December 3, 2012
The City Council of Comfrey met in regular session Monday, December 3, 2012 at 7:00 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.
Mayor Richter called to order a Public Hearing on Improvement for the Highway 258 project and then turned it over to Andy Kehren, the city engineer with Bolton & Menk. Kehren handed out and reviewed information on the Highway 258 project which included projected costs and assessments. After the public was given a chance to ask any questions the hearing was closed on motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.
The meeting continued with the passage of a resolution to order improvement and preparation of plans and specifications. It passed on motion of Evers, seconded by Herrig and carried unanimously.
The agenda was approved as presented.
November 5, 2012 minutes were read and approved on motion of Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.
On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Herrig and carried unanimously, the following bills were approved:
|
Alliant Energy |
Electricity - October |
$ 1,538.63 |
|
Avenet |
Annual Service Pkg - City Website |
$ 350.00 |
|
Choice Financial Savings Bank |
Checks, Deposit Books |
$ 101.00 |
|
Clements Lumber |
X-mas lights, forklift rental, salt, light bulbs |
$ 124.58 |
|
Comfrey Fire Dept |
Expenses |
$ 2,042.59 |
|
Comfrey First Responders |
Oxygen, Fund Raiser Supplies, notice |
$ 586.59 |
|
Comfrey Market |
Paper towels & latex gloves |
$ 47.21 |
|
Comfrey Times |
Publications |
$ 314.28 |
|
Frontier |
Telephone/Internet - November |
$ 524.84 |
|
Hawkins |
Tank demurrage |
$ 5.00 |
|
Indoff |
Ink Cartridges |
$ 67.33 |
|
Library |
Bills and Wages |
$ 2,811.86 |
|
Jim Meyer |
Hi-8 video recording tapes, cassette tapes |
$ 47.84 |
|
Miller Sellner |
Bolts for street sweeper |
$ 4.23 |
|
Minnesota Department of Health |
Quarterly Water Connection Fee |
$ 292.00 |
|
Muske & Muske |
Professional Services |
$ 360.00 |
|
MVTL, Inc. |
4 WWTP Tests |
$ 198.00 |
|
Payroll Expense |
November Payroll |
$ 4,363.62 |
|
Plunkett's |
Pest Control |
$ 90.84 |
|
Rob's ServiceCenter |
Pressure hose, cleaners, couplers, bearing |
$ 186.97 |
|
USA Bluebook |
Precision Thermometer for WWTP |
$ 159.07 |
|
US Postal Service |
500 Stamped Regular Envelopes |
$ 276.95 |
|
Verizon Wireless |
Police Cell Phone - November |
$ 71.74 |
|
Waste Management |
Residential Garbage pickup - October |
$ 1,082.50 |
|
Linda Weber |
Reimb for hard drive for computer back-up |
$ 63.06 |
The November financial report was reviewed and approved on motion of Schmitt, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.
Fire Chief Warner reported they had applied for a FEMA grant and still waiting to hear if they received it.
Police Chief Meyer presented the monthly police report. It has been an active month. Meyer also asked the council if the clerk could help with entering information in the CIS system for the county. He will make some inquiries to see what it would take to set up on the office computer. Chief Meyer reported progress has been made on the nuisance properties. The council is satisfied with the progress made on the properties at this time and will follow up on again in the spring.
Berberich reported both plants are working well. He notified council he has switched to UC Labs out of Janesville for wastewater testing. The first tests with the new company will be done this month. Berberich also asked permission from the council to remove the Cottonwood trees around the maintenance building. They are starting to rub on the building and become somewhat of a hazard. On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt, and carried unanimously permission was given to remove the trees.
Arnsdorf reviewed the library budget with the council and on motion of Evers, seconded by Herrig and carried unanimously, the 2013 budget was approved. She also informed the council of a concern from the public on not having full internet access in the library. The problem has since been resolved. On motion of Herrig, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously, the council appointed Jennifer Redman as the city representative on the Library board with a term expiring on December 31, 2015.
The B47 Memorial Committee met and would like approval to place the memorial in the North Park. The memorial is in the planning stages and no proposed design is available yet. The location was discussed due to the well and water line placement. On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously, council granted permission to place memorial in the North Park subject to council approval of final plans and location.
Discussion was had on city final budget and levy. The final budget includes expenditures of $526,806 and revenues of $553,293. The final levy includes:
General Fund $152500
Capitol Equipment Fund 13750
Debt Service 14,403
The final 2013 budget and levy were approved on motion of Herrig, seconded by Arnsdorf and carried unanimously.
The council was informed that Fort Randall Cable Company sent notice that cable rates would be increasing in the City of Comfrey.
On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously to contract with Plunkett’s for pest control in the municipal building.
Per terms of the PFA financing agreement a wastewater infrastructure System Replacement Fund has been established to deposit $.50 per 1000 gallons of flow annually during the life of the loan for future rehabilitation or expansion of the treatment system. This transfer deposit of $11,925.00 was approved on motion of Herrig, seconded by Arnsdorf and carried unanimously.
A motion to authorize the clerk-treasurer to assign general funds as needed for year end December 31, 2012 made by Anrsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.
On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously, Mark Warner was appointed as Fire Chief and Julie Schmitt as First Responder Captain.
The meeting was adjourned on motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Herrig.