The May 3 Lanesboro City Council meeting opened with a public hearing to discuss sidewalk improvements and assessments. There were no questions or comments from the public, so the hearing was closed and the regular council meeting opened. The assessments were approved by the council.
City Engineer Brian Malm reviewed with the council pay request #5 for the wastewater treatment facility project. Council member Joe Goetzke asked if the increasing costs of construction materials would affect the project and was assured by Malm that they would not. The council approved the pay request.
Andrew Forliti with Smith Schafer & Associates reviewed the financial summary and 2020 audit report for the City of Lanesboro and the Public Utilities Commission of Lanesboro. A clean audit opinion was received by both. The property tax levy in 2020 was $680,200, which represented 42% of the city’s total governmental revenues that year. Local Government Aid represented another 14% of the revenues with a total of $221,883. The 2020 general expenditures increased by over $40,000 to $176,909 due to employee costs and professional services, including a $10,000 market study. The expenditures for the police were $100,068, $83,161 for the fire department, $106,060 for the ambulance service, $225,483 for Public Works, $92,664 for the Lanesboro library, $9,036 for Buffalo Bill Days, and $182,282 for Parks and Rec. The unassigned general fund balance for 2020 was 49% of the general fund expenditures.
The 2020 revenues for electric utilities were $1,044,726 and expenses came in at $737,443. Water utilities had $359,202 in revenues and $188,001 in expenses. Sewer utilities had $226,028 in revenues and $176,731 in expenses. The council approved the audit review.
Goetzke presented the EDA report. Cathy Enerson has submitted several grants for the EDA and is waiting to hear back on those. Last year, the EDA received a Stay Safe Grant from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation which provided $200 each for PPE to Lanesboro businesses. As there is still quite a bit of money left in that grant, Enerson reached out to SMIF to see if funds could be used elsewhere and was given permission to hire a summer intern along with someone to oversee them. The intern’s job would be to come up with Stay Safe event protocols, promotions, and video. The council approved the EDA’s request to appoint individuals to those positions.
The city offices will close at 11:30 a.m. each day from June 1-4 and then reopen the following Monday on June 7 at noon.
The council approved the closure of Kirkwood from the Parkway to Fillmore Street intersections on May 15 from 5-9 p.m. to allow the junior class prom to hold their grand march outdoors.
The council approved Ordinance 35.02 for the creation of the rural taxing district which had been amended from the original ordinance to include two properties that had been inadvertently left out.
Resolution 2021-14 was approved, which will allow the city to pay off 2010A bond with cash reserves, thus saving several thousand dollars.
Logan Jenson and Jacob Peterson were hired as part-time seasonal city workers.
A conditional use permit was approved, allowing Sylvan Brewery to display an illuminated sign.
A motion was made to approve an annexation agreement with the township to allow the Geoff Griffin property to be annexed into Lanesboro city limits. The city will give the township five years worth of property tax in exchange for the property.
Ron Amdahl addressed the council about the ongoing discussion on the brush removal and fence repair on his property. 11 years ago, damage was done to his fence by a city plow, and the council has been working with Amdahl to resolve the issue. “I just want to say that I appreciate everyone’s patience on this matter,” Mayor Resseman said.
Mayor Resseman made a motion for the city to pay for the brush removal up to $5,000, which is $500 more than the estimate received from Sveen Construction, and that Amdahl be given a check for 50% of the fence replacement costs up front and then once the project has been completed, he would be reimbursed for the other 50%, up to a total of $3,600. That would allow Amdahl to select the contractor and materials, and build the fence to his specifications. An estimate from Horseman Fence for 1,200 linear feet of four strand barbed wire fence was received by the city and based on that, $3,600 would be allowed for the fence.
Amdahl asked to see the estimates, but they were given to the city verbally. Mayor Resseman assured him that the job would be done to his satisfaction and that all of the brush and debris piles Amdahl pointed out to Public Works supervisor David Haugen would be removed. Amdahl stated that he would like to see the estimates in writing before agreeing to anything. He also asked about conducting a survey as he is unsure where the original fence line lay. “That’s the first thing that needs to happen because that’s what got plowed out,” he said. He didn’t feel that the $3,600 fence allowance would cover a survey. Mayor Resseman agreed to provide the estimates to Amdahl, but felt that he should be responsible for any survey costs. Resseman rescinded his original motion to pay up to $5,000 for brush removal and $3,600 for fence installation as Amdahl was not amenable to it, but asked if he would like to move forward with the brush removal so that the project could get started. Amdahl reiterated that he was not aware of what was included in the estimate for that so was not comfortable agreeing to anything yet. Council member Chase Bakke suggested that the council pass a motion to allow up to $5,000 for the brush and debris removal, but have Amdahl meet with Haugen and Sveen Construction to identify the work that needs to happen before it begins. Amdahl was agreeable to the motion. The motion was approved and the rest of the discussion was tabled until June.
Bakke asked about the possibility of having a portable bathroom at Parkway Place like last year. The council agreed that it would be helpful and approved a motion to have a portable bathroom placed in the same spot as last year until October 31, 2021, contingent on property owner approval.
The next Lanesboro City Council meeting will be held on June 7 at 6 p.m.
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