Whalan City Council Approves Resolutions

The Whalan City Council worked through a full agenda during the first council meeting of the new year on January 8, 2024.
Present at the regularly scheduled council meeting were Mayor David Hallum, council members Thore E. Johnson and Kim Berekvam, along with City Clerk/Treasurer Teresa Grossell. Council members Owen Lewis and Sheila Higbe were absent.
The council approved the Minutes of the December 12, 2023, regularly scheduled council meeting.
The Treasurer’s Report was approved as read aloud by Grossell.
New Business
• Approved Resolution 2024-1 – Designating an Official Depository. Merchants Bank will be the official depository for 2024.
• Approved Resolution 2024-2 – Designating an Official Newspaper. The Fillmore County Journal will be the official newspaper for 2024.
• Approved Resolution 2024-3 – Establishing a Mileage Reimbursement Rate. The mileage reimbursement rate will be .67 per hour for 2024.
• Approved Resolution 2024-4-Authorizing Signature for City Accounts. Mayor Hallum and City Clerk/Treasurer Teresa Grossell will be authorized signatures for 2024.
• Earned Sick and Safe Time was discussed. As of January 1, 2024, there is a new law called Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) which requires employers who have employees who work at least 80 hours per year to earn sick leave. In the past it may have been that most employers who had part-time employees did not provide earned sick and safe time as a paid benefit.
• As part-time employees, Grossell and city maintenance employee Randy Berekvam qualify for Earned Sick and Safe Time. Grossell listed three options to implement the plan. Grossell recommended the first option which includes accruing ESST hours. With this option, for every 30 hours worked, one hour of ESST time would be accrued. ESST time for Grossell and Berekvam will be implemented at one hour ESST for every 30 hours worked.
• Discussed the Lanesboro Area Community Foundation grant application which is due by March 31. Council members will make a list of possible projects and will present these ideas at the February council meeting, hoping to get the application completed before the deadline.
• Approved a donation to the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation in the amount of $150.
• Approved having Grossell submit the Liability Coverage Waiver Form stating that the city of Whalan does not waive the extra coverage.
• Approved signing and submitting the Smith & Schafer Engagement Letter. Smith & Schafer completes a fiscal audit for the city each year, among other services.
• An electric bill is 60 days past due. Grossell will send a letter to the property owner requesting payment.
Continued Business
Jae Julianne has decided not to serve a second term on the Zoning Board, creating a vacancy on the board. One person has shown an interest in filling the seat. Grossell will report on the board vacancy at the February meeting.
The council is looking into getting some fireproof file cabinets for safe document storage. A council member was in contact with a person giving some fireproof file cabinets away through a Facebook site. The council will be updated at the February council meeting.
The council approved the city of Whalan council meeting schedule for 2024. The meetings will take place on the second Monday of each month at 5 p.m. at the city hall, with the exception of November, when the council meeting will be held on the second Tuesday, November 12, due to Veterans Day on November 11.
Miscellaneous
Grossell updated the council on the notification from the Social Security Administration regarding the 2022 Federal Tax Report. The 2022 taxes did not correspond with what was submitted on a quarterly basis and what was submitted at year end.
Grossell looked into the discrepancy and believes the city will be getting a refund of just over $1,000.
Adjourn
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on February 12 at 5 p.m. at the Whalan Town Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
For more information visit the City of Whalan website at cityofwhalan.weebly.com, or call the Whalan City Office at (507) 467-2212.