City of LeRoy MN – Council Meeting Minutes, December 4, 2017

A regular meeting of the LeRoy City Council was called to order by Mayor Brian Thiel on Monday, December 4, 2017, at 6:30 PM at the LeRoy Community Center with the following members present: Mayor Brian Thiel, Council Members Kathleen Gottschalk, Ashley Huntley, Jan Whisler, Maintenance Supervisor John Jones, and City Clerk Patty White. Council Member Gene Miller was absent.
Also attending: Eileen Evans, Shirley Whisler, Marsha Zafft, Roger & Phyllis Dietrich, Deputy Tyler Wilson, Scott Osmundson, Lindy & Catherine Parret, Sharon Thiel, Dave Perkins, Diane Whalen, and Axel Gumbel. All present stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thiel read the due call for the Truth in Taxation hearing and opened the hearing at 6:31 PM.

  • Marsha Zafft commented her taxes increased $110 for the city; she expressed concern that if the city continues to raise taxes that she won’t be able to sell her house in the future. Thiel replied the City is only one portion of the proposed tax statement. An increase in taxes would mean an increase in property valuation, an increase in county taxes, or an increase in school taxes. The city tax levy has stayed the same for many years.
  • Roger Dietrich expressed interest in purchasing the bare lot next to his property, but that property has an outstanding assessment of $23,700. He noted he is not interested at that price. Whisler explained the reason for that assessment.

Hearing no additional comments or questions, the hearing was closed at 6:40 PM.

Council reviewed the items included in the consent agenda. Motion by Huntley, second by Gottschalk to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried 4-0.

During Public Input Time:

  • Marsha Zafft questioned if anything can be done about properties in disarray and noise issues. Thiel commented about city policing and the fact that the county attorney will not prosecute our city ordinances. Huntley noted the council is aware of some problem properties; she also reminded Ms. Zafft that signed written complaints need to be submitted to city hall for action to proceed on these issues.

During Standing Committee Reports:

  • Huntley noted the Ambulance Board is contemplating the hiring of a full-time ambulance director in the near future. This would be a 40 hour per week position. She doesn’t anticipate an increase in the per-capita rate for the time being. She also reported that 12 people have signed up the EMT classes.
  • Gottschalk had nothing new to report on the Public Library. Thiel noted there should be another handicap parking installed in front of the library near the wider sidewalk, or the existing sign should be moved further south. Jones will get another sign installed.
  • Whisler reported on the LeRoy EDA. LeRoy City Lines is doing well; LCL has just passed their one-year anniversary. Some charters for 2018 have already been booked. Wildwood Grove is still down on occupancy.
  • Huntley reported she had received a complaint from a business owner about the LeRoy City Lines bus parking signs. The complaint centered on the fact that the parking space is not alwaysin use by one of the buses. Axel Gumbel noted this issue had been discussed with another EDA member; Josh Diemer went to Heavenly Designs to discuss this issue with business owner Trish Bundy. Ms. Bundy’s complaints included that she is limited on parking with the emergency services building right next to her; she doesn’t feel her clients should have to park across the street. It was discussed if hours could be posted on the signs. It was noted that having the hours posted may not solve the problem as some of the parking problems happen during daytime charter trips. Gumbel will discuss this issue with the EDA at their next meeting and bring any recommendations to the January council meeting.

Deputy Tyler Wilson introduced himself to council, reviewed his background, and handed out the written police report. Council thanked Deputy Wilson for the report and welcomed him to LeRoy.

In Old Business:

  • Thiel reported on the presentation attended by members of the city council, EDA, and technology committee given by Mark Erickson, the EDA director with the City of Winthrop. Mr. Erickson was involved in getting county-wide broadband to their area. This was an encouraging meeting and showed that options are possible that we can have the same access to broadband as larger cities.

LeRoy Senior Citizens:

  • Sharon Thiel, president of the LeRoy Senior Citizens, reported the seniors have been paying $130 per month for their room; this fee has been paid for as long as anyone can remember. The seniors used to have a daily coffee hour at the Senior Center; the use of the utilities has dropped drastically since they no long have the daily coffee. The board of the Senior Citizens is requesting this monthly fee be dropped by at least half. Huntley noted the council continues to try to improve the center with the Senior Citizens using the Center every Tuesday for their weekly dinners. Eileen Evans commented she felt the $130 amount also included the use of the dining room for the weekly dinners. Gottschalk suggested the Senior Citizens gather more information, based on usage, and present this to the council at their January meeting.

LeRoy Fire Relief Retirement Benefit Amount:

  • Scott Osmundson, president of the LeRoy Fire Relief Association, reported the Fire Relief board of trustees met and discussed increasing the annual pension per firefighter from $450 per year to $900 per year. The net consequence of this increase to the city would be $1000 to $2000 for 2018. Thiel reported surrounding fire relief associations are paying more for the retirement benefit for their firefighters. Motion by Whisler, second by Huntley to approve the increase from $450 per year per firefighter to $900 per year per firefighter. Motion carried 4-0.

2018 Liquor Licenses:

  • Council reviewed the 2018 liquor licenses. The licenses include on-sale liquor for Travel Lanes and Sweet’s HRB; Sunday liquor licenses for Travel Lanes and Sweet’s HRB; an off-sale liquor license for Travel Lanes; and 3.2% off-sale liquor licenses for Amoco Food Shop and K & H Classic Stop. Motion by Gottschalk, second by Huntley to approve these licenses. Motion carried 4-0.

2018 Employee Pay & Benefit Package:

  • White presented information pertaining to the health insurance renewal rates for the existing health insurance plan. White had checked with another carrier for premium rates. This other carrier provided better premiums for comparable health insurance plans. Motion by Huntley, second by Whisler to direct White to find the best health insurance plan for the best price for the insurance-eligible city employees. Motion carried 4-0.

New City Website:

  • Thiel had gathered information from Municipal Impact, a company that specializes in websites for municipalities. The city’s current website is not a responsive website; the Municipal Impact site would be. Municipal Impact also offers the ability to send out news and alerts to residents via email or text. The total cost to make the transition from the current website to a site from Municipal Impact would be just under $800. Motion by Huntley, second by Gottschalk to transition to a new website. Motion carried 4-0.

There were no land use permits for council to review.

The Communications File was reviewed; items included:

  • Council reviewed a letter from Mediacom on new rates for cable.
  • Thiel read a thank-you card from the L-O FFA for the assistance of the maintenance department in making their Fall Food for Frolic a success.
  • Council reviewed an invitation from SE MN Historic Bluff Country requesting membership in their organization. Council took no action on this invitation.
  • The minutes from the October library board meeting and the minutes from the last Mower County League of Cities had been included in the council packets.

Thiel read the due call for the public hearing and opened the hearing at 7:28 PM. Two letters had been sent to owners of record with past-due water/sewer accounts. Neither of these people were in attendance. Motion by Whisler, second by Gottschalk to pass Resolution 2017-09, a resolution proceeding with assessing these two properties the amount of their respective past-due water/sewer bills, to charge interest at eight (8) percent, and to make these due and payable with the pay 2018 taxes. Motion carried 4-0. The public hearing was closed at 7:31 PM.

Water & Sewer:

  • White reported the bid opening for the Sensus Radio Read Proposal was held at 1:00 PM on November 15, 2017. One bid was received from Core & Main, LP. The bid included the cost of the 510M two wire touch couple at $125 each; the 510M direct wire at $120 each; the hand-held device at $4750; and the annual support/maintenance fees at $2125. The total cost of this project based on 450 meters would be $63,125. Whisler questioned about spending this money with other projects coming up including the Highway 56 project in 2020. Thiel noted funds are now being spent with the time spent by the maintenance guys manually reading the meters, the time spent transferring these numbers to the billing sheets, and then the time spent entering these readings into the computer. Motion by Thiel to proceed with this purchase. Second by Huntley. On a roll call of votes, all members voted aye. Motion carried 4-0.

Community Center Kitchen Renovation:

  • Shirley Whisler presented a quote from Rochester Restaurant Supply for stainless steel items for the kitchen in the amount of $5925.00; she also had a quote from Jim Mathison in the amount of $8317.50. The quote from Mr. Mathison included removal and disposal of 14 feet of upper and lower existing cabinets, new cabinets, Formica countertop, plumbing allowance, electrical allowance, and allowance from Rochester Restaurant Supply for sinks and faucets.
  • Whisler updated council on a conversation he had with a representative from the Minnesota Department of Health pertaining to Minnesota state law on food preparation and serving. He reported meals prepared in a licensed kitchen can be catered in and served to the general public; meals prepared for and served by families is okay. Preparation of food in the Community Center kitchen cannot be served to the general public.
  • Eileen Evans commented a kitchen needs a stove. Mrs. Evans and Diane Whalen reported there is an anonymous donor that has offered to have the stove repaired. Thiel questioned if this large commercial grade stove is needed or if a smaller residential grade stove would suffice. Gottschalk commented the stove is already in the kitchen, if it is repaired, can it be used for the proper uses as were listed earlier?
  • Thiel questioned what the pleasure of the council is. He questioned council if they have an objection to having the stove repaired with funds from an anonymous donor.
  • Motion by Gottschalk to allow the stove to stay in the kitchen as long as it is repaired by December 31, 2017, with funds from an anonymous donor. Second by Whisler. Motion carried 4-0. Motion by Whisler to accept the quote from Jim Mathison in the amount of $8317.50 for the kitchen remodel pending funding from the LeRoy Community Foundation or other sources. Second by Gottschalk. Motion carried 4-0.

Council further discussed the 2018 proposed budget and levy. Motion by Huntley, second by Gottschalk to adopt the 2018 proposed budget. Motion carried 4-0. Motion by Huntley, second by Gottschalk to pass Resolution 2017-08, a resolution adopting the levy for 2018 in the amount of $500,000. Motion carried 4-0.

Council discussed the meeting date for the January, 2018, council meeting. The first Monday in January is a legal holiday. Motion by Whisler, second by Gottschalk to set January 8, 2018, as the date for the January, 2018, city council meeting. Motion carried 4-0.

Being no further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Whisler, second by Huntley at 8:08 PM.

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Brian Thiel, Mayor

Attest:

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Patty A. White, City Clerk-Treasurer

LeRoy City Council Minutes Meeting Date: 12/04/17Page _ of 4 pages