Minutes of the regular December 9, 2008 Motley City Council meeting

REGULAR MEETING - MOTLEY CITY COUNCIL

MOTLEY MN December 9, 2008

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Alexander called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following council members present: Bruce Mills, Steve Johnson and Rob Sampson. Nancy Nieken was absent. The meeting took place at city hall.

The following persons were present for all or part of the meeting: Duane Solga; Marge Mills; Wayne Barros; Bruce Brotherton; Brian Madison; Cliff Goodwater; Lydia Goodwater; Tad Tureson; Rod Enberg; Mark Uhnruh; Aric Welch, WSN and Dawn Timbs.

The pledge of allegiance to the flag was given.

Additions to the agenda were: Disciplinary issues.

Alexander moved, with a second by Sampson, approving the consent agenda as follows:

A.  Outstanding bills – Claim # 4841 - 4876

Check # 25406 – 25429

Check # 12583 – 12605

B.  Minutes of the Regular November 12, 2008 meeting

C.  Minutes of the Special November 18, 2008 meeting

D.  Minutes of the Regular November 25, 2008 meeting

E.  Minutes of the December 2, 2008 Truth in Taxation meeting

F.  Employee Leave Report

Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Rod Enberg was present requesting the use of approximately 4-5 acres in the Industrial Park for his business of wood chips for 6 months. After much discussion, a committee of Konrad Alexander, Rob Sampson and Wayne Barros was set to come back with a recommendation to the council. Aric Welch asked that the city check with Mn Limited to see if the stormwater permit had been closed out. He also recommended that Enberg be required to re-seed the area when he is done using the land in Industrial Park.

Welch stated that the surveying for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Project began today. They will survey from the lift station south to Morey’s and do “topo” around the lift station at the school.

New keys and locks will be brought back at a later time.

Mills moved, with a second by Sampson, to re-table allegations by Councilmember Nancy Nieken regarding the Motley Police Officers until Nieken attends a meeting. Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Sampson moved, with a second by Johnson, approving the slate of Fire Department Officers as recommended by the Fire Departments:

Chief Troy Davis

1st Assistant Chief Dave Greig

2nd Assistant Chief Bryan Hutchison

Secretary Connie Davis

Safety Officers Tim Schneider, Kyle Frisk, Jason Olson

Training Officers Tim Schneider, Steve Dille, Jace Carlson & Mike Zimmerman

Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Barros gave the November 2008 Maintenance Report including:

~  Total water produced 7.338 million gallons

~  Exceeded TSS this month

~  Have not exceeded CBOD this month

~  11 of 11 aerators are running

~  Finished culvert extension with grate made by maintenance department instead of purchasing.

~  MPCA letter of review shows violations, some minor, some severe. Mark Hallan has been in contact with PCA regarding the start of the WWTF Project.

~  Will be fixing the roof at City Hall.

Welch stated that if we dig up the area behind Countryside Restaurant, we may want to consider working with the adjacent property owners on the road at the same time.

Madison reported that the Dodge Intrepid that was seized now belongs to the City of Motley and can be sold.

Sampson moved, with a second by Alexander, to advertise for sealed bids for the 1999 Dodge Intrepid. Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

November police report shows numbers down from October.

Madison requested that the City of Motley continue to participate in the Community Concern for Youth Program as it has in the past. He reported that the Staples Motley School District 2170 is asking for $131.52 this year from the city.

Sampson moved, with a second by Mills, approving participation in Community Concern for Youth Program in the amount of $131.52 for the fiscal year 2008-2009. Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Sampson asked that Madison provide more information regarding the program and what it all addresses.

Alexander moved, with a second by Sampson, approving the 2009 Staples Motley Area Chamber of Commerce membership in the amount of $210.00. Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Smith informed the council that Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 9:00 a.m. had been chosen by the Morrison County Assessor’s Office for the Local Boards of Appeal & Equalization.

The council reviewed information presented regarding training for Newly Elected and Experienced Officials to be put on by the League of Minnesota Cities.

Sampson moved, with a second by Mills, to register newly elected Councilmembers Duane Solga and Rena Underhill in the training to be held in Nisswa on January 9 & 10. Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Johnson moved, with a second by Mills, to register Mayor Konrad Alexander and Councilmember Rob Sampson in the Experienced Officials training to be held in Nisswa on January 9 & 10. Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Sampson moved, with a second by Alexander, approving Resolution #2008-12. A resolution setting the Final 2008 Payable 2009 Levy for Morrison County. Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Sampson moved, with a second by Alexander, approving Resolution #2008-13. A resolution setting the Final 2008 Payable 2009 Levy for Cass County. Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Sampson moved, with a second by Johnson, approving the Final 2009 Budget as presented. Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Sampson expressed that he would have liked to see more persons present at the Truth in Taxation meeting so there would have been more input.

Smith stated that she had been approached by a rental property owner requesting to have the late fees waived for his property if he paid the account in full. The property owner was not aware that the tenant was so delinquent.

Alexander moved, with a second by Sampson, to waive the late fees on a one time basis for this property if the account is paid in full. Mills, Alexander, Johnson and Sampson voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Smith informed the council that there may be a stimulus package by the newly elected President. This means a possibility of federal money for our Wastewater Project. She will include the Beaulieu Street project and the Industrial Park in her proposed numbers.

Goodwater asked when the water rates would be addressed. The water rates are currently being worked on.

Mark Uhnruh from OK Tire was present to comment on a recent article in the Staples World. As a business owner he is impressed with the law enforcement presence and looked at that when he moved the business to Motley. He stated that he has heard a lot of “harping” about costs and he would encourage the current council and the incoming council to look very carefully at this. He stated that none of us like to pay taxes but you

can’t be tearing down the little town. He feels we have a great asset in the highways that come through town and we need to find a way to make it draw for us. Sampson stated that even though the price of the Police Department has gone up he is proud to say that cutting the police department was not an option to cut costs. Sampson acknowledged with appreciation, Uhnruh’s willingness to bring his business to Motley and his willingness to come forward to the meeting to share his views.

Johnson expressed his dissatisfaction with the continued tabling of the allegations to the police department. He feels that Nieken’s unwillingness to attend the last 3 meetings has allowed this item to be carried on and it is not fair to the city or the officers. The allegations were printed in the Staples World even though it has not been proved that there is any merit to the allegations. He feels that current council should address these and not let the issue go on. Mills stated that he has made 4 telephone calls to Nieken and pleaded with her to talk but she does not return his phone calls. Mills feels that she is stalling and it can be assumed that the allegations weren’t important. Madison feels that it was brought up and it should be addressed. Alexander would like her to own up to it or put something in the paper retracting the allegations. Sampson would like to see her come forward to talk about this to see why she came forward with it in the first place. Johnson feels it was an attempt to undermine the police department.

Alexander moved, with a second by Sampson, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was duly adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Terri Smith

Clerk Treasurer

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