03-01-04

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE ORTONVILLE CITY COUNCIL

COUNTY OF BIG STONE, STATE OF MINNESOTA

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2004

SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL:

Mayor Dinnel called the regular meeting of the Ortonville City Council to order at 7:00 P.M. Roll call was taken with the following being present: Mike Dorry, Artie Arndt, Lenore Sellin, Mel Reinke, Dan Oakes and Lisa Berkner. The following were absent: None. City staff present: Judy Roberts, Char Grossman, Deb Hicks, Deb Ellingson, Roger Anderson, Tim Scherer, Kent Novak, Wade Swezey, Matt Hipple, Scott Huizenga, Curt Hormann, Jason Mork, Kate Heinecke, Mark Brown, Bill Lund, Paula Reisdorph, Angie Kriesel and City Attorney Dave McLaughlin. Others present: Lou Huizenga, Tracy Grossman, Nadine Villella, Mary Worrall, Matt Thompson, Mildred Amberg, Arnold Amberg, Suzy Dinnel, Dan Nelson, Chris Roberts, Connie Loraff, Kris Ninneman, Penny Hormann, Steve Berkner, Kim Mork, Gene Biever, Bill Watson, Neva Foster, Vicki Grimli, Mary Beling, Ron Beling, Ron Athey, Kathy Korth, Marilyn Homrighausen, Wanda DeBoer, Randy McEwen, Arlo Lindahl, Shirley Swihart, Galen Swihart, Gloria Arndt, Curtis Arndt, Orin Haukos, Roger Sandberg, Coralie Sandberg, Kari Bentrup, David Bentrup, Terry L. Kirk, Mary Gustafson, Jim Rasset, Joan Julius, Randy McLain, Gwen Oswood, Shannon Speaker, Norman Shelsta, Tom Scoblic, Mike Carlson, Maryls Thompson, Karen Mack, Deborah Berning, Gene Homan, Don Donais, Elsie Perrine, Rusty Dimberg, Mary Ann Ulrich, Sharon Finke, Dale Finke, Ken Archer, Isabel Kraemer, Jane Streed, David Hills, Rick Mosey, Roman Taffe, Maureen Laughlin, Duane Ninneman, Tim Marthaler, Betty Reinke, Roger Nornes, Jay Sammon, Tom Dew,Terry Wood, Mary Ross, Jim Foster, Bob Ross, James A. Larson, Paul Taffe. Media present: Holly Hilbrands, Sue Kaercher Blake and Ryan Stattelman.

AGENDA AMENDMENTS:

A motion was offered by Reinke and seconded by Berkner and did pass unanimously to approve the agenda as amended.

Additions:

6.a. Ron Athey/Ortonville Fire Department

12.c. Library Board Appointment

13.a. Precinct Caucus Resolution

13.b. Pheasants Forever-Setup permit

Move City Attorneys report to bottom

13.c. Review City Clerk Performance

RECOGNITIONS AND PRESENTATIONS:

Ron Athey representing the Ortonville City Fire Department was present to request approval to spend capitol equipment dollars to receive grant funding from FEMA.

.Dorry moved and Reinke seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 04-014

RESOLUTION APPROVING FIRE

DEPARTMENT GRANT APPLICATION

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota (“City”) deems it critical

To public safety to maintain Fire Department equipment to the highest standard possible, and

WHEREAS, The Fire Department desires to apply for a $117,000.00 grant from FEMA for a tanker/tender.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota that the Fire Department is hereby authorized to apply for a grant to pay for the tanker/tender in the aggregate amount of $130,000.00.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Fire Department is hereby authorized to spend up to $13,0000 of the budgeted capital outlay funds for the 10% match funding needed for said grant and further that the Mayor and City Clerk-Administrator are authorized to sign necessary documents related to said grant.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Arndt, Dorry, Reinke, Sellin, Oakes, Berkner, Dinnel, and the following voted nay: none.

Resolution 04-014 passed this 1^st day of March 2004.

APPROVED:

RESOLUTION 04-015

RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE TAX AND EXPENDITURE LIMITATION PROPOSALS

(TaBOR and Similar Proposals)

WHEREAS, the Taxpayers League and others are endorsing proposals to amend the State Constitution to institute tax and expenditure limitations at the state, and potentially local, levels of government that could only be overridden by the vote of the people-an example o these proposals is the “Taxpayers Bill of Rights”,

WHEREAS, such proposals would tie the hands of state and local leaders in times of crisis and other unpredictable circumstances, putting state and local governments on “auto pilot” and circumventing thoughtful consideration of policy decisions;

WHEREAS, such proposals would prevent state and local officials from making the tough decisions they were elected to make, passing the responsibility for learning all aspects of often complex issues to citizens who have other jobs and responsibilities;

WHEREAS, amending the constitution is a virtually irrevocable action and should only be undertaken when legislative remedies have proven inadequate;

WHEREAS, such proposals are unnecessary-a “solution in search of a problem”-as

demonstrated by lawmakers at both state and local levels of government taking action to deal with one of the worst budget crises to hit the State of Minnesota and, by result, Minnesota’s cities;

WHEREAS, this is further demonstrated by the fact that state and local spending as a percentage of personal income has actually declined in recent years, even before the 2003 deficit;

WHEREAS, regardless of whether TaBOR/TELs are applied just to the State or to local governments as well, these proposals would bring great harm to local communities through continued reductions in state funding, increases in unfunded State mandates, and, potentially, direct tax and expenditure limitations at the local level, which would severely erode decision-making at the local level and the ability to provide the basic services residents and businesses expect and deserve;

WHEREAS, such proposals would force the State, and potentially cities, to spend valuable time and money asking for permission from the same people who elected them before any action can be taken on important issues, and would also force taxpayers to pay twice for governance-once for elections of their State and local officials, and again for elections to make the decisions those officials should have made;

WHEREAS, such proposals contradict the fundamental principles upon which our constitution and system of government are based – that representative, not direct, democracy is the most effective form of government as it is most likely to result in good public policy;

WHEREAS, those states that have instituted proposals similar to the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, such as Colorado, now face severe problems in meeting the basic needs of their citizenry;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota, that this Council believes that state and local elected officials are elected to do a job – that job is to represent the interests of their constituents, to deal with difficult decisions, to thoughtfully debate and determine the best course of action for the state or the community they serve.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council opposes limits on state and/or local taxes and expenditures, whether through constitutional amendment or other means, and supports the principle of representative democracy as the best route to sound public policy.

Resolution 04-015 passed this 1^st day of March 2004.