City of Dennison
Regular Council Meeting
July 13, 2023
The July Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeff Flaten on Thursday, July 13 2023 at 7:00 pm. Present were Councilors Heidi Cooke, Kaylyn Nygaard, Nichole Schloesser and Diane Ruddle, and clerk Jessica Page.
Councilor Ruddle move to approve the regular meeting minutes for June. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 5:0. Councilor Schloesser move to approve the Treasurer’s report. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
Old Business/Committee Reports/Building Permits: None
Todd Greseth: Mayor and Jess Greenwood working together to improve the intersection across 9 by Bank. Nothing decided at this point in time. Would bank put in a sidewalk on north side of Co Rd 9? JG suggested it might be in a 5 year plan.
Pay study done, some employees are being underpaid. So County will have to adjust pay scales, etc.
Administrative Issues:
1. Review estimates for street work. Dan Storlie, Bill Deutsch, Lenny Dohmen and Jeff met on 6-26 to look at catch basins, curbs and road dips. A map and list of areas emailed to the council. Received an estimate from Seykora Asphalt Maintenance & Paving to do crack sealing for $18,842.00. Received a verbal estimate from Fahrner Asphalt for $23,500 to do crack sealing. Would recommend crack sealing this summer or fall.
Lenny and Bill sent in estimates for these areas. Jeff wants to get numbers together for August meeting.
Diane move to approve asphalt crack sealing bid from seykora. Kaylyn 2nd. 5:0.
Matt Diane’s friend who would be willing to work with the City to give the City some suggestions on what needs to be done, what can be put off, etc.
2. Catch basin on the corner of Goodhue Avenue and County Road 9, west side by Toby Kaiser's property, needs to be fixed. The asphalt road has collapsed by the catch basin. Bill Deutsch has proposed to fix the area. His estimate was forwarded to the council with pictures of the catch basin. Work area is not in the County Right-of-Way. Cost to fix would be $1,220.
Councilor Ruddle move to have the catch basin fixed by Bill Deutsch. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
3. Rice County is offering another VSF sign (Vehicle Speed Feedback Sign) at no cost to the community. We would be required to erect and maintain the signage along their County Highway, and the liability associated with that. Rice County is waiving the work permit fee, too. Permit information forwarded to the council. The speed sign installed by Goodhue County a few years earlier, cost the City $1,500. Goodhue County paid $1,500. Mayor Flaten move to accept the VSF Sign for the City from Rice County and put it up. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 5:0.
4. Property compliant updates: City attorney mailed out the letters with confirmation receipts received from all except Mark Weatherford. Waited almost a month before using the Sheriff's Dept. to serve the letter to Mr. Weatherford. Confirmed with Valley Autohaus in Northfield they will tow vehicles from private property.
Paul Nygaard Councilor Schloesser went to see. No tires left on property. All vehicles are licensed and registered. All debris is gone. Council felt that this complaint is satisfied.
Neal Wilson. His home is good. The house across from the locker still has stuff on the City easement. So the house complaint is satisfied, but he still needs to move some things around, and clean them up at the other house. City could mark the are that all items need to be behind. Letter to Neal about what he wants to do.
Bolstrom/Stanke Property. It has been confirmed that Chuck is out. Someone can look at the property for the weekend? Property has been cleaned up in the front. Still need to see what is in the back and what needs to be cleaned up. Heidi will go and see if anyone else is available.
Mark Weatherford. Sheriff to serve him the letter. No further action can be taken at this time.
5. Pete Lee building update: Mayor received a text message from Mr. Lee stating: “I have prepared space to move contents and have done some minimal repair. I am planning to tarp extensively and try to hold back more damage.” How does the council want to proceed in the matter?
Need to document issues like rodents. Submit a complaint form. Ordinance 68, racoons going in. Say that tarping isn’t going to cut it. Councilor Schloesser move to send Pete Lee a letter about the nuisance issues( Ord 68). Councilor Ruddle second. Motion passed 5:0
6. The Minnesota Department of Health is requiring all public water systems to develop a LSLI (Lead Service Line Inventory) by October 14, 2024. Mayor Flaten applied with the MDH for technical assistance in preparing the lead service line inventory. Talked with Corey Mathisen from the MDH on July 5th. He said since we are a small community with only 93 service lines presently, we would be ahead of bigger communities, when it comes to help and funding. He anticipates more grant application periods, depending on the needs. Minnesota Legislature would have to approve more funding, although. Since we don't have a City engineer, the state would assign us one. The state banned lead pipes/lead service lines in June of 1985. Probably will be hearing from the MDH on the application the end of July or early August.
Can we put on Facebook or in the newsletter to see if homeowners themselves know if they have lead service lines? Wait until August when we know more about what needs to be done/documented.
7. Email sent out regarding funding from the state when it comes to LGA, Public Safety Aid and DOT Small City Assistance. LGA will increase to $19,115 (for 2024. 2023 amount is still $13,594.) Public Safety Aid will be $9,715 and DOT assistance will be $17,152. Public Safety Aid is a one time grant. During the past legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature changed The Small City Assistance Program. It will be on-going and dedicated, so cities can eventually start budgeting for these funds.
8. Discussion regarding paying bills on-line. Jessica, Heidi and Diane met with a representative to discuss a new software system and how it would be implemented. Cost would be about $309 monthly. They would take care of all billing. Current software has some online payment options that we can explore. Current Software was $320 last fall, but will go up as we are now over 100 accounts. Online reviews, talk with other cities to see what they think of them.
Will look into how the late billings will affect the switchover. Will keep current software to ensure that all records are preserved for at least one year after the switchover.
9. New dead bolt installed on back door of City Hall. The key for the front door touch pad lock is still missing. Lock smith said the key for the front door is for emergency uses. It will wear out the core mechanism faster. The only reason to have the current front door lock was easy access for the medical cabinet for the firefighters/emergency personal. If the council wants the same key used on the front and back door of City Hall, would recommend changing the front door to a regular deadbolt lock. Council discussed and will keep it as is.
10. Extra key made for Jessica's office. Jeff and Jess know the combo
11. Estimate from Pat Anderson to replace all the windows (7) in the City Council's Chamber. Charlie Helcl is making a donation to the City to replace the windows.
An additional construction company had also been asked to complete a quote, but didn’t come up with a bid after a year. Councilor Schloesser move to have Pat Anderson fix all the windows. Mayor Flaten second. Motion passed 5:0.
12. Propane pre-pay: Only one tank that could fit maybe another 100 gallons, otherwise all the tanks are full. $1.59 pre pay price at 2500 gallons totals $3,997.50. If the City uses the current credit, the amount goes down to $3,055.87. Councilor Schloesser move to prepay 2500 gallons for lp. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
13. On June 21, Mayor Flaten went to a Nerstrand Fire Department. The Department bought a newer pumper truck (1996 model). It is not any longer than the current truck, so will fit in the shed without any problems. It can pumps more gallons per minute than the previous truck. Should be here by Dennison Days. Fire contract will likely go up by about 7% next year, which is and additional $684.95.
14. There were three more stumps that were found that need to be ground up. Mike Kniefel is able to grind these up and finish the last stump where his PTO broke, but would like to get paid for the original ones first. Dan and Jeff removed the chips from the stump sites, it is currently being stored at Dan’s house if anyone would like them. Jeff secured permission from Jirik’s to use some of the dirt up on the hill to fill those areas. Jeff and Dan are planning on filling in the holes with dirt this fall and seeding the areas at that time. Councilor Schloesser move to pay the bill. Mayor Flaten second. Motion passed 5:0.
15. Approve engagement letter with the auditor Councilor Cooke move to approve the auditor. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
16. Approve Contractor application for Paul’s Plumbing to do hookup work for new buildings. Councilor Nygaard move to approve Paul’s Plumbing application to do the hookup work for the new buildings in town. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
17. Dennison Days events: Main street will be closed on Saturday. It will be closed from the Post Office to City Hall on Friday for the Beanbag Tournament and Saturday for the street dance at 625 Bar and Grill.
The flag is starting to look a little ragged. Should the City purchase a new flag for Dennison Days for the maintenance shed. Will look into pricing and size. Mayor Flaten noted that one of the firemen was willing to install a light for the flag. Joe A noted that there was a light at the end of the building that was to shine on the flagpole. Maybe needs a new bulb? Will double check to see if it’s still together.
Citizens Issues:
5th Ave. Way Didn’t get graded. Rock was put down. Hernke’s brought in the Rock. Wasn’t graded after the gravel was brought in, and only about half of the road was covered in new gravel and a resident felt that it was unsafe. Resident felt the rock was too big for the road. The resident felt that the road has never been this bad in 13 years. Will see if there is an in-voice and what was ordered, and talk to Dan to see what he ordered. Need to have the road graded.
Farmer’s Market: Can the street be blocked off from 5-8 on Wednesday? Just the single block for the car show. City is okay to have them blocked off. City doesn’t own any barricades, so Seanat 625 Bar and Grill would have to have provide those. It would occur Wednesdays through Labor Day. Councilor Schloesser move to shut down street as minimally as possible on the block from the Farmer’s Market through City Hall on Wednesdays from 5-8 until September 13th. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
Complaint Form was submitted regarding unlicensed vehicles, parked at a residence in town. Resident was in attendance, and was informed of the issues.
Mayors Issues:
Utilities:
1. Update from Nate. Pond storage is good for now. Pump is not working, still trying to get one that works. Sprayed the sidewalks around the city buildings. Ask Bob Flom to spray weeds in streets, water tower, fence, parking lot. Will do around the ponds later. Jeno’s meter doesn’t work. Koesters house still needs to be fixed. Can conduit be put around the wire. Call Lyle and have Faribault plumbing and heating come again? Still need the ending numbers for Jirik meters. Nate has pictures. We should read meters every month when they aren’t working, or people irrigating their lawns.
2. Nate received his C sewer certification paperwork after our last council meeting.
3. Fire hydrants flushed on 6-21. Nate and Nichole took care of it.
4. Kadrlik's water meter switched out on 6-21.
5. Larson's and Erickson's water meters switched out on 6-22.
6. Minnesota pump works did annual maintenance and calibration on Lift Station pumps on 6-28.
7. Light fixed outside of the shop. Floodlight for the flagpole? He was also going to look at the City Hall light also. See above.
8. Water meters read on 7-11.
9. The cost review on the phosphorus system was completed by Mayor and Clerk and submitted to the MPCA. After reviewing the costs, the increases in the sewer rates will maybe cover the additional costs, but they may not either. Last fall was not a normal fall with the construction and drought conditions. Will likely need to cut costs someway, or increase rates again.
10. Proposal from Travis Reichl to continue with the City as an employee.
Councilor Ruddle move to keep Travis on as an employee as we need him at $50 hour. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
Mayor Flaten moved to close the meeting to discuss Nate and potential pay increase. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
Mayor Flaten move to open the meeting. Councilor Ruddle second. Motion passed 5:0.
Councilor Cooke move to raise pay to $27.16. Councilor Ruddle second. Motion passed 5:0.
Councilor Schloesser move to pay the bills, including the one for Nate for $327.50. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0. Hawkins check was held back as the pump is going to be returned.
Councilor Cooke moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion was adjourned at 9:38 pm.
Next meeting: Regular meeting is Thursday August 3rd, 2023 at 7:00.
