ORTONVILLE CITY COUNCIL
COUNTY OF BIG STONE, STATE OF MINNESOTA
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
DIALYSYS BUILDING – 435 EASTVOLD AVENUE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2007
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, Mike Dorry, Dan Oakes, Artie Arndt, Bob Meyer, and Nick Anderson.
Absent: John Cunningham. Staff present: City Administrator David Lang,
Administrative Assistant Susan Lundell, City Attorney Craig Ash, Media
present: Mike Swenson and Sue Kaercher Blake, (Ortonville Independent),
Julie French, (KDIO Radio). Also present: Council Elect
Craig Randleman, Council Elect Steve Berkner, Neil Speckeen, Jim Larson,
Jay Larson, Dean Dovolis, Marcy Stotesbery, Tom Scoblic, Sara and Todd
Verheul, Bob Schlieman, Scott Tibben of the First Bank & Trust of Milbank
and other interested citizens.
AGENDA
AMENDMENTS/APPROVAL:
Add Item 9a. Airport Board Recommendation: Roll Over
2008 AIP Entitlement into Calendar Year 2009 for New Taxi Way to Consent
Agenda
Add Item
9b. Ambulance Board Recommendation: Rate Increase to $550 Base Rate and
$12 Per Loaded Mile Effective 01-01-2008 to Consent Agenda
Add Item
12a. Call For Public Hearing For Small Cities Development Program Final
Application at 6:00 PM on Monday, January 14, 2008 to Consent Agenda
Motion
by Arndt, second by Dorry to approve the
Agenda as amended.
All in
favor. 6-0. MCU (Motion
Carried Unanimously)
CITY
ATTORNEY REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS:
3a.
Update: Purchase Agreement to Acquire Real Property
From the Lundell Family
City
Attorney Craig Ash reported the purchase agreement is in the process of
being signed by the Lundell Family and asked the Council to approve the
agreement so that once it is returned to the City, it can be finalized.
Resolution 07-145, Resolution Approving Purchase Agreement with Lundell
Family Acquiring Real Property-$75,000.00.
Motion
by Arndt, second by Anderson to adopt
Resolution 07-145, Resolution Approving Purchase Agreement with Lundell
Family Acquiring Real Property-$75,000.00.
It was
noted the buyer will pay any costs associated with the acquisition.
Roll
Call: Aye: Arndt, Oakes, Johnson, Dorry, Meyer, Anderson. Nay: None.
All in
favor. 6-0. MCU.
3b.
Update: Eahtonka II Storage
Nothing new
to report.
Ortonville City Council Regular
Meeting Minutes December 17, 2007
Page 2 of 6
RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS:
6a.
Summary of Recapitalization Proposal – Dean Dovolis of DJR Architecture
Inc. & Jim Larson of Ortonville Property Partners.
Dean
Dovolis of DJR Architects, Inc. gave a brief summary of the plan
requesting the City of Ortonville
provide a
$5,000,000 bond to secure performance of a recapitalization project. He
stated there was no financial risk to the City to provide this bond. The
project would provide affordable housing in the region.
6b.
City Engineer Update – Bob Schlieman Ulteig Engineers .
1.Schlieman reported the 2007 Raw Water Transmission Line Replacement
Project is complete with only two (2%) percent of the contract price being
held until the seeding of the area is complete.
2.The 2007
Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation will be completed by August 1, 2008 for a
bid price of $439,679.00.
3.Sanitary
Sewer Forcemain-West Lake Shore Drive has broken 3 times in the recent
past and is in need of repair. Schlieman reported the City could apply for
a loan to replace this line from the Public Facilities Authority at 1-3%
interest over 20 years. A facilities plan would have to be submitted to
the MN Pollution Control Agency by March 1, 2008. The City could then be
placed on the Intended Use Plan for 2008 for construction in 2009. A
timeline for the project was reviewed.
4.Water
Treatment Plant Improvements-Options for working with City staff on ways
to reduce the frequency of backwashing the filter media within the water
treatment plant. Plate settlers may have to be added to the treatment
process. The City has taken initial steps to apply for funding from the
Drinking Water Revolving Fund for the plate settlers.
5. Future
development of the Lundell Addition near the Golf Course was discussed. A
proposed utility master plan will be prepared in 2008 subsequent to the
acquisition of the property.
6.
Resurfacing Pomroy and Dyer Streets is being considered. Utilities along
Pomroy Street should be replaced in conjunction with any street
improvements.
CITIZENS
TO BE HEARD:
There were
no comments this evening.
CONSENT
AGENDA:
Motion
by Dorry, second by Meyer to approve the
Consent Agenda, which included the following items:
a. Approve Expenditures
b. Approve Minutes of November
29, 2007 City Council Workshop Meeting
c. Approve Minutes of December 3,
2007 Truth In Taxation Hearing
c. Approve Minutes of December 3,
2007 City Council Regular Meeting
d. Approve Appointment of Todd
Cloos as Airport Board Member Replacing Belester Vazquez
e.
Airport Board Recommendation: Roll Over 2008 AIP Entitlement Into Calendar
Year 2009 For New Taxi Way
f. Ambulance Board
Recommendation: Rate Increase to $550 Base Rate and $12 Per Loaded Mile
Effective 01-01-2008
g. Call For Public Hearing For
Small Cities Development Program Final Application at 6:00 PM On Monday,
January 14, 2008
All in favor. 6-0. MCU.
Ortonville City Council Regular
Meeting Minutes December 17,
2007 Pg 3 of 6
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COUNCIL
COMMITTEES:
9a. EDA Board Recommendation:
Assign City Administrator David Lang additional duties as EDA Executive
Director.
Resolution 07-146, Resolution Assigning City Administrator David Lang
Additional Duties as EDA Executive Director
Motion
by Arndt, second by Johnson to adopt
Resolution 07-146, Resolution Assigning City Administrator David Lang
Additional Duties as EDA Executive Director commencing on December 17,
2007.
Dorry reported he had contacted the
League of MN Cities for information regarding the number of cities that
appoint their Clerk-Administrator as the Executive Director of the
Economic Development Authority. He stated only 14 out of about 800 combine
the positions. Dorry questioned whether or not Lang would have time to do
both jobs. Lang stated he would have to restructure the staff or add staff
to pick up some of his clerk-administrator duties.
Roll
Call: Aye: Arndt, Oakes, Johnson, Meyer, Anderson. Nay: Dorry.
All in
favor. 5-1. Motion Carried.
REPORTS FROM COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
10a. MN Housing Partnership
Economic Development Task Force – Mayor Blair Johnson
Mayor Johnson noted the entire Task
Force held a 90-day “check-in” meeting on December 5th. The
meeting went well, and a Town Meeting will be scheduled for January 28,
2008.
10b. Community Resource Sharing
Partnership Advisory Committee – Mayor Blair Johnson
Johnson noted the Information
Technology function will be the first focus for the shared partnership.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
11a. Second Reading: Ordinance
07-08 An Ordinance Amending the Charter of the City of Ortonville
– City Attorney Craig Ash – This item requires a unanimous vote of the
entire Council. Due to the absence of one Councilor, this matter was
tabled.
NEW BUSINESS:
12a. Approve Prairie Five Transit
Request to Use the Remaining $1,193 of the $3,000 Requested for 2007 and
Part of the $5,000 Requested for 2008 to Purchase a Van
Resolution 07-147, Approving
Prairie Five Transit Request to Use the Remaining $1,193 of the $3,000
Requested for 2007 and Part of the $5,000 Requested for 2008 to Purchase a
Van.
Motion by Arndt, second by Dorry
to adopt Resolution 07-147, Approving Prairie
Five Transit Request to Use the Remaining $1,193 of the $3,000 requested
for 2007 and Part of the $5,000 Requested for 2008 to Purchase a Van.
Roll call: Aye: Arndt, Oakes,
Johnson, Dorry, Meyer, Anderson. Nay: None.
6-0. MCU.
12b. Approve Proposal For
Engineering Services Sanitary Sewer Force Main Improvements West of Lake
Shore Drive - $7,500
Ortonville City Council Regular
Meeting Minutes December 17, 2007 Pg 4 of 6
NEW BUSINESS: (cont.)
12b. Approve Proposal For
Engineering Services Sanitary Sewer Force Main Improvements West of Lake
Shore Drive - $7,500 (cont.)
Resolution 07-148, Approving
Proposal For Engineering Services Sanitary Sewer Force Main Improvements
West of Lake Shore Drive - $7,500
Motion by Oakes, second by
Anderson to approve Resolution 07-148,
Approving Proposal For Engineering Services Sanitary Sewer Force Main
Improvements West of Lake Shore Drive-$7500.
Roll call: Aye: Arndt, Oakes,
Johnson, Dorry, Meyer, Anderson. Nay: None.
6-0 MCU.
12c. Call For Payment of $5,000
Fee From Ortonville Property Partners to Cover City Professional Fees and
Staff Costs
Motion by Johnson
to accept Payment of $5,000 Fee from Ortonville Property
Partners to cover city Professional Fees and Staff Costs for investigating
legality and safety of providing a $5,000,000 bond to secure performance
of a recapitalization proposal.
Discussion:
Dorry asked Jim Larson to take his proposal for a $5,000,000 bond to Big
Stone County officials because of the regional nature of the proposal.
Larson stated, “I don’t want to go to the County.” Anderson felt the newly
elected City Council should handle the matter. Mayor Johnson supported
accepting the $5,000 fee so the City could determine the legality and/or
the safety of providing the bond to Ortonville Property Partners.
Dorry asked the Clerk-Administrator
to check with the League of MN Cities for a determination on whether or
not there is a conflict of interest whereby the Mayor is listed as the
agent on Jim Larson’s property. DJR Representative Dean Dovolis asked the
Council to accept the $5,000 to pay for the answer to the Council’s
question. Arndt asked if the Council could determine who will be hired to
give the City the answer. City Attorney Craig Ash offered to revise the
documents and ask Briggs & Morgan to look at the agreement. Johnson
stated by not looking into it, the City is blowing the opportunity to have
property development. Arndt stated it would not be blowing it by delaying
the decision to proceed. Dovolis asked the Council to at least accept the
money and do the study so the new council could make a decision.
Clerk-Administrator Lang reported an
agreement to look into the matter further could be drawn up and the money
would go into a separate fund where the expenditures could be tracked. If
City expenditures exceeded $5,000, Ortonville Property Partners would be
expected to provide an additional $5,000 to repay the City for any costs
incurred. Mayor Johnson asked for a second to his motion. There being no
second, the motion died.
12d. Approving Levied Accounts.
Resolution 07-149, Approving
Levied Accounts.
Motion by Arndt, second by Meyer
to adopt Resolution 07-149, Approving Levied
Accounts
Roll call: Aye: Arndt, Oakes,
Johnson, Dorry, Meyer, Anderson. Nay: None.
6-0. MCU.
Ortonville City Council Regular
Meeting Minutes December 17, 2007
Page 5 of 6
NEW BUSINESS: (cont.)
12e. Approving Collection Agency
Accounts
Resolution 07-150, Approving
Collection Agency Accounts
Motion by Dorry, second by Meyer
to adopt Resolution 07-150, Approving
Collection Agency Accounts. Dorry asked how these accounts get so large.
Oakes stated service cannot be shut off during certain months of the year
due to the cold weather rule.
Roll call: Aye: Arndt, Oakes,
Johnson, Dorry, Meyer, Anderson. Nay: None.
6-0. MCU.
12f. Approving Airport Operating
and Maintenance Contract
Resolution 07-151, Approving
Airport Operating and Maintenance Contract with Todd Verheul
Motion by Arndt, second by Oakes
to adopt Resolution 07-151, Approving Airport
Operating and Maintenance Contract with Todd Veheul.
Roll call: Aye: Arndt, Oakes,
Johnson, Dorry, Meyer, Anderson. Nay: None.
6-0. MCU.
12g. Conservation Improvement
Plan Seminar – Rochester, MN 1-17-2008
Clerk-Administrator Lang may attend
this seminar.
12h.
League of MN Cities 2008 Leadership Conference
Councilors-Elect Craig Randleman and Steve Berkner will attend the Newly
Elected Officials Conference; Berkner in Bloomington in January and
Randleman in Nisswa in February. Clerk-Administrator Lang plans to attend
the Experienced Officials Conference in Bloomington which runs
concurrently with the Newly Elected Officials Conference on January 18 &
19, 2008.
CITY CLERK-ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS &
RECOMMENDATIONS:
13a. Update: City Office Remodel
Project
Progress is being made but no move in
date set
13b. Update: Small Cities
Development Grant Final Application
This is moving forward. Development
Services Inc. has been retained to work with City Administrator Lang on
this application. The deadline is January 31, 2008.
13c. Update: Minnesota DEED “SEED”
Briefings
Lang attended a regional briefing on
new economic development initiatives in Marshall on December 11, 2007.
13d. Update: Ortonville Housing
Study – Scope & Outline
Lang noted the handout in the packet
detailing the scope of the study.
13e. Update: Planning Commission
Blog Web Site
Arndt suggested linking to the
Ortonville Independent Web Site.
13f. LMCIT Property/Casualty 2007
Dividend $12,813
Lang indicated a spreadsheet
allocating the divided is included in the packet.
13g. Airport MNDOT On-Site 2007
Inspection Report
Lang stated some patchwork adjacent to
the fueling area is needed, and will be accomplished when weather permits.
Ortonville City Council Regular
Meeting Minutes December 17,
2007 Pg 6 of 6
CITY CLERK-ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS &
RECOMMENDATIONS: (cont.)
13h. Update: Airport Annual Capital
Improvement Plan Review Meeting
Lang and Todd Sara Verheul and Eric
Hanson of SHE met with MNDOT officials in Willmar on December 12, 2007
regarding 2009 projects
13i. Update: Wellhead Protection
Plan
Engineer Bob Schlieman will assist
with the plan in conjunction with Principal Planner Mike Howe of the
Minnesota Department of Health. These efforts will commence during the
first quarter of 2008.
Mayor Johnson thanked Artie Arndt and
Dan Oakes for their years of service to the City of Ortonville as Council
Members.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion by Anderson, second by Oakes
to adjourn at 7:50 PM.
All in favor. 6-0. MCU.
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
_______________________
_______________________
Blair Johnson
David A. Lang
Mayor
Clerk-Administrator
