April 3, 2017
The City Council of Comfrey met in regular session Monday, April 3, 2017 at 6:30 PM in the community center with all members present. Attorney Paul Muske was also present. Mayor Richter presided.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.
The agenda was reviewed.
March 2, 2017 regular meeting minutes were approved on motion of Evers, seconded by Arnsdorf and carried unanimously.
The following bills were approved on a motion by Arnsdorf, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously.
Bargen Cold Patch for Streets $79.75 Berberich, Steve Hotel and meals for Wastewater Conf $587.08 Braun & Borth Sanitation Garbage Pick-up - Mar $2,144.72 Brown County REA Electricity - Feb $1,899.41 Comfrey C-Store Fuel $229.98 Comfrey Fire Dept Expenses $4,183.36 Comfrey First Responders EMS Conf hotel, oxygen $405.48 Comfrey Times Publications $152.00 Darfur Electric Lift station repairs and new lamps $1,190.25 Friesen Plumbing & Heating WTP Thermostat, C Center toilet repair kit $155.00 Frontier Telephone/Internet - Mar $431.70 Go Daddy.com Annual Domain Name renewal $15.17 Gopher State One Call 1 line locate $1.35 Heiderscheidt Digging Snow removal on 3/13 $2,520.00 Indoff Incorporated Sheet Protectors, highlighters $17.18 Kelly, Tammy Business cards, paper cutter $45.18 Library Bills and Wages $6,891.80 League of MN Cities Two Safety & Loss Control registrations $40.00 Mathiowetz Enterprises, Inc 2 yds dried sludge $40.37 Mike's Market Paper Towels $8.58 MN AWWA Two reg. for waterworks operator school $60.00 Muske, Muske & Suhrhoff Professional Services $976.70 Payroll Expense Payroll Expense $10,249.14 Runnings PO Doorbell, paper towels $55.76 Utility Consultants, Inc WWTP Tests $252.00 Verizon Wireless Police Cell Phone - Mar $78.35 Windschitl Refrigeration Service Repair Community Center Refrigerator $404.95
City Auditor Sara Beaver presented the 2016 financial audit report. She gave the city a clean audit opinion but notes there is a lack of segregation of duties due to the one person office which is very common in small cities. The report was accepted on motion of Kastner, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.
March financial statement was reviewed and approved on motion by Evers, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously. Clerk Kelly asked council if the electric handicap doors for the library should be paid out of the city general account or if they would like to take it out of the library’s surplus account balance. A motion was made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously to pay for the electronic library doors out of the Library fund.
Fire Chief Berberich reported the department has started doing several grass burns and the new side by side is working out very well. The tracks have allowed them to get into places they normally would not have gotten to and helps to make the burns run more efficiently.
The maintenance report was reviewed by Berberich. The water treatment plant project is on hold until the main computer board comes in. Once they start the project, the city will have unfiltered water for up to two months or until project is finished. The skid loader is in need of new tires and Berberich received a quote for a cost of $1400 from T & C Service Center. A motion was made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously to purchase the new tires. The quote was reviewed for the roof repairs on buildings in the North Park. A total cost of $8990.51 was quoted for steel roofs on the concession stand, well house and shelter. The city has already received a payment for the storm damage claim turned into the LMCIT of $5134.56. Total out of pocket cost for the roof replacements will be $3855.95. A motion was made by Schmitt, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously to move forward with the roof replacements at a total cost to the city of $3855.95 to be paid out of the capital equipment fund.
First Responder report was reviewed by Captain Barnes.
Chief Meyer reviewed the police report. The two vehicles that were seized can now be put up for sale. Attorney Muske will look into process and if the title needs to be transferred first. The 2007 Cadillac and the 2000 Toyota were declared as surplus property and will be put up for sale by sealed bids on a motion made by Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously. Advertising will be done in the Comfrey Times and the area Shoppers.
The library report was reviewed.
City Assessor Amos Vogel was present and reviewed his assessment process with them. He sated the above average condition homes did have a slight increase across the board in property values.
Partial Pay Request #3 for $98,079.10 for equipment for the water treatment plant project was reviewed and approved for payment on a motion made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.
Concerned citizen questioned enforcement of ordinance #180 Public Nuisances. Discussion was had regarding concerns and a motion was made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously to table until the next council meeting.
A resolution expressing acceptance and appreciation for a donation to the first responders of $500 in memory of Cyril Helget and $25 in memory of Bea Haala was approved on a motion made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.
A land use permit was approved for Kurt Eischen to build a living space addition and garage on a motion made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously.
On a motion by Kastner, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider the request of Gene Friesen to allow construction of a detached garage which exceeds the maximum square footage and sidewall height set by the zoning ordinance was set for Monday, May 1, 2017 at 6:15 p.m. at the Comfrey Community Center.
On motion of Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously, it was voted not to waive the monetary tort limit set by the State of Minnesota.
The city staff reviewed the handicap accessibility report for the Comfrey Municipal Building. On motion of Kastner, seconded by Arnsdorf and carried unanimously, the report was approved.
Shawn Hiebert was hired as a new first responder on a motion made by Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.
Discussion was had regarding a fire department member that has not participated in required meetings and drills over the last 7 months. A motion was made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously to remove Neil Liesenfeld as a member of fire department.
The meeting was adjourned on a motion made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Kastner.