MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILSEPTEMBER 9, 2003 – 6:00 P.M.The following Council members were present at the opening of the meeting: Mayor Jim Jellema, Councilmen-Linus Svoboda, Dana Dahlquist, and Keith Elbers. Councilman Arlen Leenderts arrived at approximately 6:50 P.M. Employees present: Joanne Goehle, City Treasurer; Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk; and Wayne Ward, City Maintenance. Guests present: Eugene and Diane Immediato; Dean Goettsch-City’s insurance agent; Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels; Del Domagala-Past President of MN Wastewater Association; Doug Chapman-Hills Fire Chief; and Jolene Farley-Hills Crescent. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Svoboda to approve of the August 12th, 18th and 25th minutes. Motion carried.Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Elbers to approve payment of the August expenditures with the exception to hold the M & H Hardware bill pending justification from the Hills Fire Department. General $2,425.18; Park $1,370.10; Fire $443.90; Street $1,827.74; Legion $505.34; Barbershop $0.00; Sewer $8,942.44; Garbage $818.49; Recycling $0.00; Water $11,990.46; Baseball $0.00; Softball $0.00. Dahlquist abstained. Motion carried. Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels attended the meeting to request a gaming resolution in order for the Luverne Optimist to continue with pull-tabs at Kelly’s Roadhouse Bar. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Elbers to approve of the resolution. Motion carried. Sheriff Mike Winkels presented the Council with a three-year Law Enforcement Contract. Jellema, Elbers and Svoboda attended the County’s recent meeting regarding law enforcement. Law enforcement costs for Hills for 2004’-$17,888; for 2005’-$18,645; and for 2006’-$19,493. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Dahlquist to approve of the contract. Motion carried. Eugene and Diane Immediato attended the meeting to discuss their purchase of City property located at 214 South Main. Immediato’s requested the removal of a fuel oil tank, shipping pallets, aluminum siding, and rollaway refuse container from the property. Also, confirmation that a propane tank, belonging to Kelly’s Roadhouse, may be relocated to the rear of the property in order to allow for future building additions. The Council will contact Kelly Demuth, Kelly’s Roadhouse Bar, to request written confirmation of the above mentioned items. Dean Goettsch, Exchange State Agency, attended the meeting to review the City’s municipal insurance policy. Goettsch informed the Council that city insurance rates decreased as such; auto by 3%, liability and property by 8%. The Council made no changes in the City’s policy. Councilman, Arlen Leenderts joined the meeting.The Council instructed city maintenance to extend three of the existing campsites by approximately ten feet; and to construct two or three additional sites east of the roadway at Rez Park. No additional electricity will be installed at this time. The Council instructed city maintenance to gravel the newly constructed Sixth Street and Josephine Drive. Gravel costs will not be assessed. Blacktop will be poured next summer, those costs will be assessed to the abutting property owners. Ward requested that the City Council reconsider their decision, referring to the August 12th and 18th meetings, requesting that the City pay 75% of the $212 increase for his family health insurance. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Svoboda to reconsider the August 12th motion, and pay 75% of Ward’s insurance increase for health coverage for the months of October, November and December 2003. Ward’s health insurance due and payable on December 15, 2003, for health coverage effective January 1, 2004, will be reviewed later in this meeting while discussing salaries and benefits for the 2004 proposed budget. Motion carried. Ward informed the Council of eight days vacation that he will not be able to use by December 31st, and inquired whether he could be paid for those days. Svoboda confirmed that he would be paid for unused vacation time. Del Domagala, past President of MN Wastewater Association, nominated Ward for a wastewater operator’s award, in which he was selected. Domagala presented Ward with a plaque. The Council reviewed proposals for replacing light fixtures in the American Legion building. Discussion was tabled. The City Council will not evict the Post Office from the American Legion building. Elbers inquired, on behalf of Orv Sundem, regarding options for the purchase of City-owned property for relocating Orv’s bulk tank business. Mayor Jim Jellema abstained and was excused from the meeting during this discussion. Linus Svoboda as Mayor Pro-Tem presided over this discussion The City does not have property available for bulk tanks, but could offer financial support through a loan.TREASURER’S REPORT: General Checking 33,503.75General Fund CD#17947, 2.5%, 12/2/03 234,392.53General Fund CD#17760, 2.5%, 3/15/05 20,477.61Sewer Fund CD#17877, 2.5%, 10/18/03 50,441.78Fire Truck Rep. Fund CD #17710, 1.75%, 1/13/04 20,051.31Hills EDA Security Deposit Account 2,466.56Hills EDA Checking 13,990.98Southern Hills Apts. Checking 5,422.44Southern Hills CD#17554, 2.5%, 7/20/03 0.00Southern Hills CD#17759, 2.5%, 3/15/05 5,056.71EDA CD#17850, 2.5%, 5/7/05 27,617.27EDA CD#17268, 1.75%, 1/26/04 10,538.57TOTAL $423,959.51A list of delinquent utility accounts was presented to the Council. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Dahlquist to approve of the Treasurer’s report. Motion carried. The Council instructed the Clerk to give 30-days written notice to two residents regarding the removal of junk/abandoned vehicles. A thank-you card from the family of Jeanette Jellema was read. The Council reviewed a city map prepared by DeWild, Grant & Reckert, which updates and corrects the corporate limits for the City of Hills. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Elbers to approve of the corporate limits, accept the map as the final and correct map for the City of Hills, and provide the same information to the Rock County Courthouse. All in favor, motion carried. The Clerk requested the Council to review Ward’s timecard of September 1st-7th to confirm that overtime pay does not comply, due to sick leave taken during the same week. The Council agreed. The City Council meeting was recessed at 8:16 P.M. in order to open the EDA meeting, and was reopened at 8:35 P.M.Doug Chapman attended the meeting to encourage maintenance of fire hydrants on a routine basis. Chapman shared his ideas with replacing lighting in the Hills American Legion building. The Council reviewed a draft of the proposed budget for 2004. Water rates will increase $1.00 per increment. A water improvement debt charge of $4.00 per month will be added. No increase in sewer rates. No increase in garbage rates. No increase in recycling rates. Further additions to the proposed budget: $10,000 for pickup and tractor replacement; $10,000 for Legion building renovation; $5,000 for park improvements; $2,000 for mower trade-in; and $20,000 for sewer repairs.A motion was made by Dahlquist to pay the Clerk and Treasurer $500 each, in lieu of benefits, per advisement from the city’s auditor. Payment to be made during 2003. Seconded by Elbers. None opposed, motion carried. The Council also discussed salaries and benefits in order to implement those costs into the 2004 proposed budget. Motion by Svoboda that the 2004 City Clerk wage be increased 65 cents per hour. Seconded by Leenderts. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Dahlquist to pay the maximum amount of $925.00 per month for Ward’s insurance and a wage increase of 23 cents per hour. Increases to begin January 1, 2004. Seconded by Elbers. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Leenderts that the 2004 Treasurer wage be increased by $32.12 per month. Seconded by Dahlquist. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Svoboda to set other 2004 wages as such: Fire Chief $440 per year; Fire Dept. Secretary $190 per year; Fire Dept. Treasurer $190 per year; Legion maintenance $170 per month; Temporary city maintenance worker $8.25 per hour; Garbage workers $9.00 per hour. Seconded by Dahlquist. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Dahlquist to set the 2004 Mayor’s salary at $1,320 per year; and Council salaries at $1,000 per year. Seconded by Svoboda. None opposed, motion carried. City maintenance will be reminded to get outside water meters installed. Motion by Elbers to begin a new policy as of January 1, 2004, that any city utility bills that are not paid by the 15th of the month will be charged a $10.00 late fee. Avoiding a late fee will cause the account to become delinquent. Any utility accounts that are delinquent at the beginning of the following month will cause water service to be disconnected. Also, that the disconnection fee be increased to $25.00; and the reconnection fee be increased to $25.00. Prior to reconnection, the account must be paid in full, including any and all late fees and disconnection and reconnection fees. Seconded by Leenderts. None opposed, motion carried. The Truth-in-Taxation hearing is set for Tuesday, December 9th at 6:00 P.M.No further discussion, meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M.Connie J. WiertzemaCity Clerk(10-23)
