REGULAR MEETING 7:00 PM
CITY OF CASSELTON
Monday, December 7, 2009
Council Chambers
Present: Mayor McConnell, Councilmen Anderson, Spooner, Sinner and Tillisch, Silbernagel
Not Present: Wangler
Also Present: City Attorney Brad Burgum, Public Works Supervisor Kevin Mayer, City Engineers Kyle Meyer & Brandon Oye, Cass County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Arth, City Auditor Brandy Pyle.
Audience Members: Diane Sporell, Gary Sporell, John Siverson, Rob & Joyce Schmalz, Rich Hawkins, Peter Karl and Amanda Gades.
Sinner made a motion seconded by Tillisch to approve the minutes of November 2, 10; City Attorney's Report, Police Report, Municipal Judge's Report, and the delinquent utilities list. All voted aye on roll call; motion carried.
Silbernagel made a motion, seconded by Tillisch to approve the following bills, refunds and salaries for the month of December. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion carried.
| TASC | $300.00 | HORVICK MANUFACTURING CO. | $565.10 | |
| Medica | $2,856.57 | INNOVIS HEALTH | $22.00 | |
| BROKERS NATIONAL ASSURANCE | $397.90 | INTERSTATE POWER SYSTEMS | $298.00 | |
| AVESIS VISION INC | $78.70 | KEVLOTT TESTING SERVICES | $25.00 | |
| AFLAC | $144.62 | CASSELTON PUBLIC LIBRARY | $7000.00 | |
| CASSELTON AMBULANCE ASSOC. | $1,200.00 | Casselton Public Library | $5000.00 | |
| AMERIPRIDE LINEN & APPAREL INC | $852.48 | NDLTAP | $100.00 | |
| Nancy Anderson | $100.00 | Mac's | $31.90 | |
| Emil Blasl | $21.25 | MEDCENTER ONE | $30.00 | |
| BREMER BANK- PAYROLL TAX | $2,836.40 | MOORE ENGINEERING INC | $12709.60 | |
| BURGUM LAW FIRM | $2,300.00 | ND DEPART. OF TRANSPORATION | $795.27 | |
| Burnette O. Bomstad Estate | $81.72 | ND SEWAGE PUMP | $11750.00 | |
| CC REPORTER | $328.95 | New Horizons Electric Inc | $822.52 | |
| CC TREASURER | $9,732.34 | NORTHERN ENGINE & SUPPLY INC | $12.08 | |
| CC ELECTRIC | $397.89 | Ok Tires | $258.56 | |
| CASSELTON LUMBER INC | $2,669.85 | ND ONE CALL, INC | $87.10 | |
| CASS RURAL WATER USERS INC | $29,470.94 | ORBITCOM | $649.62 | |
| CITY OF FARGO | $3,547.80 | OTTER TAIL POWER | $3828.95 | |
| Denise Roster | $0.34 | CASSELTON PARKS & REC | $5200.00 | |
| FARGO WATER EQUIP. | $8.58 | Petro Serve USA | $3455.31 | |
| FARM PLAN | $73.89 | Rdo Equipment | $4800.00 | |
| CASSELTON FIRE DEPT | $4,750.00 | SAM'S CLUB | $1.00 | |
| FARGO FREIGHTLINER | $114.42 | SANITATION PRODUCTS | $397.08 | |
| Colin Gibbons | $10.45 | SRF Consulting Group Inc | $142.58 | |
| PAUL GUTKNECHT | $22.31 | Shelden Steen | $25.00 | |
| Jim Hager | $15.00 | STURDEVANT'S INC | $592.22 | |
| HARDWARE HANK | $586.50 | SWANSTON EQUIP. | $12.71 | |
| Haugen Cleaning Service | $495.00 | Us Heat Treating | $150.00 | |
| HAWKINS CHEMICAL INC | $1,091.96 | USPS | $132.00 | |
| HOLT LANDSCAP CONST. | $147.00 | AMERICAN WELDING AND GAS INC | $34.66 | |
| DebitND STATE DISBURSEMENT UNIT | $213.69 | CITY OF WEST FARGO | $140.00 | |
| XCEL | $122.50 |
Tillisch a motion, seconded by Anderson to approve the financial reports for November. General fund $319,222.25; Special Revenue Fund $105,661.84; Debt Service Fund $149,813.61; Construction Funds $385,093.10; Special Assessments $450,541.02; Enterprise Funds $1,036,485.02; Trust and Agency Fund $14,335.00; total $2,461,151.844. All voted aye upon roll call vote; motion carried.
Mayor McConnell noted that it appears that the City will have a surplus at the end of the year.
A thank you note was received from the Jesse Barbot family for hosting the benefit in the City Auditorium. Moore Engineering is also hosting its annual open house on December 16. A letter from the National Guard Foundation was also received.
Council reviewed the submitted Liquor license applications. Auditor Pyle reported that all liquor license applications were in and in good order. Silbernagel made a motion, seconded by Sinner to approve the following liquor licenses: Red Baron (SWM Inc.), Dusty's (RJAK LLC) Saloon, T's Shamrock Inc.- on and off retail liquor license; Vet's Club Inc. and Capitol Family Restaurant ( L&L LLC) on-site retail liquor license; Allen Pederson (Spare Time lanes), Cottonwood Golf Course Inc. Beer/ Wine; Maple River Winery LLC- wine license; Maple River Distillery LLC- alcoholic beverage producer license. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed. John Siverson noted that the number of signs that are hanging on the outside of the bars have been reduced.
Peter Karl approached the Council with an informational packet regarding a proposed monorail from Fargo to Bismarck paralleling the interstate. He proposed that a station built at Bonanzaville in West Fargo, near the Governors' Inn in Casselton as a way to improve mass transit and commerce. He requested that local representatives consider the project, ask questions and submit letters. He noted that FTA and DOT could be the entities to pay for it. He also had idea of solar and wind as power sources. Questions arose regarding what to do with people once at the station in West Fargo. Karl would like the Council to take a position so he can continue to work with the state. Mayor McConnell thanked him for his presentation. Council agreed to table the issue till the January meeting to further review the informational packet.
Discussion moved to employee review and salaries. The Council discussed what other cities in the state and Cass County were doing for 2010 salaries. Council discussed the history of wage increases over the past 5 years and the recent change in health insurance companies. Sinner made a motion, seconded by Anderson to approve a 2% wage increase for City employees. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Employee reviews will be finished this week.
City Engineer Kyle Meyer presented information on three projects: the Train Whistle Free Zone, Safe Routes to School, and Street Improvements.
The Train Whistle Free Zone was the first project discussed. Questions were raised if the consultant SRF Consulting has a history of being within their projected cost estimates in other whistle free zone projects they have done. The Mapleton whistle free project of medians was also discussed. Currently farm implements are straddling the median to pass through town but will not be able to once all signage is placed on the medians. Farm implements that are too big will have to find another route to drive. A letter from the Casselton Business Association was received supporting the project with a 4-quadrandt gate on Langer Avenue if the project should move forward. Discussion of a possible 1/2 cent county sales tax for a diversion was also discussed. The Council agreed this is a question they want to put on the June ballot.
Discussion moved to the Safe Routes to School project. A one cent sales tax and special assessments were financing options discussed for this and for the Train Whistle Free and street improvement projects.
Councilman Spooner voiced concerns about the state of the economy and thought that they city should consider waiting with improvement projects. Attorney Brad Burgum explained that the existing one cent sales tax was dedicated for infrastructure, economic development and parks and recreation. He further explained that the Council directs the expenditures of these funds.
Discussion continued regarding the condition of the city streets. Mayor McConnell noted that the streets are starting to fall apart. City Engineer Kyle Meyer explained that it is very expensive to repair streets piece by piece. Councilman Anderson noted that he would like to see a special assessment for streets and not use sales tax funds for street. He felt it was the fairest way to pay for this type of project.
Discussion moved to the old water tower on 6th Avenue North. The current structure is not compliant with OSHA standards and needs to be repainted. Estimated costs for these repairs are between $150,000 and $200,000. The standpipe was repaired in 2009. The water tower inspection has not been done yet. Painting would extend the life of the tower about 7-8 years. The newer water tower located in the industrial park is not currently running at full strength and would be able to handle the capacity and growth of Casselton for the next five years, however the city would run short for fire protection. City Engineer Kyle Meyer thought that if the old tower was torn down but had a new one in the plans, the city would be ok. The inside of the tower would also need paint patches. Public Works Supervisor Kevin Mayer noted that the City has not had any problems with water testing.
Discussion moved back to the Train Whistle Free Zone. Council agreed that there should be a real cost estimate to present to the public. Council discussed dedicated the existing once cent sales tax to the project. Silbernagel made a motion, seconded by Anderson to move forward with the Train Whistle Free project with a 4- quadrant RR Quiet on Langer Avenue and to put an advisory vote on the June ballot asking residents if the City should dedicate the existing one cent sale tax collections to the Train Whistle Free Zone. Discussion continued regarding the possible County sales tax. Silbernagel, Tillisch, and Spooner voted aye and Anderson and Sinner voted nay; motion passed 3:2.
The Safe Routes to School sidewalk project was discussed next. The Council discussed the idea assessing this project citywide and not assessing those properties that had to replace sidewalks in the 2005 sidewalk project on Langer Avenue. Sinner made a motion, seconded by Anderson to proceed on the SRTS 2010 (Safe Routes to School) Project and to adopt a resolution to create a citywide assessment district. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed. Silbernagel made a motion, seconded by Tillisch to authorize the Engineer to create the plans and specifications for SRTS 2010. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Mayor McConnell recommended that the City self finance the project as they did in the Sidewalk Project 2005. He believes the City would save money by avoiding bonding fees.
City Engineer Brandon Oye presented an update on the Swan Creek Diversion Project. He noted that most of the work is completed. The contractor will be back in the spring to grade the berms and finish seeding. He noted that the bridge work, the new gravel road, and the frontage road by the Vet clinic are done. Swan Creek Diversion- Brandon Oye presented an updated seeding mostly done, majority of the work done, minor grading and seeding needs to be done when weather allows next year, bridge work done, new gravel road done, frontage road by vet Clinic done. Red River Valley Western Rail Road and the Maple River Grain and Agronomy would like to barricade the rail road track near the dirt pile when dirt is not being hauled. They would like to park trains on the crossing. The Council thought that this idea was good, but the farmer, and RRVW and Maple River Grain and Agronomy will need to talk to the Township.
Discussion continued regarding the dirt pile. Contractors have left hazards on the south side of the dirt piles. The City will barricade and bill the contractor for repairs. No tresspassing signs have already in place. Public Works Supervisor Kevin Mayer was instructed to look into orange snow fencing for the area to keep snowmobilers off. The Maple River Water Resource District was in the process of deeding 12 or so acres to the City. The question of the diversion mowing was on the Water Resource's agenda, however; Oye could not confirm what the answer was. The contractor, Gladden Construction, will fix the sloughing part of the diversion in the spring.
Sinner made a motion, seconded by Anderson to approve a Moore Engineering invoice in the amount of $6,000 for the initial GIS map. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
City Engineer Kyle Meyer submitted an annual engineer's report for work completed with the City of Casselton.
Discussion moved to parking on the boulevards. Anderson made a motion, seconded by Anderson to prohibit parking on unimproved, un-surfaced boulevards and front yards. Sinner voted aye with Silbernagel, Tillisch, Anderson, Spooner voted nay. Motion did not pass 1:4.
Tillisch made a motion, seconded by Anderson to approve the first reading of ordinance 258 which prohibits motorized vehicles parking on the boulevard. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Anderson made a motion, seconded by Spooner to designate the City Hall as a satisfactory location for voting. Anderson, Spooner, Silbernagel voted aye with Sinner and Tillisch voted nay. Motion passed 3:2.
Sinner made a motion, seconded by Anderson to approve amendments to the personnel policy (orientation period will be 6 months, Flex spending accounts will not be offered as a benefit.) All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Mayor McConnell noted that he would like some help looking for someone to take over as mayor to give a fresh prospective on the City.
Motion to adjourn.
Brandy L. Pyle
City Auditor