The Round Lake City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 13th, 2018 at 6:15pm at City Hall.
Councilmembers present were Paul Cunningham, Court Baumgard, Walon Habben, Gary Larson and Mayor Douglas Knuth. Others present were Kelly Meyer, United Prairie Financial Network, Rusty Fifield, Northland Securities, Inc., Bruce Bentele, Derek Nelson and Clerk Elaine Walker.
Meeting was called to order at 6:15pm.
Additions to the agenda: Revised hearing announcement to be published, Worthington Regional Development event, Southwest Minnesota Broadband – Twin Cities channel.
Motion by Baumgard, second by Cunningham to approve the agenda and additions to the agenda. All ayes: Carried.
Motion by Larson, second by Cunningham to approve the Minutes from February 13th regular meeting and February 20th Special meeting. All ayes: Carried.
Motion by Cunningham, second by Baumgard to approve the Bills and Receipts as presented. All ayes: Carried.
Kelly Meyer, United Prairie Financial Network – presented options to invest cash on hand in account now held with UPFN. He will work with the investment committee and Clerk Elaine to create an investment policy for the City.
Motion by Baumgard, second by Habben to approve the Financial Planning Agreement by and between the City of Round Lake and Northland Securities, Inc. All ayes: Carried.
Rusty Fifield, Northland Securities, Inc. – explained why the City needs to update our business subsidy policy and what steps need to be taken with the New Fashion Pork tax abatement proposal and why it qualifies as a business subsidy based on the amount of money involved over the 15 year term. He will be present at our public hearings on April 11th to help us answer any questions that come up.
Resolution No. 2018-03-13 – Resolution calling for a public hearing on proposed revised business subsidy policy. Motion by Habben, second by Larson to approve the revision of the business subsidy policy and set the date for the public hearing as April 11th, 2018 at 6:15pm. All ayes: Carried.
Resolution No. 2018-03-13(2) – Resolution calling for a public hearing on proposed property tax abatements. Motion by Habben, second by Larson to approve the resolution calling for a public hearing on proposed property tax abatements for New Fashion Pork. All ayes: Carried.
Motion by Larson, second by Cunningham to approve the Non-residential City of Round Lake Planning and Zoning blank application. All ayes: Carried.
Motion by Baumgard, second by Cunningham to run background check on new applicant to the Round Lake volunteer Fire Department, Destany Cleland. All ayes: Carried.
Motion by Baumgard, second by Habben to approve help with the water bill for Richard and Nita Conlan for their vacant house on 2nd Ave. A pipe broke and they were not aware of it until the City read meters and alerted them to it. Charge cost of water above the normal average usage for that residence. Clerk Elaine instructed to contact them and let them know new balance due. All ayes: Carried.
Siren at the Fire Hall is not working for the daily Noon and 6:00pm whistle. Cost about $500 to replace, County can sound siren if needed. Council instructed Bruce to just wait and see if it’s missed by the community.
2018 Spring Cleanup will be on Tuesday, April 24th for both the curbside and electronics pickup. Pricing is the same as last year, but the stickers for electronics like computer screens and old tube TVs will be $25 up from last year due to fees at landfill being higher. Motion by Habben, second by Cunningham to sign agreement with Schaap Sanitation to do the Spring Cleanup again this year. All ayes: Carried.
Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services meeting discussed getting the Roku rolled out in June or at the latest August, 2018. Mayor Doug asked what Twin Cities’ channel we would want in our package, Council determined KARE11.
Minnesota Department of Transportation letter stated that the grant application made for Rohrer Street was denied in the first round of issuing the funds. If more money becomes available, we may be eligible for that.
Federated Rural Electric made an error in their fees charged to the City of Round Lake in the amount of $3,440.64. They implemented a new billing program in March and didn’t find the error until 2018 when working on audit. The contract we have with them states that they can go back six months to fix an error in charges and the total for the six months is the $3,440.64 balance due. They charged the City on March’s billing. We had the billing for our customers done correctly, so no adjustments need to be made.
Motion by Larson, second by Cunningham to purchase bucket/sweeper/curb brush for skidloader for street cleaning. All ayes: Carried. Bruce would also like an auger for cemetery and other work that now requires rental in Worthington. Council said to wait on the auger for now.
Derek informed Council of a possible incremental capacity option for the City of Round Lake from Northern Natural Gas 2018 Open Season pricing. More information to come. He will be out of the office for the Gas conference April 5th – 12th.
Clerk Elaine will be at the Clerk’s conference March 19th – 23rd in Bloomington, MN.
Sheriff’s Department suggests keeping doors locked on vehicles as there has been some activity in town that merits our diligence.
Board of Review for Round Lake will be on Thursday, April 26th, 2018 at 2:30pm in City Hall.
The next Council meeting will be on April 11th at 6:15pm with the Public Hearings being first and the regular Council meeting to follow.
Motion by Habben, second by Baumgard to adjourn. All ayes: Carried.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:22pm.