Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Tammy Konz. Councilmembers present: Tammy Konz, DuWayne Orbeck, Chris Jansky, Eric Loewen and Joe Krippner. Councilmembers absent: None. Others present: Carol Newman, Darrel Wills, Shirley Wills, Jean Matua, Jim Schulz, Rep. Larry Hosch, Sandy Steinmetz, Jerry Albert, Vern Harris, Mike Cebulla, Cary Maus, Tom Ehlinger, Mona Almgren and Chad Almgren. Motion Jansky/Orbeck to approve the Jan. 2, 2007 minutes as presented. Motion passed. Motion Loewen/Jansky to approve the January claims as presented. Motion passed. Motion Jansky/Orbeck to approve the following items on the consent agenda: 1. To disconnect all delinquent city utilities. 2. To approve the renewal of the Work Comp. Policy for April 25, 2007 – April 25, 2008 and to include coverage for the elected officials as employees for the purpose of work comp., volunteers, Fire Board members and the Fire Relief Assoc. with no deductible and regular premium option. 3. To accept the donation of $10.00 to the Fire Equipment Fund from Charlotte Weigelt. Motion passed. State Representative Larry Hosch presented a general overview of the legislative session, the Governor’s budget which was just released, the budget surplus, Local Government Aid, state clarification of Administrative Fines, the 800 MHz radio system, this year is a budget year with next year being a bonding year and what the City would like to see over the next five months. Councilmember Orbeck addressed MPCA issues, wastewater upgrades and grants. Mayor Konz spoke about needs not only for the City, but also for the schools. This makes for a good City base. Put money in the classrooms. Rep. Hosch commented that rebates will be talked about, but will not happen. Councilmember Loewen asked if there would be any change to the eminent domain law. Rep. Hosch stated that there would be any changes to eminent domain, only Tax Increment Financing. Mike Cebulla of the Stearns County Assessor’s Office spoke on the market value rate, setting the date for the local board of review in April and the Board of Review training. Inviting school board members to the board of review was discussed. Cary Maus presented a handout for the Firemen’s Relief Assoc. Retirement fund and requested an increase for the years of service. Motion Orbeck/Jansky to approve an increase for the Firemen’s Relief Assoc. retirement from $750.00 to $775.00 for each year of service effective Jan. 1, 2008. Motion passed. Pastor Vern Harris and Elder Jerry Albert of the Kimball Church of Christ presented a request to allow the church to hook up to the City water service due to a proposed facility expansion and the need for water service for the sprinkler system. City Engineer Jim Schulz gave an estimated cost of $85.00 to $110.00 per foot to extend water service from Elm St. N. to the Church of Christ, which is approx. 2,100 feet ($200,000.00). Items discussed were adding a fire hydrant by the church, looping of water main, in-lieu of assessment ordinance, church assuming the whole cost. The City Council agreed to support the church in this effort and have the City engineer work with them and report back to the Council. A development agreement will need to be drafted with the church agreeing to pay for city cost. Fire Chief Tom Ehlinger reported on the grant of $27,775.00, which the fire department received from Stearns County for the 800 MHz radios. Motion Orbeck/Loewen to proceed with the purchase of the radios. Motion passed. Chief Ehlinger reported on the large scale Canadian Pacific Rail Road derailment exercise which will take place in Kimball behind the elevator sometime around September, the renewal of the mutual aid agreement with Dassel and other area departments, City of St. Augusta and Fairhaven Township contract terminations and FEMA funding. Motion Loewen/Krippner to renew the Mutual Aid Agreement with Dassel. Motion passed. Motion Jansky/Loewen to proceed with the same Mutual Aid Agreement with other departments in the area. Motion passed. Mona Almgren reported on cars driving into her yard on the corner of Linden Ave. E. and Magnus Johnson St. S. since the reconstruction of that corner with the street project. City Engineer Jim Schulz present before and after drawings of this corner. The right of way was discussed along with ideas on how to solve the problem. Jim Schulz requested time to study the issue and report back to the Council. Carol Newman addressed the width of Linden Ave. E. east of Main St. Councilmember Orbeck stated that this had to be scaled back as the street previously was on rail road right of way. Mayor Konz informed City Engineer Jim Schulz that she had requests from residents on Magnus Johnson Street that they wanted seeding and not sodding with the street project. Tom Ehlinger reported that there is required NIMS training for all City Councilmembers, City Staff and Fire Department on Feb. 21 from 6-10 p.m. and April 11 & 18 from 6-10 p.m. Mayor Konz reported on the copier issue and a new copier at the cost of $5,200.00 purchased from Chader Business Equipment will be delivered next week. Mayor Konz appointed Eric Loewen to the park committee. She has also spoken with the FHA and 4H about volunteering in the park. The Public Works Department has also contacted Sentence to Serve. The park committee will work on an all City Clean up Day to go with the House Hold Hazardous Clean-up Day. Carol Newman addressed the Council in regard to the War Memorial lighting in Willow Creek Park and requested that she be allowed to do some research on lighting. The Council granted this request. Mayor Konz reported on the letter, which the City received, from the Kimball American Legion and calls received in regard to the article in the St. Cloud Times on Jan. 10 for the new Triple RRR Grill and Bar. She reported on her conversation with the Times staff writer who wrote the article and Chris Jeppesen. The Council would like to see a positive article in the St. Cloud Times about the City and suggests that it be on the front page. There should be no comment by City Staff to the St. Cloud Times or any other publications. Councilmember Joe Krippner will be making some contacts in regard to a City Web site and report back to the Council. Mayor Konz will do some checking on a flashing bulletin board. Mayor Konz called for a special Planning and Vision Session meeting on Feb. 5th at 6:30 p.m. Other items of discussion: communications planning with Maine Prairie Township, city mapping, placing wood chips behind baseball fencing, open forum and gazebo in Scheeler Park. Motion Jansky/Krippner to adjourn at 9:35 p.m. Motion passed. Dianne Robinson
