CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Lee Uhrhammer called to order a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council on Monday, June 13, 2005 at 7:02 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Darrell Anderson, Debra Points, and Bill Kersch were present. Jon Cermin was absent. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Attorney John Schneider, Police Chief Paul Lindholm, Fire Chief Dale Anderson, Director of Public Works Dennis Neva, 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 May 26, 2005 Regular Council Meeting, second by Bill Kersch, voice vote, motion passed.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

Police Chief Paul Lindholm presented the 2005 May Police Report to the Council.

Fire Chief Dale Anderson presented the 2005 May Fire Department Report to the Council.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

General $117,162.03, Park & Rec. $3,519.87, Library $4,738.34, Water $4,199.48, Sewer $5,516.16

Bill Kersch moved to approve claims, second by Debra Points, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider a Resolution Approving 2005 Alcohol & Cigarette Licenses

Embers has decided not to renew their beer and wine license, and the Dalles Char House Restaurant is being sold, therefore these two licenses should be removed from the list of licenses being renewed.

Bill Kersch moved to adopt Resolution #05-18, approving Alcohol and Cigarette Licenses for the 2005-2006 license year with the exception of Twin Falls Embers and the Dalles Char House Restaurant, second by Debra Points, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Approval of Operators Permits

Darrell Anderson moved to approve Operators Permits as listed, second by Debra Points, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Mayoral Proclamation Designating Mobile Skills Crew Week

Mayor Uhrhammer read a Proclamation designating the week of June 23 through June 27, 2005, as Mobile Skills Crew Week.

Debra Points moved to approve the Proclamation, second by Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Mayoral Appointments to Committees

Debra Points moved to confirm the appointments of Dan Meyers as Chair of the Deer Mgmt Committee, of Dan Reeves to the CDA, Warren White to the Board of Review, Ron Hermanson to the Police Committee, Bruce Yunker to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Darci Krueger, Don Dehmer, Randy Martens, and Mark Sabel to the BID Board, and Carole Martens, Virginia Zoncki-Bunker, Mary Lee-Nichols to the Library Board, second Darrell Anderson, voice vote, motion passed.

Consider Request to Release Project Retainer Dollars, Pember Excavating, for Improvements to Glacier Drive

Punch list and signage has been taken care of on Glacier Dr widening project.

Darrell Anderson moved to approve the Final Pay Request and release of retainer dollars of $2,451.37 for Pember Excavating, second by Debra Points, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Consider Purchase of a “Gator” for Street Department

Public Works has requested that the City consider purchase of a 4 wheeler “Gator” at a cost of $5,350 for use by the Water Dept, Sewer Dept, and Street Dept. As an example, it would save 2 hours of labor a day when watering hanging baskets, currently baskets are watered using a truck, one person drives while another rides in back with a water tank, using a 4 wheeler with a water tank one person can drive and water.

Darrell Anderson moved to authorize the purchase of a Gator for $5,350.00, second by Bill Kersch, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Consider Securing an Option for a Water Well, Duane Pederson Property

A preliminary pump test was conducted on an existing private well that looks favorable, next step is to look at a site near the tested well for a possible municipal well. An agreement has been negotiated with Duane Pederson for a purchase option at a cost of $1,000. This allows the City to do a test well and if site proves to be viable then the purchase option can be exercised.

Debra Points moved to secure the purchase option for a cost of $1,000, second by Bill Kersch, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Consider Authorizing Additional Test Wells

Authorization is needed to do a test boring on the Duane Pederson property to evaluate potential as a well site, and to also test two other potential well sites, at an estimated cost of $9,000 to $10,000 each.

Bill Kersch moved to authorize three additional test wells, seconded by Debra Points, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Consider Purchase of Yellow Flashing Warning Lights, Hwy 8, Fire Department

The Fire Department has experienced difficulties in accessing Hwy 8 from Industrial Parkway, 50% of vehicles on Hwy 8 do not pull over or stop for emergency vehicles. The D.O.T. will not authorize traffic lights at the intersection. Yellow flashing warning lights would warn traffic on Hwy 8 of approaching emergency vehicles. Flashing lights could be triggered by a switch at the Fire Station or by transmitters carried in vehicles. Electrically powered warning lights: currently there is no electrical service at the intersection of Hwy 8 and Industrial Pkwy, consequently installation of service and of flashing lights would cost between $17,000 and $21,000. Solar powered warning lights range in cost from $3,000 uninstalled, to $7,000. Transmitters are not included in the quotes.

Darrell Anderson questioned if it wouldn’t be more effective to send out a police officer to control traffic, or whether the first Firefighter to reach the Hwy could stop traffic.

Bill Kersch moved to approve purchase of solar powered Yellow Flashing Warning Lights from Legacy Solar installed for a cost not to exceed $7,000 and to request quotes for vehicle transmitters, second by Debra Points, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Consider Authorizing Revised Letter of Intent, Section 219, to Reflect Additional Grant Dollars Secured Associated with Waste-Water Treatment Plant Upgrade & Planning

$350,000 has been secured for WWTP design and planning, the letter of intent indicating that we have matching funds of 25% available and committed to the project needs to be revised to reflect the higher dollar amount being funded.

Bill Kersch moved to authorize the revised letter of intent for WWTP upgrade & planning to apply for $350,000 with $108,000 in reserves committed by City, second by Debra Points, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

Discuss Revisions to Garage Set-Back Standards, Section 20.05(3) Design Standards

Current garage set backs standards for new developments is proving difficult, home designs available that meet current set back code are limited. The limited number of designs available could result in monotony of design. This issue will be sent to the Plan Commission for review.

Councilpersons recommended restricting attached garages to smaller sizes than detached garages and permitting some garages to have lofts for additional storage and varying design.

Consider Amendment to Final Resolution Authorizing Public Improvements and Levying Special Assessments Against Benefited Property in the City of St Croix Falls

Resolution #05-12 authorized public improvements and levying of special assessment for the Wilberg Project needs to be updated to reflect actual amount of the project bid for funding via “B Bonds”.

Debra Point moved to adopt Resolution #05-18, Amendment to Final Resolution Authorizing Public Improvements and Levying Special Assessments Against Benefited Property in the City of St Croix Falls, second by Darrell Anderson, roll call vote, 3 ayes, 1 absent, motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT

Darrell Anderson moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Debra Points, voice vote, motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm.

Lee Uhrhammer, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk