City of Dennison
Regular Council Meeting
January 4, 2024
The January Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeff Flaten on Thursday, January 4th, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Present were Councilors Heidi Cooke, Diane Ruddle, Nichole Schloesser and clerk Jessica Page. Councilor Nygaard was unable to attend.
Councilor Cooke move to approve the regular meeting minutes for the regular December meeting and the December special meeting. Mayor Flaten pointed out that there was an extra 5 in a figure in #4. Correction was made. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0. Councilor Schloesser move to approve the Treasurer’s report. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
Old Business/Committee Reports/Building Permits:
Mayor Flaten presented a framed letter to Charlie for the donations for the windows. A small plaque was installed on the window for Charlie.
Administrative Issues:
1. Josh Ramaker from Rice County, SHIP coordinator, and Sarah Dawson from Goodhue County, Goodhue County Health and Human Services, spoke about making the intersection at Goodhue Avenue and County Road 9 safer for pedestrians and bicycles. Before making any improvements in the intersection, the Goodhue County Engineer is requiring a receiving facility, a new sidewalk be built on the north side of the block, by the bank's property. An estimate to build a new sidewalk was presented to the council. To be included in the 2024 Goodhue County construction calendar, the County Engineer, Jess Greenwood, will need to have the project in the County's 5-year CIP. Jess will make his presentation to the County Board in mid-January.
Mayor Flaten has a verbal ok with the bank to assist with the cost of the sidewalk and shoveling. It would go from the street to the entrance of the parking lot.
Josh is working on making this safer for pedestrians. Demonstration projects help to determine the best option for an area. Bump outs makes the road feel narrower so people slow down. Getting Goodhue County on board helps to make the case for more funding. Rice County asks for 10% match. Lincoln Elementary in Faribault was a testing spot. MNDOT has a demo project.
Sarah’s focus is creating “safe routes to school”.
Council needs to approve building a sidewalk before any improvements are made through the county. Demonstration projects can increase funding chances. Jess Greenwood is presenting his plan for the year and the overall 5 Year Plan for the County Public Works Dept. that he is presenting to the County Commissioners.
Councilor Ruddle move to pursue more pedestrian safe efforts on the corner of County Road 9 and Goodhue Ave (painting , bollards, or other demonstration projects) and moving towards more permanent solutions as funding can be obtained. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0.
City will need permission from the County to do the demo projects.
Todd Greseth: The County has set policing costs for this year for Goodhue, Pine Island, Wanamingo. Still working to figure on final costs for policing.
Deputy Dan Englund from the Sheriff’s Department. Mayor Flaten noted that there are semi’s jakebraking in the middle of the night through town. The City had a sign on County Road 9 on the east side of town that disappeared about 6 months ago. Need to get sign back up.
2. Bryan Caffin, Mark Klema and Kris Ambuehl from Bollig Engineering were present to discuss infrastructure needs and funding possibilities for the City.
Needs assessment results and options. Bryan is a project manager, who will probably be working with the City on any upcoming projects.
Reviewed sanitary sewer system. Items in red on the presentation are fundable. Clay pipe in the older sections of town has reached the end of it’s life. Bollig will look at overlapping opportunities. For example, Riprap condition, lack of ability to build more homes in the City, damage to the liner as well as age of the liner for the pond. Lining is not recommended for the clay piping as it doesn’t have enough structural integrity to support the relining materials. This would make relining a temporary and not a permanent solution. Better to replace it than to put a liner in.
Well house and well. Well house needs repainting and concrete is settling. Reviewed water main looping (MDH wants it to be done and it improves water quality) Couple areas in the newer parts of town that could benefit from looping.
Storm water system is functioning well. The church has the sump pump running into the street. Maybe run it into storm sewer so ice doesn’t build up in the street?
Streets. Can work with the county engineer in regards to County Rd 9.
Comprehensive plan update is outdated. Keep the lines open to communicate regarding this. Limited grant opportunities for that.
Waterways that prevent a road from being built. Need to look at this for future roads and planning.
Recommendations: I and I needs to be reduced to correct current situation. Look at options for expanding pond capacity. Wellhouse rehab. Minor water tower improvements. Street maintenance. Other misc.
Preliminary Engineering report is needed to start funding. USDA is primary source to look at. Will look at up to 17 different funding sources. $45,000 to complete the report. Will take a down payment and carry the balance until we are funded. They will continue to work on other funding. City will need to decide on what to do so the Preliminary report can be started.
3. Reorganization meeting: (motion to accept all designations when finished reviewing needed)
Designate a newspaper of general circulation as the official newspaper of the city. Has been the Cannon Falls Beacon.
Posting locations for announcements. Dennison Depot, the public bulletin board,
Resolution 1-2023-01 named Heritage Bank as the City of Dennison’s bank, and is good until January 2025.
Elect an acting mayor from the councilmembers to perform the mayor’s duties if the mayor unable to fulfill his duties. Heidi Cooke was the previous year’s acting Mayor. She is willing to it again.
City Attorney: Burkhardt and Kreisler, LLC
City Clerk/Treasurer: Jessica Page
Hall Custodian: Charles Helcl
Sewer/Water Operator: Nate Sparrow Consultant: Travis Reichl
Additional City Employees for water/sewer/general: Dan Storlie
City Engineer: Bollig
Fire Department: Nerstrand
Meeting date/time: First Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm.
Councilor Ruddle move to accept everything above. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0.
4. Property Complaints: Pete Lee Building-No updates available.
5. Update on Notice of Violations from the MPCA. Meeting with PCA on 12-12-23 (Mayor, Jessica, Jaramie Logelin, Lauren Marshall) to discuss the Pretreatment Notification and SIU agreement. Corrective action responses sent to Teri Roth on 12-13-23. Pretreatment Notification form sent to Teri Roth on 12-14-23. Regarding the Notice of Violations, further clarification requested by Teri Roth regarding #11 and #15. City staff working on sending corrective action responses this week.
6. Updating of fee schedule: New billing system fee? Any other changes needed? Table until next month.
7. Approve Bingo at City Hall during Flake Out Festival with the Dennison Lions Club. Resolution 1-2024-01. Lions would also use City Hall for the Chili Cook-Off, and possibly Farmer’s Market vendors would set up too? Mayor Flaten move to approve the resolution to use. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 3:0. Councilor Ruddle abstained from vote as a Lions Club member.
8. Continue discussion on how to use the one-time MN Public Safety Aid ($9,715.00). The fire chief has requested that the funds be used for equipment for the Dennison Fire Station for turn out gear or truck payments. Total cost to outfit one firefighter with protective gear is $4,000. Previous council meeting it was discussed to pay for one outfit and possibly see if the Dennison Lions Club would contribute half of that amount. Lions Club has not discussed the issue. Council will table until more information available from the Lions Club.
9. Per the discussion from the special meeting on 12-22-23, HP Care Pack warranty protection plans estimate provided by Aldrich Technology. No decision made at this point in time. Will discuss at the next meeting.
10. Mayor asked Brian Schrader from Brian's Heating and Mechanical to look at the south tube heater in the City Shop. The heater has been dropping soot on the cement floor this winter. Brian explained the heater is on it's last leg. Even if we could find parts to fix it, he couldn't guarantee he'd be able to put it back together and it would run again. He recommends installing a new heater.
Citizens Issues:
Can Lions Club have a secure area to store some items in the basement? There is plenty of room. Lions Club will provide the storage containers. Okay to do so per Council members.
Mayors Issues:
Utilities:
1) Update from Nate.
2) Fluoridation equipment grant through the MN Dept. of Health has been approved. Need to have the new equipment installed by June of 2024. City amount will be about $280.
3) Has the alternator been fixed at the generator for the lift station? Fixed. Nate has his own on it to see if it will maintain. If it works, he will buy the part.
4) Cedar Lake Electric installed the 3rd run meter at the lift station on 12-28-23.
5) Water meters:
Jim Malecha's outside reader fixed? Nate took reader apart, fixed wires. Nate not sure what’s wrong. Will have to try calling and get access to the house. Heidi and Nate will work on it.
Councilor Ruddle move to pay the bills as listed in addition to one for Graphic Mailbox. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 3:0. (Councilor Schloesser had needed to leave the meeting.)
Mayor Flaten move to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Cooke second. Meeting was adjourned at 9:43.
Next meeting: Regular meeting is Thursday, February 1st at 7:00.
