January 28th, 2008
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Crosby City Council was held on Monday, January 28, 2008 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 at the meeting were Fire Chief Chuck Leonhardt, Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin, Public Works Foreman Steve Perpich, City Engineer Mike Rude and City Clerk-Treasurer Cindy S. Nelson. Attorney James Gammello was absent.
MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO APPROVE PAGES 1, 3 & 5 OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING AS PRESENTED AND TO HAVE THE CLERK SUBMIT PAGES 2 & 4 FOR APPROVAL AT THE NEXT MEETING. 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.
Mayor Sova stated to the Department Heads that were present and to the general public that if in the future there is something that they would like action on from the council that evening all information must be in the packets and on the agenda. If something is not listed on the agenda or the written information in the packets it will not be acted upon that evening.
PUBLIC FORUM –
- Jack McCallister presented a brief presentation on Bunker ball and he would like to hold a tournament in the fall and possibly coordinate this tournament with a local youth group. He was asked to contact Councilmember Neprud to coordinate this tournament.
PUBLIC COMMENTS –
- City resident Curt Southmayd inquired about the status of the leash law in the City of Crosby and he was told that Chief Coughlin has been instructed to come back to the council when all of the information has been received.
- City resident Charles Sellers stated that the city should look in 1978-1979 when he was Mayor at the leash law as it was iron clad and councils since then have changed it.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS –
- Sound system for Council Chambers – Table
- Beach Improvements – Table
- City Administrator applications – All council members are to give to the personnel committee their top 3 choices to review and then report back to the full Council.
MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER FERRARI TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE TO SPEND UP TO $600.00 FOR A PROFESSIONAL TO CHECK THE REFERENCES AND BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICANTS. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS – None
REPORTS –
Fire Chief Leonhardt reported on the following –
- Presented the 2008 Koop Formula for the fire contracts with the townships that the City of Crosby covers for fire protection.
MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO APPROVE THE 2008 KOOP FORMULA FOR THE FIRE CONTRACTS WITH IRONDALE, PERRY LAKE, RIVERTON, TROMMALD, PERRY LAKE THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COVERS. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
- There were 2 runs since the last council meeting.
Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin reported on the following –
- The ATV Ordinance information will be presented at the February 11, 2008 meeting
- Passed out copies of the Baxter and Coon Rapids leash laws for review and this information will also be presented at the February 11, 2008 meeting.
- Asked permission to begin the process of hiring a full-time patrol office to replace Eric Stangler who just resigned. She has the shifts covered through February with part-timers and could possibly cover March with part-timers.
Member Shankle stated that the research that she has done with regard to police departments with the towns of our size it appears that we are very top heavy and have to many officers for a department for our size and that she would like to try it for 6 months to see if we can get by without hiring another full-time officer.
Chief Coughlin stated that in the 4 years since she has been here she has never gone over budget and she has already budgeted for 8 full-time officers. Our population quadruples in the summer and we really should have 9 full-time officers to effectively run the department and the schedule they have now doesn’t wear out the officers and we haven’t had turn over like in the past because of almost enough officers.
Chief Coughlin also stated that the officers are very aggressive and there is so much paperwork that always needs to be done and that she would like to keep the City of Ironton on board next year.
Member Vukelich stated that she has budgeted for this full-time officer already, but that he doesn’t want to see any more full-time officers added.
MOTION BY MEMBER NEPRUD AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO AUTHORIZE CHIEF COUGHLIN TO REPLACE THE VACANT FULL-TIME PATROL POSITION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. A VOICE VOTE: 4 AYES. MEMBER SHANKLE VOTED “NO” MOTION CARRIED.
Attorney’s Report – None Attorney Gammello absent.
Public Works Foreman Steve Perpich reported on the following –
- Water tower went done again and would like it set up with the phone company to have the alarm ring at his (Perpich) home so that it can be taken care of right away. The council agreed to change from the phone ringing in the PD to ring at Mr. Perpich’s home if the water tower goes down.
- Don Mooers of Mooers Electric will come to a council meeting to explain the options for a generator at the pump house.
- A light has been installed on the outside of the little building next to the water tower and if any one sees this light on to please call Steve Perpich right away.
City Engineer’s Report –
- The water conservation plan which is required by the State every 10 years and the Clerk has been notified that it is due and WSN prepared the report 10 years ago and will submit a proposal to complete this new one.
- Mike Halley of Halley Homes has requested a reduction in his letter of credit and it was decided to have this put on the next agenda.
- Held Homes letter of credit – We are waiting for the utility easement to be recorded and then it can be released.
Clerk’s Report –
- 2008 Budget – Need to budget for the City Administrator for $60,000 plus benefits and it was decided that money will be taken from each budget to pay for this newly created position. Clerk Nelson also stated that we can adopt the budget as it is set right now and amend it in the future when the exact numbers are known.
MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ADOPT THE 2008 BUDGET. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
- According to Larson Allen the city needs to dedicate $15,000 for the future police vehicle from the 2007 budget to the 2008 budget and $15,000 for new software from the 2007 budget to the 2008 budget. The auditor’s also suggested that another council member be authorized as a signor at Unity Bank to sign checks in case the Mayor or the Clerk is absent.
MOTION BY MEMBER FERRARI AND SECONDED BY MEMBER NEPRUD TO DEDICATE $15,000 FROM THE FUTURE POLICE VEHICLE BUDGET FOR 2007 AND $15,000 FOR SOFTWARE FROM THE 2007 TO THE 2008 BUDGET. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO AUTHORIZE ERWIN “BUZZ” NEPRUD ALONG WITH DALE SOVA AND CINDY NELSON TO SIGN CHECKS AT UNITY BANK. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor/Committee Reports –
Mayor Sova stated there are positions open on Planning & Zoning and asked the Clerk to inquire of the members whose terms have expired if they would still like to serve on P & Z and to let him know.
Mayor Sova asked if anyone had any further business to come before the City and there was none.
MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ADJOURN. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED. Time was 7:06 p.m.
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Dale J. Sova, Mayor Cindy S. Nelson, Clerk-Treasurer