MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE ORTONVILLE CITY COUNCIL

COUNTY OF BIG STONE, STATE OF MINNESOTA

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2006 7:00 P.M.

CITY OFFICE

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL:

Mayor Johnson 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, Dan Oakes, John Cunningham, Bob Meyer with the following absent: Nick Anderson. City Staff Present: Char Grossman, Tim Scherer. Others present: Orlou Mittelstaedt, Greg Thomas, Christopher Mobly, Brian Wellnitz, Tom Scoblic, Rusty Dimberg, Candy Arndt, Gina Arndt, Burton Nypen, Jim Larson, Trish Kellen, Matt Thompson. Media present: Holly Hilbrands, Mike Swenson.

AGENDA AMENDMENTS:

A motion was offered by Arndt and seconded by Cunningham and did pass unanimously to approve the agenda as amended:

Add:

Unfinished Business

12.c Retreat

Nick Anderson arrived at 7:02.

RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS:

Tom Scoblic, Ambulance Director, updated the City Council on the Ambulance Committee and subcommittees working on obtaining a replacement ambulance. Specifications have been prepared and the committees are requesting the advertising for the purchase of an ambulance.

A motion was made by Anderson and seconded by Meyer and passed unanimously to advertise to receive bids for the purchase of an ambulance according to the presented specifications and also to advertise to sell the 1994 Ford ambulance.

Rusty Dimberg and other ambulance personnel also have been looking into USDA grants for new equipment that will be needed in the future.

Burton Nypen has been researching information on the creation of a Port Authority. Other communities have converted their EDA to a Port Authority. More information will be obtained for council review.

Nypen also requested the council’s support of the Eahtonka project. A motion was made by Johnson and seconded by Arndt that the City of Ortonville will act as fiscal agent for the grant if awarded. Also a letter will be sent to the State of Minnesota from the City in support of the proposed project.

Trish Kellen and Greg Thomas, Big Stone Lake Hockey Association, are interested in obtaining sources of money and land for an indoor ice facility. With the support of the City, they would like to construct a multi-use building at approximately 1.5 million dollars. The association will keep the City Council updated.

Big Stone Lake Area Chamber requested the City of Ortonville’s support in the amount of $3,000. A concern of some council members is that this request should have been presented during the 2006 budget process. After further discussion Cunningham moved and Johnson seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-011

RESOLUTION FUNDING THE TOURISM

BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota that the City will contribute $3,000 to the EDA to be forwarded to the Big Stone Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in support of tourism.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Cunningham, Arndt, Anderson, Johnson and the following voted nay: Oakes, Dorry, Meyer.

Resolution 06-011 passed this 23^rd day of January 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman

City Clerk-Administrator

Tim Burdick has approached council members with concerns about the sale of his property south of Ortonville. The person interested in purchasing the property wants to have horses. According to the zoning ordinance this area is zoned I-2 Industrial. The intent of the City Council is to correct the zoning of the area to Agriculture, which would allow animals as well as having homes in this zone. The buyers were assured that the zoning will be corrected.

Bill Radio, Missouri River Energy Service, briefed the council on the amendment to the S-1 agreement and presented the history of the City of Ortonville power purchases. The agreement will be reviewed by the City Attorney and the utility committee will make recommendations to the City Council.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Johnson asked if there were any additions, corrections, or deletions to be made to the Consent Agenda. Motion was made by Oakes and seconded by Dorry, to approve the Consent Agenda which included the following items:

9.a Motion approving proposed annual council minutes of January 9, 2006.

9.b Motion approving proposed reconvened minutes of January 12, 2006.

13.a Oakes moved and Dorry seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-012

A RESOLUTION APPROVING SIGNING OF REPORTS

BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville that Tim

Scherer, Public Works Director, is hereby authorized to sign the monthly DMR-Wastewater

reports effective February 1, 2006.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Cunningham, Arndt, Anderson, Johnson, Oakes, Dorry, Meyer and the following voted nay: none.

Resolution 06-012 passed this 23^rd day of January 2006.

APPROVED:

_______________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

______________________________

Charleen K. Grossman

City Clerk/Administrator

13.b Oakes moved and Dorry seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-013

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A TRAFFIC SAFETY AWARD

Whereas, the City of Ortonville desired to protect the health of its citizens by improving traffic safety and participating in the Safe & Sober Challenge; and

Whereas, under the provision of the Highway Safety Act (P.L. 89-563), the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has federal funding to promote traffic safety; and

Whereas, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety had judged the City of Ortonville’s efforts to decrease impaired driving and increase seat belt use to be exceptional, and wants to reward those efforts by providing additional funding for the department;

Therefore, be it resolved that the City of Ortonville enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety for the period from January 3, 2006 to June 30, 2006.

The Mayor and City Clerk/Administrator of the City of Ortonville are hereby authorized to execute such agreements as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the City of Ortonville.

Be it further resolved that the City Clerk/Administrator of the City of Ortonville is hereby authorized to be the fiscal agent and administer the grant on behalf of the City of Ortonville.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Cunningham, Arndt, Anderson, Johnson, Oakes, Dorry, Meyer and the following voted nay: none.

Resolution 06-013 passed this 23^rd day of January 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman

City Clerk-Administrator

13.c Motion approving gambling license for Big Stone County Pheasants Forever.

13.d Oakes moved and Dorry seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-014

RESOLUTION HIRING FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL

BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota, upon the recommendation of the Fire Chief, hereby hires Ryan Kehnle to the City of Ortonville Fire Department.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Cunningham, Arndt, Anderson, Johnson, Oakes, Dorry, Meyer and the following voted nay: none.

Resolution 06-014 passed this 23^rd day of January 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman,

City Clerk-Administrator

13.e Oakes moved and Dorry seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-015

RESOLUTION APPROVING MOOSE LODGE

GAMBLING LICENSE RENEWAL

BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota that the request by the Moose Lodge 407 for renewal of its gambling license is hereby approved.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Cunningham, Arndt, Anderson, Johnson, Oakes, Dorry, Meyer and the following voted nay: none.

Resolution 06-015 passed this 23^rd day of January 2006.

APPROVED:

_______________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

______________________________

Charleen K. Grossman

City Clerk/Administrator

15. Motion approving payment of bills as presented.

With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.

REPORTS FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES:

Upon the recommendation of the Street Committee, Dorry moved and Arndt seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-016

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF A DUMP TRUCK

BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota that the purchase of a 2006 Ford Sterling L 8500 Dump Truck and Snow Plow from Boyer Ford in the amount of $88,475.24, state bid pricing is hereby approved with funds to come from General Fund - Street Capital Outlay.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Cunningham, Arndt, Anderson, Johnson, Oakes, Dorry, Meyer and the following voted nay: none.

Resolution 06-016 passed this 23^rd day of January 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman

City Clerk-Administrator

Oakes left the meeting at 8:30.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Proposals have been received from attorneys. Johnson moved and Cunningham seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-017

RESOLUTION APPROVING ANNUAL APPOINTMENT

WHEREAS, attorneys have been interviewed for the position of City Attorney, and

WHEREAS, a proposal has been received from Ash & Reedstrom – Craig Ash as follows:

-Flat fee retainer of $1,500.00 per month for regular daily legal services, and

-$100.00 per hour for the prosecution of criminal matters, subject to a cap of $6,000.00, and

-$100.00 per hour for the prosecution or defense of civil actions

BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota that Ash & Reedstrom – Craig Ash is hereby appointed City Attorney effective February 1, 2006.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Cunningham, Arndt, Anderson, Johnson, Meyer and the following voted nay: Dorry.

Resolution 06-017 passed this 23^rd day of January 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman

City Clerk-Administrator

The City Retreat will be rescheduled sometime in February. A planning meeting will be held at 1:00 P.M. on January 31, 2006 at Johnson Accounting.

CLERK/ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS:

Another conversation with the architect for the Armory renovation project suggested that the Council reconsider the proposal to also renovate the City Office during the project. After discussion Dorry moved and Anderson seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-018

RESOLUTION APPROVING CITY OFFICE RENOVATION

BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota that the proposal for the renovation of the City Office from the State of Minnesota in the amount of $30,000.00 is hereby approved.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Anderson, Johnson, Dorry and the following voted nay: Arndt, Meyer, Cunningham.

Resolution 06-018 failed.

The police secretary position has been reevaluated and the job description is completed. According to the City of Ortonville Personnel Policy the position needs to be advertised internally and if no applicants then opened to the public.

A motion was made by Anderson and seconded by Arndt and the motion carried unanimously to authorize the posting internally of the part-time Police Secretary position according to the City of Ortonville’s Personnel Policy and if no applicants then to open the position to the public.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business to come before the Council, Cunningham moved and Meyer seconded and the motion passed unanimously for the adjournment of the meeting and with no objections thereto, Johnson adjourned the January 23, 2006 meeting of the Ortonville City Council at 9:00 P.M.

_________________________________

Charleen K. Grossman, City Clerk-Administrator