The Brownsville City Council postponed a decision during its April 3 meeting regarding the gravel washing down onto 2nd Street until it can ascertain who the responsible parties are.
Brownsville Treasurer Jenna Knight stressed the importance of conducting further research before reaching a decision. The unresolved issue revolves around whether the area in question is a city street is or not.
Two Brownsville residents whose properties are impacted by the council’s decision appeared before the council to provide historical information on the subject. Mayor Jean Meyer supported Knight’s request for more time to delve deep into the subject. The mayor did not promise the property owners that the city would have the answer by the May meeting as it is a much bigger issue.
Mayor Meyer called the meeting of the Brownsville City Council to order at 7:01 p.m.
Councilmembers present included Pam Walhovd, Mayor Meyer, Bill Fitzpatrick and Tim Klug. Councilmember Barb Hurley was absent. City Clerk Steve Schuldt confirmed that there was a quorum.
City employees presented included City Clerk Schuldt, Treasurer Knight, and Maintenance Supervisor Dean Twite.
A motion to approve the consent agenda including the meeting agenda, minutes from the March 6 meeting, and claims totaling $51,375.66 was unanimously approved.
The city received job applications for the positions of summer recreation coordinator and assistant coordinator. Councilmembers Hurley and Walhovd volunteered to conduct the interviews.
Klug made a motion to approve the job description for the public works supervisor position and the part-time position of maintenance/public works specialist, and to advertise for the maintenance/public works specialist position in both the Caledonia Argus and the Fillmore County Journal. The goal is for the part-time specialist to start by June 1. At the May meeting the council will review the job descriptions for the city clerk and office manager/treasurer positions. Schuldt said that the job descriptions are thorough. Seconded by Fitzpatrick, the motion carried.
There was no new business.
In other business the council:
- Approved a contract with RCT to clean out the sewer lines using high-pressure water streams known as jetting will cost the city $4,870 in year one. If it is necessary to run a camera through the lines, it will cost an additional 91 cents per foot and Twite will get approval first.
- Tabled a request by Twite until the May council meeting for seal coating city streets until it is determined what are city streets and how much the council wants to spend on street repairs.
- Approved a service agreement contract with Silversmith Data for an Asset Status Tracker (AST) database program. Cost is a yearly fee of $571.71 which is based on population, not number of users.
- Approved paying for Twite to take online classes through Sacramento State University for online wastewater classes, at a cost of an estimated $3,000 for the three classes and textbooks.
- Approved a request from the city clerk to join MnWARN; Knight noted that it is free. The mission of MnWARN is to “promote and support a statewide response to utility emergencies and disasters through mutual assistance for water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities in Minnesota.” Area communities that are members include Hokah, Caledonia, Spring Grove, Mabel, Houston, Lanesboro, Rushford Village and Rushford. • Approved Knight’s request to advertise for sale the City’s 1998 GM truck.
- Approved a request from the Boy Scouts out of Hokah and La Crescent to waive the community center fees for the gym and the park fees for the annual Pine Wood Derby.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
The City of Brownsville Local Board of Appeal and Equalization (LBAE) meeting is Wednesday, May 1 at 6 p.m. prior to the council’s regularly scheduled city council meeting at 7 p.m. The meetings will be held at the city hall/community center, 104 6th St., Brownsville. The public is invited to attend.
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