Monthly meeting of the Ostrander City Council

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Tue, Jul 24th, 2012
Posted in Ostrander Government

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June 5, 2012

Pledge of Allegiance

The monthly meeting of the Ostrander City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Linda Schwenn. All council members were present.

Approval of Consent Agenda

Motion by Thompson, and seconded by Kunert and unanimously carried to accept the consent agenda.

VISITORS Rick Engstrom (WHKS & Co), Larry Christenson and Tommy Thorson (Ostrander celebration planning committee), John Schraeder, Kenny & Carole Hodson, Arlene Bestor, Lois Hanson, Pauline King, Barb Olson, Darrell Becker, Cheryl Perry, Erin Brugh, Ann Keim (First LeRoy Agency),

DEPARTMENT HEADS

Public Works Director—Jimmie Dean—Was present. Council approved monthly report.

Fire Chief—Jimmie Dean—Was present. Council approved monthly report.

Police Chief—Tom Mosher—Was present. Council approved monthly report.

OLD BUSINESS

Job Pay Scales—For 1-20 years of employment for city employees, council would like FT Public Works from $15.50 to $20.50; PT Police Chief from $16.75 to $21.75; PT Clerk/Treasurer from $12 to $17. Rhonda will type up a pay scale.

Move office to 306 Main Street or enlarge current office and make bathroom handicap accessible—Council member Nesler got an estimate from TD Fetterly of approximately $10,000—Then it was suggested to make the back side of the Community Center into an office area, also. Motion by Kunert, and seconded by Nesler and unanimously carried to opt out of the Co-op lease. Rhonda will draft a letter for the Co-op and let council view before sending.

Sign retroreflectivity—Rhonda spoke to someone at the League and he said to hold off for now. (August is when we will know more)

Purchase of debris loader from McDonald’s for $900—Council said to hold off for now since he wouldn’t go down to $700.

NEW BUSINESS

Annual Insurance Review—Ann Keim—Motion by Start, and seconded by Thompson and unanimously carried to leave everything as is.

Water distribution modeling—Rick Engstrom—Jimmie has brought up low water pressures on the East side of Ostrander. Motion by Thompson, and seconded by Start and unanimously carried to move ahead to get this modeling done at $2,500.

Ostrander celebration, 2012—planning committee

Resolution for appointing a resident to fill out the unexpired term for Frances King—Pat Nesler. Motion by Thompson, and seconded by Kunert and unanimously carried to pass this resolution #2012-43.

County Street Repairs—Rhonda spoke to Brent Kohn. The County street repairs won’t be for a year or two. Fillmore County is working on a 5 year plan; this gives the city time to prepare for this. Rhonda has called Roto-Rooter to look at the videos of the sewer lines on Main and Center Street to see if they need to be replaced during this construction. Scott from Roto-Rooter has gotten back to me and says he doesn’t see any concern as of now. There are a few tree roots, but no major issues with the lines. He dropped off a copy of the video on a flash drive and hard copy.

Rhonda has been working with Alliant Energy for a custom rebate for the pumps at the sewer plant. We will receive $368.82 for this. Council agreed for Rhonda to move ahead with this.

Some cities add a fee to their water bills for Water and/or sewer projects. Rhonda also spoke to Dick Wetzel w/ Ferguson Waterworks about water meters, since ours are a discontinued model and will need to be replaced in the future, he suggested putting a small fee on the water bills to make it easier for residents to pay for the new meter, but also residents can be given the option to pay for the meter outright, their preference. Rhonda has also gotten a couple proposals on software that will work with the radio read meters and has spoken to a couple different companies about the radio read meters.

Levy money for EDA?? 2003—$1,300 / 2006—nothing (missing info for years in-between). Motion by Kunert, and seconded by Thompson and unanimously carried to Levy money for the EDA.

Election Judge—Janice Schwinefus is not interested in being an election judge this year. Rhonda has sent out a few letters, Linda Niemeyer has accepted. Rhonda has included a resolution appointing election judges, for council approval. Motion by Kunert, and seconded by Thompson and unanimously carried to pass this resolution #2012-3.

We should try to figure where we would like to put the 2 bike racks (1 behind the bleachers and 1 on the north end of the tennis courts) and Frisbee golf baskets purchased (with grant money) last year (put them somewhere by the back ball field)—Jimmie and Rhonda can work on this.

Alliant will put a security light on the pole and maintain it for $9.74/month. Motion by Thompson, and seconded by Kunert and unanimously carried to put in the security light.

Fire Dept Application approval—Darrell Becker—Darrell has decided not to join

We are short one person on the Planning Commission. Is there anything else that should be on the application?? I will include it in the June water/sewer bills. Go ahead and send out the application in the water/sewer bills.

OTHER

Forgot to let you know, Rhonda got a $350 grant towards her third year training conference so it only cost the city $60

Ace Communications Group on June 15th will be adding Disney Jr (channel 21) to its expanded video package at no extra cost.

Orkin inspected the Community Center. Nothing to report

Included in council packets you will find the electricity report for WWTP, Fire Department, and Community Center.

Jimmie will be gone from September 9th to the 14th and return on the 15th.

Notice of the Primary election (August 14) and General election (November 6) has been posted on my office door and sent in the water bills in May.

Motion by Start, seconded by Thompson and unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. Next meeting is scheduled for July 10th, at 6 p.m.

Rhonda Klapperich Linda Schwenn

City Clerk/Treasurer Mayor

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