The Whalan City Council met on the blustery morning of January 18, 2020, to tackle the first agenda of the new year and also introduced Karla Merchlewitz, the new City of Whalan clerk/treasurer.
Present at the meeting were Mayor Marlys Tuftin, council members Kim Berekvam, Tonya Cook, Everett Johnson and City Clerk/Treasurer Merchlewitz. Owen Lewis was absent.
Minutes and Treasurer’s Report & Bills Due from the December 9, 2019, council meeting were read aloud by Merchlewitz. No additions or corrections were requested.
There were no visitors comments at the January 18 meeting.
Old Business
During an Electric Performance Meeting on January 8, 2020, a discussion was held on having a Cost of Service Study done. The charge for this study is $600. After a brief discussion on the benefits of the study, it was approved to go ahead with having the cost of service study completed.
A Minnesota Basic Code Review Meeting was held on January 8, 2020. These meetings are being held so the council can tailor the code book to the needs of the City of Whalan. The next code review meeting will be held Saturday, February 15 after the regularly scheduled council meeting.
Decision was made to set 223 2nd Ave. as the official address for the City of Whalan, to rent a P.O. Box in Lanesboro, Minn. for the City of Whalan’s mail delivery, and to have Merchlewitz set up an email address for the City of Whalan for email communication.
City maintenance worker Randy Berekvam is now considered a city employee, which is a position with benefits.
Approval was given to present Steve Snyder with a short term rental permit.
New Business
A property owner will be billed for an invoice received from MiEnergy that should have been sent to the them, and not the city.
Advertising on the Whalan page in the Visit Bluff Country magazine, at a cost of $79, was approved.
A discussion about MiEnergy trouble calls and work requests was tabled until the February 2020 council meeting.
The Slate of Office was set as follows: Depositor, Merchant’s Bank of Lanesboro; Attorney, Terry Chiglo; Auditor, Pam Ristau; Acting mayor, Kim Berekvam; Local newspaper, Fillmore County Journal; Monthly City Council meeting, third Saturday of the month through April 2020; Monthly City Council meeting time, 10 a.m. through April 2020; Zoning meeting schedule, third Saturday after the regularly scheduled monthly council meeting through April 2020.
The updated City Insurance Coverage with the League of Minnesota Cities through Krage Insurance of Lanesboro was approved, with the inception dates of March 24, 2020, for each update or addition.
The next regularly scheduled Whalan City Council meeting will be held February 15 at 10 a.m. in the Whalan Town Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.