City of Dennison
Regular Council Meeting
December 1st, 2022
The December Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeff Flaten on Thursday, December 1st, 2022 at 7:00 pm. Present were Councilors Nichole Schloesser, Heidi Cooke, Diane Ruddle, and Clerk Jessica Page. Councilor Ann Anders was unable to attend.
Councilor Ruddler move to approve the regular meeting minutes for November. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0. Councilor Schloesser move to approve the Treasurer’s report. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
Building Permits: None
Administrative Issues:
1. Truth and taxation hearing. Ask if anyone has any input on the levy before it is set. Need to approve the final levy amount. Preliminary levy was set at $171,913.00 (General levy $129,700.00 and bond repayment $42,213..00) Jeff reviewed what preliminary levy was, and that is was a significant increase over previous year. He asked for comments. Several reasons why to keep it as it is. Worked hard to go through it. Councilor Ruddle move to pass Resolution 12-2022-01. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
2. Review the public hearing for SEMMCHRA and Small Cities Development Program to allow them to extend the original grant target areas and modify the financial packet for owner occupied rehabilitation projects. No action needed.
3. Discuss contract from People’s Service to provide a C licensed operator for the community. Included in the cost per month is 1 on-site visit per week, as recommended by the MPCA. Mayor Flaten has had conversations with the operator from Hayward, Minnesota. He would be willing to help the City in the short-term. Presented both contracts to the council. Discussed with Nate who he might be more comfortable working with. Nate has worked with Travis a little with questions and feels comfortable with him. $750 with People’s service. $700 for Travis/Hayword operator. Councilor Ruddle move to hire with Travis Reickl from in the interim license provider for sewer for onsite weekly visits for $700 per month and $50 hourly for emergency services needed effective December 1. Nichole Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0.
4. Update regarding cleaning up the City Shop for the Nerstrand Fire Department. Roll off dumpster was delivered on November 16th. For the most part, the shop has been cleaned and organized. Keeping the jetter and Wisconsin pump in the shop. We made room on the North side for those items, for now. Have asked Paul Nygaard to help the City to remove and recycle metal items from the City Shop. Also in the process of cleaning the well house. Old paint cans removed. Paint chips from the well pipes tested for lead. Negative results. In the next few weeks, junk items will be removed from the basement of City Hall. Charlie and Dan will be helping with that. Sale of surplus items. Chairs in the shop, just get rid of them as they have been posted before with no interested parties. Sections of tin were sold for $50. Councilor Ruddle let everyone know about the Paint care program, where old paint will be recycled for free. Pew in the basement, cut it up and recycle it.
5. Nerstrand Fire Department plans on putting up the signage on the building and having the new garage door opener installed after December 4th.
6. Punchlist for the forcemain project sent to the council. The grading and seeding wasn't done this fall, and the damaged conduit electrical pipe by the lift station hasn't been repaired yet. JJD will pay to repair the pipe, Cedar Lake will do the work. Hopefully will get done in the next few weeks. Paint it with orange paint or reflective tape, flag, etc to prevent any further damages.
7. The phosphorus shed. Epoxying the floor will occur on December 2nd. The goal is remaining rehabilitation/replacement work will take place in December.
8. Bolstrom letter sent by certified mail just recently. Have not had slip returned.
9. Requesting to replace the toilet in the City Shop due to the inner parts not working correctly any more. Leaks. Asking for approval for $100.00 to purchase one. Nate will buy the toilet and install it. Councilor Schloesser move to approve $150 for a toilet, wax ring, etc, for the shop and Nate will install it. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
10. New equipment for City phone received and installed by LTD Broadband on Dec 1. Will have to send someone to install another dish on City Hall so that the LTD signal can be received. Tech asked how to get in the attic. Does anyone know? Charlie thinks there may be an opening in the office ceiling.
11. Sales Tax reimbursement receipts received from Pioneer Power. Total sales tax will be $5,660.50. Will submit to the Minnesota Department of Revenue before the end of the month. 30 pages of receipts.
12. Approve liquor license for Fireside, pending return from Sheriff’s dept. Marlea’s is closed so Michelle won’t be renewing hers. Clerk was told it has gone back to previous owners, and that those owners are going to sell. Councilor Ruddle move to approve Fireside’s Liquor License pending positive return from sheriff. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
13. Approve Cigarette licenses for Dennison Depot and Fireside for next year. Councilor Schloesser move to approve Cigarette Licenses for Dennison Depot and Fireside Lounge for 2023. Councilor Ruddle second. Motion approved 4:0.
14. Since the approval of the utility assessments, one of the parcels that was on a contract for deed has gone back to the previous owner, who does not feel that they are responsible for that bill. Clerk is recommending that the City attorney be contacted on how to proceed to collect the utility payments from the previous owner.
Citizens Issues:
Mayors Issues:
Utilities:
1. Water meter and reader installed at the new Reiland Home on 11-23. 190 Prairie View Drive.
2. Where's the water meter reader? It should be kept in the well house when not being used. Maybe we should get another one. Current reader is close to 30 years old. Order a second one? $500 or so estimated. Nate will leave in the file cabinet in the well house. Set of master keys in a lock box? Spare set plus an accessible set.
3. Empire will not be televising and jetting the back alley behind Mainstreet this fall. Will have to be done next year. In the meantime, Dan and Jeff flushed the sewer main in the alley on 11-28. No plugs or issues to report.
Area that is collapsing in the line behind Marleas’s/post office. Will need to keep this in mind as the City moves forward with liners/repairs.
Councilor Schloesser move to pay the bills. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
Mayor Flaten move to adjourn. Councilor Schloesser second. Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Meeting opened back up by Mayor Flaten. Councilor Cooke move to pay the bill presented for the pump being fixed by Darrin Shuster for $413.25. Councilor Ruddle second. Motion passed 4:0. Councilor Schloesser move to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:17.
Next meeting: Regular meeting is Thursday January 5th, 2023 at 7:00.
