CITY OF ST. CROIX FALLS

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COMMON COUNCIL MEETING

DECEMBER 18, 2006, 7:00 P.M.

CITY HALL, 710 HWY 35 SOUTH

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Brad Foss called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, December 18, 2006 at 7:02 pm. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Lori Erickson, and Arnie Carlson were present. Jon Cermin arrived at 7:07 pm. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Attorney Brian Nodolf, Police Chief Jack Rydeen, Fire Chief Dale Anderson, WWTP Operator Mike Bryant, Chris Strom of Cedar Corp, 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 4, 2006 Council Meeting, second by Lori Erickson, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICALS

Mayor Foss: Scott Hanson and John Larson are interested in being involved in creating a Wild Life Management Plan for the Simon Farm property.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General Fund $37,754.55, Library Fund $3,479.34, Park & Rec $1,240.00, TIF $274.55 Water $16,847.52, Sewer $1,790.55

Lori Erickson moved to approve claims, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Authorizing a New Well at Well House #8

Mike Bryant: #8 well collapsed, attempted to clear out debris but continued to fill in again as fast as we clear it, we are working with DNR to get a variance to allow for a new well to be drilled 60 feet from the old well.

Darrell Anderson moved to authorize the drilling of a new well at Site #8 and Gamma Logging for a cost not to exceed $40,000, second by Jon Cermin, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider a Resolution Accepting the Waste-Water Treatment Plant Evaluation Report

Eric Schafer, Mid State Associates (MSA): we looked at revamping the existing plant and adding a new Sequencing Batch Reactor to serve a population of 3500, est. cost to update and add reactor is $5.5 million. Main concerns are constrictions of the site and proximity of Fish Hatchery.

Jon Cermin: we haven’t seen the growth that was expected, this option would meet our anticipated need for now, membrane technology is coming and may be affordable when we need to upgrade in future.

Darrell Anderson: this proposal will serve for next 20 years; new technologies will affect what is needed then.

Arnie Carlson: this proposal is estimated meet our need for next 38 years based upon historical growth rates, re-use option is worth looking at based upon cost savings.

Ed Emerson: if this report is accepted the next step would be to contact David Obey’s office regarding Funding, and then set up a meeting with Corp of Army Engineers to discuss and review options.

Arnie Carlson moved to approve Resolution #06-40, Accepting the WWTP Facility Evaluation Report and Endorsing its Recommendations as the City’s Preferred Option, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Holiday Bldg Environmental Report

The Phase 1 Evaluation of the Holiday Building identified some asbestos but nothing to warrant a Phase II Study. There is some mold on surfaces that would be removed as part of the remodeling process. No significant water damage was found. The building is primarily of masonry construction and has a steel roof, there are some cracks in the cast in place concrete walls but no signs of leakage.

Discuss Pros & Cons for Library at City-Owned River Street Site

Mayor Foss: the City owned lot behind Claytons Hardware could be utilized for a new two story Library building, it would tie the Library in with the downtown and the river. That portion of the property not used for the Library could be offered as a build design challenge, we could offer the unused portion in exchange for development of a library to include a green roof and elevator.

Sarah Adams, Librarian: this looks like a good option for the Library, like the idea of a green building; Library Board hasn’t met yet to discuss this option.

Chris Strom: there is a sewer line running through the property that may need to be relocated, there is also water that seeps from the site that can be seen in the summer, a lot of fill has been placed on the site over the years, and parking may also be an issue.

Darrell Anderson: spoke to Library patrons, they liked idea of new building more than using the old Holiday building, this idea fits in with plan to enhance River Street area.

Jon Cermin: green building ties in with Leed, could also look at under ground parking.

Lori Erickson: Holiday building would need a co-habitator, why put ourselves in the position of landlord.

Consider Authorizing Downtown Street Enhancement Study to Include State Street and Authorize Engineer Design Evaluation

Ed Emerson: Hospital is undertaking a $5 million expansion, one issue brought up is the unsightly power poles along State Street, another issue is parking. They anticipate need for 50 additional parking spaces.

Chris Strom, Cedar Corp: rough estimates to extend downtown improvements to State St from Adams St to Roosevelt St are $352,047.26 for street work and minor drainage improvements, $578,195.04 if utilities are included, would need to televise sewer line to see if needs replacement. With a recommended street width of 36 ft it would be possible to allow parallel parking along one side of State St

Mayor Foss: expanding downtown street enhancements to State St is an idea that came up when talking about Hospital’s project; it would serve to enhance another entry to the City.

Consider a Resolution Appointing Jack Rydeen as City Police Chief

Jon Cermin moved to adopt Resolution 06-41, confirming the appointment of Jack Rydeen as Police Chief for the City of St Croix Falls, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

Darrell Anderson moved to take a break, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Darrell Anderson moved to reconvene, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Viewing Fire Department Tanker Trucks and Authorize Purchase of Compressor for the Fire Department

Council stepped outside to view the Fire Department’s new tanker truck.

Fire Chief Dale Anderson: the Dept’s air compressor is 22 years old, estimate to repair is $2,200. A new compressor costs $8,400. Even with repairs it won’t be able to fill scuba tanks, they have to be taken elsewhere to fill, due to unknown time for need and accessibility it is not practical to share a compressor with another department.

Jon Cermin moved to authorize the purchase of a new compressor for a cost not to exceed $8,400, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Public Art Project Agreement: River Spirit Sculpture Update

Ed Emerson: sculpture is soon to be completed, Park & Rec and others are working on determining a placement site. Section 5 of the Agreement talks about where we are with the sculptures now, Prepayment for orders would be needed before the piece is started.

It was noted that the first (#1) full size sculpture should be the City’s, and that the first sale of a full size edition should also be the City’s, that further sales/orders of full size editions from MN and WI would be the City’s and that other outside state sales would be the Artist’s sales, up to five sales each.

Juliann Stage: did a showing in Stillwater and took orders for three ¼ size sculptures. A base needs to be designed so that the bottom of the sculpture can be make to fit the base and the sculpture has to be cast, likely will be ready for unveiling in July. The City would own the molds and once the maximum agreed upon limit of copies is reached the molds are destroyed.

Attorney Brian Nodolf: selling price shouldn’t be a component of the contract to allow for variances in manufacturing costs.

Lori Erickson noted that there should be language included whereby there would be no discounting of sale price by the artist.

Arnie Carlson noted that item 5-3-c of Agreement doesn’t say “at least” $800.

Jon Cermin moved to accept the Public Art Project Agreement with amendments noted by Attorney and Arnie Carlson, second by Lori Erickson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Approval of Three Year Teamster Union Contract

Ed Emerson: met with Union Representatives and Labor Attorney, Union has agreed to a 2% increase per year for the next three years in accord with the State levy increase limit. Currently the City pays 100% of the premiums for health, dental, and life insurance. We are in discussions with employees regarding a notice of 40% increase in health insurance rates for 2007 and employees understand that something has to be done, per the Contract all changes to insurance coverage need approval by employees. We are seeking insurance quotes from other health insurance providers and are also looking at adjusting deductibles and co-pays. We could look at saying that for all future employees that the City would pay 100% of employee’s health insurance premium and 50% of premium for additional family members.

Lori Erickson: City should look at paying for health insurance for employee only, not family, will plan on attending the next Employee meeting regarding health insurance as the Council’s representative.

Jon Cermin moved to approve the Teamster Union Contract with language change suggested by Ed Emerson, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed, Lori Erickson abstained.

Consider Approval of Operators Permit

Darrell Anderson moved to approve an Operators Permit for Jeffrey Blanski, second by Jon Cermin, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider an Ordinance Increasing Class A Liquor License Fee to $500

Darrell Anderson moved to Adopt Ordinance #07-06, Amending City Code 12.02(5)(d), increasing the license fee for a Class A Liquor License to $500, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider a Memorandum of Understanding to Enter Into Negotiations for a City/Town Boundary Agreement

Purpose of Memorandum is to put forth the City and Town’s intent to enter negotiations for a Boundary Agreement; it is an indication of good faith.

Jon Cermin moved to accept the Memorandum of Understanding to Enter into Negotiations for a Boundary Agreement, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider a Resolution Designating Public Depository and Authorizing Withdrawal of Public Funds

Jon Cermin moved to adopt Resolution #06-43, Designating Public Depository and Authorizing Withdrawal of City Funds, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT

Lori Erickson moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Arnie Carlson, voice vote, motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 10:25 pm.

Brad Foss, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk