Meeting was called to order by Mayor Tammy Konz. Councilmembers present: Tammy Konz, DuWayne Orbeck, Chris Jansky, Eric Loewen and Joe Krippner. Councilmembers absent: None. Others present: Darrel Wills, Shirley Wills, Sandy Steinmetz, Jim Schulz, Chad Johnson, Jean Matua and Richard Janski. Motion Loewen/Jansky to approve the Dec. 18th and Dec. 29th minutes as presented with a correction to page 3, paragraph one of the Dec. 18th minutes. Motion passed Motion Jansky/Loewen to also state that they did not approve of how the meeting on Dec. 29th was called for and handled for Todd Rohloff’s resignation, which is not effective until Jan. 31, 2007. Motion passed. Motion to approve the following items on the consent agenda and to table items 3,4,5 and 6 for later discussion: 1. To approve the “Volunteer Fire Assistance” matching grant and authorize the Mayor and Clerk Treasurer to sign all three copies of the grant and submit to the DNR Fire Center. 2. To approve the following donations: $1,000.00 from Meeker Cooperative Electric Trust for the purchase of a cascade system and fill station for the Fire Department, $$370.00 from the Steve Gohman’s in memory of Katie Gohman for the Fire Equipment fund, $100.00 from the Richard Eckman’s for the Fire Equipment fund and $200.00 from the Darrell Magnuson Memorial for the Fire Equipment fund. 7. To appoint the State Bank of Kimball, Atwater State Bank and United Bankers of Bloomington as the official depository for 2007. 8. To approve the Sunday Liquor License application for Triple RRR Grill & Bar at 37 Maus Drive for 2007. Motion passed. Councilmember Chris Jansky reported the Rep. Larry Hosch would not be present as he was having car trouble. The ownership of the police K-9 (Viper) was discussed. He is only trained to work with Todd Rohloff. Police Chief Jim Frilstad commented that Stearns County and Meeker County also have K-9 units. The donation of the K-9 dog will be looked into and discussed at the Jan. 22nd meeting. Motion Orbeck/Loewen to have Chad Johnson make a written request of MPCA for a change to the NPDES permit for a crop change from corn to alfalfa for the 2008 crop season. Those voting in favor thereof: Tammy Konz, DuWayne Orbeck, Eric Loewen and Joe Krippner; those abstaining: Chris Jansky; those voting against or absent: None. Motion passed. Bridge repair and maintenance work in Willow Creek Park was discussed. Mayor Konz will contact Bill Liedman and the Scout and DuWayne Orbeck will contact other volunteers to see if they would be willing to do volunteer work in the park. Chad Johnson will contact the Sentence to Service program now to line up a work crew for the spring. Councilmember Loewen requested that Chad Johnson put together an action list of what needs to be done in the Park. The $1,000.00 donation made by the Legion Club for the repair of the lighting at the War Memorial in the park was addressed. Councilmember Loewen stated that the lighting should be repaired correctly and not just a temporary fix. Mayor Konz requested that the Public Works Department hold off on purchasing supplies for the bridges until she has a chance to speak to Scouts and other organizations. Motion Konz/Krippner to have Chad Johnson obtain quotes from licensed electricians to repair the lighting for the War Memorial in Willow Creek Park and bring the quotes to the Council for their review before a quote is awarded. Motion passed. Clerk Treasurer Dianne Robinson will provide Mayor Konz with a contact number or e-mail address for Eric Altena of the DNR to see what assistance is available and to invite him to a Park Committee meeting. The gazebo in Scheeler Park was addressed. The lumber has been stored for the winter and Councilmember Orbeck will see if he can locate plans for the gazebo. Chad Johnson commented on the letter received from MPCA on the wastewater pond testing, which was done earlier than it should have been. He stated that the matter was all cleared up and an amendment to the report is ready to be sent to the MPCA. He also reported that he has not yet had a response on the Sanitary Sewer Main Extension and/or Modification permit requirement letter. The Public Works Department was reminded to install the NO PARKING signs on Linden Ave. E. from Main St. to Highway 55. Mayor Konz will call Chader Business Equipment to resolve the issue of the used/demo copier. The City Attorney will be instructed to review the City Liquor Licensing Ordinance and make recommendations to the Council for changes according to State Statute. The deadline for being placed on the Council agenda will be published in the Tri-County News along with a notice that the OPEN FORUM portion of the meeting will be held at the end of the meeting. Richard Janski submitted a claim for $1,140.00 for the plowing of the center wastewater irrigation field. Motion Loewen/Krippner to pay this claim. Motion passed. Mayor Konz signed the statement of proof required by the ASCS Office that Janski Farms was renting the wastewater irrigation field. Councilmember Loewen commented that he had been in contact with MPCA and the corm form the wastewater irrigation field can be sold for ethanol. Richard Janski requested a 5 year rental contract. This will be looked into by the Council. Motion Jansky/Loewen to appoint Councilmember DuWayne Orbeck as the Acting Mayor for 2007 to serve in the Mayor’s absence. Those voting in favor thereof: Chris Jansky, Eric Loewen, Tammy Konz and Joe Krippner; those abstaining: DuWayne Orbeck; those voting against or absent: None. Motion passed. Motion Jansky/Orbeck to appoint Joe Krippner to serve on the Fire Board as the City Council representative. Those voting in favor thereof: Chris Jansky, DuWayne Orbeck, Tammy Konz and Eric Loewen; those abstaining: Joe Krippner; those voting against or absent: None. Motion passed. Motion Orbeck/Loewen to appoint the Tri-County News as the official newspaper for City publications and notices. Motion passed. Motion Jansky/Krippner to appoint the firm of Young Brown and Pagel as the legal counsel for the City according to the rates in their request. Motion passed. Mayor Konz will speak with Attorney Tim Young about issues concerning legal service. Motion Jansky/Krippner to carry over the appointment from last year of Tammy Konz and Chris Jansky to the Park Committee. Motion passed. Chris Jansky and DuWayne Orbeck plan to attend the Grant Writing seminar sponsored by the Initiative Foundation. Joe Krippner and Eric Loewen plan to attend the Board of Review training. The Council plans to have a booth in the Business Expo on March 24th. Motion Jansky/Orbeck to renew the safety training contract for 2007 with Safety First and suggest to them that meeting location be rotated with the other cities that participate and have them review the rate of payment. Motion passed. Motion Loewen/Krippner to change the Jan. 16, 2007 regular City Council meeting to Monday Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Motion passed. Motion Orbeck/Loewen to call for a Special City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2007 to meet with the new Police Chief Jim Frilstad. Motion passed. Police Chief Jim Frilstad presented the monthly reports and reported on software for the squad car lap top computer. Councilmember Krippner will help him with this. Motion Orbeck/Jansky to accept the resignation of Todd Rohloff as a full time employee and police chief effective Jan. 31, 2007. Motion passed. Motion Jansky/Krippner to hire Todd Rohloff as a part time employee with part time status and to determine the part time pay rate after he meets with the personnel committee effective Feb. 1, 2007. Motion passed. Motion Jansky/Orbeck to adjourn at 9:25 p.m. Motion passed. Dianne H. Robinson Clerk Treasurer
