REGULAR MEETING 7:00 PM
CITY OF CASSELTON
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Council Chambers
Present: Mayor McConnell, Councilmen Anderson, Spooner, Sinner, Silbernagel, Wangler, and Tillisch
Also Present: City Attorney Del Losing, Public Works Supervisor Kevin Mayer, Troy Klevgard, City Engineer Brandon Oye, Cass County Deputy Gress, Diane Spoerel, Harold Rotunda, Mardi Millons, Barb Cote, Merle Myers, Chris Prochnow, Bill Mattson, Lowell Gunderson, Audrey Gunderson, Administrative Assistant Anita Hovland, Auditor Brandy Pyle, Cass County Reporter Sarah Sorvaag
Wangler made a motion seconded by Tillisch to approve the minutes of March 8; City Attorney's Report, Police Report, Municipal Judge's Report, and the delinquent utilities list. All voted aye on roll call; motion carried.
Tillisch made a motion, seconded by Sinner to approve the following bills, refunds and salaries for the month of February. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion carried.
| Aflac | $144.62 | Hawkins Chemical | $1,181.48 | |
| Ameripride | $289.24 | Jerry's excavating | $5,934.66 | |
| Bremer Bank | $233.38 | Jim Markey | $90.92 | |
| Burgum Law | $650.00 | Johnson Pest Control | $55.00 | |
| Cass Co. Reporter | $1,350.00 | Kevin Mayer | $200.00 | |
| Cass Co. Treasurer | $849.60 | Municipal Government Academy | $80.00 | |
| Cass County Electric | $10,018.29 | Mac's Inc | $24.85 | |
| Casselton Lumber | $45.00 | MedCenter one | $90.00 | |
| Casselton Public Library | $468.66 | North Central Mosquito | $20.00 | |
| Cass Rural Water | $27,309.17 | Muicipal judges Assoc | $25.00 | |
| Casselton Cemetery | $4,411.34 | ND One Call | $6.50 | |
| Choice Financial | $3,019.30 | ND Dept of Commerce | $762.62 | |
| City of Fargo | $892.50 | Orbit Com | $302.82 | |
| Cote Mechanical | $100.00 | Ottertail | $4,309.85 | |
| Earl's Repair | $1,192.32 | Harold Rotunda | $2,800.00 | |
| Expressway Suites | $319.80 | Petroserve | $2,053.69 | |
| Fargo Water Equipment | $655.13 | SRF Consulting | $543.65 | |
| Farm Plan | $98.37 | Starion Bond Services | $355,186.00 | |
| Casselton Fire Dept | $20,728.05 | Sturdevant's | $720.27 | |
| First State Bank | $16,000.00 | Swanston Equip | $0.03 | |
| Gary Marier | $59.13 | USPS | $176.00 | |
| Hardware Hank | $349.88 | Verizon Wireless | $152.06 | |
| Haugen Cleaning Service | $375.00 | Weber Insurance | $19,286.00 | |
| Xcel | $229.29 |
An invitation was received from the Generations Connecting. They are hosting a Town Hall meeting on April 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the school.
Public Works Supervisor Kevin Mayer reported that there was about 17,000,000 gallons of extra water in the lagoons over the amount of water that the City had purchased from Cass Rural Water in the last three months. He believes that the older portions sewer mains are allowing ground water to seep into the sewer system. He noted that the lagoons are operating at capacity, is concerned about erosion on the slopes. Mayer said that there was a muskrat issue that left a hole between two lagoon cells. Council and Mayer discussed videoing the sewer lines to see if a relining of the lines or a complete overall of the sewer mains is needed. The cost of the possible solutions was discussed. Mayer noted that the old water tower was back on line.
Harold Rotunda reviewed the 2009 Financial Audit. He noted that the reserves from the last few years have been used. Sinner made a motion, seconded by Anderson to approve the 2009 audit. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Dan Nelson from Midcontinent Communications appeared before the Council to discuss the Midcontinent Franchise Agreement. City Attorney Del Losing recommended approving the first reading of the ordinance and reviewing some of the items listed in the agreement. There are no proposed changes in the operating part of the agreement. Anderson made a motion, seconded by Silbernagel to approve the first reading of ordinance #260 regarding the franchise agreement with Midcontinent Communications. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Wangler made a motion, seconded by Silbernagel to approve the out of town dirt by Kent and Alicia Severson. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Mayor McConnell reported that the airport was hoping to get 30,000 - 35,000 yards of dirt for a project. He noted that he wished to annex the airport into the City and could do so by the highway corridor. He thought that water and sewer would eventually have to be installed. By including the airport within the city, the City would collect property tax and sales tax.
Mayor McConnell would like the dirt from the diversion to be certified so that townships could be reimbursed by FEMA when repairing damaged roads from the 2010 flood.
The Council discussed the township road that accesses the dirt pile. The Township was concerned with the maintenance of the road once contractors start hauling dirt for various projects. Silbernagel made a motion, seconded by Tillisch to add and addendum to the dirt request sheet that makes contractors responsible for fixing the township road that accesses the dirt pile if damage is done. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Wangler made a motion, seconded by Sinner to approve the gaming site authorization for Veterans, Inc at Vet's Club and Red Baron. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Maple River Grain & Agronomy submitted a request to add the current expansion project into the original TIF. They have started a 6.4 million dollar expansion that includes installation of gas lines. City Attorney Del Losing would like to take a closer look at it to ensure that everything will work. Silbernagel made a motion, seconded by Anderson to support the change of the developers' agreement contingent upon legal review of the developers' agreement change request. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
The Council discussed the Safe Routes to School Sidewalk project. City Engineer Kyle Meyer reported that the plans have been submitted to the State for final review and is on their bid list for June 18. They will be scheduling a public meeting for the construction area to inform residents what will be done and make any necessary adjustments. Chris Prochnow expressed concern about the plans to construct the sidewalk 2 feet off the road on 5th Street North. He would like to see the ditches filled in and the sidewalks moved back. The Council discussed the idea. Meyer noted that it would add approximately $50,000 to the project. Discussion continued regarding the materials for the storm sewer. Councilman Spooner felt that the extra to fill in the ditch and move the sidewalk back was a good idea and would assess the additional amount to the Citywide Special Assessment district. Spooner made a motion, seconded by Tillisch to fill in the ditch and to install a storm sewer and culverts and move sidewalk over the appropriate amount of feet on 5th Street North ,east side of Langer Avenue. Tillisch, Anderson, Spooner, Wangler, Sinner voted aye with Silbernagel abstaining. Motion passed 5-0.
Lowell Gunderson representing GPRED approached the Council inquiring about the status of a retention pond in the industrial park. He asked the Council to look into purchasing 6 acres around the water tower and installing gravity fed retention pond versus purchasing another section of land for a retention pond that would require a more expensive option of a lift station. The Council agreed that they will revisit this topic when more there are more businesses in the industrial park. Public Works Supervisor Kevin Mayer reported that he has been working with ND DOT and the NDSU agronomy farm. He noted that there is a possibility to put a flap gate on one of the culverts and re-direct water to flow across the highway.
Councilman Anderson presented pictures of a water drainage issue in Governor's Park. The man hole that sits on the southeast side of the park is not connected to the storm sewer system that lies just a few feet away. After reviewing the pictures, City Engineer Kyle Meyer recommended to contact Jerry's Excavating and make the necessary fixes so that the water can drain.
Auditor Brandy Pyle reported that the Auditor's office and Public Works office were in need of a computer system upgrade. She received 3 bids and will work with Councilman Spooner to determine the best option.
Library President Barb Cote presented an updated 2010 budget that included the $6,000 the Council would contribute from the General Fund. Councilman Silbernagel, seconded by Sinner to approve $6,000 to the library to be used for benefits for the new librarian. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Discussion continued regarding the certification of the diversion dirt. The dirt was tested and used to repair the Absaraka Dam last year. The City engineers will verify the results.
City Engineer Brandon Oye updated the Council on the Swan Creek Diversion. There are a few items left to finish up the project. There are also a few areas that will need to be fixed as they were damaged during the 2010 flood.
The Council discussed the water drainage issues on the back side of the cemetery. City Engineer Kyle Meyer noted that a small swale would need to be dug to alleviate the water back up.
The City of Casselton is hosting the North Dakota League of Cities Regional Meeting on May 5, 2010.
City Attorney Del Losing reported that they are re-advertising the Habiger/city lot. Sealed bids are due May 10.
A thank you note was received for the flowers sent to Brad Burgum's funeral.
Discussion moved to the FEMA flood maps. New maps should be out in the fall of 2012. Some Councilman had heard that some home owners in the Martin's addition and Cottonwood Estates were having a little trouble getting a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR). Mardi Millons, the City's liaison for FEMA presented her business cards to the Council and is willing to help out with what she can with regards to the remapping.
Motion to adjourn.
Brandy L. Pyle
City Auditor
Tax Equalization meeting for the
CITY OF CASSELTON
SPECIAL MEETING 6:30 P.M.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Council Chambers
Present: Mayor McConnell; Councilman Silbernagel, Spooner, Anderson, Wangler, Sinner, Tillisch. Also present: City Assessor Elwood Gunderson, Harold Rotunda, Administrative Assistant Anita Hovland, and City Auditor Brandy Pyle.
Mayor McConnell called the meeting to order.
Regarding the property tax valuations, no written or oral protests were presented.
Anderson made a motion, seconded by Sinner to accept the valuations as presented by the City Assessor. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Meeting Adjourned.
Brandy L. Pyle
City Auditor