October 22nd, 2007
Pursuant to due call and notice there of the regular meeting of the Crosby City Council was held on Monday, October 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 were Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin, City Engineer Mike Rude and City Clerk-Treasurer Cindy Nelson. Attorney James Gammello and Fire Chief Charles Leonhardt were absent.
MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER FERRARI TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING WITH ONE CHANGE BEING CHANGING THE WORD SUPERINTENDENT TO FOREMAN IN THE JOB POSTING FOR THE PUBLIC WORK’S DEPARTMENT. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ACCEPT THE CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT AS PRESENTED. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Sova recognized the Weblo and Cub Scouts that were present at the meeting.
Public Forum –
Johnna Johnson and Ron Noble representing the Cuyuna Range Chamber of Commerce were present to talk about upcoming events that the Chamber has planned and ask the City Council if a permanent Christmas Tree could be planted in the park by the new playground area to hold a “Christmas in the Park” event on December 11th or 12th along with a bonfire.
MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAMBER TO HOLD A “CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK” EVENT ON THEIR DESIRED DATE.
MEMBER NEPRUD AMENDED HIS MOTION AND MEMBER SHANKLE AMENDED HER SECOND TO INCLUDE IN THE MOTION THAT THE CITY WORK WITH THEIR GROUP TO PLANT A PERMANENT CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE PARK AND TO HOLD A BONFIRE ON THEIR DESIRED DATE. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Johnna Johnson also informed the council about upcoming issues in the park for 2008. Music in the Park series that was held this past summer was a great draw of people and the Chamber would like to see the band shell electrical upgraded and more lighting on the band shell its self, bring up the power to the band shell and add plug-in’s on the ends of new electrical outlets that will need to be installed.
Electrical Systems out of Brainerd has agreed to donate the labor for the installation of the needed electrical work on the band shell if the city would pay for the materials.
MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER FERRARI TO AUTHORIZE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO UPDATE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AT THE GAZEBO IN THE PARK WITH THE LABOR BEING DONATED AND THE COST OF THE MATERIAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,920.00 WITH PAYMENT BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE PARK FUND. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Public Comments –
One member of the Weblo group repeated to the Mayor & Council all of the things that they (the council) had done up until that time. Mayor Sova again thanked the Scouts for attending the meeting and if any of them had any questions they could talk with the Mayor after the meeting.
Old Business –
Health Fitness Contract renewal for the management of Hallett Community Center-
MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER FERRARI TO ACCEPT THE 3 YEAR AGREEMENT WITH HEALTHFITNESS CORPORATION TO MANAGE THE HALLETT COMMUNITY CENTER AT A COST OF $1,500 PER MONTH UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2010. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED. MEMBER NEPRUD ABSTAINED.
Raffle request by Cuyuna Range Lion’s Club on December 7, 2007-
MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO AUTHORIZE THE CUYUNA RANGE LION’S CLUB TO HOLD A RAFFLE ON DECEMBER 7, 2007 AT THE SPALDING HOUSE AND WAIVE THE 60 DAY WAITING PERIOD. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Contract with MN DOT for snow removal on Hwy. 6 & 210 –
MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER NEPRUD TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH MN DOT ON SNOWPLOWING FOR HWY. 6 & 210 FOR THE 2007 – 2008 WINTER SEASON. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Fire Department – No report.
Police Department –
Chief Kimberley Coughlin briefly explained the crime statistics sheets for the police department, Baxter Police Department and Crow Wing County.
Chief Coughlin will have a report on the vehicle forfeitures in the future.
A silent auction is being held for bikes and other excess property.
Public Works Department –
Discussion was held regarding adding another full-time position to the Public Work’s Department and it was decided to wait until spring or possibly hire a temporary person for the summer.
Mayor Sova asked Working Foreman Steve Perpich to look at the standing water in the playground and see if some can be pumped out and to check with Anderson Brothers to see if the rest of the cement is going to be poured yet this year.
Steve Perpich stated that Don Mooers of Mooer’s Electric found that an electric wire was clipped during the construction of the new playground and Don had to re-route the wiring for the new park restrooms.
Mayor Sova asked that the trees on the corner of West Main Street and in the alley between 1st and 2nd Street and 5th & 6th Avenue SW be clipped as they are a safety hazard.
Steve Perpich stated that the docks were removed from the boat landing and there is an old “blue dock” that can not be repaired anymore and he received a quote from Oars & Mines for a new dock at the landing at a 25% discount and they will store it this winter and install it in the Spring at a cost of $1,947.25.
MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO PURCHASE A NEW 32’ DOCK FROM OARS AND MINES IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,947.25. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO PUT AN AD IN THE COURIER THAT THE CITY WILL TAKE SEALED BIDS ON SELLING THE OLD “BLUE” DOCK “AS IS”WITH BIDS BEING RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 9, 2007. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Steve Perpich stated that last year the water was left on at the Visitor’s Center and the heat turned on low and will do the same this year.
Other projects that the Public Work’s Department is working on are as follows:
-grading of alleys
-draining the cemetery restrooms
-request to purchase a hot water pressure washer for the Public Work’s department – Mr. Perpich was asked to bring a couple of quotes to the next meeting.
MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO AUTHORIZE STEVE PERPICH TO PURCHASE THE CULVERT AND OTHER MATERIAL NECESSARY FOR THE PARK. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Steve Perpich was authorized to pull the old fire pits in the park –
Engineer’s Report –
Mike Rude talked with Randy at WSN who stated that they did monument the new sections in the cemetery.
The City Clerk will check with Working Foreman Steve Perpich to make sure all of the monuments have been placed correctly within the new sections of the cemetery.
Mike Rude & Tim Houle recently attended 2 water seminars within the last 2 weeks and it was stated that the minimum amount for water charges for residents has decreased from 1.7% to 1.5% of the median income or $35.00 minimum per month for water charges or which ever is greater and that the City of Crosby may be able to get a grant from Rural Development and should complete the “Stage 1” application with Rural Development. The City is already on the PPL list and with the new Farm Bill that is anticipated to be passed there may be additional monies available for improvements.
Augusta Homes – The street repairs still need to be done yet on 2nd, 3rd and 4th Street.
Clerk’s Report –
The posting for the Working Foreman position was not put up on Tuesday the 23rd of October but on the 24th and so the 10 working days is not up yet, so a special meeting will need to be held on Thursday, October 25, 2007 to award the position of Working Foreman for the Public Work’s Department. (Member Vukelich)
The minutes still have not been put on the city website and Member Shankle has copies of the emails that the Clerk has sent to the Webmaster for the City asking that they be put on the website. Mayor Sova indicated that he would talk with Rick Koop regarding this matter. (Member Shankle)
Mayor/Committee Reports –
Member Shankle inquired as to why the park restrooms have not yet been completed and Member Neprud stated that it was because of the changes that were made. Member Shankle is on the Park Committee and she was not informed of any changes that needed to be made except the change in the lights that City Clerk Nelson brought up at the last meeting.
Mayor Sova stated that a grant is being written for the Safe Routes to School in support of the Cuyuna Range Bike Trails and the committee would like the City to write a letter of support for this grant.
MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO CROW WING COUNTY TO APPLY FOR A GRANT FOR THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROJECT FROM C.R.E.S. TO 8TH STREET. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Member Shankle and Member Vukelich are still working on a City Administrator job description.
MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ADJOURN TO THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007 FOR A SPECIAL MEETING AT 5:00 P.M. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
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Dale J. Sova, Mayor Cindy S. Nelson, Clerk-Treasurer