August 27th, 2007

 

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Crosby City Council was held on Monday, August 27, 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 and Member Edward Vukelich present.  Member David “Butch” Ferrari was absent.  Also present were City Attorney James Gammello, Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin, Fire Chief Charles Leonhardt, City Superintendent Laverne Booth, City Engineer’s Tim Houle and Mike Rude and City Clerk-Treasurer Cindy Nelson.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING AS PRESENTED.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

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

 

Additions to the agenda:  Public Works – Headstones at Cemetery, Payment Drop Box.  Clerk – Set Truth in Taxation Public Hearing – Mayor/Committee Reports – Planning & Zoning – Dennis Wier resignation from P & Z Committee

 

Mayor Sova thanked Member Vukelich for conducting the meeting on August 13, 2007 in his absence and also thanked Clerk Cindy Nelson for participating in the Man High Celebration.

 

Public Forum –

 

Shirley Hale from the Hallett Community Center gave a presentation on the Women’s Expo that is scheduled in September at the Community Center and asked for $750.00 in advertising for the Expo from the city.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO DONATE $750.00 TO THE 2007 WOMEN’S EXPO AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER OUT OF THE ADVERTISING FUNDS.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Dennis Molesky and Ed Mount were present to discuss the shed that Mr. Mount put up on his property without a building permit.  Mr. Mount applied for a variance to build the shed after-the-fact and it was found that the shed was closer to the right-of-way than required and his variance was denied by P & Z and also his appeal to the city.  He would now like to see if the city would agree to some sort of agreement that the shed can remain there as long as he is the property owner and that the new owner would need to remove the shed at that time.

 

Attorney Gammello stated that he should go back to Planning & Zoning and show his hardship on this shed and the rational as to why he would like to keep it where it is and then come back to the city after he has met with P & Z.

 

Chip’s Up North owner Simon came before the council regarding his high utility bill.  After much discussion it was decided that the old meter and the new meter would be sent in to make sure that the meters have not malfunctioned and if both meters are deemed to be reading correctly, he would then be responsible for the whole bill and that the city would work with him on making payments on the large bill.

Public Comments –

 

City resident Bob Hillerud inquired about when the after hours drop box would be installed and every morning there are several people that would like to drop off their payments and no drop box.  City Superintendent Laverne Booth will check on it on Tuesday.

 

Mr. Hillerud also inquired about the speaker system in the council chambers and City Clerk Cindy Nelson stated that it does not work and she was asked to check into getting it fixed or a system installed that works.

 

Linda McLaughlin owner of Linda’s Antiques is going to be having an auction on September 30, 2007 and would like 1st Avenue South from Main Street to the alley by her shop blocked off for the auction.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO AUTHORIZE LINDA MCLAUGHLIN TO BLOCK OFF 1ST AVENUE SOUTH FROM MAIN STREET TO THE ALLEY FOR 6 HOURS ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 FOR AN AUCTION.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

City Superintendent Laverne Booth was asked to get Ms. McLaughlin some barricades for the street and alley for the auction.

 

Unfinished Business –

 

Park restrooms Bids – 3 Bids were received for the project:  Nor-Son $94,200, Hy-Tech $80,546 and Turk Construction $79,987

 

Member Shankle stated that she researched the bids that were received and that Hy-Tech provided the most complete bid package by listing out exactly what was included in their bid with all components listed as required in the original bid letter that was sent out to the bidders and by reviewing the bids Hy-Tech was the most complete bid that was received.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO AWARD THE  PARK RESTROOM BID TO HY-TECH IN THE AMOUNT OF $80,546

 

Motion died for lack of a second.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO AWARD THE PARK RESTROOM BID TO TURK CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $79,987 WITH A COMPLETION DATE OF OCTOBER 15, 2007.  A VOICE VOTE:  MEMBER VUKELICH “AYE”, MEMBER NEPRUD “AYE”, MEMBER SHANKLE “NAY” AND MAYOR SOVA “AYE.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Mr. Turk stated that he did not need any cash advance on this project as he will take payment upon completion.

 

Mayor Sova asked that Mr. Turk provided proof of insurance to the City of Crosby.

 

Fire Chief Charles Leonhardt reported on the following –

 

The Fire Department would like to amend their by-laws for their annual elections to be held in December of each year to coincide with the annual city appointments and to also add 4 lieutenentants for the department.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO AMEND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BY-LAWS TO HAVE THEIR ANNUAL ELECTIONS IN DECEMBER TO COINSIDE WITH THE ANNUAL CITY APPOINTMENTS IN JANUARY AND TO ADD 4 LIEUTENANTS TO THE DEPARTMENT.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin reported on the following –

 

The police contract with the City of Ironton has been submitted to them in the amount of $124,000 for 2008 and the City of Ironton will be meeting on August 29, 2007

 

Chief Coughlin will be checking on the cost of leasing police vehicles as opposed to purchasing vehicles out right and will report back to the council after she has completed her research.

 

Attorney James Gammello reported on the following –

 

The Crosby Senior Services project final plat will be presented at the P & Z meeting on August 29th, 2007 for approval and after that is approved a developers agreement will be drawn up.

 

The cemetery issue between family members is a private matter and will be advising them of their options.

 

The county will be notified that the City of Crosby is willing to pay for an appraisal on the land that the city would like to acquire from the county.

 

Mr. Gammello is still working on the Town’s Edge Trailer park issue and will need a letter from the Police Chief & Fire Chief regarding the hazard of the trailers in the city right-of-way.

 

City Superintendent Laverne Booth reported on the following –

 

He has received 2 quotes for the replacement of the side walk by Crosby Auto Parts and the lowest quote was from Larry Lockwood in the amount of $2,150 and the owner of the parts store has agreed to pay for half of the sidewalk repair.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO AUTHORIZE LARRY LOCKWOOD TO REPLACE THE SIDEWALK BY CROSBY AUTO PARTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,150 WITH THE OWNER OF THE PARTS STORE PAYING ONE-HALF OF THE COST AND THE CITY PAYING FOR THE OTHER ONE-HALF.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Mayor Sova inquired about when the patches in the streets will be done and Superintendent Booth stated that he will be getting them done in the near future.

 

Discussion was also held about the gas company tearing up the alleys and if they have a permit.  It was determined that no permit was issued for the digging in the alleys and Superintendent Booth will be contacting Gary from the gas company regarding this matter.

 

There are a couple of Veteran’s headstones at the cemetery that are sinking and the families are wondering who repairs them.  Clerk Cindy Nelson will review the cemetery ordinance.

 

Clerk Cindy Nelson was asked to write a letter to monument companies in the area that they are to come to city hall and get a permit to install or remove monuments before they are installed or removed as there have been some problems with stones being set and no permits issued.

 

Mayor Sova inquired about the sewer repairs on Cross Avenue South and City Superintendent Booth stated that he has been in contact with Ritter & Ritter about this matter and Ritter & Ritter are trying to figure out how to televise around a 45 degree turn in the pipe, and he will report back at the next meeting.

 

Mayor Sova called for a recess at 7:15 p.m.

 

Mayor Sova called the meeting back from recess at 7:21 p.m.

 

City Engineer’s Tim Houle and Mike Rude reported on the following –

 

They submitted the report on the 2007/2008 Street and Utility Improvements and explained the procedure and time line for the project.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO ADOPT RESOLUTION FOR THE 2007/2008 STREET AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS ON THE PROJECT ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2007 AT 6:00 P.M. A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Phase 2 of the August Homes project – The water and sewer lines are all in and testing is being done and when the tests come back they will then be hooked up to city services.

 

Seal coating of the streets will be done sometime this week weather permitting and no parking notices have been put up on the streets affected with this project.

 

City Clerk Cindy Nelson reported on the following –

 

League of Minnesota Cities Fall regional meeting is in Breezy Point on October 3, 2007.

Mayor Sova, Member Shankle and City Clerk Nelson will be attending.  City Clerk will contact Member Ferrari to see if he is interested in attending.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO AUTHORIZE CITY CLERK CINDY NELSON TO ATTEND THE REGIONAL MEETING IN BREEZY POINT ON OCTOBER 3, 2007.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO RAISE THE WATER/SEWER TAPPING FEE TO $500.00 PLUS THE COST OF THE MATERIALS.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO SET THE TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2007 AT 5:00 P.M.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Mayor/Committee Reports –

 

Mayor Sova inquired about any response from Minnesota Power and none has been received and asked the City Clerk to call Minnesota Power to check on this status of the offer.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF DENNIS WIER FROM PLANNING AND ZONING.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKEL TO PUT AN AD IN THE COURIER ADVERTISING AN OPENING ON THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Clerk Nelson was asked to research the Planning & Zoning Ordinance regarding membership on the committee and report back at the next meeting.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER NEPRUD TO RAISE THE SALARIES OF THE CITY SUPERINTENDENT, POLICE CHIEF, CAPTAIN KOOP AND CITY CLERK 3.2% RETRO TO JANUARY 1, 2007.  A VOICE VOTE:  MOTION CARRIED. 

 

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ADJOURN TO WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2007 AT 3:30 FOR A BUDGET MEETING. A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

 

 

________________________________                                ___________________________

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