Minutes - May 12th, 2008

May 12th, 2008

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Crosby City Council was held on Monday, May 12, 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 Debra Shankle and Member Edward Vukelich present. Member Erwin “Buzz” Neprud and Member David “Butch” Ferrari were absent.

Also present were City Attorney James Gammello, City Engineer’s Michael Rude & Tim Houle, Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin, Fire Chief Charles Leonhardt, Public Works Foreman Steve Perpich 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 SHANKLE AND SECONDED MY MEMBER VUKELICH TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT AS PRESENTED. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

Public Forum –

- Maurice Slepica was present to obtain approval for $5,300 payment for advertising to Steve Jensen on the Zamboini. This $5,300 was donated to the Community Center by two parties and since the city jointly owns the zamboini with Steve Jensen this is one-half of the amounts of advertising money that was received and it is owed to Mr. Jensen.

MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO AUTHORIZE THE PAYMENT OF $5,300 TO STEVE JENSEN FROM THE HALLETT COMMUNITY FUNDS FOR ADVERTISING ON THE ZAMBOINI. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

- John Maattala from Crow Wing County Hazardous Waste was present to visit with the council about the recycling program in 2009. They would like to put a “co-mingle” recycling container by the oil recycling center for people to put all of their recyclables in and there would be no cost to the city for this recycling.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO HAVE A RECYCLING CONTAINER PUT IN BY THE COUNTY IN 2009 BY THE CURRENT OIL RECYCLING CONTAINER AT THE VISITOR’S CENTER. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

- Johnna Johnson of the Cuyuna Range Chamber of Commerce was present to ask for $5,000 of advertising funds from the city for various activities they are going to be sponsoring for the balance of 2008. This is an increase of $1,000 from 2007.

The park committee of Member Shankle and Member Neprud will meet the Johnna regarding the request for advertising funds for their projects.

Johnna also introduced Deanna Bauer who is the new Chamber Director and they also asked for permission to hold a raffle during the annual boat races in July along with possibly holding a beer garden on Saturday evening from 5:00 -10:00 in the park, but this event has not yet been finalized.

MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO AUTHORIZE THE CUYUNA RANGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HOLD A RAFFLE DURING THE BOAT RACES IN THE PARK ON JULY 26 – 27, 2008 AND WAIVING THE 60 DAY WAITING PERIOD. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

- Johnna also gave a brief update on Music in the Park that will be held on Thursday’s throughout the summer from 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. with the exception of July 4^th which will be from 6:00-10:00 (or until the fireworks begin)

Pubic Comments – None

Unfinished Business – All items were tabled and Member Shankle will be making a summary of the applicants for the City Administrator position to be included in the packets for the next meeting for review.

New Business –

- A request was received by Region 5 to ask that the council sign a resolution for County Hazard Mitigation.

MOTION MADE BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND THE CLERK TO ADOPT RESOLUTION # 2008 – 05 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

- A letter of resignation was received from Police Officer Anthony Runde effective May 15, 2008 from the Police Department.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION WITH REGRETS FROM ANTHONY RUNDE FROM THE CROSBY POLICE DEPARTMENT EFFECTIVE MAY 15, 2008. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

Reports -

Fire Chief Charles Leonhardt reported on the following –

- There have been 6 runs since the last meeting and the total number of runs is up this year compared to last year.

Librarian Peggi Beseres reported on the following –

- Statistics for April were included in the council packets for their review

- The library will be holding a “garage sale” and they are hoping to purchase a lap top with the proceeds.

- The used fluorescent light bulbs were discussed and Working Foreman Steve Perpich was asked to pick them up at the library and taken to Crosby True Value for recycling.

- Bob Novak and Don Boucher who are members of the personnel committee of the library advisory board were present to present a wage comparison of other library employees in comparable library size and recommended raising the current part-time library aides and increase of $1.50 per hour to $10.00 per hour effectively immediately to bring their wages in line with other libraries.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO RAISE THE CURRENT PART-TIME LIBRARY AIDES WAGES TO $10.00 PER HOUR

EFFECTIVELY IMMEDIATELY. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

Mayor Sova asked Clerk Cindy Nelson to provide him with the other part-time wages that are paid within the city and to put this on the next agenda.

Police Chief Kimberley Coughlin reported on the following –

- There is a need for some kind of security in the park due to the recent vandalism done to the new restrooms.

- There is also a possibility of another gate needed by the restrooms and will research this item further for consideration

- The Police Intern has been going around and taking pictures of yards that need cleaning up and sending the property owners letters.

- The interviews have been completed for the hiring of 2 new full-time officers for the police department; one will replace Eric Stangler who left at the end of January and to replace Anthony Runde.

MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO HIRE JACOB HEFFRON AS A FULL-TIME OFFICER FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EFFECTIVELY May 12, 2008, BUT HE WILL FINISH OUT THE YEAR AS THE SCHOOL LIASION AT THE SCHOOL AND THEN START HIS FULL-TIME DUTIES AS SOON AS THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDS. HIS WAGES WILL BE A THE CURRENT UNION STARTING POINT WITH HEALTH BENEFITS, LIFE INSURANCE, BUT NO LONGIVITY WITH THE CITY AND ALSO A 90 DAY PROBATION PERIOD PER THE UNION CONTRACT. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO APPROVE THE HIRING OF JON ABEAR AS THE SECOND FULL-TIME OFFICER TO REPACE ANTHONY RUNDE WITH A STARTING DATE OF MAY 29, 2008 WITH HEALTH BENEFITS, LIFE INSURANCE, BUT NO LONGIVITY WITH THE CITY. HIS WAGE WILL BE AT THE CURRENT UNION STARTING WAGE ALONG WITH THE 90 DAY PROBATION PERIOD PER THE UNION CONTRACT. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

- Chief Coughlin stated that there will be a need for a school resources officer next year and Mayor Sova cautioned Chief Coughlin to find more than one person to cover this position as it creates problems with only one person working the hours and then they exceed the part-time hours per the contract and it becomes a greater expense for the city,

- Chief Coughlin stated that she now has a larger pool of part-time individuals to chose from and that the hours will not be an issue for 2008 and beyond.

Attorney James Gammello reported on the following –

- The final version of the ATV Ordinance was passed out, but the summary of publication will need to be passed at the next meeting as it needs to be passed by 4/5ths vote and with 2 members absent there are not enough votes.

- The dog leash ordinance will be presented at the next meeting.

Public Works Working Foreman Steve Perpich reported on the following –

- A bid was received from Anderson Brothers to repave 560’ of roads at the cemetery in the amount of $19,944.01 with the work to be done after Memorial Day as there will be a savings to the city if the work is completed after that time.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO AWARD THE BID OF $19,944.01 TO ANDERSON BROTHERS TO REPAVE 560’ OF ROADS AT THE CEMETERY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

- Steve Perpich was asked to put up the “Welcome to Crosby” banners on the light poles on Main Street

- The park committee will be meeting with Mr. Perpich regarding coming up with a sidewalk plan replacement plan for the city, camping in the park and refuse containers around the playground.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO PAY THE BALANCE DUE BRANDON TURK OF TURK CONSTRUCTION ALONG WITH THE CHARGES FOR THE CHANGES THAT WERE AUTHORIZED. THE TOTAL AMOUNT DUE MR. TURK IS $16,497.25. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

- It was noted that the person working in the park on the weekend will clean the park restrooms, Skateboard Park and the lakeside restrooms.

Engineer Mike Rude of WSN reported on the following –

- Presented partial payment #1 to Kuechle Construction for the 2008 Street & Utility Project in the amount of $150,674.09.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKELICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO APPROVE PARTIAL PAYMENT # 1 TO KUECHLE CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,674.09 FOR THE 2008 STREET & UTILITY PROJECT. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

- Mike Rude reported to the council on the 2008 Street project on 4^th NW and 2^nd SW. The contractors are just about done on 4^th Street and are working on 2^nd Street SW

- Mayor Sova received a letter from a daughter of a resident on 4^th Street NW about a tree that was removed and the family was not happy about this tree being taken down. Mr. Rude stated that the tree was definitely in the right-of-way and that things were not removed unless they were directly in the right-of-way and needed to removed. Mr. Rude will write a letter to this resident’s daughter to explain the tree removal to her.

- There is barely any tar left on 1^st Street NW and WSN will prepare a proposal to re-pave that street and will talk with the current contract about including this street into the current project and he will let the council know what the contractor response is as to including this in the current project.

City Clerk Cindy Nelson had no report at this meeting.

Mayor/Committee Reports –

- The personnel committee will be interviewing the 3 applicants for the working foreman position.

MOTION BY MEMBER SHANKLE AND SECONDED BY MEMBER VUKELICH TO APPROVE PAY INCREASE FOR PEGGI BESERES LIBRARIAN OF 4.2% AND POLICE CHIEF KIMBERLEY COUGHLIN 5.7% AND AN ADDITIONAL WEEK OF VACATION WITH RETRO TO JANUARY 1, 2008, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION BY MEMBER VUKLEICH AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SHANKLE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. A VOICE VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED. Time was 7:29 p.m.

______________________________________ ________________________________

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