CITY OF ST CROIX FALLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 28, 2008, 7:00 P.M.
CITY HALL, 710 HWY 35 SOUTH
Mayor Darrell Anderson called a regular meeting of the City of St. Croix Falls Common Council to order on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Roll call: Councilpersons Debra Kravig, Arnie Carlson, Brian Blesi, and Paul Kuhlmann were present. Also present: Administrator Ed Emerson, Clerk Bonita Leggitt, Librarian Sarah Adams, WWTP Operator Mike Bryant, the public and the press. All joined in the salute to the flag. Mayor Anderson asked the public to refrain from interjecting comments during the meeting, to wait for Public Comments section of agenda.
Arnie Carlson moved to approve the Minutes of the July 14, 2008 Council Meeting with the correction of 16” being 16’ wide alley, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.
REPORTS OF OFFICIALS
Mike Bryant, WWTP and Water Dept: the WWTP had high BOD and TSS levels in June, WWTP is getting a sludge load on Sunday mornings from an unknown source. Have finished rehabilitation of Maple Dr lift station. Water wells are performing well, pumped over 10 million gallons of water in June, supply is better than in past years.
Sarah Adams, Library: Building Fund has $262,000 in bank, when add pledges and grants total goes to $450,000. The Business Improvement District has pledged $7,000. Dr. Uddin has started his demolition and the Library Board has authorized removal and clean up of soft materials in our portion of building to coincide, also looking at shared services so that work doesn’t have to be duplicated.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
Darrell Anderson: Cemetery Board is working on updating documentation and storm damaged trees need to be removed.
Arnie Carlson: Joint Planning Committee held a public hearing on road plan, there were a lot of questions raised by property owners, so they are taking a second look at road map.
General Fund $9,759.84, Library Building Fund $4,265.00, Water Fund $3,486.88, Sewer Fund $17,697.10
Arnie Carlson moved to approve claims, second by Paul Kuhlmann, roll call vote, 4 ayes, passed.
OLD BUSINESS
Mayor Anderson: repair of retaining wall on Adams and State St is on hold, Hospital is looking at project and may do in conjunction with some of their retaining walls.
NEW BUSINESS
Consider Adoption of Updated Waste Water Treatment Facility Plan
Public Hearing on amended WWTP Facility Plan was held at 6 pm today. Brian Blesi questioned build ability and how plant would operate during construction. Dan Greve, MSA: Ayres will be reviewing plan, only one trickling filter would be shut down at a time during construction, operation will be addressed in more detail in final plan. The Current discharge permit requires certain stages of planning be completed by October, unknown how long Corp and Ayres’ review will take.
Arnie Carlson: we also looked at membrane technology which is just coming hear from Europe, it has no history here yet, but may be option in future. Setting aside of land for a future facility can be included in boundary agreement with Town of St Croix Falls.
Mayor Anderson: most tax payers are asking that we keep costs down.
Arnie Carlson moved to adopt the updated Waste Water Treatment Facility Plan, second by Brian Blesi, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.
Consider Presentation on City tourism Promotion Strategy
Melanie Nelson has been interviewing local business people, asking them what they see as the strengths and weakness of our area. Attempting to come up with a logo and brand, a place is needed where people can meet, will also be working on updating and improving the City web-site.
Brian Blesi met with the Hudson Rowing Club at the Lions Park, river at park is ideal for rowing, Taylors Falls was having a catfish fishing event that drew about 200 people, and Chisago had a triathlon event, we need to incorporate events in our thinking.
Consider Mayoral Appointments to Cemetery Board
Paul Kuhlmann moved to approve the appointments of Bill Beatie and Jim Solum to the Cemetery Board, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, motion passed.
Consider a Resolution to Authorize the Transfer of the City’s Revolving Loan Fund to the Regional Business Fund Inc
One year ago a 7 County Regional Revolving Loan fund was established, City wanted to see how would function before joining. Currently all funds in the City’s RLF account are loaned out, by joining the Regional Business Fund, we would have access to more funds, in addition there would be the option for loans for more purposes and larger loans. Small loans, those under $25,000, would still be subject to local (City) authority.
Arnie Carlson moved to adopt Resolution #08-14, with correction of “village” to City of St Croix Falls and “Chairperson” to Mayor, Authorizing the Transfer of CDBG-RLF to the Regional Fund, second by Brian Blesi, voice vote, Paul Kuhlman voted nay, motion passed.
Consider A1 Excavating Pay Request for State Street Project
A1 Excavating has submitted a pay request for work done to date on the State Street project, there is also a Change Order for additional work completed due to discovery of an hereto unknown roof drain and lateral connection to the hospital.
Brian Blesi moved to approve Pay Request #1 for A1 Excavating in the amount of $241,101.76, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.
Arnie Carlson moved to approve Change Order #2 to correct problems found in street, second by Paul Kuhlmann, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.
Consider Ordinance Amendments Relating to Removing City Park Fees from Impact Fees and Re-establishing In-Lieu of Fees, Sections 22.11 and 20.08 of City Code of Ordinances
The City used to collect Park Fees as In-Lieu of Fees from Developers, than the State changed the law to ban in-lieu of fees so City imposed Impact Fees, now State has changed the law again to allow In-lieu of fees. The proposed Ordinances would remove the Park Fee from the Impact Fees and establish an In-Lieu of Fee for Residential and Commercial Developments.
Debra Kravig moved to refer consideration of removing Park Fees from Impact Fees and Re-establishing In-Lieu of Fees to the Park & Rec Committee, second by Paul Kuhlmann, voice vote, motion passed, Arnie Carlson abstained.
Consider a Resolution Soliciting Bids for a Sewer User Charge Analysis
The Sewer Utility is running a loss, and there will be a large increase in fees with a new WWTP facility coming in the future, it may be better to raise rates gradually rather than all at once.
Brian Blesi moved to approve Resolution #08-15, Authorizing the Solicitation of Bids for a Sewer User Charge Analysis, second by Arnie Carlson, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.
Consider Port-a-potty with Screening at White Pine Park
Park & Rec would like a facility at White Pine Park, could be screened for aesthetics, more people would use Park if there were a facility. It was questioned if parks with greatest use should get facility first, such as the Wheel Park? Could volunteers be recruited to build the enclosures? Could a “Friends of the Wheel Park”, made up of kids and parents plan improvements and raise funds for the park?
Paul Kuhlmann moved to put a port-a-potty in White Pine Park for the remainder of the summer, second by Debra Kravig, roll call vote, 4 ayes, motion passed.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Charlene Carlson questioned why Cedar Corp was not at the meeting, and if the Council was aware that RLF Loans don’t always get paid back.
John Gerlach: interesting in RLF Loan for remodeling office to add more staff.
Darrell Anderson, Mayor Bonita Leggitt, City Clerk