January 22nd, 2007

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Crosby City Council was held on Monday, January 22, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the Crosby City Hall Council Chambers.  The Pledge of Allegiance was given.

Mayor Dale Sova presided with Member Erwin “Buzz” Neprud, Member Debra Shankle, Member Edward Vukelich and Member David “Butch” Ferrari present.

Also present was Fire Chief Charles Leonhardt, Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin, City Engineer’s Timothy Houle and Michael Rude, City Superintendent Laverne Booth, City Attorney James Gammello and City Clerk-Treasurer Cindy Nelson. 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING WITH NAME CHANGES TO MEMBERS NEPRUD AND FERRARI TO REFLECT THEIR LEGAL NAME.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT AS PRESENTED.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

Public Forum –

-                      Jim Nelson representing the Man-High Project gave an update regarding the placement of proposed sculpture that they would like to erect at the Portsmouth Scenic Overlook.  Legislation is going to be introduced to exempt State Park stickers on vehicles to visit the Croft Mine and also the scenic overlook.  The committee would like a letter of support from the city on the proposed new legislation that there is no requirement of a State Park sticker within the City of Crosby.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION FOR THE REQUIRMENT OF NO STATE PARK STICKERS REQUIRED WITHIN THE CITY OF CROSBY.

During discussion Attorney Gammello stated that he would like to review the proposed legislation language before the city would adopt a new resolution and to table this request.

MEMBER VUKELICH WITHDREW HIS MOTION AND MEMBER SHANKLE WITHDREW HER SECOND OF THE MOTION. 

-                      City resident Allen Rudolph appeared before the city to address concerns by his neighbor about everything on his property such as vehicles not licensed a boat in the yard and also stated that his neighbor is taking pictures of his property and also watching with binoculars.  Mr. Rudolph asked what was in violation of the city ordinance.

Chief Coughlin sent a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph regarding 9 items that his neighbor referred to in a letter and pictures that were sent to Chief Coughlin and the Rudolph’s have addressed these items.

Attorney Gammello suggested that this matter be allowed to be referred to the administrative process and Police Chief and officers.

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER FERRARI THAT THE RUDOLPH/SOUTHMAYD COMPLAINT BE REFERRED TO THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

-                      John Miller was present to introduce himself as the New Director of the Youth Center along with his wife Leona Miller.  John is going to be looking for funding to build a new Youth Center.  Member Neprud will be in contact with Mr. Miller regarding the placement of the proposed Youth Center.

Public Comments –

-                      City resident Curt Southmayd stated to the Mayor and Council that he has been dealing with the same issues for 6 years about his neighbor and he has lost the sale of his home 2 times and he is asking for nothing more that what is in the ordinance.

Mayor Sova asked Police Chief Coughlin to look into the parking ordinance of the city to make sure that the Rudolph’s are not in violation.

-                      City resident Curt Southmayd asked Mayor Sova of a time line that this needs to be completed by as he needs to let his attorney know the date.

-                      City resident Allen Rudolph stated that he has class 5 gravel in front of his garage and that his wife can hardly walk and where they park is not grass it is gravel.

New Business –

-                      Crosby Fire Department Auxiliary would like to hold a raffle on July 4, 2007 and bingo & raffle on November 17, 2007.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ALLOW THE CROSBY FIRE DEPARTMENT AUXILIARY TO CONDUCT A RAFFLE ON JULY 4, 2007 AND BINGO AND A RAFFLE ON NOVEMBER 17, 2007, WAIVING THE 60 DAY WAITING PERIOD.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

-                      A request was received for a donation to “Grad Blast” – The city has not donated to this in the past.

-                      LouAnn Maschler, Building Inspector was present and gave a report on the activity on the building permits that were issued in 2006.  There is also a land use meeting in Duluth on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 to discuss what land use plans cities have for closed landfills within their limits that she would like to attend.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO AUTHORIZE LOU ANN MASCHLER, BUILDING INSPECTOR TO ATTEND A LAND USE MEETING IN DULUTH ON JANUARY 24, 2007 WITH MILEAGE TO BE REIMBURSED.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

Reports –

Fire Chief Charles Leonhardt reported on the following –

-                      2 runs since the last meeting

-                      Presented the 2007 Koop Formula rates for the townships that contract with the Crosby Fire Department.

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY VUKELICH TO APPROVE THE 2007 KOOP FORMULA FOR THE TOWNSHIPS THAT CONTRACT WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin reported on the following –

-                      Nothing to report

City Attorney James Gammello reported on the following –

-                      Waiting to hear back from Crow Wing County regarding the Animal Control Contract

-                      Union Negotiation meetings will be held on Monday & Tuesday, January 29 & 30, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers.  Member Neprud will attend in place of Member Vukelich if he is unable to attend due to work commitments.

-                      Will be meeting with Tim Schmidt of Community Growth and Jim Traylor on the recommendations for the zoning ordinance changes.

Mayor Sova called for a brief recess at 6:55 p.m.

Mayor Sova called the meeting back to order after recess at 7:03 p.m.

Public Works Superintendent Laverne Booth reported on the following –

-                      Park restrooms – City Engineer Tim Houle gave a presentation on a proposal from WSN for the park restrooms design services, this item will be discussed at the Capital Improvement Workshop on February 3, 2007

-                      Mayor Sova inquired about snow plowing in the city after it stops snowing and that there was 40+ hours of overtime for the plowing and asked that the overtime be watched for plowing.

-                      Mayor Sova has had calls about a pile of tar that is behind the Immanuel Lutheran Church that needs to be removed.  Clerk Nelson stated that Steve Perpich phoned and they have removed part of the pile, but the rest of it is frozen and they will take care of it in the spring.

-                      The furnace at the pump house needs replacing and Laverne Booth submitted a quote for a new furnace and he was asked to get a couple more quotes for a new furnace with payment coming from the water fund.

City Engineer Tim Houle reported on the following –

-                      Presented a proposal for engineering services for the two upcoming projects – Crosby Senior Services and the Jenkins Pond project and as soon as a developer’s agreement is in place they will precede with reviewing their plans.

City Clerk Cindy Nelson reported on the following –

-                      Received a phone call from MN DOT who is writing a grant for a bike trail spur off of the Elementary School to the bike trail and would like a letter of support from the city.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER FERRARI TO WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO MN DOT FOR A SPUR FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO THE PROPOSED BIKE TRAIL ON 8^TH STREET N.E.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

-                      Member Shankle asked that the minutes of the meeting be posted on the city’s web site after they are approved.  Clerk Cindy Nelson will work with the webmaster on this and noted that the minutes will not be able to be put on the website until after they are approved.

-                      A letter was received from city employee Marilyn Hesch who works part-time in the City Clerk’s Office asking for pro-rated holidays.  The finance committee and the City Clerk will look in to this request for the cost of pro-rating holidays for all part-time city employees and report back to the full council.

Mayor/Committee Reports –

-                      Mayor Sova reported that he attended a meeting that was held on the new playground equipment and that the committee is moving forward to secure funding for the project.

-                      Tom Koop of Larsen Allen were at the city last week performing the 2006 audit and it has been completed and that they will present the audit in February and the general fund is looking good.

-                      Mayor Sova will be attending a IRRRB meeting on February 8, 2007 in Hibbing to inquire about funding for the park restrooms for the city.

Being no further business to come before the city, A MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING TO SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2007 AT 9:00 A.M. FOR A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT WORKSHOP.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED. Time was 7:47 p.m.

____________________________________                        ________________________________

Dale J. Sova, Mayor                                                      Cindy S. Nelson, Clerk