CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Brad Foss called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, January 8, 2007 at 7:05 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Lori Erickson and Arnie Carlson were present. Jon Cermin called in at 8:30pm. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Police Chief Jack Rydeen, Fire Chief Dale Anderson, Street Superintendent Scott Brust, Librarian Sarah Adams, Attorney Brian Nodolf, the public and the press. All Present joined in the salute to the flag.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Darrell Anderson moved to approve the Minutes of the December 18, 2006 Council Meetings, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Acting Police Chief Jack Rydeen presented the December Police Report and 2006 Annual Police Report.

Fire Chief Dale Anderson presented the December Fire Dept Report and 2006 Annual Fire Report.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

Arnie Carlson: Technology Group met on Sunday, discussed services offered by Spectrum.

Lori Erickson: City Employees met this morning selected a health plan that is less costly to City.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General $197,203.50, Water $20,373.81, Sewer $8,999.86, Park & Rec $7,959.50, Debt Service $3,005.01

Lori Erickson moved to approve claims, second by Darrell Anderson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, passed.

OLD BUSINESS

Mayoral Trip to Washington DC

Mayor Foss will be traveling to Washington DC in February at his own expense to discuss funding of Waste Water Treatment Facilities, Library, burying of power lines and River Enhancements.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Request of Dennis Johnson to Forgive Sewer Usage Charges for New Construction

Dennis Johnson has requested that the sewer usage charges of $175.78 for 771 Sandrock Road be forgiven, it is new construction and unoccupied, the water was only used for watering of new sod.

Arnie Carlson moved to forgive the sewer usage charge, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Consider Bids for Front End Loader and City Utility Truck

3 bids were received for a front end loader, Fabco Equip submitted the lowest bid at $77,574 for a Cat.

2 Dealers submitted bids for a truck, the lowest bid for an extended cab truck for the Water Dept was from Johnson Motors at $17,299.37. Street Superintendent Scott Brust recommended accepting the bids from Fabco Equip for a front end loader and Johnson Motors for an extended cab truck.

Darrell Anderson moved to accept the bid for an extended cab truck from Johnson Motors, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Arnie Carlson moved to accept the bid for a front end loader from Fabco Equipment, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Consider Bids for Police Radio Upgrades

Police Chief Jack Rydeen: City has been using State Patrol’s radio system, the State has ordered a frequency change, our current radios are not compatible with the change, nor are they compatible with Polk County’s system. We will also need a radio for the new squad. Received 2 bids, recommended accepting the bids from Ancom Communications, they sell, install, and service their equipment, for a radio system without a warranty and for a car radio with warranty.

Darrell Anderson moved to accept the two bids from Ancom Communications, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Consider Cedar Corp Task Order for Municipal Water Well Permit Assistance

Scott McCurdy, Cedar Corp: DNR has questions on why replacing Well #8 at that location and has asked that an engineer look at the project and show why that is the best location, Cedar Corp would prepare the reports and permitting submittals for a cost of $9,500.00.

Arnie Carlson moved to approve the Task Order for Cedar Corp for a cost not to exceed $9,500, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Consider Pay Request for Wilberg Blvd/Washington Street Improvements

Pay request is for signage on Wilberg Blvd and reducing the retainage amount to 7%.

Darrell moved to approve McCabe Construction’s pay request for $19,377.72, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Consider Design-Build Proposal for River Street Location for Proposed Library

Sarah Adams, Librarian: Library Steering Committee and the Library Board have met to review the proposal for the River Street site. While the River Street site is now our first choice we want to keep other options in mind in case this site doesn’t work out, the Holiday building is on main street and has parking. We also have concerns about accessibility, ownership of the Library, space for today’s needs and future expansion, whether the power lines could be buried, and the added cost to be Leed certified.

Mayor Foss: City would own Library with a zero lot line to privately owned building which would have access to Library and an elevator that could be used by public.

Darrell Anderson: if City moves on with considering a different site, the owners of the Holiday building may cut us a deal. Jon Cermin phoned in at 8:30 p.m.

Ed Emerson: in the Request for Proposals we could say we are looking for a 7500 sq ft Library for a cost of about 1.2 to 1.5 million, and have the City Attorney to review the request for proposal for conformity with State Statues.

Lori Erickson moved to authorize a Request for Proposals for a design-build proposal for a new Library, second by Jon Cermin, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Approval of Operators Permits

It was questioned if James Morrison qualified for an Operators Permit.

Darrell Anderson moved to table the approval of an Operators Permit pending more information on James Morrison’s record, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider an Ordinance Regulating Intoxicating Liquors

The Police Department requests that the requirements for a “Class A” Liquor License include a requirement to lock away liquor during non-sale hours due to high incidents of theft.

Jon Cermin moved to adopt Ordinance #01-07, creating a requirement for “Class A” Liquor License holders to lock up intoxicating liquor during non-sale hours, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Discussion on City Goals and Objectives, Where do we Grow from here?

Mayor Foss raised questions on what were the goals and objectives of the City Council and asked the Councilpersons to talk to their constituents and bring back comments.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Don Anderson: property taxes are high, town can’t survive this way, and with movie theater gone downtown is dead. Do you know the cost in soldiers lives for fuel, should look to alterative energy.

ADJOURNMENT

Arnie Carlson moved to adjourn, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed. 9:49 pm.

Brad Foss, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk