SANDSTONE CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

July 6, 2005

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Atterbury called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Members present:            Johnson, Edmond, Atterbury, Gafkjen, Bonander

Members absent:  None

Staff present:                Administrator Griffith, Recording Secretary Hormillosa, Finance Office Newey, Stadin, CATV

Other present:               Andy Spartz, Tim Franklin, Aaron Johnson, Daryle Moseng, Judy Britton, Marc Althoff

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Staff and members present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA

Motion Gafkjen, second Bonander to approve the agenda with the addition of 9F – approve hire of Helen Madison for Golf Course and 9G – Set July 12 as a special meeting to award waste water facility contract.  Motion carried 5-0.

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS, PETITIONS OR COMPLAINTS

Edmond mentioned the Fourth of July Volleyball Championship by various family members.  Johnson requested the replacement of the sign at Commercial Street.  Griffith responded that the sign is ordered and will be installed when it arrives. 

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES

Motion Bonander, second Johnson to approve regular meeting minutes for June 15, 2005.  Motion carried 5-0.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

There were none.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion Gafkjen, second Johnson to approve the consent agenda as follows:  Hand checks; Approve Donna Duncan as permanent employee; approve wage increase of $.50 per hour for Donna Duncan – effective first August pay period; Approve KREEC logging contract with Sappi Paper Mill; Approve Quarry Days parade route, road closings, fireworks, carnival, Sheriff’s Patrol, ordering of porta-potties and dumpsters, and handicapped parking section; Approve hire of Helen Madison for Golf Course; Set special meeting for July 12 to award waste water facility contract.  Motion carried 5-0.

FINANCE OFFICER’S REPORT

Claims

Motion Johnson, second Bonander to approve and pay claims in the amount of $73,198.06.  Motion carried 5-0.

OLD & CONTINUING BUSINESS

Moseng land sale – Parcel 45.0106.000

Daryle and Darlene Moseng have approached the City regarding the purchase of some property the City owns which is adjacent to their property.  Planning Commission recommended the sale.  Appraisals were obtained and the property offered to the Mosengs for $3,600 plus closing costs.  The Mosengs submitted a written counter offer of $2,400 - $100 per month payments with no interest charged.

Edmond stated that he felt $3,600 was a fair price. Bonander added that the City might consider the suggestion of the free financing.

Gafkjen reminded the others of the Planning Commission’s recommendation for the City to sell the property at a fair price.

Griffith stated that the property was not developable and was not usable for any purpose except that of a neighbor’s. 

Motion Gafkjen, second Johnson to accept the latest Moseng offer for parcel 45.0106.000 - $2,400 ($100 monthly payments and no interest).  Motion failed 2-3.

Motion Johnson to defer action on the Moseng offer on Parcel 45.0106.000 until the next meeting to allow time for the Council members to look at the property.  Motion died for lack of a second.

Motion Atterbury, second Gafkjen to accept the Mosengs offer as presented.  Motion carried 3-1, 1 abstention.

Sidewalk project

The City has been working on a sidewalk improvement plan for several years.  Adoption of Resolution 2005-13 would implement the developed plan.

Motion Johnson, second Bonander to adopt Resolution 2005-13, Resolution ordering sidewalk improvement project.  Motion carried 5-0.

Signage

The Council and Planning Commission have each had ongoing discussions regarding the existing signage ordinance, particularly as it relates to off-site directional commercial signage.  A proposed amendment to the Sign Ordinance has been prepared by the City Attorney.

Gafkjen pointed out that this amendment does not give approval to any particular commercial establishment. Atterbury added that is gives the City opportunity to set fees and other regulations as desired.

Motion Gafkjen, second Johnson to adopt Ordinance 2005-12, an ordinance relating to signs:  governmental signs; off site directional signs; amending Sandstone City Code, Section 415.  Motion carried 5-0.

SPECIAL ITEM OF BUSINESS

2004 Audit

Marc Althoff presented the 2004 audit.  In summary, the City is in good financial condition and operating within the parameters of state guidelines.

Motion Gafkjen, second Johnson to accept the 2004 Audit and authorize submission of it to the State Auditor.  Motion carried 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Bush Street

The City has blacktopped Bush Street at the petition of 100% of the property owners.

RESOLUTION NO. 2005 - 11

RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE BUSH STREET

IMPROVEMENT PROJECT:  ADOPTING

ASSESSMENTS FOR THE PROJECT

The City Council of the City of Sandstone, Pine County (City) resolves:

Section 1.  Background, findings. 

                1.01.                The Council has received and approved a petition (Petition) from 100% of the owners (Owners) of real property abutting Bush Street in the City asking the City to blacktop Bush Street from Highway 123 in the City to its ending point (Project).

1.02.                The Project was duly ordered by the Council by Resolution No. 2004-25 pursuant to Minn. Stat. Chapter 429.

1.03.                Staff and consultants have prepared an assessment roll (Roll) for the Project, attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A.

1.04.                It is found and determined to be necessary and desirable to adopt the Roll and to certify the Roll to the County Auditor.

1.05.                The Owners have by the Petition (i) waived all objections to the amount of the assessments stated in the Roll; and (ii) waived all rights to notice and hearing on the adoption of the Roll.

Section 2.  Roll Adopted. 

                2.01.                The assessment Roll is accepted and constitutes the special assessments against the lands named therein, and each tract of land therein included is found to be benefited by the proposed improvement in the amount of the assessment levied against it.

                2.02.                The assessment is payable in equal annual installments extending over a period of five years, the first of the installments to be payable on or before the first Monday in January 2006 and all installments will bear interest at the rate of 3.8 percent per annum from the date of the adoption of this resolution.  To the first installment will be added interest on the entire assessment from the date of this resolution until December 31, 2006.  To each subsequent installment when due will be added interest for one year on all unpaid installments.

                2.03.                The owner of property so assessed may, at any time prior to the certification of the assessment to the county auditor, pay the whole of the assessment on the property, with interest accrued to the date of payment, to the city administrator, except that no interest will be charged if the entire assessment is paid within30 days from the adoption of this resolution; and the owner may, at any time thereafter, pay to the city administrator the entire amount of the assessment remaining unpaid, with interest accrued to December 31 of the year in which the payment is made.  The payment must be made before November 15 or interest will be charged through December 31 of the next succeeding year.

                2.04.                The Administrator is directed to forthwith transmit a certified duplicate of this assessment to the county auditor for extension on the property tax lists of the county.  The assessments will be collected and paid over to the city in the same manner as other municipal taxes.

                Adopted by the council this 6th day of July, 2005.

                                                                                                                ____________________________________

                                                                                                                Mayor

ATTEST:

___________________________________________

City Administrator

EXHIBIT A

BUSH STREET BLACKTOPPING PROJECT

ASSESSMENT ROLL

Motion Johnson, second Bonander to adopt Resolution 2005-11, Resolution relating to the Bush Street improvement project:  adopting assessments for the project.  Motion carried 5-0.

Water Patrol – establishment

Sandstone Fire & Rescue are responding to recent events by requesting that the City authorize them to pursue the expanded service of providing water patrol.  The DNR will provide training.  The County has a boat, motor, and trailer which could be housed and used by Sandstone.

Edmond inquired whether Sandstone Fire & Rescue would be able to staff such an expanded service or would it need to recruit more volunteers.  Fire Chief Spartz responded that more volunteers are always welcome.

Motion Johnson, second Gafkjen to authorize Sandstone Fire & Rescue to establish a water rescue component to their services and to make provision to acquire training and access to the boat.  Motion carried 5-0.

Capital Acquisition – Golf

Ron Newey, Golf Course Manager, has obtained a quote for a new ice machine to replace the old one.  The Council must approve this expenditure.

Motion Atterbury, second Johnson to approve the purchase of a new ice machine for the Golf Course clubhouse from Golf Course funds.  Motion carried 5-0.

2006 budget

Griffith informed the Council that discussion for 2006 budget will begin soon and requested that suggestions or desires be offered.  Gafkjen suggested that consideration be given to allocate funds to purchase land for hospital expansion.  Johnson suggested that development of the skate park be considered.

Motion Gafkjen, second Johnson to close the public session of the meeting at 8:09 p.m for purposes of union contract negotiations.  Motion carried 5-0.

CLOSED SESSION – Union contract negotiations

The Council reconvened at 8:50 p.m.

REPORTS

Motion Gafkjen, second Johnson to accept the reports as follows:  Summary of paid claims; Sheriff’s log from May and June; Fire & Rescue minutes – May 23.  Motion carried 5-0.

WRITTEN NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS

There were none.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Griffith reminded the Council of the July 20 workshop with the Fire Department.  He also mentioned the Clean Up day on July 23 and the Community side garage sale on July 16.  Additionally, there will be a neighborhood watch meeting at the Fire Hall on July 14 at 7:00 p.m.

ADJOURN

Motion Gafkjen, second Johnson to adjourn at 8:55 p.m.

                                                                        ____________________________________

                                                                        Randy Atterbury

                                                                        Mayor

Attest:

_____________________________________

Donna Hormillosa

Recording Secretary