City Council Meeting Minutes City of Nerstrand
September 10, 2024, 221 Main Street
7:00 P.M. Nerstrand, MN
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Todd Evavold, Council Members Monica Gernandt, John Harris, Kevin O’Brien
ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Clerk Frances Boehning, Steve McDowell
GUESTS: City residents – Luanne Kuntz, Skip Voge, Pam Caron, Gretchen Gilmor, Annette Evavold, Karla Ingersoll, Nate Bonde, Amy Harris,
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Council member John Harris made a motion to approve the agenda, second by Council member Kevin O’Brien. All approved.
CONSENT AGENDA:
A. Payment of Claims dated September 10, 2024.
B. Minutes from August 20th, 2024
MOTION:
Motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion made by Council Member Monica Gernandt, second by Council Member John Harris. All approved.
CLERK’S REPORT:
A. New utility billing company options – The clerk reviewed the options available for utility billing companies and recommended moving forward with Banyon. Council Member Monica Gernandt made a motion to approve the utility billing move to Banyon, Council Member John Harris seconded, all approved.
B. The Clerk reviewed recent activity during August.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Public discussion regarding proposed levy – The council members reviewed the status of the budget and stated their positions regarding the proposed levy.
B. The final levy budget meeting is set for December 10th, at 7:00 pm. The public is welcome to attend and speak
a. Resident comments:
i. Question regarding existence of emergency fund (Council responded that all funds are combined)
ii. Resident noted that social security is only going up 2.6% and all other expenses are rising faster than that.
iii. Resident questioned if the levy increase would be annual or a one-time increase.
iv. Resident said if we don’t save money, we cannot cover emergencies.
v. Resident stated that they prefer a small increase annually versus the City taking another loan to cover emergencies.
vi. Steve McDowell reviewed the estimated road and utility repair costs.
vii. Resident felt the 2.5% increase was reasonable.
viii. Council member John Harris stated that grant money is available to cities that need it.
b. Council Member Monica Gernandt made a motion to approve a proposed levy with no increase, Council Member John Harris seconded, approved by Gernandt and Harris, not approved by Mayor Todd Evavold and Council Member Kevin O’Brien. Motion tied.
c. Mayor Todd Evavold made a motion to approve a proposed levy with 5% increase, Council Member Kevin O’Brien seconded, approved by Evavold and O’Brien, not approved by Council Member Monica Gernandt and Council Member John Harris. Motion tied.
d. Mayor Todd Evavold made a motion to approve a proposed levy with 2.5% increase, Council Member Kevin O’Brien seconded, approved by Mayor Todd Evavold, Council Member Kevin O’Brien, and Council Member Monica Gernandt, not approved by Council member John Harris. Motion passes.
C. Discussion regarding alley ordinance change. – Mayor Todd Evavold requested that the discussion be tabled until October. Council Member Kevin O’Brien made a motion to table the discussion until October 8th, Council Member John Harris seconded, all approved.
D. Discussion regarding MNDOT snowplow agreement – The proposed agreement with MNDOT was reviewed. Council Member Monica Gernandt made a motion to approve resolution number 2024-16 authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to sign the MNDOT agreement, Council Member John Harris seconded the motion, all approved.
E. Alcohol served at recent business event – Mayor Todd Evavold mentioned that alcohol was served at a recent business opening event. All businesses serving alcohol should have approval from Rice County. Council Member Monica Gernandt will speak with the business owner to let them know for the future.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Update information for Pickle Ball Court: Sod has been laid and grass seed spread. Bondes will help with painting the lines. Mayor Todd Evavold noted that the net will be installed when the painting is completed.
9. Reports of Officers
A. Public Works Director –
- Steve McDowell stated that the Farm Street land transfer should be completed in October. He will obtain quotes for paving next spring
- The federal government’s request for the lead service line inventory is due October 1. Steve reviewed that he is attending a class to learn what is required. He feels that the project will be done by October 1.
- The Bollig project was reviewed.
B. Fire Department – Nate Bonde said that the firefighters will be voting next week to join a new PERA pension fund (statewide volunteer firefighters association). He reviewed the information regarding the fund and noted that the bylaws would need to be revised. Council Member Monica Gernandt made a motion to approve the transition to the PERA fund, Council Member John Harris seconded, all approved.
MOTION ADJOURN:
MOTION: Motion by Council Member John Harris second by Council Member Monica Gernandt to adjourn. All Approved.
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Todd Evavold, Mayor
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Frances Boehning, City Clerk
Next City Council Meeting is scheduled for October 8th , 2024, at Nerstrand City Hall
