August 17, 2011
The regular meeting of the Randall city council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with all members present except councilman Turner.
The minutes of the July 20th meeting and August 11th continuation meeting were approved as presented.
Motion by Carter 2nd by Adamski to pay the bills as presented. Carried
Veteran’s Memorial: Dan Noss was present to update the council on the Veteran’s Memorial and had some photos of a couple of the ideas they (Randall VFW) have for the memorial. They would like to install three granite benches at the site along with the memorial. Noss has been out asking for sponsors for the benches as the cost per bench will be between $900 and $1200. He asked the council to, at this time, just think about the possibility of the city sponsoring a bench. He does not need an answer now.
Quality of Life: Dan is also a member of the Quality of Life committee with the VISION Randall group and at the committee’s last meeting they discussed different ways/events to bring people to town. One idea would be a “Randall Treasure Day”, where residents would put items they no longer want/need out at the end of their driveway and anyone could come and take it if the item is something they want. Dan stated this is done in Germany and he and his wife furnished their first apartment this way. This event would be held a week before the city clean-up so anything that does not get taken can then be brought to the clean up the next week. The council does not have a problem with this project and told Noss to move forward with it.
Police Department: The council decided at the continuation meeting held on August 11th, to request an interview with one applicant for the police position. This interview will be an open to the public interview. If the applicant is chose to be the police officer, the meeting will then be closed for labor negotiations. Both will be held on August 30th at 10:00 a.m.
Mayor Riitters directed city staff to post the open interview and the closed labor negotiations meeting on or around August 25th. The deputy sheriff will also be in attendance.
Street repairs: The city has not received a price from Tri-City yet for tarring on Knight Street. Crosby and Sons Const. submitted a price of $4500.00 for dirt work. A couple councilmembers and the city manager will meet with the three property owners on Knight Street that will be affected by an assessment.
2012 Tax Levy: The council did not increase the tax levy in 2011. The city will lose approx. $3500.00 in Local Government Aid for 2012. The amount set at this time is just preliminary and can be lowered at the final levy meeting in December if the council chooses, it cannot be increased.
Motion by Andres 2nd by Carter to set the 2012 preliminary tax levy at $135,000.00, an increase of 8% from 2011. Carried
Final Levy date will be December 21, 2011 at 6:30p.m.
Compost Site: Because the county is building another building on their property, there will no longer be room for the compost site. The city manager presented the idea of putting the new site at the North end (dead end) of Superior Avenue. This is a tarred area and can be fenced in. There would have to be a little dirt work done to make an area for vehicles to turn around.
Motion by Adamski 2nd by Andres to approve the proposed compost site at the North end of Superior Avenue. Carried
Disconnect list: There is one household disconnected at this time.
Liquor Store/Pull-tabs: Some members of the Randall-Cushing Lions club would like to discontinue the pull-tab booth in the bar and put the pull-tabs behind the bar for bartenders to sell. Jerry Peterschick informed the club that he is not in favor of this. There is not enough room behind the bar, the bartender’s don’t want it either and if a box is ever short, the bar has to pay the difference. Riitters, Adamski and Andres all agreed that this was not something the bar should get involved in.
Motion by Adamski 2nd by Riitters to make the city’s 2012 contribution of $500.00 to the Initiative Foundation. Carried
Motion by Carter 2nd by Andres to accept the Master Service Agreement with Minnesota Power. Carried
Refuse/Recycling Rates: Each year the refuse/recycling rates from Long Prairie Sanitary are increased by 3%, per the agreement with the city. This increase will be passed on to the customer. The new rates beginning September 1st will be: Small – $15.13 per month, Medium - $17.70 per month, Large - $20.27 per month.
Motion by Andres 2nd by Carter to increase the solid waste rates by 3%, passing the increase on to the customer. Carried
The League of MN Cities Regional meeting will be held in Royalton on September 21st. Any members interested in attending need to contact the city manager.
Tractor Prices:
Wendell received quotes from 4 different businesses. All quotes include the trade-in of the city’s current tractor:
Long Prairie Machinery Inc. – Bobcat Tractor - $19,770.00 w/tax
Lake Henry Implement – Massey Ferguson - $18,900.00 before tax
Evergreen Equipment – John Deere - $17,900.00 before tax
Morrison County Tractor – Ford - $16,565.63 w/tax
Motion by Adamski 2nd by Carter to trade in the city’s current tractor and purchase a new Ford tractor from Morrison County Tractor. Carried
Meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.