The Spring Valley City Council met in regular session on Monday, January 9. Members present were Tony Archer, Todd Jones, Mayor Jim Struzyk, Mike Hadland and City Administrator Deb Zimmer. Jessy Betts was absent. No visitors had signed up to address the council. Mayor Struzyk welcomed newly elected council member Mike Hadland to the council. Deb Zimmer swore Struzyk and Hadland in to their terms on the council.
The council passed a number of annual resolutions, including: Naming the official newspaper (Spring Valley Tribune), Naming the official depository (Home Federal Bank), Corporate Banking Resolution, Setting Fees (no changes from 2016), Establishing Coverage for injuries to elected and appointed officials, Establishing reimbursement per city personnel policy (the only change is a slight decrease from 54 cents to 53.5 cents per mile), Official Appointments, Accepting donations from the Osterud Winter Trust ($1,000 to entertainment at Music in the Park, $1,200 to Emergency Management radios, and $1,915 to the library), 2016 Ambulance write-offs (totaling $14,279), and the Liability Coverage Waiver (the council chose not to waive the torte limit). The council also OK’d the 3.2 liquor license renewal for Kwik Trip.
Next, the council considered a request for funding from the Spring Valley Historical Society, for $12,500. Zimmer explained, “It’s already in our budget.” After brief discussion, the council voted to grant the request. Zimmer then talked about the city’s Code Book Update Proposal, saying, “The last time the whole code book was updated was 1988. So it is needed.” She explained the cost would be $9,495, plus another $650 for a searchable CD. The council OK’d this. The council then discussed an expense voucher from Laura Beckman for $217.50. She explained the request is to pay it from city’s 230 fund, stating, “I was looking for it to come out of the advertising account, because it’s promotional” (as opposed to paying it from the ambulance crew’s donation account). After brief discussion, the council voted to OK this.
Mayor Struzyk then read off his list of council member commission appointments, stating, “Mike (Hadland) is going to be taking over city hall, Jessy (Betts) I’m moving to the library…he’s already on the library board so that will work, Tony (Archer) you’ll go with Fire & Ambulance, Todd (Jones) with the Parks, Todd will also be Mayor Pro Tem, and I’ll be with Public Utilities and Streets.” Struzyk said he also plans to have Hadland serve on the Audit committee.
Todd Jones said he’s been approached by citizens asking if the city plans to “scrape” the snow and ice from the streets. There was discussion about how salt really isn’t effective at temperatures below about 20 degrees, but when conditions allow, the city crew will work at plowing the streets as needed. Jones added, “I also want to thank the EMTs for all their work.” Mayor Struzyk then gave thanks to the Utility crew for their recent long hours handling a crisis that kept them working through the night.
The council then recognized EMTs with over 1,600 hours of call time in 2016, including Ted Sherwood, Tammy Egger, Regina Haeflinger, Jim McCabe, Sue Puffer, and Mike Zimmer. Deb Zimmer reminded the council that the next Southern Minnesota League of Municipalities meeting will be January 31 in Rochester, and council members are welcome to attend. She also said Audit fieldwork will be January 30 through February 2. The next regular meeting of the city council will be Monday, January 23 at 6 p.m.