SANDSTONE CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

May 4, 2005

CALL TO ORDER

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

ROLL CALL

Members present: Edmond, Atterbury, Gafkjen, Bonander

Members absent: Johnson

Staff present: Administrator Griffith, Recording Secretary Hormillosa, Stadin, CATV

Other present: Darlene Moseng, Brent Moseng, John Kern, Melvin Gustafson, Geoff Hilty, Arlene Oslowski, Amanda Knopik, Tim Franklin, Aaron Johnson, Kathy Gallagher-Burton

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Brent Moseng, East Central student, led those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA

Motion Gafkjen, second Bonander to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0.

SPECIAL ITEMS OF BUSINESS

War Memorial update

John Kern presented the proposal and progress to date on the War Memorial. The funding for this project is from private donations and fund raisers. The city needs to approve the plan as it is to be erected on City property.

Johnson arrives at 7:05 p.m.

Motion Atterbury, second Edmond to approve the removal of three trees in Train Park, to be replaced in Johnson Park, which will accommodate the proposed War Memorial, subject to financing. Motion carried 5-0.

City Insurance package

Kathy Gallagher-Burton reviewed the City’s insurance policy which is due for renewal. She highlighted some of the proposed changes.

Motion Gafkjen, second Johnson to approve the City’s insurance policy as follows: approve liability coverage and not waive the liability limits, renew the no fault sewer back-up coverage at $10,000, renew the open meeting law coverage with 100% defense cost reimbursement coverage, renew the uninsured/underinsured coverage at $50,000, and renew the workers compensation coverage. Motion carried 5-0.

Petition for removal of wild cats

The City has received a petition from the residents of Johnson’s trailer park to contract with Lee Greenly to trap and dispose of wild cats in that area.

Gafkjen questioned whether the City should bear the financial burden for live trapping of these cats. Johnson suggested that the trailer park establish some rules regarding the number of cats an individual resident may own and the control of those animals.

Griffith pointed out that while this is a problem in the trailer park, it also is a city issue which impacts the health and safety of city residents. He also suggested that if the trapping were to be undertaken, the residents would have to be notified to restrict their pets to the indoors during the trapping period.

Motion Gafkjen, second Johnson to authorize permission for Lee Greenly to live trap for wild cats at Johnson’s trailer park with the fee to be paid to be negotiated. Motion carried 5-0.

Salvation Army Week

Mayor Atterbury read a proclamation declaring the week of May 9-15 Salvation Army Week.

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS, PETITIONS OR COMPLAINTS

Elsa Ames expressed frustration that the recording and sound equipment for the Council meeting was antiquated and that the residents could not view these proceedings at home.

Melvin Gustafson questioned whether the airport property was indeed for sale and, if so, at what price. He also wanted to if progress was being made regarding its development.

Griffith responded that at the last meeting the EDA approved an engineering study to determine the cost of developing road access and utilities to that property.

Johnson wanted to know why the Sheriff’s Department had provided only one month’s report of activities in the Sandstone area when the Council had been promised a monthly report. Griffith responded that the late report had just arrived that day.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES

Motion Johnson, second Gafkjen to approve regular meeting minutes for April 20, 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; Appoint Golf Course Advisory Commission members; Approve additional Golf hires; Accept resignation of Andy Andrews from Planning Commission; Appoint Geoff Hilty to fill Andrews position on Planning Commission; Reappoint Steve Koland to compost monitor position; Reappoint William Lobby and John Taylor from PHASE to mow and maintain cemetery. Motion carried 5-0.

FINANCE OFFICER’S REPORT

Claims

Motion Johnson, second Gafkjen to approve and pay claims in the amount of $73,160.69. Motion carried 5-0.

OLD & CONTINUING BUSINESS

Job Descriptions

The Personnel Committee has been reviewing City job descriptions. The most recent positions that have been reviewed are the Public Works Supervisor and the Finance Officer positions.

Motion Atterbury, second Johnson to approve the submitted, revised job descriptions for Public Works Supervisor and Finance Officer. Motion carried 5-0.

No Parking Zones

Residents have expressed concern and the City has identified several areas where parking is creating a problem. One of these areas is the intersection of Main Street and Highway 123. Another problem area is on Division Street near the hospital.

Johnson felt that the 123 intersection was no different than other downtown intersections and that rather than penalize the business owners at that corner, the corrective action ought to be enforcement of the speed limit.

Edmond suggested that the 123 corner is different in that it is an intersection of two main streets and that extending the no parking regulation one car length would not greatly impact the business owners.

Gafkjen responded that one car length does not make a significant visibility difference due to the curve in the road.

Bonander asked whether any report of traffic accidents at that corner were available. Griffith responded that he did attempt to procure the requested information, but that it was not available.

Suggestions regarding the parking issues on Division Street near the hospital included utilizing the church parking lot or installing a central post office box for residents of Division Street.

Motion Edmond, second Gafkjen to direct Staff to obtain public input regarding the parking issues at Main Street and Highway 123 as well as on Division Street and to notify the affected property owners of upcoming discussions on this issue. Motion carried 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Appraisal

Darlene and Daryl Moseng have requested that the City consider selling them parcel 45.0106.000. Staff has obtained proposals from two local appraisers.

Motion Johnson, second Bonander to accept the proposal from North Country Appraisals to appraise parcel 45.0106.000 for $200. Motion carried 5-0.

Annual performance reviews

In reviewing employee job descriptions, the Personnel Committee has recommended that there be some method of oversight to review and monitor what jobs each staff is performing. They have recommended an annual performance review to be conducted on each employee’s hire date. This is not to be used as a factor in wage negotiation.

Motion Johnson, second Gafkjen to add a requirement of an annual performance review for all permanent employees to the Personnel Policy. Motion carried 5-0.

Petition for Street and Utility improvements

Craig Thorvig and Mike Johnson, property owners south of Minnesota Street east of Highway 123 have petitioned the City to have streets improved, constructed and utilities installed. Before this area can be developed, an area storm water and drainage plan would have to be completed. The City is also a property owner in the area under consideration. The costs of the improvements would be shared among the three property owners.

Motion Johnson, second Gafkjen to adopt Resolution 2005-09, resolution declaring the adequacy of petition and ordering the preparation of report. Motion carried 5-0.

RESOLUTION 2005 – 09

RESOLUTION DECLARING THE ADEQUACY OF PETITION

AND ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF REPORT

Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Sandstone, Minnesota,

WHEREAS, a certain petition requesting the improvement of a street from Minnesota south approximately 800 feet to the intersection with a street coming easterly from Highway 123 approximately 800 feet and the extension of sanitary sewer and municipal water to the area was filed with the Council on May 4^th, 2005, is hereby declared to be signed by the required percentage of owners of property affected hereby and in this case by 66% of the affected owners. This declaration is made in conformity to Minnesota Statutes 429.035.

THEREFORE, the petition is hereby referred to Short, Elliott & Hendrickson (SEH)

the City’s Engineer and that SEH is instructed to report to the Council with all

convenient speed advising the Council in a preliminary way as to whether the

proposed improvement are necessary, cost effective and feasible and as to whether

it should best be made as proposed or in connection with some other improvement,

and the estimated cost of the improvement.

The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was made by Council member Johnson and duly seconded by Council Member Gafkjen and, after full discussion thereof and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following Council Members voted in favor thereof: Atterbury, Bonander, Edmond, Gafkjen and Johnson;

and the following voted against the same: none;

and absent were: none.

Whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted this 4^th day of May 2005.

_________________________________

Mayor

Attest

___________________________

City Administrator

Storm Water billing

Utility billing policy includes a 12% penalty on late payments and a $10 fee when warning notices are sent out. Unpaid bills are added to property tax for collection the next year. Most storm water utility customers have paid their current bills. The City did not apply late penalty or fee to those receiving quarterly bills to allow for adjustments or application for credits. Staff pointed out that some quarterly customers have not yet paid their bill and recommended that staff send out one final late payment notice and then implement utility late payment charges as called for in the ordinance.

Motion Johnson, second Bonander to enforce the storm water utility ordinance as written following a final late payment notice. Motion carried 5-0.

Natural Gas Utility

Aquila has announced its intention to sell off its natural gas utility operations in Minnesota. The City has the opportunity to join together with others municipalities to form a co-op for this service. A number of issues were raised. However, the consensus of the Council was to allow Staff to spend additional time exploring this idea.

REPORTS

Motion Gafkjen, second Johnson to accept the reports as follows: Summary of paid claims; Golf operations; Public Works operations; Fire & Rescue minutes – April 25; Fire & Rescue Relief Association minutes – January 24. Motion carried 5-0.

WRITTEN NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS

There were none.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Griffith reminded the public of the Neighborhood Watch program and that the meetings consisted of hands-on training such as CPR and self-defense. He also mentioned the Northern Technology Initiative annual meeting on Tuesday, May 12, the Spring Clean Up day on June 11, and the Robinson Park clean up day on May 21.

ADJOURN

Motion Johnson, second Gafkjen to adjourn at 9:00 p.m.

____________________________________

Randy Atterbury

Mayor

Attest:

_____________________________________

Donna Hormillosa

Recording Secretary