Mayor Dave Olson called the City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. September 12, 2022, with the Pledge of Allegiance. Council present: Mayor David Olson, Cody Mathers, Cheryl Sanden, and Tony Schultz. Staff present: Michelle Quinn, Ed Jacobs, Josh Hongerholt, and Brett Hurley. A listing of public members present is on file.
Wastewater Treatment Plant: Motion by Schultz, seconded by Mathers to pay estimate #17 from Wapasha Construction Co. in the amount of $56,913.45. Motion carried unanimously.
To prepare high level cost estimates, Mr. Mohs requested approval of 10 hours of engineering at $80/hour to hold meetings and gather information related to the CSAH 13/Spruce Street project and an additional 12 hours at the same rate to do the same for the TH16/Cedar Street project with total engineering costs not to exceed 22 hours or $1,760. Motion by Sanden, seconded by Mathers to authorize 22 hours of reduced rate engineer at $80/hour to prepare cost estimates. Motion carried unanimously.
Preliminary Budget & Levy: Motion by Schultz, seconded by Mathers to adopt the preliminary budget, levy, and adopt the following resolution. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION 2022-15 ADOPTING PRELIMINARY 2023 BUDGET AND PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY, COLLECTABLE
IN 2023
Be It Resolved by the city council of the City of Houston, County of Houston, Minnesota, adopts the Preliminary 2023 Budget and that the following sums of money be levied for the current year, collectable in 2023, upon the taxable property in the City of Houston, for the following purposes:
General Fund 188,000
Library Fund 40,500
Ambulance Fund 10,000
Fire Fund 10,000
Park/Rec Fund 8,000
Nature Center Fund 48,000
Vehicle Fund 16,250
Infrastructure Fund 43,000
2016A Ellsworth Street Bond 64,500
2017A Street & Utility Improvement Bond 50,950
2020 MiEnergy Loan 30,000
2020B Lincoln Street Reconstruction Bond 37,100
2020C Community Center Renovation Bond 18,950
Total Levy$565,250
The city administrator is hereby instructed to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the county auditor of Houston County, Minnesota.
Truth in Taxation Public Hearing: Motion by Mathers, seconded by Schultz to schedule the TNT hearing for Monday, December 12, 2022, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
Houston-Hokah-La Crescent Root River Trail Extension MOA to Jointly Cooperate:
Motion by Sanden, seconded by Schultz to approve the Houston-Hokah-La Crescent Root River Trail Extension Memorandum of Agreement to Jointly Cooperate, authorize the appropriate signatures and to adopt the following resolution. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-16 City of Houston Joint Cooperation for Recreational Trail Development NOW THEREFORE BE
IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Houston that, the City of Houston commits to working in joint cooperation with the City of La Crescent, the City of Houston, and the City of Hokah to pursue the development of a trail system from these communities to common points between them, is hereby approved.
Explore Minnesota Tourism Affiliate Welcome Center Program Memorandum of Understanding: Motion by Mathers, seconded by Schultz to approve the Explore Minnesota Tourism Affiliate Welcome Center Program Memorandum of Understanding and authorize the necessary signature. Motion carried unanimously.
Appointment of Election Judges: Motion by Schultz, seconded by Sanden to adopt the following resolution. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-17
A RESOLUTION APPOINTING ADDITIONAL ELECTION JUDGES
FOR THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOUSTON, MINNESOTA, AS FOLLOWS:
The following name is added the list of official Election Judges for the City of Houston, for the 2022 State General Election:
Angela Miller
Gambling Permits: Motion by Mathers, seconded by Schultz to approve a gambling permit with no waiting period for DLC Inc. for an event to be hosted at JT’s Bar & Grill on October 22, 2022. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel Items:
Houston Nature Center Assistant: Motion by Mathers, seconded by Schultz to authorize a competitive search for an additional Houston Nature Center Assistant. Motion carried unanimously.
Summer Rec Director: Following discussion, motion by Schultz, seconded by Sanden to pay Emily Krage a one-time stipend in the amount of $2,000 for work performed for the Summer Recreation program. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Sanden, seconded by Schultz to authorize a competitive search for Summer Recreation Director for the 2023 season. Motion carried unanimously.
Snow Removal: Motion by Schultz, seconded by Mathers to authorize solicitation of snow removal bids.
Stump Removal: Motion by Mathers, seconded by Schultz to accept disaster relief funding for boulevard stump removal. Motion by Mathers, seconded by Schultz to rescind original motion and to move accepting disaster funds for both tree and stump removal. Motion carried unanimously.
Reactivations of the Tree Board: Motion by Mathers, seconded by Sanden to reactivate the Tree Board, to solicit letters of interest, to establish the following staggered terms; a single one-year, two two-year and two three-year terms, and to include Ed Jacobs in tree board meetings in an advisory capacity due to his role as city tree inspector. Motion carried unanimously.
Central Square: See update which is on file.
Minutes and Bills: Motion by Sanden, seconded by Mathers to approve the minutes of the August 8, 2022, regular meeting, and bills as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Items to be Placed on File: Motion by Schultz, seconded by Mathers to place on file the following items. Motion carried unanimously.
Correspondence from Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman
Invitation to ribbon cutting
Library Updates and Information, and circulation statistics
Incident Summary by Incident Type
Adjourn: Motion by Sanden, seconded by Mathers to adjourn the meeting at 7:16 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. The next regular meeting of the Council is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, 2022.
By: David Olson, Mayor
Attest: Michelle Quinn, Clerk/Administrator
Above proceedings are only a summary. Full text is available for public inspection at City Hall as well as the following
website: www.houston.govoffice.com
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