REGULAR MEETING 7:00 PM
CITY OF CASSELTON
Monday, May 3, 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, City Engineers Brandon Oye and Kyle Meyer, Cass County Corporal Dean Haaland, Diane Spoerel, Gary Spoerel, Steve Link, Ralph Nelson, Vince Bachmeier, Jaci Sullivan, Administrative Assistant Anita Hovland, Auditor Brandy Pyle, Cass County Reporter Amanda Gadas.
Anderson made a motion seconded by Tillisch to approve the minutes of April 13; City Attorney's Report, Police Report, Municipal Judge's Report, and the delinquent utilities list. All voted aye on roll call; motion carried.
Sinner made a motion, seconded by Tillisch to approve the following bills, refunds and salaries for the month of May. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion carried.
| Adapco Inc | $1,071.56 | Haugen Cleaning Services | $390.00 | |
| AFLAC | $144.62 | Hawkins Chemical | $1,237.75 | |
| Ameripride | $119.99 | Infratech | $573.82 | |
| Avesis Vision | $94.18 | Jim Markey | $55.72 | |
| Patrick Bresnahan | $50.00 | Job Authority | $7,750.00 | |
| Bud's Electric | $267.29 | King Farms Trucking | $275.00 | |
| Burgum Law | $1,350.00 | Medica | $3,138.52 | |
| Business Essentials | $147.68 | Ottertail Power | $4,939.60 | |
| Cass County Treasurer | $9,868.58 | Casselton Parks & Rec | $5,329.55 | |
| Cass County Electric | $475.45 | Power Plan | $459.83 | |
| Casselton Lumber | $11.31 | Railroad Management | $99.83 | |
| Cass Rural Water | $23,882.28 | Safelight fulfillment | $597.70 | |
| Chris Olson | $47.30 | SRF Consulting Group | $670.35 | |
| City of Fargo | $2,148.10 | Swanston Equip | $64.64 | |
| Curtis Vesey | $57.22 | Sweeny Controls | $82.91 | |
| Expressway Suites | $159.90 | Team Lab | $1,496.00 | |
| Fargo water Equip | $765.06 | USPS | $40.00 | |
| Farm Plan | $26.53 | Verizon Wireless | $157.25 | |
| Farm Plan | $448.77 | City of West Fargo | $140.00 | |
| Fox Valley Systems | $179.12 | Xcel | $141.39 | |
| Fargo Freightliner | $382.99 | Jayhawk Software | $862.00 | |
| Gary Marier | $58.97 | Casselton Library | $2,000.00 | |
| City of Grand Forks | $30.00 | Cass County Reporter | $634.49 | |
| Hardware Hank | $144.69 |
Tillisch a motion, seconded by Wangler to approve the financial reports for April. General fund $508,634.14; Special Revenue Fund $155,906.06; Debt Service Fund $252,950.02; Construction Funds $844,422.15; Special Assessments $487,161.00; Enterprise Funds $624,792.66; Trust and Agency Fund $23,014.09; total $296,880.12. All voted aye upon roll call vote; motion carried.
An invitation from the Casselton Business Association was received inviting the Council to the annual Community Service Award Banquet. This year's recipient is Bernie Sinner. Mayor McConnell requested everyone attend. The award will also be renamed after Brad Burgum.
The Council discussed ordinance 260- pertaining to the Midcontinent Franchise Ordinance. City Attorney Del Losing spoke about the amendments to the ordinance since the first reading last month. Tillisch made a motion, seconded by Wangler to approve the second as amended reading of ordinance 260 extending the existing Midcontinent Franchise agreement for another 13 years. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
City Attorney Del Losing then updated the Council on the status of the Maple River Grain and Agronomy TIF request. He noted that it appears that the amendment will work; it will be just finalizing final numbers before any documents are signed.
Councilman Silbernagel arrived at this time.
Public Works Supervisor Kevin Mayer noted that clean up week is occurring this week and that on the first day over 100 yards of materials was hauled out to the landfill. Clean-up letters were mailed to the south side residences that needed one. The north side will be done when the Sheriff's department finishes their inspection.
Sinner made a motion, seconded by Silbernagel to approve a resolution to vacate a portion of 36th Street SE, seconded by Silbernagel. All voted aye on roll call vote: motion passed.
JDA President Scott Kost presented an annual report of what JDA has been doing. He noted that the funds are doing really well. There are 8 active loans, and 5 micro loans. A few entities have started to repay their loans and this will now generate second generation loans that can be utilized to loan out to new businesses. JDA continues to partner with Lake Agassiz and the Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation.
Vince Bachmeier from St. Leo's Catholic Church approached the Council to see what could be done about the water in the parking lane on Langer Avenue in front of the Church. The City and Church had tried mud jacking the street last year, but it didn't seem to alleviate the issue. City Engineer Kyle Meyer noted that there are several spots on the street that have appeared to have settled. He noted that a couple of panels of the street would need to be replaced to fix the water situation. Bachmeier also noted that the Church plans to redo the different levels of sidewalk. Since the street topography may change, the Church does not know where to put the lower sidewalk level. Meyer noted that the City would have to fix the street situation before the Church would do the Church's repairs. Meyer will talk to the State DOT regarding the street situation to see if they are able to help fix the situation.
Bachmeier also inquired about the speed of the State plows during snow removal season. He wondered if they could slow down as to no throw the snow so far back on to the sidewalk. Unfortunately the City does not have control of the speed of the plows.
Ralph Nelson appeared before the Council to discuss a bridge over the newly completed diversion on the golf course. They would like to put it back in and is working with an engineering firm and the Water Resource District. The current bridge is 86 feet, and there would need to be an additional 27 feet on each side to extend the bridge. The bridge would also have to be at least 11 feet in the air to be outside the 100 year flood elevation. The current diversion has 3 feet of free board over the 100 year elevation mark. The Council would like to see it high enough so that ice jams do not become a problem. The Council recommended that Ralph get the plans stamped by an engineer. A few questions about liability arose.
The Council reviewed the sales tax grant applications. Silbernagel made a motion, seconded by Sinner to table the Parks and Rec sales tax application and to request that a Parks and Rec representative attend the next Council meeting. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed. Wangler made a motion, seconded by Silbernagel to approve $2,000 for the Casselton Library for new computers. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Sinner made a motion, seconded by Anderson, to designate the Cass County Reporter as the City of Casselton official newspaper. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Discussion moved to the server/computer quotes for a new computer system in the Auditor and Public Works office. Anderson made a motion, seconded by Silbernagel to table the server/computer discussion until next month.
Sinner made a motion, seconded by Anderson to approve a gaming site authorization for Prairie Public Broadcasting in T's Shamrock. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Auditor Pyle presented the 2009 water quality report. No action taken.
Tillisch made a motion, seconded by Sinner to approve a bingo permit amendment for the Knights of Columbus. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed
The Council discussed house at 744 4th St S. The property has been abandoned for 2 years. The building department and City Attorney have been working on the condemnation process. City Attorney Del Losing noted that it will still take sometime to notify the property owner and complete the process. The property owner has 30 days to comply with the building inspector's order.
Bron and Shannon Knutson, Memory Fireworks owners, appeared before the Council requesting a permit to sell fireworks within the City limits in June and July. The ordinance requires these permits to be approved 60 days before the first day of selling. The Auditor's office did not receive the application. Bron noted that their rental agreement was signed and requested that the Council approve the application as it was past this deadline. Spooner made a motion, seconded Wangler to approve a retail fireworks permit for Memory Fireworks. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
Auditor Pyle reported back to the Council the information requested concerning the Airport. The True and Full value of the airport was $809,000, and it sold over $7,000 in fuel sales in 2009. No action taken.
Auditor Pyle noted that the City was awarded $58,000 in a State Energy Grant. These funds will be used to update the heating/cooling system in the auditorium, the lighting in the auditor's office and a few other updates to the City Hall complex.
City Engineers Kyle Meyer and Brandon Oye presented maps outlining the needs of the sewer system. The Engineers and Council discussed videoing the sewer system, financing options and doing the project in three phases. It was noted that SRF, the State Revolving Fund would be able to finance a portion of the project at 3% financing. A very preliminary cost of phase one was projected to be about 1-1.5 million dollars. The Council also discussed the catch basin, curb and castings on Fairway Drive. The engineers will continue to put the cost estimate together as the videos are completed.
City Engineer Brandon Oye presented his findings on certifying the dirt stockpile. He presented the forms that would need to be filled out be the contractor hauling the dirt. These forms would need to be approved by the State Historical Society.
Discussion moved to Cass Rural Water and the water tower. Cass Rural intends to install a 12 inch pipe that would directly feed the water tower in the industrial park. This would change how the water is fed though the city system. This would also require a new treatment facility and pump house. The engineers noted that work needs to be done on the existing water treatment facility or the bubble and the old water tower. An inspection was done on the water tower last Friday. The Council discussed that this may be the right time to put another water tower tank up and do away with the bubble. Direct treatment and the pump station would be the responsibility of Cass Rural Water. The council was concerned about the fill capacity. The Council wondered if the Cass Rural would be able to come to a meeting and present some information.
The Council then discussed the two water breaks that service Jerry Moderow's lot on 6th Avenue north. The first break was on January 14 and cost $2,129.97. The same line broke again in February and cost $752.50. Moderow was requesting that the City pay for the repairs. The water is now shut off at the main. Spooner made a motion, seconded by Sinner to require the property owner pay for the 1st break bill and the City would handle the second bill. The property owner would also be required to pay for the street patch once the work is complete as it was dug to service the initial break. All voted aye on roll call vote; motion passed.
City Engineer Kyle Meyer will be meeting with the State to discuss a culvert by hwy 18 near the interstate to help with some of the water retention issues.
Jaci Sullivan appeared before the Council wondering about the cost of the whistle free zone. She inquired if there were some release that the City could put out to notify resident of the cost of the whistle free zone, and other projects. There was considerable discussion the distribution of the sales tax, and the notification process to residents to inform them of current projects the Council is working on. The Mayor, with input from he Council agreed to send out a flyer to inform residents about the different projects the City has on its capital improvement plan. The mailer will be written by Mayor McConnell and Auditor Brandy Pyle
Meeting Adjourned.
Brandy L. Pyle
City Auditor