The Mabel City Council meeting began with the swearing in of new Councilman Gary Morken. After Morken had taken the oath of office, he was welcomed by his fellow council members.
City Administrator Karen Larson had spoken with the city attorney, Greg Scheiber about Jeff Engen’s concerns. Engen, a Mabel resident and landlord, attended the December council meeting and voiced his concerns over the new policy change regarding utility bills.
At their October meeting, the council had decided to drop the $200 deposit for new utility customers and make landlords responsible for collecting utility payments from their renters. Unpaid utility bills will be assessed on property taxes. The new policy went into effect on January 1, 2017 and does not affect current renters.
Scheiber felt that it was a good policy change which should be supported and that it will encourage landlords to be selective to whom they rent their properties.
In 18 years of being a landlord, Engen has only had one bad renter who moved out without paying their utility bill. Because of that, Scheiber didn’t feel that Engen had cause for concern over the policy change.
Mayor Jim Westby mentioned that he’s received comments from other Mabel residents in support of the change as it makes billing more fair across the board. When the city has to cover the utility bills of renters who moved out of town without paying, rates go up for everyone.
Larson will forward her correspondence with Scheiber on to Engen.
The committee appointments for 2017 were approved with no changes other than the addition of a Zoning Committee. Gary Morken and Terry Torkelson volunteered to serve on the newly formed committee.
Hacker, Nelson & Co. will be conducting the city’s audit on January 24 and 25. “They’ve always been very good to work with,” noted Larson. The city has employed the company’s services for over 20 years now.
Larson asked if the council felt the need to increase the ambulance service’s holiday pay. Currently, volunteers are paid $25 for being on call on holidays. Council member Kristin Wyffels made a motion to raise the pay to $50. The increase was approved beginning January 1, 2017.
The ambulance director’s salary is currently set at $850 a month. Larson pointed out that Director Sarah Delaney’s responsibilities are many and seem to be increasing. She suggested an annual review of the salary, starting in 2017.
“She (Delaney) has stepped in and done a great job with the ambulance,” Larson remarked.
The council approved a motion to raise Delaney’s salary to $900 a month, starting January 1.
Mabel received a Rockwell Collins Green Communities grant in 2016, which was used to replace 50 streetlights with LEDs.
“If we get it again, we could do the rest of the streetlights this year,” City Works Director Bob Miereau noted.
Applications for the grant are being accepted through February 13. Larson and Miereau will work on applying for the grant for 2017.
The Mabel Ambulance Service recently held a fundraiser dance at the community center. Around $10,000 in funds were received, with donations still coming in.
“We appreciate those who have donated,” Mayor Westby expressed.
Miereau will be advertising for bids for the city’s 7030 Allis Chalmers soon. The two-wheel drive tractor comes with a snow blower and was made in the 1970s, although Miereau isn’t sure of the exact year.
Mayor Westby asked Miereau how the snow removal has gone recently with the city’s new winter parking ordinance requiring owners to move their vehicles on an even/odd date basis.
“I was disappointed this morning,” Miereau admitted. He came across several vehicle violations while plowing snow. “Now the snow’s hard, and we can’t move it. It would’ve been much better to get it right away.”
“We gotta keep going on it (the parking ordinance) so people get in the habit of it,” he said.
The meeting was adjourned. The February meeting date is pending and will be announced at a later time.
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