November 3, 2014
The City Council of Comfrey met in regular session Monday, November 3, 2014 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.
The agenda was approved with the addition of setting a variance hearing date and time under new business.
October 6, 2014 regular meeting minutes were read and approved on motion of Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.
|
Alliant Energy |
Electricity - September |
$ 1,801.48 |
|
Brown County Highway Dept |
Patch County Road 36 |
$ 2,424.24 |
|
Certified & Diversified Services |
Tree trimming |
$ 3,029.91 |
|
Clements Lumber |
Paper towels, wet/dry vac, antifreeze |
$ 182.97 |
|
Comfrey C-Store |
Fuel |
$ 407.58 |
|
Comfrey Fire Dept |
Expenses |
$ 1,111.29 |
|
Comfrey First Responders |
Mileage for MEMSA convention, fuel |
$ 136.98 |
|
Comfrey Grocery |
Oven cleaner |
$ 14.71 |
|
Comfrey Times |
Publications |
$ 326.00 |
|
Darfur Electric |
LED light fixture on maintenance building |
$ 557.62 |
|
Friesen Plumbing & Heating |
Water heater for community center |
$ 550.00 |
|
Frontier |
Telephone/Internet - October |
$ 433.37 |
|
Hawkins |
Tank Demurrage |
$ 10.00 |
|
Indoff Incorporated |
legal hanging folders, labels |
$ 18.98 |
|
LMCIT |
Work Comp Final Audit - Premium Adj |
$ 1,784.00 |
|
Library |
Bills and Wages |
$ 3,022.82 |
|
Mathiowetz Enterprises, Inc |
5 yds of sludge |
$ 89.21 |
|
Meyer, Jim |
Detection powder, pepper spray, police boots |
$ 165.69 |
|
Minnesota Rural Water Assoc |
Annual Dues |
$ 235.00 |
|
Payroll Expense |
Payroll |
$ 4,277.62 |
|
Plunkett's |
Quarterly Pest and rodent control |
$ 85.00 |
|
T & C Service Center |
Grader tire install, chainsaw chains |
$ 737.00 |
|
Utility Consultants, Inc |
WWTP Tests |
$ 218.25 |
|
Verizon Wireless |
Police Cell Phone - October |
$ 91.89 |
|
Waste Management |
Res. Garbage pickup - September |
$ 1,241.12 |
On motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously, the following bills were approved:
Fire Chief Warner informed the council the requirements for bids on the new SCBA units have been completed and he hopes to get them sent out this week.
No first responder report
The October financial report was reviewed and approved on motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.
Police Chief Meyer presented the monthly police report. He stated it has been an extremely busy month for calls. The “ATV/UTV permit required” signs have been posted for some time now and the permit requirement will now be enforced. Clarification was made that you do not need to purchase a permit to participate in the Community Days 4-wheeler run because it is part of a city celebration. This exception is outlined in the ordinance. Chief Meyers also updated the council on the vacated Broad Street property concerns. He stated he does have some concerns with the open railroad containers and will be getting in touch with the current owner to have locks installed on them. He also observed the owner has put up some caution tape across the main opening of the building.
Public Works Director Berberich reported both plants are running well. He has been working on getting the pond inlets and outlets cleaned out. The light on the maintenance shop was replaced with a LED light fixture and it has made a big difference. He would like to start replacing lights with LED fixtures on the City Building once they start to burn out. A brief discussion was had regarding residents raking leaves onto the City streets. This is a practice that cannot be done as it can plug the storm sewer.
Arnsdorf presented the library board report and reviewed minutes. They will be having a budget meeting this upcoming month.
There will be a meeting at the Broad St Apartments regarding the Little White Church this week. Mayor Richter informed the council the church board would like an answer regarding the purchase of the building by the end of the year. They hope to have some numbers to share regarding the costs of maintaining the building and a rough budget put together.
Chuck Schleif was present and voiced some concerns of shrubs and pine trees being planted in the boulevards and too close to corners which hinders snow removal and blocks vision on corners. The council agreed to look at an ordinance regarding what can be planted in boulevards and proximity to intersections and property lines.
City Clerk Kelly informed the council of a new alert messaging system being offered by Softline Data. The system would allow general or emergency messages to be sent out to subscribers by text, email or voicemail. Chief Meyers mentioned some counties have a similar messaging system in place but Brown County currently does not. Additional information will be gathered and brought to a future council meeting.
Approval was given for Kelly to attend a regional meeting in St James on November 19th on a motion by Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.
The snow removal contract for 2014-2015 with Heiderscheidt’s was approved on motion by Schmitt, seconded by Kastner and carried unanimously.
On a motion by Arnsdorf, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider the request of Randy Schroepfer 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, December 1, 2014 at 6:45 p.m. at the Comfrey Community Center.
The canvassing meeting was set for November 12, 2014 at 6:00 PM at Comfrey Grocery on a motion by Kastner, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned on motion of Arnsdorf, seconded by Schmitt.