Minutes of the regular August 13, 2013 Motley City Council Meeting

REGULAR MEETING – MOTLEY CITY COUNCIL

Motley, MN August 13, 2013

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Nancy Nieken called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following council members present: Steve Johnson, Pat O’Regan, Rob Sampson and Amy Hutchison. The meeting took place at city hall.

The following persons were present for all or part of the meeting: Brian Madison, Jeff Jares, Dave Greig, Wayne Barros, Bruce Brotherton, Dawn Timbs, Tina Snell, John Graupman, Aric Welch, John & LaDonna Peterson, Bruce Quinn, Lois Moe, Greg Frisk, Richard & Barbara Anderson, Dorothy Balken, Maurice & Mavis Peterson, Doreen Scott & Terri Smith.

The pledge of allegiance to the flag was given.

Sampson moved with a second by Johnson, to approve the consent agenda as follows:

A.  Outstanding bills - Claim # 7829 – 7885

Check # 28167 - 28211 & EFT #139-144

Check # 13870 - 13888

B.  Employee Leave Report

C.  Minutes of the Regular July 9, 2013 meeting

D.  Minutes of the Special July 22, 2013 meeting (with mention that the meeting was extended to the Wastewater Plant added)

E.  Minutes of the July 29, 2013 Work Session (with the removal of Sampson as in attendance)

Nieken, Hutchison, Sampson, Johnson and O’Regan voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Millpond Association

John Peterson spoke as representative for the Millpond Townhome Association. Millpond Ave and the water and sewer lines running under it are currently owned by the association and they are asking that it be turned over to the city. After many concerns were expressed by Council Members, a Council Work Session was set for Monday August 19th at 7:00 p.m. to address this more thoroughly. The Association was asked to choose two (2) members as spokespersons for the work session. The maintenance department was directed to handle the utilities aspect of this.

Proposed Water Treatment Plant

A letter from Bolton and Menk discussing revised alternatives was reviewed. The alternatives are based on the new flow projections from Trident and our discussions about these. The alternatives are:

1.  Concrete gravity filters without provisions for reverse osmosis. This could be added in the future but would require a new building and tankage.

2.  New steel gravity facility with no RO provisions. Any future RO work would be added similar to option No. 1.

3.  Rehab the existing filter and add clearwell storage.

(A more thorough description of the alternatives is available for review in the agenda file in the City Clerk’s office)

Concerns were that cheaper may not be the better value. Going strictly by cost a steel filter would be the better deal. Going by life cycle a concrete filter is the better deal. Trident and Morey’s will be invited to a work session once Motley receives the 3rd party review from AE2S.

City staff met to discuss wells and suggest that we may be able to find better water in another location rather than the high manganese that we currently are dealing with. The initial test well drilling could be approximately $1,000.00 per hole.

O’Regan moved, with a second by Hutchison, to explore new wells up to $15,000.00. Nieken, Sampson, O’Regan, Johnson and Hutchison voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Engineering

Welch explained that the 2011 Street Project has had some problems with turf establishment. Four (4) samples of soil were taken for testing. The organics were not up to specs. The specs say that they could use salvaged topsoil; it doesn’t say that it has to be up to specs. We can require the contractor to go back in and bring the organics up, spray on or replace the soil. This will take further discussion. The contractor will need to spray for weeds. Welch will get options for what they contractor will do.

A walk-thru for the 2012 project generated a new punch list. A 30% sag was discovered in a section of the pipe on the west end of the project. Motley has the option to say that they will leave it the way it is but the contractor will be required to take a reduction in pay. The price deduct is to cover costs of jetting and cleaning the line in the future. The dip does not automatically mean it will plug.

Sampson moved, with a second by Johnson, to leave the pipe the way it is and take the deduction. Nieken, Sampson, O’Regan, Johnson and Hutchison voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Planning Commission

It was the consensus of the council to accept a site drawing from Steve and Denise Bickford to see if the concept of their application will be okay. Approval for other issues could be conditional upon a survey.

Old Business

Barros stated that Mn Dot is the governing body when it comes to changing speed limits in town and they will come in and do a study. It becomes difficult to do, there needs to be significant reasons. Stop signs can be put where a need is determined. O’Regan stated that he believes the Chief of Police should do his own study to determine where he believes they are needed and bring back to the council.

O’Regan stated that he believes that our weed ordinance is unrealistic to enforce as written.

Sampson moved, with a second by O’Regan, setting a committee of Hutchison, Brotherton and O’Regan to review the weed ordinance. Nieken, Sampson, Hutchison, Johnson and O’Regan voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Fire Department

The July 2013 report was given.

Pro-Hydro tested the storage tanks and SCBA’s. The compressor needs to be serviced for $550.00. This is all part of the annual maintenance. Greig will look into getting SOP’s drawn up for the filling tanks.

Police Department

The July 2013 police report was given.

Madison requested authorization to purchase a new bullet proof vest and to go to St Cloud to be measured.

O’Regan moved, with a second by Johnson, to approve the purchase and the trip for measurements for the new vest. Nieken, Sampson, Hutchison, Johnson and O’Regan voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Residents have requested that a Special Deer Hunt be done in the city limits. A special permit is required from the DNR and it would be strictly archery. After many concerns were expressed Madison will contact the DNR to see what we can do. It was suggested that education regarding the feeding of deer is needed.

School Resource Officer Agreement - Nieken asked if the police department put in 340 hours at the school last year. In the past Madison has been in contact with the school principal and it seems everyone wants something different for hours.

Sampson moved, with a second by O’Regan to approve the SRO Agreement as presented. Nieken, Sampson, Hutchison, Johnson and O’Regan voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

There is a black dog living under Bjerga Feed’s building. The police department has been unable to catch it because it will not let a human near it. Resident’s have been feeding it and trying to catch it as well. Not sure what to do with it. The chief feels that he has exhausted all feasible options for catching the dog. A live trap cannot be used and a tranquilizer takes 10 minutes to take affect and the dog will crawl deeper under the building.

Maintenance Department

The July 2013 maintenance report was presented.

Barros intends to retire sometime in January 2014. The formal resignation will come at a later date.

The Parks Committee is planning a park beautification project and would like to supply hot dogs and chips for the workers.

Johnson moved, with a second by Sampson, authorizing the purchase of hot dogs and chips up to $200.00. Nieken, Sampson, Hutchison, Johnson and O’Regan voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Minnesota Rural Water Association will be sponsoring a training event at city hall on Wednesday, August 28th. City staff will need to be unavailable for calls during that time.

Sampson moved, with a second by O’Regan, authorizing Barros and Brotherton to attend the all day training to include a demo of the jetter and camera. Nieken, Sampson, Hutchison, Johnson and O’Regan voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Blue Water sent the filters for Stage One of the wastewater treatment facility. However, they built filters for Stage Two and they are 3 feet too short. They will be remaking them and sending them out and the hope is that it will happen yet this fall.

Administrative Department

The July 2013 Water Usage Report was presented.

Morrison County asked for approval for the sale of property at 833 Poplar Lane. The city may be interested in obtaining this property so there was no action taken on this item.

A budget meeting was called for August 26th at 6:00 p.m.

The sale of Two Rivers Grocery Store will happen sometime this week. The new owners would like to have the tobacco license transferred to their name. Madison stated the background check was clear.

O’Regan moved, with a second by Johnson, to transfer the tobacco license from Two Rivers Grocery Store to Northwind Grocery. Nieken, Hutchison, Johnson, Sampson and O’Regan voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Public Forum

There were no persons present wishing to be heard.

Council

O’Regan stated that the second meeting of a series of meetings that may last a year regarding Hazard Mitigation will be held August 15th. He questioned whether Motley wanted to continue the process. He is willing to make the effort to attend most of the meetings but may not be able to attend them all.

O’Regan moved, with a second by Hutchison, to make a reasonable effort to have representation at these meetings. Nieken, Sampson, Hutchison, Johnson and O’Regan voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

The possibility of standardizing meeting times will be a topic for the next work session.

Look at putting together a committee to work on bicycle training as a community project with several people involved. This will be added to a work session in the future.

The possibility of reinstating the rifle range was discussed. Perhaps aiming it so it is not directed toward houses is possible. Is there another location for it?

O’Regan moved, with a second by Hutchison, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was duly adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

Terri Smith

Clerk Treasurer

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