Brownsville City Council members met Wednesday, August 6 at Brownsville Community Center. Mayor Jean Meyer called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. then City Clerk Steve Schuldt conducted role call. Council members present included Meyer, Pam Walhovd, Bill Fitzpatrick, and David Prestby. Councilor Barb Hurley was absent. City employees present were City Clerk Schuldt, Treasurer Jenna Knight, and from Maintenance, Dean Twite. After role call, Meyer led with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Councilor Prestby moved, seconded by Fitzpatrick to adopt the Consent Agenda. Motion carried.
The Boynton/Miller building permit application received full council approval, which included a permit for earth movement and a retaining wall.
Old Business
Council members examined their packets to look at three maps presented. Appendix A would include these new updated maps of Brownsville courtesy of Prestby’s son. Appendix B would include an outline. Walhovd briefly questioned about a street sign on 10th St. “At this time I would ask for approval,” stated Mayor Meyer. Fitzpatrick moved, Prestby seconded, to approve the Appendix A and B updates. Motion carried.
New Business
City Clerk Schuldt presented a couple of options in regards to the city’s sewer budget in response to last year’s carryover deficit. Schuldt acknowledged at the way things are going, a rate increase of $2 is projected, which would raise the residential rate from $46 to $48 and the commercial rate from $53 to $55. He added that if this rate is uncomfortable, then an alternative may be a levy to raise $1 per month. “We’ll have to raise rates, no question,” stated Meyer. Fitzpatrick chimed in, “I think we should be looking at $3,” while expressing he did not want to do so. “Let’s get more numbers,” he added. Meyer asked Schuldt if he could look more into the numbers.
Jeff LeJeune sought council approval in closing off a portion of Adams St. on Saturday, September 20 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. for the Zion Church community picnic. The street closure would only be temporary and not impact anyone’s driveways. LeJeune’s request received full approval.
Department Reports
Twite updated everyone that he received his certificate. He informed that he is waiting on TJ’s in response to a broken guard rail. In regards to the community center gymnasium, there may be a possible furnace issue in the ceiling. Twite thinks the compressor or heat coils froze up, which resulted in both heat and air being produced. He said he spoke with a few HVAC people about the issue. “That’s really all I got,” ended Twite. Mayor Meyer recommended to Twite for poles to be added on 2nd St.
Since there was no representative present to share the fire department report, Mayor Meyer provided such. He informed that the fire department wants to start thinking about the upcoming fire district meeting in September. Councilor Walhovd recommended the meeting should be held in October instead as October is fire prevention month. Meyer looked to city employees and asked if the office would send out notices to the townships asking about potential topics that may need to be discussed in addition to proposed dates for the fire meeting to be held-either Monday, October 20 or Wednesday, October 22.
Treasurer Knight informed the council about the current state of the office’s fax machine and phone system. She noted the city phones do not have caller ID or call waiting. The council approved the city to get a new phone system and a fax machine for under $500.
Councilor Fitzpatrick moved, seconded by Prestby, to approve a liquor license for the Lions Vegas Night in October. Motion carried.