City of Dennison
Regular Council Meeting
September 7, 2023
The September Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeff Flaten on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 at 7:00 pm. Present were Councilors Heidi Cooke, Nichole Schloesser and Kaylyn Nygaard and clerk Jessica Page.
Councilor Schloesser move to approve the regular meeting minutes for the regular August meeting, and the special meeting on August 15th. Councilor Ruddle second. Motion passed 5:0. Councilor Cooke move to approve the Treasurer’s report. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
Old Business/Committee Reports/Building Permits:
Deck Permit: Jeremy and Jennifer Schwiem would like to add a deck to their home. Councilor Schloesser move to approve contingent on the setbacks being within the established requirements. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 5:0
Administrative Issues:
1. Bollig Engineering. City has been getting information to them on infrastructure items to help prepare the report for the City.
2. Dennison Days and working together. Neal Wilson present to talk about possible suggestions. Can the City become a partner with the Lions Club to bring in more people. Bonus would be possibility of better insurance rates for their truck pull. More people involved would bring more people in. Idea was brought up to have the City create a committee that would bring back more kids activities.
3. Preliminary Levy amount recommended $190,000. Councilor Ruddle move to pass the resolution. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
4. To avoid late fees when making bond payments for the phosphorus reduction shed, the bank suggested enrolling in automatic payments. Payments would be taken out of the account on the 1st day of February and August, till the bonds are paid off. After discussions with the bank, this appears to be the easiest solution to the problem. Mayor Flaten moved to have automatic payments through the bank for the bond. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
Xcel Energy was contacted regarding the demand charges on the Pump House bill as they usually double the bill for a very small usage of on demand power. The question was asked as to how the City could reduce the demand charges at our well house. The City can request to have the rate changed from A41 Municipal Pumping Service rate to A40 Small Municipal Pumping Service rate. There's a potential savings of 40% by changing rates. Mayor requested rate change, effective on 8-28-23. The city needs to remain below a certain level of demand usage while on this program, and if it isn’t met, the rates will return to the higher rates.
5. Updated Joint Powers Agreements. The State of Minnesota acting through it's Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the City of Dennison on behalf of it's Prosecuting Attorney (Goodhue County). Agreement is good for 5 years. Resolution 9-2023-1 Councilor Ruddle move to approve Resolution 9-2023-01. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
6. Further discussion and implementation of new utility bill system. Will have a catch up bill go out with a letter in October.
7. Put out for bid the snowplowing for the upcoming winter season. Jeff can put out on website, keep dates, FB page, put in the paper that we are requesting bids. Move the meeting to October 12th to have more time for snow plow bidding. Councilor Ruddle move to put out a request for bids for snowplowing for the upcoming snowplowing season. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0. Send in a pdfformat to Cannon Falls and Northfield papers. Due by noon on the 12th to the clerk.
8. Property compliant updates:
Appears Mark Weatherford has removed the two vans and boat from his property. Has not contacted the City. His complaint has been satisfied.
Neal Wilson's second property, any further progress? Unregistered/licensed boat still appear on property. Classic plates for his volkswagon are coming. Boat is getting torn apart. Paul has cleared the frame away. And the other junk was moved. This one was satisfied.
Nate Sparrow's property, progress. Nate said tabs are taken care of. Motorcycle has been removed and the snowmobile has been removed. Metal desk taken care of and red vehicle has tabs on it. Black one has tabs. This one is satisfied.
Joe Stanke property, progress? Will ask for another inspection to be done soon. Trailer with carpet is gone. Continues to remove stuff. Need to go look again. Joe Stanke was called and he said to go look.
Pete Lee building update. Letter sent to Mr. Lee was received. He has been communicating with the County on the situation. Pete said he did some repairs. Spoke with Doug Morem. More stuff needs to be removed. In the process of selling the building to someone.
Jim Malecha's property, progress? Some pallets are gone. Check before next meeting on progress.
New complaint forms, need to send out new letters.
9. Donation from the Pflaum family to restore the backstop at the City park. Mayor has reached out to Tatge Jewelry in Kenyon to design/order a plaque for the backstop. Initial discussions estimate the cost will be in the $100 to $120 range to order the plaque. Would the Lions be willing to pay for the plaque? It would be attached to the fence. City will pay for the plaque and use Park funds $179 mounted to the fence. Probably take a month to get it.
10. Trees removed from 3rd Avenue and the City Park on 8-17. Larson's walnut tree also trimmed that day, too. Two stumps to grind up. Cost to do that would be $300. Wait on those? Councilor Schloesser move to have them ground up and use the park fund to pay for the park tree. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
Tree in the park that needs to be taken down. Will look at that next year to take out.
11. Mayor willing to donate a white oak tree to replace the walnut that was taken down in the City Park. He is able to water to keep alive the next year. Mayor Flaten move to accept the donated tree for the park. Councilor Nygaard second. Motion passed 5:0.
Question was asked if the water from the Pump in the City Park is potable water? Yes, it is. (city water)
12. Joe Amy has three school type lockers that he wondered if the City would have a use for? Ask Nate or fire department if they want them.
Citizens Issues:
Fireside is having their roof done this fall. (Building permit will need to fillede out and submit-ted.
Mayors Issues:
Utilities:
Update from Nate: All samples were done for the water test that were needed in August.
1. Lyle Koester's water meter replaced on 8-9. Previous attempt last year, City paid for moving the outside reader to the east side of the house. Meter was still working at that time. Does Council want to bill Lyle for the work this time around? Lyle needs to insulate the pipes underneath also to prevent freezing. Councilor Schloesser move to send a bill to Lyle and send him a letter to tell him to insulate the pipes underneath the trailer and he will be responsible for any issues. Motion was seconded. Motion passed 5:0.
2. Empire was in town to televise and clean sewer mains on 8-11,8-14 and 8-15. Issues with the camera working on 8-11. City asked Empire to televise the sewer main to find the clean out behind Charlie Helcl's property. City couldn't locate it. Televised from MH 14 to the end of the sewer line behind the Cannon Tackle property. Televised from MH 28 to MH 34 to the top of the hill. No breaks in the sewer lines were noted. Empire came back on the 15th to clean out a debris clog which occurred on First Ave. Court, in the area across from the School Apartments building.
3. City lights replaced by Jamie Craig for the front of City Hall and the flagpole light for the City Shop/fire station. Fire chief said they are installing a fan in the fire station. They are paying for the cost of the fan and donated labor.
4. KLM cleaned and disinfected the water tower on 8-28. There were issues with the liner being damaged. They will be sending a report later.
5. McCarthy Well Company to did their annual inspection of the well pump on 9-7. Expansion tank is ok. Bottom of the pipe is rusting out on the bottom. Requested estimate to replace. Mayors thinks he may be able to get some grant money for at least a portion of this repair.
6. Further discussion on saving costs for sewer/water samples. Nate wasn't in attendance during the last regular council meeting. Mayor had talked with UC laboratory in Janesville in order to reduce costs/save Nate and Jessica time, if possible. UC Labs mentioned dropping samples off at the Faribault Treatment Facility in order save the City money and time. UC picks up samples at the Faribault Treatment Facility every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The City would need to drop off samples there by 10 AM to be taken to Janesville, free of charge. Mayor also asked UC to put together a schedule of tests the City needs to do, based on our permit. A more simplified schedule was forwarded to Jessica and Nate. UC also developed a digital version of the chain of custody form, which has only been available in a carbon copy form. The collection process and the chain of custody would stay the same, but City employees could take the samples to Faribault. To save the City money, the mayor is willing and able to drive water samples to Faribault, and only asking to be paid for his time, no mileage reimbursement.
Discussion on if it works with testing sample needs. Should use the option when it works, but it won’t work all the time.
Reminder that the manhole at the water tower is a confined space. Need two people on site, or vent, or use the meter. Extension could be put on the things. There is a tripod and a harness that could be used and a second person there. It’s in the generator building. New lock on the water tower that is for the hatch. KLM cut it off. So there is a new key for that.
Probably need to put new padlocks on the gate as the one on it currently is too old that it can’t have new keys made. (Mayor tried to get new keys made.) Mayor Flaten move to buy a new pack of padlocks. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0 .
Councilor Cooke move to pay the bills. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
Councilor Cooke moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Next meeting: Regular meeting is moved to Thursday October 12th, 2023 at 7:00.
