Dennison City Council Meeting - July 7, 2022

City of Dennison

Regular Council Meeting

July 7th, 2022

The July Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeff Flaten on Thursday, July 7th, 2022 at 7:00 pm.  Present were Councilors Heidi Cooke, Diane Ruddle, and Ann Anders and Clerk Jessica Page.  Councilor Schloesser was unable to attend.

Councilor Ruddle moved to accept the minutes for the June regular meeting with two changes.   Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0. Councilor Anders moved to approve the treasurer’s report, Councilor Cooke second.  Motion passed 4:0. 

Building Permits:  None.

Administrative Issues:

1. Results of public hearing for Rezoning of land splits for Mike Strese (Jeff Hasse, and Wendy Carrol).  The City Council approved the land splits in June. There were no comments at the public hearing held before Council meeting.  Councilor Ruddle moved to approve the change in zoning from ag to industrial.  Councilor Anders second.  Motion passed 4:0:
2. Chris Thomas, Our Tech Co-op, Update:  The Coop is looking at applying for some DEED money to install high speed internet.  It is a 50% grant   They are looking at other grant moiesy available.  Looking at the county for additional money.  The Coop is asking for the City of Dennison to pass a resolution to be a Telecommuter Forward Community.  The only requirement is to have a single contact person for the City.   Jared would be willing to be the contact person.  It can be someone from Dennison also.  By passing the resolution, it would be beneficial to the funding  applications.  The resolution does not commit the City financially to anything.  Councilor Ruddle moved to adopt Resolution #7-2022-01 if the point of contact is changed to the City Clerk.  Councilor Anders second.  Motion passed 4:0.

City would like to have a copy of the grant application before it is submitted. 

1. Metronet/LTD Broadband agreement. Current offer includes free phone for the city and $100 rent/month. LTD Broadband absorbed 7 towers of Metronet, which includes the City of Dennison tower.  Councilor Ruddle had a question on Part b of indemnity clause, which states if LTD Broadband damages the tower or causes issues with the water, the City cannot sue them. The City Council is not comfortable with that being in there. The City cannot provide 24 hour access to the tower.  The City could do 24 hour notification to find someone who can let them in. 
2. Christy Whipple, would like to know where the little pantry will go?  The Boy Scouts finished the little free food pantry and are looking for where to install it, as they would like to cement it in next week.  There were a couple of recommendations, but the final place selected was behind the bulletin board.   Mayor Flaten will call Gopher 1, and contact John Metcalf.  Nate will mark the area. 
3. Dennison Lions is donating $2000 for the park account. Councilor Anders noted that the ramp going in to the park is getting broken up.  She may have some of the old building supplies.  It was volunteer labor to be installed, so no business to contact to fix it. 
4. Goodhue County Sheriff’s Deputy: He asked if the City had any issues they wanted to bring up?  He noted the recent theft of a catalytic convertor attempted to be stolen from a business in town.  He said it’s happening throughout the county.
5. County Commissioner Todd Greseth:  Asking if the City had any concerns.  
6. Phosphorus building update: New flange will be installed by Thursday.  Float switch installed, and the tank has been rehabbed.  Hydro test being done on piping.  MPCA deadlines are good.  Pay app #7 needs to be approved for $1,228.02.  Process of finishing the building is completed.   Inspection had lots of lawyers and reps from everyone involved.  Opened a couple sections.  Didn’t see any anchor bolts that looked to be an issue.  Might be another meeting with the parties involved in the future.  Lawyers are dealing with it. Councilor Anders move to approve payment of Pay App #7 for $1,228.02.  Councilor Cooke second.  Motion passed 4:0.
7. Force main update. Work is in progress.  Water has been pumped from the primary pond to the secondary, and secondary pond is full.  Nate is working with state to do a discharge so there is enough room in the secondary pond to be able to move the remaining water from the primary pond to the secondary pond.  JJD not able to find the dams to move the water away so they could complete the work.  Council has concerns that ISG is not doing the job that they need to as the engineers for the project.  Andy Lewis with JJD says the elevations are not correct, which is hindering the work also.  Group emails have been sent out.  It was suggested the City call the League of MN Cities to get some help with this.   

The Mayor has been keeping the PFA notified due to bonding money being at stake.  He will cotact additional folks at ISG to see if we can get the issues resolved. 

1. Election judges need to be approved.  Councilor Anders move to approve Jeff Flaten, Katy Gillispie, Charlie Helcl, Heidi Cooke, Christy Dematteo, Rae Rusnak, Jessica Page for election judges for the upcoming primary and general elections.  Councilor Ruddle second.  Motion passed 4:0.
2. Parks donated by Nordis and street donated by family have both been recorded.
3. There is a large pothole by elevator that is contributing to the asphalt near it to break up.  Mayor spoke to elevator about it so they are aware of it being fixed.  Councilor Anders move to have Deusch fix the pothole by the elevator for the quoted price of $700 for rock plus $150 to grade.  Councilor Cooke second.  Motion passed 4:0.
4. Nerstrand truck donation request.  Council feels they are not able to act on it right now until the current projects are completed.
5. Mayor submitted fire information regarding City Hall to Joe Johnson.  Mayor sent info regarding water supply and hydrant information to Barrask  (underwriters.) in hopes that insurance rates can go down in the city for fire insurance.

Citizens Issues: 

Dennison Days: Street dance Friday night.  Barricades on Saturday for activities.  No pedal tractor pull.  Kids bingo under the tent.  Purse bingo.  Truck pull on the hill.  Councilor Cooke move to approve closing the street in from of Marlea’s on Friday night and then for the two blocks on Saturday for the activities.  Councilor Anders second.  Motion passed 4:0.

Weeds are tall all over in the City, including yards and boulevard.  Weed inspector will need to go through and review. 

It was brought up the Kevin’s place has gotten really bad as far as cars being parked in the right of way and lawn.  It appears there is no space left to store vehicles as some are half parked in the street.  City will look at how to remedy, including the possibility of sending a legal notice if needed.  Mayor will contact Jim on how to proceed.

Nygaards place is getting bad also.  Mayor will talk to him also.

Mayors Issues:  Population and street sign installed in late May.

Utilities:

Flushed hydrants on June 13. 

Hookups completed on 6-14 for Nygaards and Rieland construction.

McKlosky meter replaced on June 15^th, and the outside reader has been put in place at old Stenbakkens house.

JB weld put on booster pump until new pump can be installed.  City will be reimbursed the amount of the pump minus the deductible.  Keep old pump as a backup.  Have Cedar Lake complete hook up.  Do at the same time as the repairs to the electrical at the park possibly.

New water meters ordered.  Composite instead of brass.  Supposed to be cheaper and more accurate.

Chlorine injector needed a rebuild kit.  Nate will do after the new pump is installed.  Can order another repair kit to have on hand.

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

Mayor Flaten move to pay the bills.  Councilor Anders second.  Motion passed 4:0.

Mayor Flaten move to adjourn.  Councilor Cooke second.  Motion passed 4:0.  Meeting adjourned at 8:46pm.  

Next meeting:  Regular meeting is Thursday August 4th, 2022 at 7:00.