MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE ORTONVILLE CITY COUNCIL

COUNTY OF BIG STONE, STATE OF MINNESOTA

MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2006 7:00 P.M.

DIALYSIS BUILDING

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, John Cunningham, Bob Meyer, Dan Oakes, Nick Anderson with the following absent: None. City Staff Present: Char Grossman, Tim Scherer. Others present: Craig Ash, Karen Weeden, Don Sherman, Rick Ash, Jim Nitz, Eric Banken, Lois Banken, Tom Dew. Media present: Julie Gruber, Sue Kaercher-Blake.

AGENDA AMENDMENTS:

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

Add:

Reports from Council Committees

11.a OAHS – Rick Ash

11.b Senior Citizens Center – Sale of Chairs

New Business

13.c Electrical Equipment Bids

13.d Summerset Street

13.e Stray Cats

CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS:

Craig Ash reported that David Meyer had returned to work on March 1^st at OAHS.

BIDS:

Bids for a swimming pool liner were opened from RenoSys Corporation - $38,731.25 and Natare Corporation - $43,100.00. The bids were referred to the Park Board for their recommendation.

RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS:

Karen Weeden, Rate Analyst, Missouri River Energy Services, presented the information from the electrical rate study. MRES is recommending to maintain reserves at a minimum level of $1.5 million and to continue funding capital improvements, a 3% rate increase will be implemented effective on the April 2006 usage, June 2006 billing.

Oakes moved and Cunningham seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-038

RESOLUTION APPROVING 3% ELECTICAL RATE INCREASE

WHEREAS, Missouri River Energy Services has completed an electrical rate study for the City of Ortonville, and

WHEREAS, upon the recommendation of Missouri Basin Energy Services the City of Ortonville’s overall electrical rates be increased by 3% effective April 2006, and

WHEREAS, the utility reserves the right to increase the energy rate charged each customer by one mill (one-tenth of a cent) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for each mill or major fraction thereof by which the city's average cost of purchased power and transmission services from WAPA and MRES exceeds $0.033 per kWh, the base cost, during any given month. The adjustment would only be implemented if the costs are above the set base cost, and no credit will be given during months when average power and transmission costs are below the set base cost. The adjustment would be added to the customer's corresponding usage during the same month the power supply and transmission costs exceeded the base cost, and

BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville that the rate increases be and are hereby approved.

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

Resolution 06-038 passed this 6^th day of March 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman

City Clerk-Administrator

Don Sherman, Big Stone Arts Council, was requesting the City’s support of the upcoming Meander (September 29-30, October 1, 2006). There are many existing artists and some new artists in the surrounding areas that will benefit from the event. Sherman stated that other cities within this region will also be contacted for financial support.

Johnson moved and Arndt seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-039

RESOLUTION APPROVING SPONSORSHIP OF THE MEANDER

BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville that the request from the Big Stone Arts Council for the support of the Meander by providing funds for advertising from the City in the amount of $500.00 be approved.

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

Resolution 06-039 passed this 6^th day of March 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman,

City Clerk-Administrator

Council Members are interested in establishing a policy for the development of streets within the City of Ortonville, with assessments to be deferred until the homes are built. Interested parties have contacted council members about the development of Spark’s Street and Summerset Street. Proposal will be obtained from several engineering firms for these projects.

Arndt moved and Cunningham seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-040

RESOLUTION TO REQUEST ENGINEERS

BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Ortonville, approves the Street Committee request to obtain estimates from engineering firms and recommending the hiring of the firm to prepare plans for the development of the Spark’s Street and Summerset Street projects.

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

Resolution 06-040 passed this 6^th day of March 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman,

City Clerk-Administrator

CONSENT AGENDA:

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

9.a Motion approving proposed regular council minutes of February 21, 2006.

9.b Motion approving proposed special council minutes of February 23, 2006.

15. Motion approving payment of bills as presented.

With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.

REPORTS FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES:

Rick Ash, OAHS, presented the audit for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. The audit report indicates that OAHS financial operations conform to general accepted accounting principles and the audit is a clean, unqualified report. Ash also summarized the Health Care Board minutes of February 28 with the City Council.

Arndt moved and Dorry seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-041

RESOLUTION AWARDING HEMATOLOGY ANALYZER BID

WHEREAS, the Health Care Board of the City of Ortonville had previously requested for bids to be received for a hematology analyzer, and

WHEREAS, bids have now been received and reviewed by the Health Care Board, and

WHEREAS, bids were received for the hematology analyzer as follows:

Beckman-Coulter AcT 5.diff $35,875

Abbott Diagnostics Cell Dyne 3200 $52,645

ABX Pentra XL 80 $41,500

ABX 80 $38,030

WHEREAS, upon the recommendation of the Health Care Board the bid of Beckman-Coulter, in the amount of $35,875 has been determined by the Board to be the bid that meets the highest percentage of the bid specifications as requested.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council that:

1. The bids of Beckman-Coulter is hereby accepted.

2. That the Mayor and Clerk-Administrator be and are hereby authorized to execute

necessary documents for said purchase.

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

Resolution 06-041 passed this 6^th day of March 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman,

City Clerk-Administrator

Council Member Meyer reported that the Senior Center has 100 folding chairs that are no longer

needed. Meyer moved and Cunningham seconded and the motion passed unanimously to

advertise to receive bids for the sale of 100 folding chairs.

NEW BUSINESS:

Oakes moved and Anderson seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-042

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 $88,000 grant from FEMA for equipment, and

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 22 - self contained breathing apparatus with spare tanks and 1 - 6000 PSI air compressor with cascade system and tank fill station, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Fire Department is hereby authorized to spend up to $22,000.00 of the budgeted capital outlay funds for the 20% 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: Cunningham, Oakes, Dorry, Johnson, Anderson, Arndt, Meyer and the following voted nay: none.

Resolution 06-042 passed this 6^th day of March 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman,

City Clerk-Administrator

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

RESOLUTION 06-043

RESOLUTION AWARDING TRANSFORMER BID

WHEREAS, bids were received for transformers as follows:

WESCO $78,341.00

Border States Electric $88,379.34

Burmeister Electric $88,929.72

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota that the bid from WESCO in the amount of $78,341.00 for 2006 transformer purchases be approved.

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

Resolution 06-043 passed this 6^th day of March 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman,

City Clerk-Administrator

Oakes moved and Cunningham seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-044

RESOLUTION AWARDING PAD MOUNT AND SWITCH BID

WHEREAS, bids were received for pad mount VFI as follows:

WESCO $154,912.00

Border States Electric $122,810.72

Burmeister Electric $139,300.00

WHEREAS, bids were received for a overhead switch as follows:

WESCO $8,483.00

Border States Electric $2,460.00

Burmeister Electric $3,623.00

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Ortonville, Minnesota that the bids from Border States Electric in the amount of $122,810.72 for a pad mount VFI and $2,460.00 of a overhead switch be approved.

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

Resolution 06-044 passed this 6^th day of March 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman,

City Clerk-Administrator

Bids have been received for the sale of the junked transformers from the following:

T & R Electric $2.65 per KVA

Dakota Transformer $2.11 per KVA

Jerry’s Electric $2.27 per KVA

Arndt moved and Cunningham seconded and the motion passed unanimously to accept the high

bid for the sale of the junked transformers from T & R Electric for $2.65 per KVA.

The problem of stray cats in the City of Ortonville was discussed. More live traps will be purchased by the Police Department.

CLERK/ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS:

The meeting with Big Stone City regarding the water rates was discussed. More information will be handed out at the retreat.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business to come before the Council, Meyer moved and Johnson seconded and the motion passed unanimously for the adjournment of the meeting and with no objections thereto, Johnson adjourned the March 6, 2006 meeting of the Ortonville City Council at 9:00 P.M.

_________________________________

Charleen K. Grossman, City Clerk-Administrator