Finance Officer Stephanie Mann presented the city’s first-quarter financials for review at the April 27 Caledonia City Council meeting.
She announced that she and City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson will be meeting with the auditors during the first week of May, possible Thursday, May 7. She expects that the audit report will be presented to the council at the second meeting in May, but that date has not been finalized.
Mayor Jeremy Leis called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 6 p.m. in the Caledonia City Hall Council Chambers. Council members in attendance included Bob Klug, Amanda Ninneman, John Rauk and Leis. Council member David Fitzpatrick was absent. The council unanimously approved the minutes, as written, from the April 13 regular city council meeting.
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda was approved in a single motion, with item D (approval of a setback variance at 412 E. Grove St.) moved to new business. Items on the consent agenda included payments; hiring Maddox Walk as a lifeguard for $15.50 per hour; approving the Caledonia Ambulance Department mutual aid contracts with Spring Grove and Houston; subdivision and rezoning at 814 W. Main St., owned by G.W. and Fernanda D. Loeffler; and increasing wages for youth baseball umpires from $30 per game (or $25 for lower-level games) to $35 and $30, respectively. Wages had not been increased for at least six years.
Also approved was the purchase of four OSHA-compliant storage cabinets for public works at a total cost of $5,836.30.
Public Comments
There were two public comments. The first was Bryan Spier, who asked what the procedure was for putting parallel parking lines in the downtown commercial district where the main businesses are located. Spier feels that “it would bring a more professional, cleaner look to the downtown, the commercial area.” For example, two cars are taking spaces where three cars could be parked. He wondered if it could be discussed at the meeting, or does it need to go before the planning commission he serves on. It was confirmed that he will need to go through the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The second comment was from Caledonia Ambulance Director Mike Tornstrom, who announced that the ambulance department’s annual fundraiser for the Ambulance Association is Sunday, May 3.
Reports
City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson reported on Public Works/Zoning for Director Casey Klug, who was not in attendance. The department has been out repairing sinkholes, as the city has experienced more stormwater leaks, which are becoming more common. The city is asking residents to report any leaks so they can be addressed. Dickson also reported on the snow emergency ordinance and said that mediation for the wastewater treatment plant will take place in June; until then, there is nothing they can do.
Dickson continued with his report. He will be out this week. He held a coaches’ meeting and announced there will be an exhibition game Friday evening during Founders Day. He thanked Frank and Julia’s for hosting a meeting Monday, April 27, for residents who own five acres. He received the Warrior Avenue plans earlier in the day. Bids will go out in June, and he estimates that, with the right crew, the work could be completed in five weeks.
In new business, the council:
- Approved not to waive the statutory municipal tort limits for liability coverage from LMCIT and to maintain the $2,500 deductible for property and liability coverage.
- Approved an extended warranty for the city’s new snowplow, which came with a two-year engine and a one-year chassis warranty when it was purchased earlier this year. The proposed extended warranty covers five-year or 100,000 miles on the engine, after-treatment, and truck.
- Approved a Joint Powers Agreement with Houston County to sponsor the $1.5 million grant the city received to build Warrior Ave. The state funds will go to Houston County. The county will reimburse the city for expenses. Houston County will be the inspecting engineer for compliance purposes. The county does not charge the city for being a sponsor.
- Approved a 5’ setback variance at 412 E. Grove St.
- Unanimously approved the overtime report for the pay period ending April 12.
Leave a Reply