Osakis City Council

Regular Meeting

May 3, 2004

6:00 PM

Mayor Astleford called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM 

The pledge of Allegiance was spoken. 

Present: Hagemann, Astleford, Nordstrom, Emerson and Timmerman 

Project #205 - Street Projects – Continuation of Public Hearing 

The public hearing for the street improvement projects held on April 21, 2004 was continued to May 3, 2004 regular council meeting.  All present had a chance to be heard. 

Mayor Astleford read a letter from Barb Dewars that stated they did not want the 4^th Ave Street improvement. 

A motion by Timmerman seconded by Nordstrom to close the public hearing at 6:16pm.  All Ayes 

To proceed with all street improvement projects for 2^nd Ave E, 4th Ave E, 5th Ave E, 6^th Ave E, Loon Street, dies for lack of motion.

2^nd Ave E dies for lack of motion

4^th Ave E motion by Nordstrom to proceed with construction dies for lack of second

5^th Ave E motion by Nordstrom to proceed with construction, seconded by Emerson, all in favor: Hagemann, Nordstrom, Emerson Against: Timmerman, Astleford

6^th Ave E motion by Nordstrom to proceed with construction, seconded by Emerson, all in favor: Nordstrom, Hagemann, Emerson  Against: Astleford, Timmerman.

Loon Street dies for lack of motion. 

4^th Ave E from Nestor to Truck Hwy 27 has to either be a street or be blocked off.  Tom Klemenhagen advice to the city is if they want to close the street to just barricade and not destroy the street, you will loose the money put into it and you may not be able to get a street over the trail in that spot again. 

Emerson stated a lot of people use that street even the people that did not want increased traffic. 

A motion by Emerson 2^nd by Timmerman to close 4^th Ave E with barricades, but not to destroy the street.  All in favor: Astleford, Timmerman, Emerson Against: Nordstrom, Hagemann. 

Meeting recessed at 6:30pm to be continued at 7:00pm. 

Meeting called to order by Mayor Astleford at 7:00pm 

Project #17 - 1st Ave W Utility Project 

Carol Marthaler asked for a copy of the April 5^th meeting and a copy of the Special Assessment Policy.  She was given the above request. 

The Clerk sent a special assessment letter notifying the Marthalers of the public hearing which was held on 4-5-04, and in the letter the clerk did only mention that it was for water Main & Water Services, she did not put in that it was for sewer also, however at the public hearing it was talked about and was stated for both water & sewer. 

Carol and John Marthaler were present and read the letter they sent the council 

After much discussion the Marthalers were satisfied paying the $5,000 as long as it was for both water and sewer utilities. 

A motion by Emerson seconded by Nordstrom to get three quotes on 1^st Ave W Utility Project. All Ayes 

Project #79 – 2003 Year End Audit 

Janel Bitzan was present to go through the 2003 audit and to answer any questions the council may have.  Janel stated the statement we received for the financial Statement was the best anyone could get in an audit.   

Janel also mentioned the Ambulance and Fire Departments should have all their payments go through the cities accounting system.  They should also have the city officers, clerk and mayor, sign the checks they send out because they operate under the city, and have a disclaimer on the back of all their checks. 

Motion by Emerson seconded by Nordstrom to approve 4-5, 4-6, 4-12 and 4-21 meeting minutes with a change to the 4-12 minutes to read a motion by Nordstrom seconded by Emerson to charge OEDC 6%  of the Gross Profit minus the $1,000.00 a year which the council agreed prior years until the year 2006. Votes in favor: Astleford, Emerson, Nordstrom, Hagemann Against: Timmerman.  This agreement will be for a two year lease. 

Motion by Timmerman seconded by Nordstrom to approve the bills in the amount of $195,141.62, all ayes 

Motion by Nordstrom seconded by Emerson to approve the Expenditure Guideline, all ayes 

Project # 76 – Police 

Chief Gilson was not in attendance. 

Project # 24 – Liquor Store 

Joe Ketelboeter was not in attendance. 

Project # 205 – City Crew 

Reggie Redetzke was not in attendance. 

Project #307 – Community Memorial Home 

The council received the copy of the quite claim deed which the Memorial Home is asking the City of Osakis to sign. 

There is a piece of land which still belongs to the City of Osakis which is amongst the land which the Memorial Buildings parking lot is on. 

A motion by Timmerman seconded by Nordstrom to approve the quite claim deed, all ayes. 

Project # 42 - Clean Up Day 

Council would like the clerk to find out what the charge is for microwaves and then print in the paper the fees that will be charged for the items.   

Council will be charging $5.00 per pickup load or trailer load.  Clean Up Day will be held from 8:00am to 12:00pm, and will be the same system as last year. 

Both the Clerk & Deputy Clerk will be there to work. 

Project #213 – Life Guards 

We will be taking applications through May 7^th.  The Beach will open the weekend after Memorial Day. 

Kip Emerson will look over the applications and do the hiring. 

Project #312 – Osakis Onward 

The council received the meeting minutes for 4-7-04.  Laura Backes was present to answer questions.  The welcome to Osakis Sign will be put up this spring but they are not sure where it will be placed. 

There will also be signage put up to find the new Visitor Center. 

Project #285 – Small City Grant III 

Bill Grasavage has sent a contract for his services in the amount of $2,850.00 to apply for the grant again next year being we were turned down this year.  Last year the contract was in the amount of $5,700.00 + .39 per mile + expenses. 

Traci Ryan will also be working on this again.  At this time her amount is unknown.  The last time the EDA paid her portion of the Grant Writing. 

The council asked if we had heard anything back about the grant, Jacobson stated that we had heard that the Housing & Housing Rehab were fine, but the reviewers had questions on the rental and commercial portion of the grant.   

The decision was tabled until the June meeting to see what the response is of the reviewers on applying for the grant again. 

Project #7 – Community Center 

The loud speaker system at the Community Center which the Senior Citizens use and the council uses when there is a Public Hearing, also groups that have different meeting etc. does not work. 

We have had Larry’s TV fix it numerous times.

Quotes for a new system:

Bogen 35 Watt amp $329.00 + 65.00 labor

                        OR

Bogen 35 watt amp with equalizer controls $399.00 + 65.00 labor 

A motion by Astleford seconded by Emerson to approve a new loud speaker, option 1, $329.00 + 65.00, all ayes. 

Lil Ortendall mentioned building something to fit under the cupboard or on a shelf by itself so it would not get damaged, the council agreed. 

Mayor Astleford information the council we have received the curb markers, and the Osakis Public School Ag class will be putting the markers on the curbs. 

Lil Ordendahl asked if we can get something different for in front of the Community Center to put cigarette butts in instead of putting them in the flower pots.  Mayor Astleford said she can go ahead and purchase something.  She will also be painting the flower pots. 

Kip Emerson thanked the council and the city for the flowers, they were very much appreciated. 

Chub Hensley was in attendance and stated that the city of Osakis legally owns the old visitor center building and has the right to keep that money for its purposes.  He also wanted to make sure that when the visitor was put up for sale that it would be open to the public to buy the building not that there was any special deals. 

Chub also noted that he had asked the Osakis Visitor and Heritage Board for information on where they were spending their money and he was denied, he also asked to be informed of the meetings and was denied.  After not getting any action from the Osakis Visitor and Heritage Board for this information he called the secretary of the state to find out his legal right to this information then he was information that the Osakis Visitor and Heritage Board was disbanded on April, 17 2002, and if public money is handled by this organization it is public money.  Timmerman stated that the spending information was at City Hall. Mayor Astleford asked if the Osakis Visitor and Heritage Board was not informed that they were disbanded. He also asked if there was any information as to why it was disbanded.  Chub informed Mayor Astleford that he did not know the reason they were disbanded. 

A motion by Emerson seconded by Hageman to close the meeting at 8:20pm 

________________________________               _____________________________

Mayor – Gary L. Astleford                                       Deputy Clerk – Angela A. Jacobson