City of Clear Lake
Council Meeting
January 3, 2017
Mayor Goenner and Council Member Arnold were sworn in to office by Clerk Mechtel
Council Members: Tim Goenner, Bob Arnold, Dale Powers, Sandy Paige and Karen White
Members absent: None
Guests: City Residents Ron Juenemann, Mark & Lynell Markovic, City Engineer Keith Yapp and Citizen Tribune Reporter Penny Leuthard, Becker Students Lauren Marklowitz and Abby Steffens, Jennifer Dierkes from McDonalds Meats and John Nack from Strack Companies
City Staff: Clerk Kari Mechtel and Dustin Luhning
Mayor Goenner called the regular Council meeting to order at 7:15 PM
Public Hearing
· Motion made by Powers, seconded by Paige to approve the re-zone request for properties located at 7933 State St. and 8672 1st Ave East, these properties are being rezoned to the zone central business district. Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present.
Agenda Approval
· Mayor Goenner requested a motion for the approval of the agenda. Motion made by Powers, seconded by Arnold to approve the January 3rd Council meeting agenda. Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present.
Minutes Review
· Mayor Goenner requested a motion for the approval of the minutes. Motion made by Powers, seconded by Arnold, to approve all of the November meeting minutes, (as amended with suggested changes if needed). Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present.
Sheriff’s Report
· Sergeant Johnson from the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department was present and provided the Council members with information on calls for the month of December. They were mostly traffic, medical, and domestic in nature. There were 37 calls for service in the month.
· Sergeant Johnson ask the Council if the Maintenance Department could plow a section near the intersection of Hwy’s 10 & 24 where squad cars sit to patrol the no turn on red. Public Works Supervisor will see what he can do.
1. Fire Department Purchases – Chief Ron Koren
· Chief Koren asked for approval to purchase 4 new sets of turnout gear in the amount of $8650.
· Chief Koren stated that in the past the City has paid for half of the firefighter’s retirement plaques and he asked if the City would be in favor of paying for half of the plaques again. Motion made by Powers, seconded by Arnold, to approve the purchase of the turnout gear and to pay half of the retirement plaques for the two firefighters who had recently retired. Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present.
· Chief Koren presented to the Council of changes made to his officers. Lieutenants Chad Koren and Colleen Knafla were promoted to Captains and Firefighters Ryan Peterson and Chad Nelson were promoted to Lieutenants.
· Chief Koren stated that new LDH hose has been ordered due to the old LDH hoses failing during the annual hose testing. Each hose will run $500-600 apiece.
1. Resolution #17-01 – Rules of procedure for designation of official depositories and official newspaper.
· Motion made by Arnold, seconded by Powers to approve Resolution #17-01. Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present.
2. Resolution #17-02 – Designating official appointments/ approval of vendors and providers
· Motion made by Arnold, seconded by Paige to approve Resolution #17-02. Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present.
3. Resolution #17-03 – Authorizing Clear Lake area Lions Club to operate various gambling activities in the City of Clear Lake
· Motion made by Powers, seconded by Arnold to approve Resolution #17-03. Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present.
4. Resolution #17-04 – Authorizing St. Marcus Church to operate gambling activities in the City of Clear Lake
· Motion made by Paige, seconded by Arnold to approve Resolution #17-04. Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present.
5. 2017 Fee Schedule
· Clerk Mechtel pointed out that the only changes made to the fee schedule were to the sewer flows rate, it was increased by 3% (per previous round table meeting discussion). Motion made by Arnold, seconded by Paige to approve the 2017 fee schedule. Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present. Member Powers stated that he opposes the vote only due to the 3% sewer flow rate increase.
· City Resident Mark Markovic questioned why Clearwater can charge a lot less for their base fee then Clear Lake. City Engineer Yapp stated that Clearwater has a much larger population and can be more flexible with what they do with their rates. Member Powers expressed that our City needs help from the State and Federal levels. Members Powers suggested that the City sells our 20% of the plant’s capacity to Clearwater and purchase and install holding tanks on all of the properties in the City and then buy a pumper truck to pump out the tanks and pay the Sewer Authority to dispose of the waste. Member Powers stated that he feels that his idea is going backwards in time but he feels it would be a cost savings.
· Clerk Mechtel stated that currently the water fund has been seeing significant growth from year to year. Mechtel did not suggest an increase for the water rates. Mechtel stated that the sewer fund has not been increasing like it should be. Mechtel feels that if something unforeseen happened to the City’s infrastructure we would see a major decrease to the funds balance. Mechtel stated that we have not increased the sewer rate since 2013 and due to our last rate study it was recommended to increase both water and sewer rates 5% annually.
2017 Water & Sewer Rates
· Motion made by Paige, seconded by Arnold to approve a 3% increase to the sewers flow charge. Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present. Member Powers opposed.
Employee Report – Public Works Supervisor Dustin Luhning
· Public Works Supervisor Luhning advised the Council that the plow truck is hanging in there during the past few snowfalls. Member Powers asked that can the City scrap the slush off of the streets when the temperature increases. Public Works Supervisor Luhning stated that they have and will scrap the streets during daytime hours, but feels that overtime should not be paid out to have employees come in after work hours to scrap the streets unless it is requested during non-normal work hours.
Public Participation
· It was noted that Becker Students Lauren Marklowitz and Abby Steffens are attending our meeting for their Democratic Citizenship class.
Community Development
· Member Powers stated that he found a School Board Member who is in favor of changing Clearview Elementary to K-8.
· Member Powers will work on drafting the sexual predator ordinance for the Council to review at the February meeting.
Clerk
· Employee Reviews were scheduled to take place on February 6th to begin at 6 P.M.
· Council Members are available for the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization hearing on April 17, 2017 to begin at 6 P.M.
· Council Members will meet with the Clearwater Council on January 26, 2017 at 6 P.M. for an informational meeting in regards to the Sewer Authority.
· Mayor Goenner thanked all of the employees for their hard work and dedication in 2016.
Mayor
· Mayor Goenner wants to invite all City Residents to attend an information meeting in regards to the temporary park in the Hunter Lake Bluffs Development. It was decided that Clerk Mechtel will post the meeting details on the City’s Website and add the information to the back of the water bills.
New Business
· Member Powers asked City Engineer Yapp if he was aware of any state laws that prohibit advertisement signs being placed below stop signs. Engineer Yapp stated that he thinks it’s not allowed but will look into it.
· Member Paige stated that the road blocks out in Hunter Lake Bluffs Development are falling apart and do not look nice, can the City have these removed? Paige stated that there are trees growing up in between the boards and some boards are completely missing. Engineer Yapp stated that they will need to be replaced and be reflective to ensure that no one hits the City’s utilities that are out there. Public Works Supervisor Luhning will look into it in the spring.
Adjournment
· Motion made by Powers, seconded by Paige to adjourn the Council Meeting at 8:15 P.M. Motion was approved by majority vote of all members present.
Tim Goenner, Mayor Kari Mechtel, City Clerk