CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Lee Uhrhammer called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, February 28, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Bill Kersch, Debra Points and Dan Meyers were present. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Treasurer Jamie Carlson, Police Chief Paul Lindholm, Director of Public Works Dennis Neva, Attorney John Schneider, Chris Strom of Cedar Corp, the public and the press. All Present joined in the salute to the flag.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Debra Points moved to approve the Minutes of the February 14, 2005 Regular Council Meeting, seconded by Bill Kersch, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

The 2004 Year End, Pre-Audit, Financial Summary was presented by Treasurer Jamie Carlson.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General Fund $32,921.35, Debt Service $111,499.67 Library Fund $124.38, Park & Rec. Fund $250.00, TIF District $32,335.08, Water $2,314.81, Sewer $11,871.90

Bill Kersch moved to approve claims, seconded by Darrell Anderson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Additional Parking Signs in Downtown

Additional signage could help inform the public of the 2-hour parking limit downtown. Letters were sent to downtown businesses and notices of winter parking rules were placed on parked cars to notify owners of parking regulations during snow emergencies. It was noted that sign poles get in the way of snow broom when cleaning sidewalks, and signs placed on street lights get in the way of holiday decorations.

Darrell Anderson moved to leave the parking signage as is for now and to re-evaluate the situation in the summer, seconded by Bill Kersch, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider a Resolution Allowing Bow Hunting of Deer: March 1 - 31

Police Chief Lindholm contacted the DNR and has 10 nuisance tags available for archery hunting under the same rules as fall hunting, and if all 10 tags are filled more tags would be made available.

Dan Meyers moved to adopt Resolution #05-04, Allowing Bow Hunting of Deer from March 1 through March 31, 2005, seconded by Bill Kersch, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Purchase of Ditch Mower

Debra Points moved to table consideration of purchase of a ditch mower, seconded by Dan Meyers, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider a Resolution Designating Allocation of Funds: Old Fire Hall Sale

A survey is needed to determine property lines, once completed payment will be released from escrow. Of the $140,000 purchase price $29,080 was budgeted for 2005 General Fund cash flow with the remaining balance to be used to pay off principal on the Fire Department relocation loan.

Debra Points moved to adopt Resolution #05-05, Regarding the Closing of the Old Fire Hall and Designating the Allocation of Funds, seconded by Darrell Anderson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Revolving Loan Fund Loan Restructuring: Enchanted Forest

The Enchanted Forest has four RLF Loans and an additional $4,000 has been borrowed, it is proposed to consolidate these into two loans.

Darrell Anderson moved to adopt Resolution #05-06, Authorizing the Restructuring of Loan Funds for the Enchanted Forrest, seconded by Debra Points, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Revolving Loan Fund to Menagerie Hair Salon & Coffee House

The Menageries’ Aveda Hair Salon & Coffee House has applied for a RLF Loan, the salon and coffee shop will be located in separate spaces in 102 S Washington St.

Debra Points moved to adopt Resolution #05-07, Authorizing a RLF Loan in the amount of $20,000 for 7 years at 4% interest to the Menagerie Hair Salon & Coffee Shop, seconded by Dan Meyers, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Monarch Paving Additional Funding Request: Glacier Dr Improvements

Monarch Paving has requested an additional payment of $5500 for extra asphalt that was laid on Glacier Dr, the extra asphalt was laid due to completing the project so late in the season under wet conditions.

Debra Points moved to grant additional payment of $5500 to Monarch Paving, seconded by Bill Kersch, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Consider Radio Read Utility Meter Purchase

The City’s meter system is old, it utilizes a variety of different sized meters, and the PSCW requires existing meters to be tested or updated. Installing radio read meters would save labor, needing only one person for a day to read meters as opposed to 3 to 4 people for a week, and another week to manually enter and review readings whereas with radio reads the reading would be downloaded directly into the utility program. In addition new meters would more accurately account for water usage, old meters tend to slow down and account for less water than is actually being used. Replacing the City’s existing 855 meters with a radio read system could cost an estimated $208,237.50. It is anticipated that with the labor cost savings and accounting for lost water that the new system would pay for its’ self in five years. FCC Licensing will be needed for the radio signal. Appointments will need to be made for installation.

Darrell Anderson moved to adopt Resolution #05-08, authorizing the purchase and installation of 855 radio read meters at a cost not to exceed $210,000 and mandating that all new construction be equipped with radio read meters, seconded by Dan Meyers, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.

Review Water System Supply Report

Dennis Neva: the DNR has inspected the City’s Water System and concluded that the operation and maintenance of the system is good. They did recommend reducing/accounting for water loss, installation of a new metering system should take care of that issue, they also recommended that discharge piping on the active wells be refinished and that pumps and water storage facilities be inspected.

Review R.F.P.’s for River Street Master Plan

The City received 5 proposals for creation of a River Street Master Plan ranging in cost from $16,760 to $29,185, cost varied widely due to number of hours committed to the project and scope of services. The proposals will be made available to the BID for review before a decision is made. Once plans have been reviewed two will be invited to make presentations to the Council. Taylors Falls is also working to refresh their relationship with the river, a joint meeting to discuss common issues along the river is tentatively planned for March 22, 2005, it was noted that staff from Interstate Park and the National Park Service should be invited

Consider Approval of Operators Permits

Darrell Anderson moved to approve Operators Permits for Dana Mellgren, Jackie Marmon, Karla Lunde, Katherine Coen, April Gehrman, Michael Hooper, Carolyn Brown, and Michael Helmen, seconded by Debra Points, voice vote, motion passed.

COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS

Lower speed limit has improved things on Hwy 8, but some still traveling faster than speed limit.

ADJOURNMENT

Darrell Anderson moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Debra Points, voice vote, motion passed. Meeting adjourned at pm.

Lee Uhrhammer, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk