April 7, 2014

The City Council of Comfrey met in regular session Monday, April 7, 2014 at 7:00 PM in the community center with all members present. Mayor Richter presided.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.

            The agenda was approved as presented with the addition of city shirts to new business

            March 3, 2014 regular meeting minutes were read and approved on motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.

On motion of Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously, the following bills were approved:

Alliant Energy

Electricity - February

$       2,179.89

Automatic Systems Co

Induction Relay

$         188.15

Clancy's Fire Extinguishers

City Annual Inspect & Cert of Fire Extinguishers

$         238.95

Clements Lumber

Salt, tape, steel, WD40, brass nozzle, clamp

$         112.52

Comfrey C-Store

Fuel

$         535.35

Comfrey Fire Dept

Expenses

$       1,806.65

Comfrey First Responders

Fuel

$           88.00

Comfrey Times

Publications

$         337.87

Darfur Electric

Lamps

$          42.78

Deluxe Business Products

Deposit Books

$           50.24

Eckstrom Electric

Fix grinder motor at WWTP

$           87.00

Frontier

Telephone/Internet - March

$         455.50

Harvest Land Coop

Propane

$         227.90

Hawkins

Tank Demurrage

$             5.00

Heiderscheidt Digging, Inc

Snow Removal

$       5,362.50

Herrig, Lisa

Lawn Sprayer

$         100.00

Indoff Incorporated

Ink Cartridges

$           87.00

Janitor's Closet

Floor Cleaner and Air freshener

$         138.58

Kelly, Tammy

Clerks Conference-Hotel and meals, mileage

$         137.04

League of Minnesota Cities

CE-Patrol Subscription, Loss Control Workshops

$         157.92

Library

Bills and Wages

$       2,451.51

Meyer, Jim

Police Cell Phone Charger

$           31.79

Miller Sellner Equipment

Replacement Brush Set for sweeper

$         600.64

MN AWWA

CE-Steve Berberich, Waterworks Operator Seminar

$           30.00

Muske, Muske & Suhrhoff

Professional Services

$         213.60

Payroll Expense

Payroll

$   4,761.40

Plunkett's Pest Control

Quarterly Rodent Control

$           54.08

City of Springfield

1/2 of mileage to Clerk's Conference

$           71.68

Suess Construction

Replace Panels on Maint Bdlg

$         250.00

T & C Service Center

Change oil, replace belt, exhaust rings on police car

$         114.95

Utility Consultants, Inc

WWTP Tests

$         190.50

Verizon Wireless

Police Cell Phone - March

$           65.15

Waste Management

Res. Garbage pickup - February and garbage bags

$       1,997.09

The March financial report were approved on motion Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.

Fire Chief Warner reported they are looking into purchasing additional radios for the weather spotters. They also had a couple of people show interest in joining the fire department. They are currently at 16 members.

Police Chief Meyer presented the monthly police report. The new police vehicle has been ordered.

Public Works Director Berberich reported both plants are working well. Seal coating another 8 blocks this year was approved on a motion made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously. Berberich reported the hedge behind the ball field is in rough shape from the snow and he would like to trim it back to allow for new growth. As discussed in the past, the tires on the road grader do need to be replaced this year. Prices will be brought to a future meeting. The water tower cleaning contract was presented and approved on motion of Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously. Berberich reported the volleyball court is in need of some new sand. The court is being used more now and an area league has formed and has requested to use the court this summer. Minnesota Rural Water has inquired about holding a training session in Comfrey on October 12, 2015. A request was made to waive the rental fee. Berberich stated he does attend these sessions and would receive continuing education credits. A motion to waive fees was made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously. The city has received several complaints about Waste Management and we have started to look into other options. The lights in the post office need to be replaced as the hooks that hold the bulbs in place are breaking off and can’t be fixed. A motion was made by Kastner, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously to move forward with replacing the lights in the post office.

Arnsdorf presented the library board report.

Dennis E Oberloh, Ltd representative Sara Beavers presented the 2013 financial report audit. She gave it an unqualified opinion (clean opinion) but notes there is a lack of segregation of duties due to the one person office which is very common in small cities. Discussion was also held to make sure we are in compliance with new health care laws.

City pet license guidelines were discussed and we will look at changing the renewal period to 3 years.

A request was made by Comfrey Bar and Grill to have pull tabs in the establishment. The council discussed the options and no action was taken at this time. Councilor Kastner is going to gather some additional information.

On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously, it was voted not to waive the monetary tort limit set by the State of Minnesota.

Discussion was had about the vacant church building on Field St. Options are going to be looked into with the Minnesota Historical Society.

Internet in the community center was discussed as there have been several requests for access. We do have a wireless connection set up now but the signal is not very strong. Hard wiring internet into the community center was approved on a motion by Arnsdorf, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously.

Discussion was had regarding copies made by Comfrey Area Pride for Community Days. A motion was made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously to allow copes for Community Days to be made free of charge.

The city staff reviewed the handicap accessibility report for the Comfrey Municipal Building. On motion of Kastner, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously, the report was approved. Pricing for remote door openers is going to be looked into.

A motion was made by Evers, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously to allow the purchase of “City of Comfrey” shirts to be worn to meetings attended by Berberich, Kelly and Meyers.

A request to display a picture in memory of Robert Herrig was discussed and approved to be displayed on a temporary basis on a motion made by Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.

A motion was made by Schmitt, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously to notify residents by letter that trees need to be trimmed in the boulevard. A time frame will be outlined in the letter and if not done by that time the City will provide the service and bill the resident.

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