May 5, 2014

The City Council of Comfrey met in regular session Monday, May 5, 2014 at 7:00 PM in the community center with councilor Schmitt, and Evers present with councilor Kastner arriving at 7:20 PM. Acting Mayor Arnsdorf presided in the absence of Mayor Richter.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.

            The agenda was approved as presented on motion of Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.

            April 7, 2014 regular meeting minutes, April 21, 2014 Board of Review minutes and April 23, 2014 special meeting minutes were read and approved on motion of Schmitt, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.

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

Alliant Energy

Electricity - March

$       2,063.00

Brown County Highway Depart

Cty Rd 16 Project - Pmt #5

$   42,516.94

Clements Lumber

air freshener, strap, marking paint, shovel

$           49.38

Comfrey C-Store

Fuel

$         899.35

Comfrey Fire Dept

Expenses

$         221.09

Comfrey First Responders

Defibrillator Battery

$         287.73

Comfrey Times

Publications

$         398.87

Darfur Electric

Install fixtures in post office

$         838.17

Dennis E Oberloh, LTD

2013 Audit

$       4,646.72

Frontier

Telephone/Internet - April

$         373.69

Harvest Land Coop

LP - 1050 gallons

$       1,934.10

Hawkins

WWTP Chemicals, Tank Demurrage

$       2,020.25

LMCIT

Workers' Comp Ins Dep/ Accident Plan for Vol

$       7,876.00

Library

Bills and Wages

$       4,235.66

Meyer, Jim

New Police Cell Phone

$         106.86

Miller Sellner Equipment

Skid Loader hose and fittings

$           84.05

MN Rural Water Assoc

Camera to video sewer line

$         125.00

Payroll Expense

Payroll

$       4,847.21

T & C Service Center

Floor dry, Oil change - City truck

$           66.31

Utility Consultants, Inc

WWTP Tests

$         204.37

Verizon Wireless

Police Cell Phone - April

$           49.38

Amos Vogel

Assessments for City of Comfrey

$       3,016.00

Waste Management

Res. Garbage pickup - March

$       1,241.12

 

The April financial report was approved on motion by Schmitt, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.

Fire Chief Warner recommended two new members, Dan Flor and Eric Hall for the Fire Department. On motion of Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously, approval was granted for Dan Flor and Eric Hall to join Comfrey Fire and Rescue. Midwest Fire was in and did annual pump maintenance on the trucks.

A motion to purchase 4 new portable radios for the first responders with a portion of the cost being covered by first responder designated CD #16184 was made by Schmitt, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.

Police Chief Meyer presented the monthly police report. He also mentioned he was having some problems with the lights in the squad car and is having them looked at.

Public Works Director Berberich reported both plants are working well. Dust treatment for the gravel city streets was discussed. A motion made by Schmitt, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously to contact SW Dust Treatment to treat specified gravel streets in Comfrey at an estimated cost of $1850.

Arnsdorf presented the library board report. They are gearing up for summer reading program.

The July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 liquor licenses for Comfrey Bar and Grill, LLC were approved on motion of Evers, seconded by Schmitt and carried unanimously.

No updates at this time on the status of vacated church building on Field Street.

Council reviewed a letter from Alliant Energy that was sent our to all City residents regarding status of proposed sale to SMEC.

A request was made to look at a variance on the City Pet Ordinance. Attorney Muske explained you would need to actually amend the current ordinance that an individual variance could not be done.

The City of Comfrey Sign Retroreflectivity Policy which establishes how the city will implement an assessment or management method to meet the minimum sign retroreflectivity requirement in the Minnesota Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices was adopted on motion made by Kastner, seconded by Evers and carried unanimously.

Discussion was had on ATV use in the City of Comfrey. Currently, people cannot legally ride on city streets unless an ordinance is put in place allowing it. A first reading of Ordinance relating to and regulating the use and operation of all-terrain vehicles, mini-trucks and utility terrain vehicles and prescribing penalties for violations was read.

A first reading of the amendment to Ordinance 155, subdivision 4 changing the pet license renewal period from one year to three years and setting the fees to a nonrefundable $30 or $15 if the animal is spayed or neutered.

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