Brownsville City Council members met Wednesday, August 7 at Brownsville Community Center. “Welcome everyone!” greeted Mayor Jean Meyer who called the meeting to order at 7p.m. City Clerk Steve Schuldt conducted roll call. All council members were present. City employees present included Schuldt and from City Maintenance, Dean Twite. City Treasurer, Jenna Knight was absent.
The council unanimously approved the Consent Agenda.
Schuldt stated there to be no objections to vacating 2nd street. Mayor Meyer added that it is the east side of lots 91 and 92 that will be vacated. A public hearing will be held at the next regular council meeting in regards to the vacation.
Schuldt updated the council on Bollig Engineering’s plans. Bollig specializes in utility and infrastructure needs of small cities. Bollig wants to come down to Brownsville to look at the infrastructure, then provide the council with an estimated hour long presentation. Council members discussed options on when to allow Bollig the opportunity to present. Councilor Tim Klug suggested the presentation could be held at the next regular council meeting, but instead of adjourning, Bollig can present at the end and those in the audience interested in listening can stay to do so. Meyer commented that from 6-7 p.m. that evening, two public hearings will take place. Councilor Barb Hurley questioned if Bollig could write a proposal that could be viewed at the September council meeting and Bollig could present at the October council meeting instead.
“Why don’t they come down September 4?” Councilor Bill Fitzpatrick asked. Meyer stated that Bollig could come on August 27 then present at the September 4 council meeting. Both Councilors Hurley and Pam Walhovd volunteered to walk through with Bollig. Twite agreed to reach out to Bollig and get back in touch with the council in regards to Bollig’s response.
Brownsville Lions Club member, Rick Denstad, shared what the Lions Club hopes to achieve in regards to the ball field’s bleachers. He proposed four, five tiered bleachers that are 15 feet wide. The Lions Club wants to put down landscape where the bleachers can sit. The new bleachers will have roughly the same seating as the old ones. Denstad infomed that the cost for one bleacher is $2,085, and sought council approval to go ahead and purchase the new bleachers, stating, “I would really like to get these ordered ASAP.” Denstad was concerned about the cost possibly increasing if not ordered right away. He shared that the Lions would cover the overall cost if needed. The council approved to purchase two bleachers and to set aside $500 for expenses; Councilor Hurley abstained.
Brownsville Fire Department Training Officer Brandon Frank brought up the inclusion of video/audio recordings of city council meetings at last month’s July meeting. He did a little research and suggested buying USB microphones for $100 and run a test to see if such worked for recording purposes. If the microphones do not work out, they can be returned to Amazon as part of Amazon’s 30-day return policy. “I wouldn’t mind having an audio,” commented Klug. Frank suggested that recordings could be held live through Zoom, where people could listen in but not verbally interact.
“I like the idea of audio being recorded,” commented Walhovd, who did not approve of video being taken. He wants people to physically come to the council meetings. Meyer responded with the need for transparency, in that not everyone can physically attend meetings. Hurley also preferred people physically come to the council meetings, and if anyone wishes to listen to a recording they could ask for Clerk Schuldt’s recording. In the end, the council decided not to move forward with the inclusion of video and audio, with the exception of Schuldt, who can make the audio recording available to those interested.
The city of Brownsville received offers for a brush hog. The brush hog went to the highest offer, which had been from CJ Prudence for $600. Prudence has five business days to pay and claim the brush hog otherwise the brush hog goes to the next highest offer.
Twite briefly provided his City Maintenance department report.
Other Business
•Twite’s first class with Sacramento State is completed.
•The signs for Mississippi Lane are installed.
•The city has a new skid loader.
•Twite commented that Ben Novak, the city’s new part-time maintenance person, is working out wonderfully.
•Novak will take part in in four biosolid classes offered in Rochester, Minn. this fall.
The meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.
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