As the Whalan City Council met on Monday, July 10, 2017, the council had a list of old business and new business to attend to.
All council members were present, including Mayor Marlys Tuftin, Owen Lewis, Everett Johnson, Wyatt Berekvam, Kim Berekvam along with City Clerk Lolly Melander and City Maintenance worker Lanny Landsverk.
Motion was made by W. Berekvam, with second by K. Berekvam, to approve the agenda as written. Motion carried.
Minutes
Melander read the minutes from the June 12, 2017 regular council meeting. No additions or corrections were requested. Motion by Johnson, second by Lewis, to approve the minutes as read. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s report and bills due
Melander read the treasurer’s report and bills due. Motion by Lewis, second by W. Berekvam, to accept the treasurer’s report and bills due as read. Motion carried.
Councilmember W. Berekvam donated $250 toward the softball park. The council thanked him for his generous donation.
The city received its first quarter LGA in July.
Visitor’s comments
Landsverk brought up the fact that a large tree by the softball field needs to be taken down. The tree will be taken down and cut up by Owen Lewis and Robert Engen.
A request by a resident to have a tree cut down was tabled.
Old business
• “The alleys look very good,” stated Mayor Tuftin, as alleys have had gravel placed. Robert Engen has done a lot of work on the alleys which the council appreciates.
• “I think things are going ok,” stated Tuftin, about the new garbage collection service, Advanced Disposal, although the call center for Advanced Disposal “was making a lot of errors in the pricing,” she said. “The prices that are quoted in the handouts are correct so whatever people were told on the phone it’s going to be corrected,” Tuftin explained, adding that there are no additional charges for taxes as people were being told.
• Much of the work listed on the 2017 Work Plan has been completed but there is still quite a bit to do. The council went through the list as council members took on different responsibilities to get checked off the list.
Randy Berekvam will repair the small hole in the roof of the city shed.
• Johnson will ask for advice from Robert Engen, who has expertise in road repair to see how much street repair the city can do itself.
• The council discussed where dust control by the city should end. Lewis and Johnson will mark where the dust control should stop. Motion by Lewis, second by W. Berekvam, to set a limit of $1,500 for dust control at this time. Motion carried.
• Plunkett’s will perform pest control twice per year on both floors of the city hall/museum building. Cost is $325 per application.
New business
• A charge from MiEnergy for service to power lines taken down by a falling tree during a storm in June will not be covered by insurance. The city has not received a bill from MiEnergy yet.
• A new LED bulb was installed in a street light on Second Avenue. There are 36 additional street lights that could have bulbs replaced with LED bulbs. Melander will research grants available for this purpose.
• A proposed Town Hall Rental Management Policy was presented by Mayor Tuftin. Motion by Johnson, second by K. Berekvam, to accept the policy as written. Motion carried. Rental cost for residents is $50 with a $50 deposit. Rental cost for non-residents is $100 with a $50 deposit. Custodians will be Owen Lewis in the Summer and Fall and Randy Berekvam in the Spring and Summer. Pay will be $25 per event for custodian.
• Motion by Lewis, second by K. Berekvam, to replace the door on the Whalan Town Hall. There are issues with the lock and there are door frame issues that cannot be fixed. Also, the door currently swings in and to meet code, the door needs to swing out.
• Melander will be giving AED training following the August 14 Whalan council meeting. All residents are encouraged to attend this free training.
Meeting was adjourned.
Next regularly scheduled Whalan city council meeting will be held August 14, 2017, at the Whalan City Hall.
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