January 4, 2012
The City Council of Comfrey met in regular session Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 7:00 PM in the community center with all members present. City attorney Muske was also present. Mayor Richter presided.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.
On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously, the following official appointments were made:
Publication: Comfrey Times
Depository: Choice Financial Savings Bank
Attorney: Paul Muske
Weed Inspector: Gary Richter
Assistant Weed Inspector: Steve Berberich
Acting Mayor: Robert Herrig
Commissioners:
Water: John Schmitt
Sewer: Darlene Arnsdorf
Streets: Robert Herrig
Hall & Park: Susan Evers
The agenda was approved as presented
Minutes of the December 5, 2011 meeting were read and approved on motion of Herrig, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.
On motion of Evers, seconded by Arnsdorf and carried unanimously, the following bills were approved:
|
Alliant Energy |
electricity |
$ 1,957.15 |
|
Steve Berberich |
reimburse for snow shovel with wheels |
$ 74.80 |
|
Steve Berberich |
lodging, meals, mileage-wastewater class |
$ 434.43 |
|
Bolton & Menk, Inc. |
WWTP project engineering, partial |
$ 9,027.58 |
|
BrownCounty |
share of cost for truth in taxation |
$ 44.87 |
|
Choice Financial Bank |
printing of deposit tickets |
$ 25.00 |
|
Clements Lumber |
police office shelving, post office doorbell |
$ 117.30 |
|
Comfrey C-Store |
gas |
$ 451.17 |
|
Comfrey Fire Dept |
expenses |
$ 8,024.25 |
|
Comfrey First Responders |
ad, stethoscope ,med director fees, oxygen |
$ 510.31 |
|
Comfrey Times |
publication |
$ 372.67 |
|
Creative Product Source, Inc. |
wall calendars for policedept(250) |
$ 451.50 |
|
Crysteel Truck Equipment |
2 cutting edge for truck snow plow |
$ 500.07 |
|
DarfurElectric |
20 lamps for exterior municipal bldg |
$ 446.66 |
|
Janice Evers |
2011 reimbursement for postage |
$ 23.76 |
|
Federal Siren Corp |
electronic board to update siren to 800 MHz |
$ 1,748.43 |
|
Frontier |
telephone/Internet (balance from Dec bill |
$ 25.95 |
|
Hawkins, Inc. |
chemicals for WWTP, demurrage |
$ 1,101.85 |
|
Indoff, Inc. |
office supplies |
$ 57.15 |
|
Jim's Hardware |
shelving, filters, flag pole rope,POdoorbell |
$ 669.87 |
|
League of MN Cities |
updated handbook for MN Cities |
$ 55.00 |
|
Library |
bills and wages |
$ 2,357.64 |
|
Meier Electric |
balance on electrical work @ WWTP |
$ 827.09 |
|
MVTL, Inc. |
2 wastewater tests |
$ 198.00 |
|
Municipal Clerks Assn (MCFOA) |
annual membership-Tammy |
$ 35.00 |
|
Muske & Muske |
professional services |
$ 756.00 |
|
Payroll Expense |
December |
$ 4,156.29 |
|
Rob'sServiceCenter |
floor scrubber batteries, wiper blades |
$ 275.31 |
|
Springfield, City of |
tabs for trailer, city truck |
$ 32.00 |
|
Streichers |
police replacement battery, mace |
$ 75.84 |
|
Waste Management |
Residential Garbage pickup |
$ 1,083.99 |
|
Verizon Wireless |
police cell phone |
$ 65.57 |
The December financial report was reviewed and approved on motion of Herrig, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.
Steve Berberich reported one bad sample at WWTP in November. He cannot pinpoint what happened as nothing has changed out there. A new sample was taken one week later and everything tested within proper levels. Berberich requested permission to open an account at Runnings inSpringfielddue to the closing of the hardware store. On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously, permission was granted. Berberich also replaced or fixed the lights on the outside of the municipal building and are now all working.
Police Chief Meyer reported 269 calls for the police department for 2011, up 22 calls from 2010. Meyer also reported in his monthly police report that the judicial branch has ordered all police departments in the state to use standardized traffic tickets. The downside of this is the cost for small departments to replace there current stock. Jim is going to talk with some other small cities to see if there is a way to share any costs.
Fire Chief Warner reported Alpha Wireless finished the install in all the trucks. The radios are not ready for use until the 800 MHz system is up and running. The pagers are also gradually being replaced and will be reset once the narrowband system is working.
Arnsdorf presented minutes from the library board meeting. The 2012 library budget was approved. Wireless internet is also being checked into for the library. The library board meeting time has been changed to 7:00 pm. Arnsdorf also reported Pam Gardner was asked to be the City appointee on the library board. On motion of Herrig, seconded by Arnsdorf and carried unanimously,Gardnerwas appointed for a 3 year term.
All the documents have been completed and signed between the City ofComfreyand Schmitt’s for the property exchange on Highway 258.
The first reading of an updated personnel ordinance was held. The ordinance was updated so it corresponds with the current personnel policy.
Discussion was held regarding the purchase of different radios for the city office and the fire hall. The current radios need to be replaced in order to work with the new 800 MHz system being put in place. An estimate for the cost of used radios would was presented from Alpha Wireless for $1133. On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Herrig and carried unanimously, permission to move forward with the purchase was given. During this time Fire Chief Warner also mentioned another radio replacement cost will be for the store and forward system.
On motion of Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously, the contract as presented from Waste Management was accepted. The contract may be seen at the city office.
Discussion was held regarding ongoing floor maintenance for the municipal building. The floor is going to take some additional maintenance to extend the life of the wax. Jason Thom, from Moonlight Floor Cleaning had looked at our scrubber and polisher and said both were in need of repair. He offered his services as an option for maintenance of the floors at $35/hr which includes the use of his equipment and chemicals. Council decided to look into fixing our buffer and scrubber and leave the option of hiring Thom on an as needed basis per the request of current custodians.
Appointment of first responder captain was tabled until our February meeting. The first responders have not yet held their elections for 2012.
On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously, Jim Schneider was reappointed to the EDA Board for another 6 year term.
The possible upgrade of the utility software program will be looked into further at a future meeting.
Annual membership to the Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association and attendance to the annual Clerk’s Conference March 20-23, 2012 inSt. Cloudwas approved on motion of Herrig, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.
On motion of Herrig, seconded by Arnsdorf and carried unanimously, monthly health insurance allowances in the amount of $450 were approved for Berberich and Kelly and $800 for Meyer.
On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously the February council meeting was set for Wednesday, February 8th at 7:00 pm in the community center. Change due to scheduling conflicts.
The meeting adjourned on motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Herrig.