REGULAR MEETING-MONDAY, FEBRUARY9, 2015-MUNICIPAL BUILDING –
The Regular meeting of the City of Buffalo City Common Council was called to order by Mayor Russ Lorenz at 7:00 p.m. Roll call: Brach Seitz, Lisa Schuh, Kevin Mack, Ben Holien.Also present City Superintendent Stan Meier and Citizens Greg Jencen and Matt Ward.The meeting was held as noticed. Motion Mack, second Holien to approve minutes from the Januaryregular meeting. All yes, motion carried.
Finance:Auditors were here Feb. 2. Will report to Council in March or April.
Recreation: Lorenz requested City get quotes for storage area addition at skating rink. City Superintendent will call local contractors for quotes. Lorenz asked if the City would like Gary Wiersgalla to clean up the dead trees in Foelsch Park. Consensus of the council to have Wiersgalla cut dead trees and keep the wood once he has signed a liability agreement with the City. Lorenz will ask the C-FC FFA if they would be interested in helping fix up Foelsch Park in the spring.
Building Committee:Four permits issued this month including one new home. One other permit for an attached garage is being reviewed. Garage on Schiller St. not meeting setback will be moved as soon as weather permits according to owner.
Health & Safety:Seitz reported a few dog issues that he and City clerk addressed this past month with the owners. Lorenz and Meier inspected the property with the rabbit conditional use permit. Lorenz said there were 49 rabbits, which met the requirements and that they saw no other problems. Meier said he has been keeping an eye on the property on 16th Street with the possible septic being drained in the yard, and has not seen anything being pumped. Clerk reported contact with a semi owner on Herman and 16th Street. They were notified that the semi can not be parked in the alley and given the option to park it at the City shop. Parking at the municipal building is very limited due to the number of semis parking on the neighboring property and the one semi we have allowed to park on the municipal lot. Council discussed the property line at the municipal building.
Cemetery:The Huebsch CD will be renewed at a rate of 1% interest with the Alliance Bank. City received a donation from the estate of Betty Stirn in the amount of $6,915 to be placed in the Bollinger Cemetery Fund.
Riverfront:Corps of Engineers has given the City permission to cut all trees damaged by the beavers along the river. City Superintendent will be brushing soon, and can cut some at that time. Leasees will also be given permission to cut any damaged trees on their lots. Corps reminded clerk that tree stumps should not be left so to help keep the bank intact.
Citizens: Jencen commended the City for a good job done. Ward discussed the way building permits are handled differently in Winona as far as cost and control. Winona is able to pay a building inspector to handle these.
Mayor:The council reviewed the 2014 call log from Tri-Community Fire Department. Discussion on types of calls and location. Lorenz said the C-BC Lions had a good turnout for the annual fishing contest at Spring Lake. He said the Lions are working on constructing a food trailer to be used at the 4th of July celebration and the fishing contest. Lorenz asked the council if the trailer could be stored by the City shop. Consensus of the council to allow the Lions to store the trailer by the shop.
City Superintendent:The pickup was in the shop to fix a faulty four-wheel drive connection. Lorenz said plowing has been good. He has had a few mailbox complaints, but the City’s plowing policy states unless the plow physically hits a mailbox the City will not replace it. Snow thrown off the plow has been causing a few mailboxes to be knocked over or off their poles. These need to be secured better and it is not the City’s responsibility.
Clerk:Clerk will meet with Carl Duley to go over the comprehensive plan the City committee put together several years ago. The plan will hopefully be on the agenda at a future meeting for approval.
Motion Seitz, second Mack to pay bills. All yes, motion carried.
Motion Seitz, second Holiento adjourn meeting. All yes, motion carried.
Jenny Ehlenfeldt, Clerk