October 12, 2005

October 12, 2005

 

            The regular meeting of the Randall City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with all members present.  There was a correction to the September 14, 2005 meeting minutes which is that the Police wages are based on an average of 48 hours per work week.

            Motion by Adamski 2nd by Riitters to pay the bills including the eleven bills that did not make it into the financial report.  Carried

            Work has begun on the medical clinic site.  Temporary power will be available to the site shortly and underground power will be installed as soon as possible.  The bids for the sewer and water project to this site are due by October 19, 2005 and the bid will be awarded at a special meeting on October 26, 2005 at 6:00 p.m.

            Jerry Peterschick will contact a representative from St. Gabriel’s Hospital to attend the next regular council meeting to discuss the medical clinic further.

            Motion by Riitters 2nd Kestner to approve the following building permits.  Motion Carried

            Lois Olson-24x30 double garage

            Steve Wright-New Siding, facia & soffet on home

            Mary Burke-New windows in home

            City of Randall-Re-zone industrial land to commercial

            St. Gabriel’s Hospital-Construct approx. 2500 sq. ft medical clinic building

 

            Jerry Peterschick attended a meeting regarding assistive voting machines for individuals with disabilities and stated that a federal law was passed that every polling place will have to have one of these machines available.  The cost of each machine is approx. $7,000.00.  There is grant money available and there would be 35 precincts within Morrison County needing machines.  The county is looking to see if some precincts would be willing to merge together in order to lessen the amount of machines needed to be purchased.  The annual cost for each of these machines will run approx. $600 for the chip that has to be installed for each election.

            Motion by Kestner 2nd Riitters to keep the city’s polling place as is.  Carried

            Along the same subject, the county is also trying to get ballot counting machines in every precinct.  There is grant money available for this also.

            Motion by Adamski 2nd Boone to get a ballot counting machine if there is grant money available for it.  Carried

            There will be a special meeting of the Randall city council held on October 26, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. for awarding the bid for the Little Elk sewer and water project.  Bids will be open on October 19, 2005 at the City Hall at 10:00 a.m. and is open to the public.  The council will also discuss locking in some of the city’s natural gas at this meeting.

            Jerry Peterschick spoke with the city’s natural gas purchaser from US Energy Services.  He does not recommend locking in any gas at this time.  The prices have been going down and he believes they will continue to decline.  However, if the council did want to lock in some of the natural gas, he would only recommend locking in a small percentage and not anything beyond January 2006.

            The city received a donation request from Lutheran Social Services, regarding the cost of meals on wheels.  After some discussion a motion was made by Adamski 2nd by Riitters to have Jerry Peterschick check to see if the City can donate to Lutheran Social Services and check with the Randall-Cushing Lions club about a donation.  Carried

            Dan Thilquist informed the council that he hauled out the sludge last week and also flushed the water and sewer mains.

            Wendell has put most of the new street signs up within the City.  Superior Avenue between East 6th Street and Highway 115 is now posted at 40 mph.

            Kenny Salber mentioned to the council that there are two bartenders that will be leaving soon and he would like to hire an emergency bartender to fill in when needed.  Motion by Venske 2nd Riitters to hire one emergency bartender.  Carried

            As with everything else, liquor prices have been rising.  The Randall Liquor Store is competitive in our off-sale on prices but the lounge prices are lower than most other bars around the area.  Kenny mentioned the possibility of raising the drink and beer prices and stated he would have more of an idea for this decision closer to the first of January.

 

            Chief Vanden Avond reported that the State will not be paying for half of the bullet proof vest ordered because the vest he is currently wearing does not have Zylon in it.  He stated that there is some grant money available to help cover the costs and he will look into this.  Motion by Adamski 2nd by Kestner to pay the full cost of the vest, with Chief Vanden Avond pursuing the issue of available grant money.  Boone asked if the city will own the vest and Vanden Avond stated that if he would leave, the vest would go with him as it is fitted for him and because of sweat transfer on to the vest it’s not usually given to another officer.  Venske would like to have Vanden Avond look into the grant programs.  Motion was carried 3-2 with Kestner, Adamski and Riitters in favor and Boone and Venske against.

            Councilman Adamski mentioned that he contacted an individual that has a Data Safe which is a used safe.  The inside dimensions of the safe are 20d, 34w, 63h and 4in thick for $1300.00.  The County Attorney informed Vanden Avond that this safe would be acceptable to hold evidence in as it has a combination lock on it.  The storage room in the fire hall building would not be acceptable because too many people have access to the building.  Vanden Avond will check with the County Attorney to see if there are any upgrades that could be made to the storage room to make it acceptable.  The council will discuss this issue at the next regular council meeting.

            Chief Vanden Avond submitted to the council an inventory of all city owned police department items.

            Councilman Kestner made the comment that the employees are doing a good job and there seems to be no problems.

            The public hearing about the creation of TIF District #3 was opened 7:50 p.m.  David Drown the city’s financial advisor was present to explain all the specifics of creating the TIF District.  TIF District #3 would be the 32 acre parcel of land that is currently owned by the City of Randall.  The resolution was passed to establish TIF District #3.  A motion was made by Kestner 2nd by Riitters to adopt a resolution creating TIF District #3 and also to accept the development agreement between the City of Randall and Aspen River Builders.  Motion carried with Kestner, Riitters, Adamski, Boone and Venske in favor.

            The portion of utilities that the city will be paying for will be approx. $61,000.00 and Drown stated that paying for that will be addressed at a later date as he believed the City has internal resources to pay for these costs without having to borrow any funds.

            The public hearing was then closed

 

            A Motion by Adamski 2nd by Riitters was made to enter into an agreement with Morrison County for Emergency Snowplowing again this winter if needed.  Carried

            Ed Krystosek, a resident of Randall, submitted a letter to the council stating he would be interested in doing some snowplowing in the Little Elk Addition.  It was the consensus of the council to not hire Mr. Krystosek for snowplowing as the City already contracts out to Sander’s Construction. 

            Councilman Kestner informed the council that he and Jerry Peterschick attended a meeting in Cohasset with Minnesota Power & Light.  At the meeting it was stated that electric rates remain stable and wouldn’t be raised at least for the next year.  Kestner stated that the meeting was very informative.

            Councilman Riitters spoke about the road drag that sits in Bingo park that is owned by his family.  He stated that he has been debating whether or not to remove the drag from the park.  He will discuss more with the council at the next meeting.

            Mayor Boone mentioned that Ann Guerkin of the League of MN Cities called him and mentioned that Mr. Riitters had called her and inquired about the Joint Powers agreement and if it was being worked on.  Mayor Boone stated that he has been working on this and the attorney he is working with, Ellen Longfellow of the League of MN Cities, stated that she feels the Joint Advisory Fire Board is operating under a Joint Powers Agreement that is not legally written.  If the changes are agreed upon, the City would no longer be the governing body of the Fire Department the Joint Advisory Fire Board would have that responsibility.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:25 p.m.