October 8th, 2007

 

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Crosby City Council was held on Monday, October 08, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the Crosby City Hall Council Chambers. The Pledge of Allegiance was given.  Motion carried.

 

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 Fire Chief Charles Leonhardt, Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin, Working Foreman Steve Perpich of the Public Work’s Department, City Engineer Michael Rude of WSN and City Clerk-Treasurer Cindy S. Nelson. City Attorney James Gammello was absent.

 

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

 

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

 

Additions to the agenda were:  Public Works – Part-time employee (Member Vukelich), City Clerk – Cemetery lots (Member Vukelich), Mayor/Committee Reports – Digging permits (Member Vukelich), City Administrator (Member Vukelich) – City Clerk – Park restroom light fixture change notice (City Clerk)

 

Public Forum –

 

Amy Gordon regarding sewer back up in her home was not present – Steve Perpich from the Public Work’s Department stated that last week 2nd Avenue N was jetted three (3) times and there were other homes that their toilet water sprayed all over because of the air when the street was jetted.  Mr. Perpich was asked that the next time we jet the line on 2nd Avenue to try and get a hold of the property owners where we have had problems in the past.  Ritter and Ritter will be televising the 3rd Street line with a smaller camera.

 

Superintendent Skjeveland – Re:  School referendum – He will be late coming to the meeting and we will have him make his presentation upon his arrival.

 

Public Comments - There were none.

 

Unfinished Business –

 

Table the Health Fitness Contract until the next meeting.

 

County appraisal letter – Clerk Nelson was asked to let the County know that we will pay for the appraisal.

 

New Business –

 

The county is having the annual Tax Forfeited Land sale on October 12, 2007.  There is one (1) parcel in the city limits.

 

Draw request from Turk Construction for $40,247.00

 

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO DISALLOW THE DRAW REQUEST FROM TURK CONSTRUCTION FOR $40,247.00 FOR THE PARK RESTROOMS DUE TO HIS VERBAL AGREEMENT TO THE CITY AFTER HE WAS AWARDED THE BID THAT HE WOULD NOT REQUEST A DRAW FOR THIS PROJECT UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETED.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Fire Department – Chief Leonhardt reported on the following:

 

There have two short runs since the last meeting.

 

This is Fire Prevention Week and on Friday there will be 2 fire trucks at CRES.

 

Police Department – Chief Kimberley Coughlin reported on the following:

 

There is a need to have park rules and hours posted at the new playground.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO SET THE PARK CLOSING HOURS AT 8:00 P.M. FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST TO MAY 1ST EACH YEAR AND FROM MAY 1ST TO SEPTEMBER 1ST THE CLOSING WOULD BE AT 10:00 P.M.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Chief Coughlin and Clerk Cindy Nelson will work together to get the rules and hours posted at the playground.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A CAMERA FOR THE NEW 2007-2008 SQUAD CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY $6,000.00 WHICH HAS BEEN BUDGETED FOR.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Member Vukelich inquired of the Chief as to why items were stolen from the new park restroom construction site?  Chief Coughlin stated that her officers have done more patrol down there and have gotten out and walked around and it is all logged as to the times they have been in the park.

 

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Skjeveland – The referendum for the school will be on November 6, 2007 and on a home of $100,000 value the taxes will go up approximately $85.00 a year.  If the referendum fails there will be 3 phases – 1.  Cut out all extra-curricular activities, 2.  There will be bigger class sizes and 3. If the school population goes to 800 CRES will have to be closed.

 

Public Work’s Department – Working Foreman Steve Perpich reported on the following-

 

Member Vukelich inquired about the part-time employee Harold Lundgren if he could be moved to full-time.  Mayor Sova asked that all members think about this and come back to the next meeting with any questions, comments or concerns on this.  Mayor Sova stated that we could possibly have Harold be a laborer and just take care of the parks i.e. mowing, cleaning and trimming of the parks.

 

Mr. Perpich inquired if a stop sign could be installed at the corner of Wallace and Hematite as the traffic coming down the hill does not slow down.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER NEPRUD TO INSTALL A STOP SIGN ON THE CORNER OF WALLACE AND HEMATITE UPON APPROVAL OF THE POLICE CHIEF.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Several trees were cut last week and one tree by the residence of Don Grgurich was not taken down.  Mr. Grgurich stated to the Clerk that he would have some one come in and fix the side walk where it has heaved at his expense.  Clerk Nelson was asked to get this statement in writing from Mr. Grgurich.

 

Mayor Sova asked that Steve Perpich get a hold of Peter Bundy regarding the trimming of the trees in the park so that we don’t loose them.

 

The new stump grinder was received last Friday.

 

On Friday, October 5, 2007 Ritter and Ritter televised, jetted and vacuumed the lines and Mrs. Martinetto’s and Mrs. Ferrari’s and all the lines are clear.  Ritter and Ritter stated that it was probably due to the frost and some dirt in the line that froze up Mrs. Ferrari’s line.

 

The Water Department will be flushing fire hydrants beginning October 15, 2007 for approximately 2 weeks and there will be an ad in the Courier stating this.

 

The members of the Council and City Clerk told Mr. Perpich that he has been doing a great job in the last 2 weeks and projects are getting done and to keep up the good job.

 

City Engineer Mike Rude reported on the following –

 

The next step on the 2008 Street Improvement Project is to pass a resolution calling for the bids on the project.

 

Member Vukelich asked if we could stretch out the project longer in terms of re-payment?

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD TO ONLY DO 4TH STREET NW FOR THE 2008 STREET PROJECT.

 

MEMBER NEPRUD WITHDREW HIS MOTION.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO ADOPTED THE RESOLUTION OF ORDERING THE IMPROVEMENTS ON 4TH STREET N.W. FROM CROSS AVENUE N. TO HWY. 6 AND TO BID 2ND STREET S.W. FROM 6TH AVENUE S.W. TO 7TH AVENUE S.W. AS AN ALTERNATE BID.  A VOICE VOTE:  MEMBERS VUKELICH, NEPRUD AND SOVA “AYE”, MEMBER SHANKLE ABSTAINED.

MOTION CARRIED.

 

The bids will be opened on November 8, 2007 at tabulated by the engineers and be presented at the November 12, 2007 regular meeting.

 

City Clerk-Treasurer Cindy Nelson reported on the following –

 

Clerk Nelson reported that she and Council Member Shankle attended the League of Minnesota Cities Regional Meeting on Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at Breezy Point and we were able to talk about our new playground, Man-High 50th Anniversary, Croft Mine and other attractions in our area.

 

Stewart Sound has submitted a quote for the installation of a new recording/speaker system in the Council Chambers.

 

Clerk Nelson was asked to get more quotes for this project and bring all of the quotes back to the Council for consideration.

 

Member Vukelich inquired about the new sections of the cemetery and why we are not selling in there yet?

 

It is unknown at this time if the new plots at the cemetery were actually monumented or if the maps were just made.  Mike Rude of WSN will check with Randy to see if they were numbered or not and get back to the Clerk.

 

Clerk Nelson informed the Council that today she met with Don Mooers of Moore’s Electric about the lights in the new park restrooms and Mr. Mooers was concerned of vandalism of the lights that were in the specs and wondered if he could put the overhead cam lights in there and the Council agreed that it was a good decision.

 

Mayor/Council Reports –

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO AUTHORIZE AND POST WITHIN THE CITY FOR A FULL-TIME WORKING FOREMAN IN THE PUBLIC WORK’S DEPARTMENT.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO AUTHOIRZE MINNESOTA POWER TO INSTALL A STREET LIGHT AT THE WEST ENTRANCE TO THE CITY PARK.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

Member Vukelich inquired about the digging permit ordinance that the city has and that it should be amended to exclude utility companies from paying the permit fee.  City Clerk Cindy Nelson will contact Attorney Gammello to amend this ordinance.

 

Mayor Sova appointed Member Shankle & Member Vukelich to search for information on hiring a City Administrator and report back to the full council.

 

Being no further business to come before the City a MOTION WAS MADE BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.  A VOICE VOTE:  ALL AYES.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

 

_______________________________                                 _____________________________

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