October 5, 2015

The City Council of Comfrey met in regular session Monday, October 5, 2015 at 7:00 PM in the community center with all members present. Attorney Janette Pidde was also present. Mayor Richter presided.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.

The agenda was approved as presented.

September 2, 2015 regular meeting minutes were approved on motion of Evers, seconded by Arnsdorf. Carried unanimously.

The following bills were approved on a motion by Arnsdorf, second by Evers and carried unanimously.

 

Anderson, Kent

Equipment rental

$           30.00

Braun & Borth Sanitation

Garbage Pick-up - September

$       2,127.37

Brown County REA

Electricity - August

$       2,044.11

Clements Lumber

Paint & supplies, misc supplies

$         156.80

Comfrey C-Store

Fuel

$         269.95

Comfrey Fire Dept

Expenses

$         447.94

Comfrey Grocery

Cleaning Supplies, batteries

$           13.65

Comfrey Times

Publications

$           28.50

Electric Pump

Pump inspection and repair

$       3,299.50

Frontier

Telephone/Internet - Sept

$         447.36

Gopher State One-Call

3 line locates

$             4.35

Hawkins

Chemicals & Tank demurrage

$       1,606.45

Huhn, Dave

Reimb for digital recorder

$           64.30

Glens Auto Parts

Batteries for water plant

$           70.47

JCL Solutions

Park cleaning supplies

$           18.68

Kelly, Tammy

DVD Sleeves and Disks, notary renewal

$         155.48

Library

Bills and Wages

$       2,997.72

Mathiowetz Enterprises, Inc

Dried sludge removal

$           35.69

Parties & Weddings Plus

Roll paper towels for parks

$         155.72

Payroll Expense

Hourly Payroll Expense

$       1,989.09

Runnings

Gate and lock for dump

$         259.92

T & C Service Center

Batteries for road grader

$         358.00

USA Blue Book

Thermometers, chemical signs

$         159.76

US Postal Service

Pre-Stamped Envelopes

$         299.25

Utility Consultants, Inc

WWTP Tests

$         279.75

Verizon Wireless

Police Cell Phone - Sept

$           77.92

 

The financial report was reviewed and approved on motion by Schmitt, second by Kastner and carried unanimously.

Fire Chief Berberich notified the council Chris Rathman designed from the fire department as of September 29, 2015. His resignation was accepted on a motion made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously. Berberich would like to check into getting a new door lock system for the fire hall. He has also been busy with fire prevention week.

During the maintenance report Berberich informed the council of a pump problem out at the waste water treatment plant which have not been fixed. He has also had some issues with the water plant but believes that is now resolved. The gate and lock out at the dump have both been replaced. MRWA will be holding a waste water school in Comfrey on October 13, 2015.

First Responder Captain Barnes reported it has been a quite month.

Clerk Kelly reviewed the police report with the council in Police Chief Meyer’s absence. 

The library board report was reviewed.  Arnsdorf reported the library hours will be changing with them being open from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturday’s and closing on Monday’s thirty minutes earlier at 3:00 pm.   The TDS increase was due to the number of cataloged items we have so Director Lang will be removing items no longer being used in hopes of reducing our cost. The library budget was approved on a motion made by Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.

Joe Tauer from Prairie Plans Investments in Springfield was present to review investment information for their pension funds which he had presented to the Comfrey Fire Relief Association.  He currently works with eight area fire relief associations. Tauer said investments will be made appropriately making sure to have funds available when a pension payout is needed. The council was reminded the burden of funding the relief association’s pension plan is the City’s responsibility. After further discussion a motion was made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously to allow the Comfrey Fire Relief Association to invest its pension funds with Prairie Plans Investments as the advisor.

No action taken on nuisance properties.

Attorney Muske is still waiting to hear from the building inspector he had contacted regarding fees.

No action taken on the pet license ordinance amendment regarding service and therapy dogs.

No action taken on the parking and storing ordinance.

The drone ordinance was discussed with a request to look into some of the current laws in place.

A second reading of the Tobacco Ordinance #182 was had.  The updated tobacco ordinance was passed and adopted on a motion made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.

Clerk Kelly talked with Mike Swan regarding the next steps in getting natural gas to the City of Comfrey.  He felt very good about the turnout at the meeting and said they would be moving forward with looking into the option.  He said they would be getting in touch with the city this week to review.

A resolution expressing acceptance and appreciation for a donation of $600 by Comfrey Area Pride was given to the First Responders along with $100 given to the library.  A donation in memory of Dorothy Feeken of $250 was also given to the first responders.  Resolution approved on a motion from Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.

A letter of resignation was received from Linda Weber resigning her part-time position with the City as of December 31, 2015.  The resignation was accepted on a motion made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.

A request by Police Chief Meyer was made to hire Leah Krenz part-time to help him enter case files which were previously being done by Linda Weber.  Krenz is also a licensed police officer so she would be able to fill in when Meyer’s or Huhn are not available.  A motion was made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously to hire Leah Krenz at the part-time police officer rate of $18.60 per hour.

 Minnesota Rural Water is hosting a workshop on Financing Your Community Projects in St Peter on Oct 28th.  A request was made by Kelly and Berberich to attend since we have two projects on the intended use plan for 2016. A motion was made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously for them to attend the class at a cost of $250 for registration. 

On a motion made by Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously, approval was given to hire Moonlight Floor Cleaning to deep scrub, polish and wax where needed, the municipal building floors.

The meeting was adjourned on motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Kastner.