AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
JULY 16, 2008
7:00 PM CITY HALL
JULY 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. Larry Holm - ARCC
5. Marcella Wosika
6. Robert Warnke
7. Bob Winner – Liquor Store Report
8. Vote on Waiver Form for Municipality Insurance
9. Frank Thelin – Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report
10. Approve Purchase of Snapper Lawn Mower
11. Beach Erosion Boards
12. Greg Everett – Campground Refunds
13. Determine Minimum Age for Campsite Renters
14. Eric Klein – Police Report
15. Approve August Work Session Date for Budget
16. Determine HRA Members Term Length
17. Approve Wages & Mileage for Election Judges
18. Mileage Rate Changed to 58.5 Cents on 7-1-08
19. Policy # 11 – Change Wording
22. Old Business
23. New Business
24. Adjourn
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
JULY 16, 2008
7:00 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City Council met in a regular meeting Wednesday July
16, 2008 at 7:00 pm. Acting Mayor Brian Hitchcock called the
meeting to order. Council members present were: Cliff Johnson,
Eric Sjolin and Frank Lamb. Mayor Tom Moore was absent. The
Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the Council and attending
audience.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to
approve the consent agenda with the addition of 3.5 Mayor’s
Resignation and 6.5 Josh Kietzman from the C & C.
Brian Hitchcock read a letter of resignation from Mayor Thomas
Moore.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
accept with regret the resignation from Thomas Moore as mayor.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to
pass Resolution # 5-2008, “Resolution Declaring That A Vacancy
Exists On The Akeley City Council”.
Larry Holm from the ARCC was present and informed everyone of
the free Pig Roast which the ARCC is sponsoring. He said it
will take place on Saturday, July 26th starting at
noon and will go until the pig is gone. Two bands will be
playing during the event and they are looking for volunteers for
the dunk tank. Police Reserve Travis Carlson was present and
volunteered to be in the dunk tank. Larry also stated the 2
gyms at the ARCC need to be used in order for it to be
worthwhile to heat them during the winter months. The community
and non-profit groups can use the gyms for free and Larry said
that the ARCC is looking for ideas for use from the community.
Marcella Wosika, owner of the hardware store and laundromat
currently has the water shut off and still pays $102.00 a
month. She asked if it was possible to reduce the monthly rate
while the laundromat is closed.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
approve to give Marcella Wosika the monthly commercial rate for
water while the laundromat is not in use.
Robert Warnke asked the Council who he should contact regarding
the house to the north of him. Denise Rittgers gave him Bob
Hoffman’s name who works for the county. Robert also mentioned
he had received a notice from the police department about his
cars sitting in his yard. He wondered what kind of a time limit
he had to get them moved. It was suggested by Acting Mayor
Brian Hitchcock that the sooner the cars are moved the better.
Josh Kietzman from the C & C was present to inform the Council
of a fall festival they are planning called “Hay Days” which
will take place at Paul’s Patio on September 26th and
27th. He said one of the activities that would take
place was a bullhead fishing contest among other things.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to
allow the C & C to use Paul’s Patio free of charge for “Hay
Days” on September 26th and 27th.
Liquor
Store Report – Bob Winner was not present so Cliff Johnson
gave an update on the liquor store.
-
There were 3
payroll and bill paying days instead of 2 for the month of
June and the expense of replacing the ice machine caused a
loss for the month.
-
Possible income
makers for the liquor store are being looked at.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to not
waive the monetary limits on tort liability established by
Minnesota Statute 466.04 for municipality insurance.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance Report - Frank Thelin
-
Frank is still
looking at costs to replace the butterfly valves at the
water plant.
-
Frank stated he
got floats for the dock and believes the DNR is responsible
to put the gangway and floats up.
-
Frank is looking
into an upgrade for the water meter system.
-
The grader tires
will have to be replaced and Frank has checked with Grandpa
J’s for cost.
-
Frank said there
are a few people in town who have water and sewer on their
property but no permanent structure and they are using water
which is not metered. He feels there should be a rate set
at which people should be charged for un-metered water. The
ordinances will be checked to see if there is already
something in place regarding this issue.
-
Frank Thelin
stated when he was working with Tony (Poncelet), there were
3 part-time people working with him and now since Frank has
taken the position that Tony had, he only has 2 part-time
people working for him. He would like another person hired
to help out. Frank Lamb asked what this person would be
doing. Eric Sjolin replied that this person would be doing
the same thing that Bobby (Frank Thelin) used to do; when
Greg is busy at the campground they need someone available
to do the maintenance work. Frank Thelin stated when Greg
Everett wasn’t available to help Tony that he was next in
line to help and if he can’t get Greg to help at times that
he needs another person to help out. Brian Hitchcock
reminded Frank Thelin that he needs to stay within his
budget. Frank Lamb asked if he had any applicants or anyone
in mind and Frank Thelin stated that he didn’t because he
wanted to talk to the Council first. A suggestion was made
to have an ad placed in the paper for the position and Frank
will meet with Denise to go over his budget.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to
place an ad in the paper to hire a part-time maintenance
worker. Frank Lamb opposed.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
pay $1,800 to Jim Crist for a 22 hp Snapper lawn mower with a
51” blade for the maintenance department.
Some discussion took place regarding the beach erosion boards
which are at the Akeley beach. The boards are usually filled
with sand but children like to dig it out and concerns are that
it is an accident waiting to happen since children have put
their feet in between the boards and have tripped. Frank Thelin
will check with the county regarding what would be a permissible
solution.
Greg Everett informed the Council of 2 parties who had paid in
advance for a reserved holiday weekend at the campground and had
to cancel due to a family illness. He said he wasn’t sure why
they had paid the entire amount since only the first day deposit
is required. The campground brochure states the deposit is
non-refundable so the 2 parties are requesting a refund from the
other 2 days. The Council would like to look at how to handle
holiday weekends, deposits, and refunds in the future.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to
pay $58 to each of the 2 parties (a total of $116) who had paid
for 3 days at the campground but had to cancel their
reservations.
Some discussion was held regarding whether there should be a
minimum age of campsite renters since recently minors were
drinking alcohol at a campsite and no adults were present.
Council members stated they thought Greg should use discretion
when sites are being rented.
Police Report - Chief Eric Klein
·
The “Project Child Safe” gun locks which are being
given away by the police department are almost gone.
·
The storm warning system works but Eric is
obtaining information on updating it.
·
Eric said this year’s Paul Bunyan Days went really
well and that he was proud of how the Police Reserves worked
together.
·
At an open meeting with the sheriff’s office,
county attorney’s office and judges on June 24th, Eric stated he
was informed that the Akeley Police Department needs someone to
transcribe their statements rather than just provide the
recording to the county attorney’s office. Eric asked the
Council if the clerk’s office could do this for the police
department since he was told that he is not legally able to
transcribe his own statements. Denise Rittgers questioned
whether this would be paid for out of the police department or
clerk’s budget if the Council approved it. The Council wants
Denise to check with the county attorney’s office regarding
transcribing of statements.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried to
table the issue of transcribing police statements until the
August regular council meeting.
·
A sign has been placed on the mailbox in front of
the post office which states it is illegal for a vehicle to
cross west bound traffic to put mail in and that there is a fine
of up to $150.00 per the state statute. Safety has been an
issue with this since vehicles cross oncoming traffic to get
back into the proper lane of traffic after putting mail in the
box from the driver’s side.
·
Eric has received requests from citizens to have
the crosswalks painted again. Cliff Johnson says there are
gallons of paint at the liquor store which were ordered a couple
of years ago but were never used.
·
SAFE Program is going very well down at the park
and Eric thanked the Nevis paper for the article they had in the
paper about the program and Police Reserve Travis Carlson who
helps out.
·
Eric said there were remarks printed in the Park
Rapids and Nevis papers which had been made at Nevis council
meetings regarding Akeley and the Police Department which he
wanted to address at the July 14th Nevis council
meeting. He stated at that meeting that facts should be
obtained before things are said at council meetings and
encouraged the two towns to work together rather than have
animosity toward each other.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Frank Lamb and carried to set
a work session for the 2009 Budget on August 28th at
6:00 PM.
The new members of the HRA were present and provided a list of
the officers and their term length. They are as follows:
|
HRA Member |
Position on Board |
Term Expiration Date |
|
Bruce Patton |
President |
May 2010 |
|
Troy Hegg |
Vice President |
May 2013 |
|
Bruce Beckley |
Secretary/Treasurer |
May 2011 |
|
Dick Wahlin |
Commissioner |
May 2012 |
|
Tom Moore |
Commissioner |
May 2009 |
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
accept recommendation from the HRA Board including members of
the board and their term expiration dates.
Election judge pay was discussed and Denise Rittgers stated that
last year the wages were $8.00 per hour and mileage was paid at
the business rate. This year there are 8 election judges.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
keep the pay rate the same at $8.00 per hour and to pay mileage
at the current rate. Frank Lamb abstained.
Motion by Brian Hitchcock seconded by Cliff Johnson and carried
to change the mileage rate to 58.5 cents per mile and that this
rate is retroactive to July 1st.
Motion by Frank Lamb seconded by Eric Sjolin and carried to make
the proposed changes to Policy # 11 to comply with auditor
recommendations.
Old Business
Frank Lamb asked Dick Wahlin if he had thought about a plan for
new bathrooms by the Paul Bunyan statue and Dick replied that he
is busy at this time. Don Wicks was present and said he
believes the bathrooms at the museum are good enough and feels
it is a waste of money to build new bathrooms. Currently Don
and Frank Thelin lock and unlock the bathrooms and make sure
they are stocked with paper products. Frank Lamb suggested that
there are other organizations such as the Lions and Firemen that
would possibly help with the cost. Eric Sjolin stated that he
is against building new bathrooms and says there are better ways
to spend money.
Eric Sjolin brought up the picnic table rental possibility that
had been talked about at the work session and stated when a rate
is determined that he would like to see a daily rate set. This
issue was tabled until a rate could be determined and a rental
form drawn up.
New Business
Denise Rittgers stated she received a certificate from the
Minnesota Department of Finance and Employee Relations which was
presented to the City of Akeley for pay equity compliance.
Jon Johnson was present and asked if there is an ordinance in
place for the City of Akeley which states that a homeowner has
to be hooked up to city water and sewer. Eric Sjolin replied
that a homeowner does have to hook up to city water and sewer
unless they’ve applied for a variance. Jon asked if the Council
could find out how many citizens in town have variances. He
also asked if the number of police calls per month could be
broken down and printed and Eric Klein stated he would start
providing that in his report. Jon asked about the property
owned by Hubbard County north of Bob Warnke’s and asked what the
process is to have it mowed and the house demolished. The
county was informed that the property needs to be mowed but Eric
Klein will inform them again that mowing is required.
Motion by Eric Sjolin seconded by Brian Hitchcock and carried to
adjourn.
Denise Rittgers
Wendy Klein
Clerk
Treasurer
Deputy
Clerk
City of Akeley
City
of Akeley
