Dennison City Council - August 4, 2022

City of Dennison

Regular Council Meeting

August 4th, 2022

The August Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeff Flaten on Thursday, August 4th, 2022 at 7:00 pm.  Present were Councilors Heidi Cooke, Nichole Schloesser, and Ann Anders and Clerk Jessica Page.  Councilor Diane Ruddle arrived a few minutes late.

Councilor Anders moved to accept the minutes for the July regular meeting and public hearing.   Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0. Councilor Anders moved to approve the treasurer’s report, Councilor Schloesser second.  Motion passed 4:0.  

Building Permits:  Tyler Amy would like to build a garage on his lot.  Councilor Anders called to ask how high the garage would be to see if it met the criteria.  Tyler told Ann that he wants to increase the size of the garage  to 26 by 36.  12 feet high at the peak.  Setback remain at 10 feet.  Tyler will need to submit new information pertaining to the changes in size for the proposed building.  Councilor Ruddle  move to approve the building permit with the proposed changes.  Councilor Anders second. Motion passed 5:0.

Administrative Issues:

1. Forcemain update.  Work is not completed, still need to repair the gate and Stanke fencing, complete turnaround.

Pressure tested and passed.  MPCA will take influent and effluent data to test for leakage within a few months of completion.  Pay App #2 needs to be approved for $74,549.35.  Has taken longer once they had to work around the liner patch.  Nate was told by Pam if he saw them not following procedure to call Pam Rodewald.  Carley coming down next week to do an inspection.  Make sure our punch list and Carley’s punch list are the same.  Jeff talking with Anita, keeping her informed.  Shouldn’t lose any of the money from the bonding .  Hopefully by next month will be all finished.  Councilor Schloesser move to pay pay app #2.  Mayor Flaten  second. Motion passed 5:0

1. Snowplowing bids to go out?   Need to update map to include Farm Road. Will have them go around the meat locker and past the small road between the meat locker and the gas station.   Ann will add that to the map.  Will review the request and approve at the Sept meeting, then go out for bids.  Ann will change the working to do hourly.
2. Metronet/LTD Broadband agreement. Includes free phone for the city and $100 rent/month, as well as the other changes that the City requested.  Need to approve this.  LTD didn’t change that if they damage the water tower, they aren’t responsible.  Need to change that in the contract or remove the equipment.  Council felt the need to get a legal opinion.  Also need to add there must be a 24 hour notice.  What does “No further rents shall apply to this tower.”  Does that mean northfield wifi can’t be there.  Have Jim look at that also.  City  can’t guarantee access to the tower with less than 24 hours notice  is given. 
3. Christy Whipple, requesting donation for the little pantry.  City can’t donate money to it.  Can do a blurb in newsletter and the Messenger for this.  City needs to send a thank you note to her and the boy Scouts. 
4. Phosphorus building update: New flange installed.  Hydro test done and no leaks.  Nate and Jeff trained on chemical pump.  2nd inspection on August 3^rd by LMC claims adjuster, lawyer for Hawkins, JJD regarding the spill.  July 21 there was a structural concrete engineer that looked at concrete regarding the spill.  Has the specs, will give a recommendation to the lawyer and adjuster.  Hopefully cement doesn’t need to be removed.  Chemical to be delivered in September. Only ordering a couple hundred gallons. Additional training at that time.  All signage should be in place.  Alum tube needs to get cleaned out in the winter.  Maybe see how Hayward does it? 

Some rust starting on the tin.  Maybe epoxy the cement?  If we don’t have any water in the pond, may not be able to do it in September.  Need Carley to send an email to everyone to let us know when it’s ready, and then we will order the chemical.  Not before that. 

1. Dead tree by Joanna Mccoy’s  in the boulevard, and also another dead tree in the park that should get taken down.  Have used Cannon River Tree Service in the past.  Rough idea of what it might cost.  Huge tree $1-3000 depends on access.  Stump grinding a couple hundred dollars.  They are eight weeks out currently.  Get a couple estimates.  Tell JoAnna we”re working on it.  Trying to get someone in sooner. 
2. Work group for 2023 budget? September 13^th 6:00 special meeting set up to work on the budget and accept it.
3. Pohl property: Haven’t followed the ordinance to the t previously as we have worked with Kevin to get it cleaned up.  Nichole will make the list of things that need to be done.  Heidi will work with her.  (Don’t go on the property.)  Need to remind Neal about that too with the new purchase by the locker.  Lots of items left outside at this time.  Jeff will  talk with John Levin.  If we are going to snow plow, needs to be cleaned up.
4. Nygaards.  Jeff spoke with Paul to remove tires and other stuff.  VW sold, some other vehicles sold.  Side lot is clear.  Needs to clean up his home lot.  Nichole will talk to him. 
5. File for city offices from now until 5:00 on August 16^th.  2 Council positions and Mayor.

Citizens Issues:  Any ideas for an Eagle Scout project in the City of Dennison?  Painting the wellhouse, and putting hostas around it.  Hostas around City Hall.  Painting fire hydrants.  Fixing Ramp to the park or other things in the park? ( That is taken care of. )   We don’t keep the horseshoe pits up.  Maybe they could rejuvenate the pits.  Cornhole set to have out in the park.  The basketball court needs to be redone.  Pickle ball court.  New basketball nets.  Weeds in the basketball court.  Paint the park shelter.  Reseal the picnic tables.  Repaint the welcome to Dennison signs.  Maintenance on park equipment.

Mayors Issues:  Schedule for deputies.  Send a letter to Clutchman regarding vehicles parking too close to the intersection, and how do we make it a safer.  Paint the curb yellow.  Speeding, etc.  Paint both of the intersections.  Paint 10 feet. Nate will paint it. 

Utilities:

Source water protection grant application denied for the door.  Didn’t fit the appropriate uses for the grant money.

1. New door on the pump house.  Should be done sometime.  Look at another estimate to see if prices have gone down. 
2. Quote for pump house, sandblast and paint.  Is higher than expected.   Not happening now, but can plan on it in future years.
3. Put booster pump in on August 5,  Cedar Lake will be in area and can help if needed.  Will take care of the electrical in the park at the same time.
4. 6 water meters have arrived. 
5. 4 sets of couplings for new houses (for in the house.)
6. Dan talk to Floms about spraying weeds at the ponds.  Streets were sprayed on the 3^rd. 

CFS set the tank for the pump house and filled it.  Heaters are installed and ready to go.  Have not been checked though.

Councilor Ruddle move to pay the bills.  Councilor  Schloesser second.  Motion passed 5:0.

Mayor Flaten move to adjourn.  Councilor Cooke second.  Motion passed 5:0.  Meeting adjourned at 8:46pm.  

Next meeting:  Regular meeting is Thursday September 8, 2022 at 7:00.