City of Dennison
Meeting minutes
November 7th, 2024
The November Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Flaten on Thursday, November 7th, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Present were Councilors Diane Ruddle, Heidi Cooke, Nichole Schloesser, and clerk Jessica Page. Councilor Nygaard was unable to attend.
Councilor Ruddle moved to approve the Meeting Minutes from the October City Council meeting. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0.
Councilor Cooke moved to approve the Treasurer’s report. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0.
Old Business/Committee Reports/Building Permits:
None.
Administrative Issues:
1. Assessments for utilities. Resolution 11-2024-01. See listing of amounts to be assessed to property taxes. Councilor Ruddle move to approve the Resolution 11-2024-01. “Based upon the discussion of the City Council and it’s unanimous vote in favor of the special assessments preliminary list, the Dennison City Council hereby approves the Special Assessments for unpaid utility bills for 2024 to be sent to Goodhue/Rice County. Along with the unpaid balance, a 10% fee will be added to the total.” Councilor Cooke second. Resolution passed 4:0. These individuals have until November 30th to pay down their accounts to avoid having the amounts assessed.
2. Extending the driveway for the City Shop/Fire station 6 feet to the south. Brian Edwards from the Nerstrand Fire Dept had asked the council last month to widen the driveway for more parking for the firefighters during emergencies. The council had asked Brian if the Fire Department could defray the cost of the driveway extension. Bill Deutsch gave the City an estimate of $1,255.00 to do that work. Nerstrand Fire Dept is willing to split the cost for that. Brian indicated that they may be able to get the gravel donated and will pursue that and will let Jeff know if that is possible.
Councilor ruddle move to approve the following: Deutsch Excavating to expand the parking area in front of the Maintenance Shed/Fire Dept building, and split the cost with Nerstrand Fire Dept. Nerstrand Fire Dept will pursue the possibility of getting the gravel donated. Nerstrand Fire Department will install new signs designating no parking area in the street in front of said building, 20 feet to the south of the driveway, and north to the property line, and Mayor Flaten will paint the curbs yellow to the same specifications, to increase safety and decrease the chance of damage to equipment or vehicles sue to tight turns. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
3. Building Permit contract. Councilor Schloesser move to approve the annual building permit contract with the County. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
4. Liability Coverage Waiver Form that must be approved annually. Councilor Schloesser move “The City of Dennison does not want to waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability established by Minn Stat. 466.04.” Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
5. Warsaw Township agreement/contract with the City to maintain Goodhue Avenue North. Warsaw would grade and add gravel to the road, while the City would snow plow the stretch from Terry Haugen's place to Rice County Road 31. The City would still complete the dust treatments every year. The agreement the City has with Northfield Township to maintain Goodhue Avenue South would still remain in effect. The mayor recommends the council agree/approve before the snowfall begins. Warsaw Township would like to be reimbursed $750 annually for the maintenance work needed for the road and ditch. They will bill the City for gravel that is put on the road. (which should be about once every three years.) Diane made and Heidi second. 4:0
Need motion and who made
6. The stub street and gravel maintenance. Property owner talked with clerk about the road suffering from erosion after the rains in June. The mayor and Dan Storlie had noticed gravel washing onto 3rd Avenue this summer, and large ruts on the stub street. Mayor asked Bill Deutsch to regrade the road this fall. It will require about two loads of gravel and regrading to shape a center crown. Labor and gravel will be $1,605.00.
7. Prosecution Service Contract with Goodhue County. The contract was forwarded to everyone on the council to review before the meeting. Goodhue County is providing the City with a proposal for a one (1) year term misdemeanor prosecution service contract. For the calendar year 2025, the cost would be $69 per month, resulting in a total for the year of $828.00. This is not a new fee, but the contract has not been renewed for a couple of years per the County, and they want to bring it up to date. Councilor Ruddle move to accept the Prosecution Service Contract with Goodhue County. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
8. Fee schedule. Mayor and clerk were reviewing the fee schedule and noticed there was not a separate fee for land splits. Most times, when property is split, it is usually rezoned at the same time so falls under that category. City should add land splits as another subject item line under Land Use Fees. Mayor Flaten move to add “Land split without re-zoning. $250”. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0.
Also add to fee schedule, the Cannabis fee is set by the respective counties as per the county guidelines.
9. Cannabis resolutions: Councilor Ruddle move to accept 11-2024 -02 for Rice County to have the Authority to deal with the Hemp and Cannabis Registration in the Rice County portion of the City of Dennison. Councilor Cooke second. Resolution passed 4:0.
Councilor Ruddle move to accept Resolution 11-2024-03 for Goodhue County to have the Authority to deal with the Hemp and Cannabis Registration in the Goodhue portion of the City of Dennison. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
City Resolution for Cannabis: Councilor Ruddle is working on it and wants to wait until Rice County adopts their ordinance so we know what to put in the one for the City of Dennison.
10. Benefits for Jessica and Nate. The mayor reached out to the LMC and they referred the City to Gallagher Consulting, which provides health and benefits services to their members. The City was offered a free 30 minute phone call. Gallagher gave the City a proposal from Delta Dental for only two employees who work lower part-time hours. Unfortunately, they couldn't find plans for short-term or long-term disability insurance plans. Does the council want to pay for the premiums, or pay a portion of the cost every month? City would have till the end of November to get Jessica and Nate enrolled in the insurance plans. Councilor Cooke move to approve dental insurance, not to exceed $50 each in lieu of a cola raise. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0.
11. Ash tree removal. John Miner has completed cutting down and removing all the trees. Joe Amy asked the mayor about the two stumps next to his property (Fireside) and thought they were a hazardous situation. He asked the City to grind down the stumps sooner than later. Xcel also trimmed the Ash tree on the south side of 377th street, next to the alley. John Miner will pick up and remove those branches from the City, at no extra cost. Mayor thanked him for helping the City and going above and beyond his original scope of work. MAK quote is for $140 per stump. Councilor Ruddle move to have MAK do two stumps by Fireside. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0. Clerk will talk to MAK to see if he can get them done asap.
12. Cedar Lake fixed the ceiling light fixtures at City Hall on 10-17-24.
13. Electrician finished wring the new water heater at City Hall on 10-22-24.
14. Board of Canvassing will meet on Tuesday, November 12th, at 6:30 PM at City Hall.
15. Has Nate removed his trailers from City property (city shop driveway and west side of building) yet? Trailers were moved from the front, but still needs to move the one from the back.
16. Old checks: There are several old checks listed in the financial reports that the auditor asked that the City get those reissued and sent out so the old ones can come off the reports. Neal, Diane, Nichole, and Jess have outstanding checks that are 2022 or older. Councilor Ruddle move to approve. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0.
17. While at the Goodhue County City Administrators meeting in late October, discussion was held on looking for 1 person from each City to be on their Resource Recovery Committee. Committee would meet once a year. They are looking to tie that meeting in with the Administrators meeting, so most City’s are likely going to utilize the folks already going to that meeting. Mayor Flaten is interested.
18. Approve street sweeping this fall by Terpstra Companies for $925.00. Councilor Schloesser move to have Terpstra Companies so the street sweeping this fall. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
19. The mayor was informed by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation that the grant request for “Updating the City of Dennison's Comprehensive Plan” was not approved for funding. SMIF explained they were overwhelmed with applications this year and unfortunately are not able to fund all, though every project has merit.
20. Towing. Updated charges when Valley Autohaus is used:
-$3.50 per mile unloaded, first 5 miles are free.
-$5.00 per mile loaded, first 5 miles on the way back are free.
-Hook and tow fee is $100.00
-Daily storage rate is $75.00 per day, impounded.
-GOA fee (Gone on Arrival). On the scene but Valley Autohaus hasn't hook up to the vehicle or moved it yet. For example, owner of the vehicle/car comes outside before being towed and moves it. A $25.00 fee is still charged. Homeowner is responsible.
-Drop fee is $75.00. Valley Autohaus drives to town and actually starts to hook up to the vehicle/car, then the car owner is charged the drop fee.
Citizens Issues:
Dennison Lions are doing year end budgeting and wondering if there is anything they could provide to benefit the City. Councilor Ruddle mentioned that AC to City Hall was something that had been discussed. The City would be interested in the AC. Another idea was to get materials to repaint the inside of City Hall and make some minor repairs to the walls.
Mayors Issues:
Mayor participated in a webinar for Solar on Public Buildings on October 14th. He will follow-up with the Minnesota Commerce Department about the costs and viability for our community. Mayor has a pre-application consultation set-up for Friday, November 8th. Council members wanted him to ask if Insurance would cover disposal or how that would work. Same question for Replacement?
Mayor would like to donate two Celebration Maple Trees to the City to help replace the Ash Trees lost because of the Emerald Ash Borer infestation. One would be planted south of the well house and another east of the horse shoe pits. Goal would be to plant them before the ground freezes this fall. Mayor would stake and water them next year. Councilor Schloesser move to accept the gift of the trees from jeff Flaten. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
Utilities:
Update from Nate: He emailed that he is planning on discharging next week as long as pH is below 9. Hydrants were flushed on October 29th. Water meters have been read. Larson’s has been fixed again. Still need Beam’s (Tried 4 times but couldn’t due to the dog.) and Thompson’s. Heidi will write Beam’s a letter when she gets some dates that work for Nate to stop by their house, and Jeff will deliver it to the house.
Nate is planning on moving his stuff out of the back of the Maintenance Building this weekend.
MDH took water samples on 10-21-2024.
Lift Station pumps were calibrated on 10-21-2024.
Councilor Schloesser move to approve the bills. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
Councilor Schloesser move to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Cooke second. Meeting adjourned at 8:55 pm.
Next meeting: Regular meeting is Thursday, December 5th at 7:00.
