Mayor Adamson called the February 14 meeting of the Eitzen City Council to order at 6:03 p.m. at city hall.
Eitzen council members in attendance include Mayor Jeffrey Adamson and counci members Emily Burrichter, Doug Meyer, and Mitch Lange. Absent was Mitch Luttchens. Also in attendance was City Clerk Steve Schuldt.
The council unanimously approved the minutes from the January 10 city council meeting and the January financial statements. The financial statements reflect an increase in community center fees due to upcoming graduation receptions and the transfer of $150,000 to a CD as approved at last month’s city council meeting. Schuldt confirmed that the well will be paid off in August.
Unfinished business
The city does not have a price on the pivot wheels yet, but hopefully will have something to present to the council at next month’s city council meeting. The mayor mentioned that he has not gotten anything accomplished at the community center but is still hopefully that construction will begin this fall.
The lights at one of the town’s lift stations were flashing again. The mayor explained that it seems like it happens every three weeks and we know what section of town is responsible for the problem.
City Maintenance Darryl Meyer drafted a letter that will be hand delivered to the residents in that section of town. The mayor asked, “Who do you blame? Those damn commercials on TV about fancy toilets with kids dumping golf balls in there and dumping bags of dog food and flushing it and it keeps going down. It doesn’t help when they have advertised it on TV that you can flush down anything.” Councilwoman Burrichter injected, “Just because you can flush it doesn’t mean you should.” Councilman Meyer added, “It doesn’t help that wipes say right on them that they are flushable.” The city will purchase screens or something and get them installed and will have a pumper truck come in and suck out the bottom. “This way we can start with a clean slate,” said Adamson.
New business
Schuldt will confirm the date of the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization (LBAE) hearing and get back to the board as the previously announced date, April 23, 2023, is a Sunday.
The mayor and Schuldt met with MiEnergy a week ago, which according to both men was a very informative meeting. “There will be a slight increase in electric rates come May,” said Adamson. “Most everyone is increasing their rates.” In 2021, MiEnergy adopted a retail rate rider and recommended that the city adopt one also. It is comparable to a fuel surcharge. Due to the volatility of electrical rates, the retail rate rider allows MiEnergy to pass the extra charge from Dairyland Power through MiEnergy to the town explained the mayor. He recommends that the council approve the rider before summer, so the town does not get saddled with the extra charge. Currently, the city has a set rate.
The city is looking for someone to do an audit of the city’s books since the previous auditors are not available to do the audit this year. The mayor explained that the audit is a checks and balance and is done annually at the beginning of the year.
The council unanimously approved the new Caledonia Ambulance rate, which increased from $14 to $16 per capita.
The weed inspection report is an annual report and has been completed.
Councilmember Meyer mentioned that he likes the garbage bins. Nobody mentioned that they have heard any complaints about the totes.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Eitzen City Council is Tuesday, March 14, at 6 p.m., at Eitzen City Hall (next to the fire station), 202 East Main Street, Eitzen. Contact Steve Schuldt, City Clerk, at (507) 495-3017 or eitzen@acegroup.cc. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.