to do it after that.
-
Frank, Tom Moore and
a representative from the LMC met regarding Safety and Loss
Control. There is a LMC workshop coming up March 26th
in Fergus Falls which he, Tom Moore, Denise Rittgers and Eric
Klein would like to attend. The cost is $20.00 per person and
Tom said he would drive donating gas and mileage and would pay
for his class fee.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
approve to send all four people to the workshop on March 26th
in Fergus Falls paying the per diem and the class fee for three and
Tom will cover his own fee.
Frank Thelin wanted to discuss the permit and connection fees to
hook up to city water and sewer since there have been a couple of
people inquiring about it. Eric Sjolin stated that the high rates
had been dropped in the past in hopes that there might be a
“building boom” if the city made it easier for the builders to start
developing properties without the high fees. Frank Thelin shared
the rates that neighboring cities are charging and council members
agreed that the rates should be changed.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to approve
to change the connection charges back to $250.00 for sewer and
$500.00 for water.
Police Report - Chief Eric Klein
·
The topic of whether the Akeley Police Reserves will
do beach patrol this summer will be discussed at the work
session.
·
The traffic survey which had been conducted due to
complaints of vehicles not slowing down as they enter into Akeley,
resulted in a 50 mph sign placed south of County Road 49 on Highway
64 South and yellow reduced speed signs placed at the west, east and
south ends of town.
·
Eric will be contacting Vern Masse from Hubbard County
regarding Akeley Clean Up Days. Toney Hermes was present from the C
& C and stated that last year the C & C paid the insurance. No date
has been set yet but they are looking at the last Saturday in April
which is the 26th.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Tom Moore and carried to
approve to table Akeley Clean Up Days until next month.
·
Eric proposed an addition to Ordinance Chapter 130
regarding damage to City property which he, Frank Thelin, and Greg
Everett composed as a result of trees which had been cut down last
year by a party at the campground. Currently the ordinance only
addresses graffiti and Eric, Frank and Greg wanted to cover damage
to City property as well. The City will receive restitution for the
loss and replacement of the trees. Roger Curtis stated that he may
have 4 trees that he could donate if the City pays for the planting
of them.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to approve
to add the recommended additions to Ordinance Chapter 130.
Suggestions were made to post the updated ordinance at the park
bathrooms and to hand it out to campers so they are aware of it.
Jon Johnson asked if there isn’t a noise ordinance at the campground
and asked if chain saws are banned. There is a noise ordinance and
the trees had not been cut down by a chain saw.
Akeley Clean Up Days were on the agenda but it was stated previously
that it would be discussed at the work session.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
approve to set a work session for Thursday, April 3rd at
6:00 PM.
Old Business
Roger Curtis stated he was curious as to whether or not the City of
Akeley was able to collect the recording fees from Lawrence Semmler
on the property the City had purchased from him. Tom Moore stated
that we haven’t yet and the issue is still pending.
Eric Sjolin had printed sample wording from the LMC which could be
used in regards to placing Sunday Liquor on the ballot. Denise
Rittgers stated she would like to have the City Attorney look at it
first to make sure it is worded properly and she will contact
Hubbard County to let them know that the City will be adding Sunday
Liquor to the ballot.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
approve to pass the sample wording on to the City Attorney to review
and to contact Hubbard County to find out what the costs will be to
have Sunday Liquor added to the ballot.
Brian Hitchcock thought literature should be placed in future water
billings explaining the question on the ballot so that people
understand what they are voting for.
Brian Hitchcock asked for clarification in paragraph three of the
February minutes regarding the letter received from Representative
Marty Seifert pertaining to releasing bonds for transportation
funding in Minnesota since he was not present at that council
meeting.
New Business
Eric Sjolin stated that he is Frank Lamb’s back up for the Fire
Meetings and neither of them can make the meeting on the 20th
of March. Cliff Johnson said that he would go to the meeting.
Roger Curtis asked if the City was going to inquire why after seeing
last month the amounts paid out by the City of Akeley and the
townships to the Fire Department, the City of Akeley comes in the
least amount (less parcels/population than townships) yet the
highest amount (the City pays more than the townships). Frank Lamb
stated that Badoura Township actually has fewer structures than the
City of Akeley. No one seems to know how the costs to the City and
townships were determined but it has been brought up to the Fire
Department and will be addressed on the 2010-2011 fire contract.
Brian Hitchcock thanked Eric Sjolin for his efforts in collecting
the information which he had presented.
The 2009-2010 Fire Contract had been approved last month but had not
been signed so was signed at this time by Mayor Tom Moore.
Denise Rittgers stated the City had received the bill from the
Assessor and wanted the Council to be aware of the cost and to
approve payment for it.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Tom Moore and carried to
approve to pay $4,359.00 to the City Assessor.
Denise Rittgers notified the Council of the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
school district’s desire to have their school board meetings at
different locations and would like to use the Senior Center/Meeting
Room at City Hall on April 14th at 7:00 PM.
Denise Rittgers read an e-mail from Faith Zwemke of the Dept. of
Labor and Industry regarding pay equity. She stated that in the
City of Akeley there are two inequities and that the deputy clerk
hourly wage should be $11.20 and that the hourly wage for bartenders
must be at least $8.74. The cost of non-compliance for the City of
Akeley would be $100.00 a day and would be retroactive to October of
2007.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
approve to make changes that the State has mandated and to have the
figures of what this will cost at the next meeting.
Gordon Sharp was present to bring to the Council an issue between an
Akeley citizen and himself. He stated he has been threatened by
this citizen to leave town among other things and has brought this
up to Chief Eric Klein various times. Eric stated that this is a
civil issue and that he has given Harassment Restraining Order
papers to Gordon three times but Gordon has not filed them in
Hubbard County. Gordon stated he would take this issue to a higher
authority.
Jim
Hamand had a few issues he wanted to address the Council on:
·
He stated that it had been approved by the Council 10
years ago to have a street light put in the alley by the CurtiSinn
and his place since it is so dark there and it still hasn’t been put
in. The price to have a new light installed will have to be checked
on.
·
Jim would like to see signs put up regarding “Jake
Braking”. Some discussion was held as to what the proper
terminology should be on the sign since “Jake Braking” can’t be
used. Eric Klein said he would check with MNDOT to see what would
have to be done to get signs put up.
·
Jim stated that in 1995 or 1996, it had been approved
by the Council to have a split rail fence put up by the phone booth
along the tree line near the radiator shop and it hasn’t been done
yet. Some discussion took place as to whether or not a fence there
would be beneficial.
·
Jim asked if the police squad car would be kept in the
maintenance garage now that the vehicle which had been stored there
for the past few months has now been taken out. He had concerns
that with the price of gas, the part time officer should not be
taking the squad car to Park Rapids. The Council agreed that it was
best that the car be kept in Akeley.
Motion
by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to adjourn.
Denise
Rittgers
Clerk
Treasurer
City of
Akeley
sWendy
Klein
Deputy
Clerk
City of
Akeley
