Dennison City Council Meeting - September 8, 2022

City of Dennison

Regular Council Meeting

September 8th, 2022

The September Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeff Flaten on Thursday, September 8thth, 2022 at 7:00 pm.  Present were Councilors Heidi Cooke, Councilor Schloesser, Diane Ruddle, and Ann Anders and Clerk Jessica Page

August meeting minutes are not available at the moment.   Councilor Anders moved to approve the treasurer’s report, Councilor Schloesser second.  Motion passed 5:0. 

Building Permits:       

Administrative Issues: Nancy Shannon was present and looking to continue the farmers market to end of September.  Council is ok with that.

1. Forcemain update.  Forcemain is completed.  Landscaping and hydroseeding completed.  Fence repaired by the lift station.  Still need to complete punch list before final payment and release of retainage.   Need as builts, along with a complete list of everything that was done.  Punch list, make sure that Carley is getting it done in a timely manner, and that the City agrees with everything on it.  Put rock from ponds back the way it was that they moved around when moving water out.  (It was voiced that Council members felt it was unacceptable to have that much of a cost overrun at 150%.  The error was made by ISG for not having the liner in the initial plans.) 
2. Phosphorus Reductions system:  Final pay apps #8 and #9 need to be approved.  Closeout documents are ready.  Contractors warranty period is for one year, until the beginning of July 2023.   The as builts are in the books.   Council needs to see the punch lists before final approval.  Jeff will get a copy of the punch list for City Council to review on Tuesday.
3. Snowplowing request for quotes to go out this month for October meeting.  Are updated documents ready?  Ann sent updated materials out.  Need to fill out dates for the ad.  Before posting, be sure that documents are made into pdfs.  The beginning date would be Oct 7^th if the 6^th is the date we vote on it.  Bids are due on Oct 4^th  by 5 pm..  Clerk to put in the paper asap an abbreviated ad for it.
4. Donation for portable toilets for Dennison Days.  $400 in the past.  Can the City contribute towards this again?  Councilor Anders  move  to pay $400 towards the portable toilets for Dennison Days.  Councilor Schloesser second.  Motion passed 4:0  Councilor Ruddle recused self as she is Lions president.
5. Curbing for new house for Kaylyn Nygaard:  They are having some drainage issues for the new house, (which they figured they would have to do something about) and are asking if thye can put about 30 feet of curbing in to help drain the water away and2 towards the waterway.  Need to match it up with the rest of the area.  Deutsch recommended running tile line to help drain.  Estrem put in a catch basin on the east side of the road.  Water is also getting into the valve boxes filling them with grit and dirt.  Can raise the valve box about 4 inches to prevent this.  City needs to get an idea of the right fix and the temp fix.  Get estimate from Deutsch.  Dan will contact Bill and talk to Kaylyn.

1.  Proposal from Nerstrand Fire Department to use our city shop to keep a fire truck there. Approve fire contract. No increase in the rate from last year. 

Councilor Anders move to work with Nerstrand Fire Department to store a truck in town, and work together to defray the costs. Councilor Cooke second.  Motion passed 5:0. Councilor Schloesser move to approve the fire contract. Councilor Ruddle second.  Motion passed 5:0

1. Metronet/LTD Broadband agreement. Includes free phone for the city and $100 rent/month, as well as the other changes that the City requested.  Recommendations from Burkhardt Law Firm.  What would council like to do?  Council would like the changes that Burkhardt recommended to be put in the contract.  Mayor will forward the recommendation to LTD.

8. Total of 5 dead trees found in town that should be taken down.  No estimates provided from         Cannon Tree Service.  Dan contacted John Miner, The Exchange LLC for estimate.  He charges $120 per hour.  He has submitted his insurance documentation already.  Trees are marked them with white paint. The tree stumps won't be dealt with and left for a later time. Dan estimates it will be at least 8 hours of work, maybe 10 hours.  Councilor Anders move to approve John Minor to remove the 5 dead trees that have been identified.  Councilor Schloesser second.  Motion passed 5:0.
9. Pohl property:  letter sent after reviewed by Council members.  Council members went again to check progress.  Reported that vehicles have tabs on them, pallets are moved and neatly stacked.  Weeds are cut.  Complaint can be closed for this.  Question was asked if the water shut off been lowered?  Will look into that.
10. Jeff Flaten filed for Mayor, and Diane Ruddle for one of the two Council positions open.
11. LMCIT property/casualty for the next year.  Jeff updated policy items. Sewer ponds have been added. Physical property addresses have been updated.   Need to approve  “the City of Dennison does not waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability established by Minn.Stat. 466.04.”   Councilor Anders move to approve the above statement.  Councilor Schloesser second.  Motion passed 5:00.
12. Update regarding Our Tech:  Jeff attended a meeting with Jared Petersen, representatives from CEDA (Community and Economic Development Associates), and a private investor at City Hall yesterday to discuss the proposed broadband project in Dennison. Jared and his group are trying to lock down private financing as well as the public money to make the project a reality. 
13. MetroNet working on installing fiber optic lines throughout town. Construction is expected to continue through most of the month.
14. Park Ramp needs to be discussed.  $1987.90 is the cost of the part $1604.55 if it’s shipped to the Savage Midwest Playscapes area, Ann would go pick up to get the cheaper cost.  Ann suggested that we need to do the maintenance on all the park parts.  Check with Kenyon or Northfiled to see if they have a tech who does that.   Would come out of the park fund.  Councilor Schloesser  move to order the park ramp for $1604 and we pick it up.  Counilor Ruddle second. Motion passed 5:0   Electrical outlet was repaired next to the park shelter.  Council members were wondering if there is a video on how to check the equipment?  Maybe check of Paul had it?  Or check if there is one on-line? 

Citizens Issues: 

Mayors Issues:            

Utilities:

Booster pump installed in the chemical side of the well house. Working fine, no leaks. 

Nate and Jeff traveled to Hayward on August 25th to meet with their operator and discuss the operation of their phosphorus reduction system. Very informative and helpful. Jeff and Nate make notes on how to operate the system so that they can be used for everyone. 

Approve training for Nate to get his C sewer license. It will take place in St. Cloud, September 19-21.  Councilor Anders move to approve training expenses for getting c license. Councilor Schloesser second.  Motion passed 5:0.

Jeff met with Scott Hanson from Minnesota Rural Water yesterday and discussed applying for an implementation grant from the Minnesota Department of Health for the door on the chemical side of our well house. This grant opportunity would pay 100 % to replace the door. Mayor needs to submit the application before the end of this month. Mayor is asking for the council to approve the bid from Northfield Construction Company to replace the door contingent on the grant being approved. In order to secure funding,  language/strategies from our Wellhead protection plan to make our case will be used  Councilor Schloesser move to  approve Northfield Construction Company to replace the door contingent on getting the grant.  Councilor Ruddle second.  Motion passed 5:0.

Generator needs to be a three phase one due to vfd.  Going to apply for that.  Need to find the size that is correct for the need.  Cedar Lake can help determine the size.

The broken door handle on the south side door of the city shop was replaced by Dan. Charlie H., Dan, Nate and Jeff have new keys for the city shop now. 

Last week, there was a sewer back-up in MarLeas. Dan and Nate flushed the sewer main in the back alley to resolve the issue. Since that incident, no further reports of problems.   Dan working on getting sewer line cleaned and then to televise.  Also do up on the hill when they come. 

Brian Eggum needs chairs for the 15^th.

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

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

Next meeting:  Regular meeting is Thursday October 6th, 2022 at 7:00.