ORTONVILLE CITY COUNCIL

COUNTY OF BIG STONE, STATE OF MINNESOTA

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

DIALYSYS BUILDING-435 EASTVOLD AVENUE

MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008

7:00 P.M.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL:

Mayor Blair Johnson called the Regular Meeting of the Ortonville City Council to order at 7:00 P.M. Roll Call was taken with the following Present: Mayor Blair Johnson, Craig Randleman, John Cunningham, Mike Dorry, Bob Meyer, Nick Anderson. Absent: Steve Berkner. Staff Present: City Administrator David Lang, Administrative Assistant Susan Lundell, City Attorney Craig Ash. Media Present: Mike Swenson, (Ortonville Independent). Also Present: OAHS Administrator Rick Ash, OAHS Financial Administrator, Jim Foster.

AGENDA AMENDMENTS/APPROVAL:

Add Item 9.b. Golf Board Appointment

Add Item 12.c. Water Board Referral

Motion by Cunningham, second by Meyer to approve the Agenda as amended.

All in favor. 6-0. MCU (Motion Carried Unanimously)

CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS& RECOMMENDATIONS:

3.a. Update: Sale of Course Air Fourth Addition Lots

The advertisement for the sale of the lots has appeared in the newspaper and bids are due by 4:00 P. M. on March 17, 2008. Bid opening is at 6:00 P. M. on March 17 in the Dialysis Building.

3.b.Update: City Ordinance Modification to Comply with MN Cold Weather Rule

Attorney Ash reported after receiving further clarification from the League of Minnesota Cities the Ortonville City Utility must comply with the MN Cold Weather Rule. The Utility Committee will receive this information for their records.

3.c.Heritage Preservation Committee Membership Expanded

There has been a request to expand the Heritage Preservation Committee Membership from 5 to 7 Members.

RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS:

6.a. Review Ortonville Area Health Services 2007 Annual Audit – Jim Foster

OAHS Chief Financial Officer.

Jim Foster, Chief Financial Officer for OAHS, reported on the 2007 annual audit. He stated OAHS received a clean audit with an unqualified opinion which is the highest possible rating. There were no audit adjustments needed thus monthly reports received throughout the year have a high degree of accuracy. Cash and restricted funds showed positive increases during the year due mainly to higher than budgeted operational performance, positive management of accounts

Ortonville City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 March 3, 2008

RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS: (cont.)

receivable, funds received from grants and less than budgeted capital asset acquisitions. There was a cash position improvement in 2007 in the amount of approximately $1,000,000.00. OAHS has about $3,000,000.00 in reserves for capital improvements. Foster reported OAHS is rated in the top 15% of all critical care hospitals in the nation. Rick Ash, OAHS Administrator, thanked Mr. Foster and the OAHS management staff for their work in creating a strong positive bottom line for the Hospital. Ash also stated that the Health Care Board would like to recommend the reappointment of Dr. Alan Ross to the Health Care Board.

CITIZENS TO BE HEARD:

There were no comments this evening.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Motion by Anderson, second by Randleman to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

8.a. Approve Expenditures

8.b. Approve Minutes of February 19, 2008 City Council Workshop Meeting

8.c. Approve Minutes of February 19, 2008 City Council Regular Meeting

All in favor. 6-0. MCU.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF CITIZEN BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS:

9.a. Ortonville Area Health Service Board Recommendation: Approve OAHS 2007 Audit.

Motion by Dorry, second by Meyer to approve the 2007 OAHS Audit as presented.

All in favor. 6-0. MCU.

9.b. Ortonville Area Health Services Board Recommendation: Reappoint Allan Ross, MD to the Healthcare Board.

Motion by Cunningham, second by Randleman to reappoint Dr. Alan Ross to the OAHS Healthcare Board.

5-0-l. Dorry Abstained. MC.

9.c. Golf Board Recommendation: To hire as City Employees Staff for the Following Positions: Clubhouse Manager, Cooks, Wait Staff, and Pro Shop for the 2008 Season.

The City has had no success finding someone to lease the Golf Course Clubhouse. As a result, the current proposal is to hire, as city employees, a clubhouse manager, cooks, wait staff, and pro shop workers. Time is running short to open the clubhouse and it was felt that the City should advertise to hire employees to do the work. Dorry stated that he did not want to see the City take over the Clubhouse because of liquor liability issues. Randleman stated that the availability of the lease

of the clubhouse option should be more widely advertised such as in the Morris,

Ortonville City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 March 3, 2008

9.c. Golf Board Recommendation: To hire as City Employees Staff for the Following Positions: Clubhouse Manager, Cooks, Wait Staff, and Pro Shop for the 2008 Season. (cont.)

Willmar and Watertown areas. Anderson stated the City should do an advertisement blitz to lease the Clubhouse by advertising in more areas. Cunningham urged the Council to advertise for both leasing the Clubhouse and hiring employees, in case no one is interested in the lease. He stated time is of the essence as the opening of the Clubhouse is not far off. Mayor Johnson stated that “we’re in a bind” and need to move on the issue. He asked the Council to advertise for job openings for staff as recommended by the Golf Board.

Motion by Cunningham, second by Randleman to advertise both the availability of the lease for the clubhouse and the job openings to operate the clubhouse within a 70-mile radius.

Dorry asked the motion be divided into two separate motions.

Cunningham withdrew his motion.

Motion by Dorry, second by Anderson to advertise within a 70-mile radius for someone to lease the Golf Clubhouse for the 2008 season.

Clerk Administrator Lang was asked to contact Council Member Berkner to help word the advertisement.

All in favor. 6-0. MCU.

Motion by Cunningham, second by Randleman to list job openings for those positions as recommended by the Golf Board.

4-2. Dorry and Meyer opposed. MC.

9.d. Appointment to Golf Board.

Motion by Meyer, second by Cunningham to appoint Randy Stock to the Golf Board.

All in favor. 6-0. MCU.

REPORTS FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES:

10.a. MN Housing Partnership Economic Development Task Force – City Administrator Lang noted the Minnesota Housing Partnership Housing Workgroup and the EDA will share a Sport & Leisure Show Booth March 15^th & 16^th. Information regarding affordable housing rehab will be available at the booth.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

11.a. Postpone Sale of $1,935,000 General Obligation Water Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2008A to an Indefinite Date.

Because of higher interest rates, it was recommended the sale of the Bonds be postponed to a later date.

Motion by Anderson, second by Randleman to postpone the Sale of $1,935,000 General Obligation Water Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2008A to an Indefinite Date.

All in favor. 6-0. MCU.

Ortonville City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 March 3, 2008

NEW BUSINESS:

12.a. Refer Matter of Park Reservations For Fundraisers & Charitable Events to the Park Board. The policy has been to not allow Park reservations.

Motion by Dorry, second by Meyer to refer the matter of Park Reservations for Fundraisers & Charitable Events to the Park Board.

All in favor. 6-0. MCU.

12.b. Refer Increasing Heritage Preservation Commission Membership From 4-7 Members to the City Attorney.

Motion by Randleman, second by Meyer to refer increasing Heritage Preservation Commission Membership from 4-7 Members to the City Attorney.

All in favor. 6-0. MCU.

12.c. Refer $300 Joint Water Board Allocation Fee with Big Stone City to the Utility Committee.

Motion by Meyer, second by Anderson to refer the $300 Joint Water Board Allocation Fee with Big Stone City to the Utility Committee.

All in favor. 6-0. MCU.

City Clerk-Administrator Reports & Recommendations:

13.a. Update: Police Department Cell Phone Acquisition- After a meeting with Department Heads, it was recommended that their cell phone expenses be paid by the City, with a $20 monthly allowance to other line employees.

13.b. Update: Small Cities Development Grant Final Application – Results in Mid March.

13.c.Update: Ortonville Housing Study-$10,000 grant from the Minnesota Housing Partnership. The EDA Board voted to study the entire County. EDA Secretary Vicki Oakes has been tasked to ask other jurisdiction for contributions.

13.d. Update: MN Housing Finance Agency 2008 MN Cities Participation Program Grant Application - $100,000 coming in April through local lenders.

13.e. Update: Planning Commission Blog Web Site- Complete at the end of March.

13.f. Central Park Watershed Study Internship – UMM Intern will work on storm water runoff problems in the Park.

13.g. Update: Police Department Vehicle Acquisition-Car has arrived.

13.h. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Meeting – 8:30 AM – 03-05-08 Presented by the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission.

13.i. League of MN Cities 2008 Safety & Loss Control Workshops Registration-Contact Clerk Administrator Lang to register.

13.j. Local Board of Appeal and Equalization Training 03-17-08 & 03-20-08-Cunningham and Randleman are already trained but more may attend if they wish.

13.k. Promise Keepers Parks Spring Clean Up Opportunity 04-12-08 – Kiwanis will participate in Neilsen Park

Ortonville City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 March 3, 2008

13.l. Space Needs Survey – Wold Architects of St. Paul, MN has been retained by Big Stone County and the City to conduct a Space Needs Survey for a new combined Government Center.

13.m. Update: Minnesota River Regional Park Improvement Project Grant Application 02-27-08 - Clerk Administrator Lang appeared before the Ways and Means Committee to testify to the need for this Grant. City share: $129,000.

ADJOURNMENT:

Motion by Anderson, second by Randleman to adjourn at 7:55 P. M.

All in favor. 6-0. MCU.

APPROVED: ATTEST:

__________________ ______________________

Blair Johnson David A. Lang

Mayor Clerk-Administrator