City of Dennison
Meeting minutes
December 5th, 2024
The December Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Flaten on Thursday, December 5th, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Present were Councilors Diane Ruddle, and Kaylyn Nygaard and clerk Jessica Page. Councilors Heidi Cooke and Nichole Schloesser were unable to attend.
Councilor Nygaard moved to approve the Meeting Minutes from the November City Council meeting. Councilor Ruddle second. Motion passed 3:0.
Councilor Ruddle moved to approve the Treasurer’s report. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 3:0.
Old Business/Committee Reports/Building Permits:
See Utilities report below:
Sheriff’s deputy: Sgt Ayrs. No concerns for Dennison. He asked Council if they had any concerns. Council didn’t have anything.
Todd Greseth: 3.4 budget increase for the County. Currently the county is full staffed. Todd noted that there was a one time homestead credit increase to reduce taxable values.
Administrative Issues:
1. Truth and Taxation: Preliminary Levy was set at $200,000, with no bond amounts for the Levy as that was paid off in January of 2024. Councilor Ruddle move to approve Resolution 12-2024-01, setting the Final Levy amount at $200,000. Councilor Nygaard second . Motion passed 3:0.
2. Reviewed the proposals submitted to the City for fixing the city streets. Mayor contacted Pearson Bros. Inc., Deutsch Excavating, Dohmen Concrete Enterprises, Bill's Blacktop and Seykora Asphalt for bids. The project list and map was forwarded to the council before the December meeting. The City has $13,589.84 left to use from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act), and needs to obligate that money before 12/31/24 or risk losing those funds. The clerk attempted to do this for the crack sealing project last year, but since the City had completed the work before it was obligated by the U.S. Treasury reporting system, it wasn’t accepted then. Pearson Bros. was only business to submit a quote. The bid was for two components, the chip sealing, and fog sealing. Council opted not to complete the Fog Sealing. Councilor Ruddle moved to accept the Pearson bid and apply the ARPA money towards this bid. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 3:0.
3. Neal Wilson asked the City to suspend paying his sewer fees on his second property next to Dennison Meats until he has City water service. He pointed out he is annexed into the City and doesn't have a working well and is unable to hook up to the City water supply at this time. Discussion was held on the matter. The possibility of setting a time limit to get water service to his second property then reapply sewer fees was discussed. Councilor Ruddle move to suspend the utility debt fee of $25 and the sewer base fee of $15 for up to 12 months for Neal Wilson’s, with quarterly reports as to whether his well is working again made to the City. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 3:0
4. Liquor licenses and Cigarette licenses for 2025: 625 Bar and Grill has had their application returned from the Goodhue County Sheriff’s office already with no issues. We are waiting for Fireside’s to be come back from the Sheriff’s Office, but do not anticipate any issues. Councilor Ruddle move to approve 625’s liquor license, as well as Fireside’s liquor license, pending county approval. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 3:0 Fireside and Dennison Depot would both like to renew their Cigarette Licenses for 2025. Councilor Ruddle move to approve Fireside’s and Dennison Depot’s cigarette licenses for 2025. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 3:0
5. Mayor is requesting that the council set up a payment plan (at least a $1,000 a year) for Karl Brogger to repay the City for the 3 hook-ups he purchased/used for his building ($21,000). The City forgave over $18,000 in interest (Cannon Tackle project). Karl approached the City about setting up a payment plan and forgiving the interest amounts on the hookups that would start in 2018. He has paid the City $8500 since that time. He still owes $12,500. Councilor Nygaard move to put in writing that the City would like to have him pay at least $1000 per year. Mayor Flaten second. Motion passed 3:0.
6. Xcel Energy Lighting Retrofit Rebate Application update. Required documentation and application has been sent to Xcel. Rebate checks will be sent to the City in approximately 6-8 weeks and will amount to $370. Councilor Nygaard move to accept Diane Ruddle’s donation of $350 for the lighting. Mayor Flaten second. Motion passed 2:0 Councilor Ruddle abstained .
7. FEMA has reported to the mayor that the gravel roads damaged during the June flooding events have been obligated and the City will be reimbursed for those costs (approximately $6,700). FEMA will also reimburse Dennison for the time the mayor spent for his administrative work and the mileage costs to go to meetings in Red Wing and Faribault.
8. Update regarding City providing dental benefits for Jessica and Nate. Jessica reached out to Jenny Van Deinse from Gallagher and she relayed the information that the City would need to set up a Section 125 premium only (POP) plan document that allows the City to take the dental premiums pre-tax from employees paychecks. There wouldn't be an additional charge for Gallagher to be the broker. Jenny recommended using a TPA (Third Party Administrator) or a tax attorney. She thought it would be a couple thousand to do this. Mayor talked with the city attorney about potentially doing the Section 125, but she is unable and recommended hiring a tax attorney. Possible TPAs recommended by Jenny would be Benefit Extras and Wex. If the council wants to move forward in providing dental benefits for Jessica and Nate, the City can get estimates from a tax attorney or a TPA before our January meeting. Jessica and Nate can get enrolled in Delta Dental anytime next year, if that is the case. Get some additional information. Small cities group to see if they have any examples.
9. Update about a new City Ordinance for Cannabis. Nothing ready at this point.
10. Goodhue County Hazard Mitigation Plan and approval. Information forwarded to the council in advance of our monthly meeting. It is something that is required by FEMA (to receive FEMA financial help) and updated every 5 years. Councilor Ruddle move to approve Resolution 12-24-02, approving the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 3:0.
11. Work was completed to extend the City Shop/Fire Station driveway on 11-25. Gravel was donated by Kielmeyer’s. Bill Duetsch donated his work also. Thank you to both of those business’! Curbs painted by the mayor. Thanks Jeff! 2 “No Parking” signs were installed next to the driveway, 20 feet from the entrance, on both sides by the Fire Department.
12. Work completed to rock and grade the stub street on 11-25. Rock was added to Farm Road, and graded. 5th Avenue and Goodhue Avenue were also graded on 11-25.
13. Dan Storlie assisted Nate with some lawn care duties this summer due to excessive rainfall in late May and all June. He was paid using the same plan as Nate, but his pay rate is currently $18.00 hourly, and has been the same since probably before 2014. This brought up the question regarding mowing wages. Does the City need to establish a “mowing wage”? Should Dan’s salary be increased to be more in line with Nate’s? What if someone else were to mow? What rate would they get? Dan should probably have his salary looked at also since he has not had an increase in pay for at least 10 years. Table this discussion until additional people are in attendance.
14. Street sweeping was completed 11-14-24 by Charlie Terpstra.
15. Two stumps by Fireside were ground on 11-25. Chips left in place to prevent falls from stepping in a hole.
16. Discussion on Nerstrand Fire Department’s ask to assist with purchase of new vehicle. They received a grant from the Taylor Family Foundation and need to come up with a matching funds for the $50,000 grant they received. They have some money already, but are still in need of $17,500.
Citizens Issues:
Mayors Issues:
Mayor had a consultation with Peter Lindstrom and Jennifer Lindahl on 11-8-24 regarding Solar on Public Buildings. One possible location discussed for solar panels was City Hall. After further examination that particular area is constrained by lack of capacity for transmission lines, 100% full for capacity, according to Xcel Energy's information/capacity maps. Other City properties were discussed, and the same issue about lack of capacity was identified. If there weren't any capacity issues, 60% of the project would be covered by state grants, 30% federally guaranteed (direct pay or rebates) and 10% federal grant requiring domestic content, (Made in America requirement). Question asked about the cost of recycling solar panels. It is part of the grant program. Cities are required to recycle the solar panels. Contractors are obligated to show these potential costs. $20 per panel to recycle, currently.
Utilities:
1. Update from Nate: Nate is planning on reading the meters at the houses that have issues with dogs on Friday the 3rd. He is currently getting ready for the final discharge of the year. He is working on changing out Pohl’s water meter soon. There was discussion on whether there is an expiration date on the acid stored in the shed. Mayor thought there isn’t one on the barrel. Councilor Ruddle noted that we should use the acid, as it would likely be expensive to dispose of. Councilor Ruddle brought up items for using while working with chemicals. Nate said he has gloves, face shield already. Will work on getting a lab coat for Nate.
2. Nate hasn’t calibrated the DO meter, but is planning on using it for the next discharge. He is planning on putting calibration information on the chain of custody sheets so that is kept on the record. The question was asked about trying to sell the other DO meter? Might be a lab quality meter, vs one for a small City.
3. Mayor read water meters for Beam's, Thompson's and the Duplex properties on 11-17-24. Mayor stopped by the Thompson house on 11-18 to figure out why the City wasn't getting a reading. Presume the problem is the splice made between the new and old wires on the outside of the house. Nate said he'd take a look and fix the issue. When it comes to reading meters and dog issues, mayor asked Nate if he could read water meters on either January 2nd or the 3rd and the city could notify the Beam and Duplex properties to let them know in advance. Mayor also talked with Joe Amy about his property (old Johnny Angel's place) and said we would like to have a meter reader on the north side of his building. He's willing to work with the City and help get this installed in December. Mayor asked Nate if he could replace the water meter for the Pohl property the early part of December. If not completed, the City could use Paul's Plumbing.
4. MPCA annual review was sent to the City. City missed a set of influent samples in December 2023, had one pH reading over 9 at 9.1 on one of the discharges, and was over in phosphorus total kg for the year. Clerk went through and reviewed the information, and found that the automatic calculations for two of the months were incorrect, and the correct calculations should keep the City below the annual Phosphorus limit for 2024. Emailed MPCA regarding this, but haven’t heard back.
It was Councilor Nygaard’s last meeting and she was thanked for her service over the last two years.
Mayor Flaten move to approve the bills. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 3:0.
Mayor Flaten move to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Nygaard second. Meeting adjourned at 8:55 pm.
Next meeting: Regular meeting is Thursday, January 2nd, 2025 at 7:00.
