Osakis City Council
Regular Meeting
November 6, 2006
7:00 PM 
Minutes now offered in PDF format to download
November 6, 2006 Meeting PDF

Present: Gary Astleford, Bruce Pederson, John Timmerman, Lloyd Hagemann, Kip Emerson
Absent: None

Mayor Astleford called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM

The pledge of Allegiance was spoken.

Motion by Emerson, seconded by Hagemann to approve agenda with additions to add Osakis Women's Association and Tab Hendricks. All Ayes.

Motion by Timmerman, seconded by Hagemann to approve October 2, 2006, council meeting minutes and October 5, 2006, special meeting minutes. All Ayes.

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Hagemann to approve the City bills in the amount of $157,441.93 and Fire Department bills in the amount of $12,338.12. All Ayes.

Project #76: Police Report

Motion by Hagemann, seconded by Emerson to approve Police Report for October. All Ayes.

Project #366: Sanitary Sewer Study

Ken Weber was in attendance to answer questions from the council about the recommendations he gave at the October 2, 2006 meeting. These recommendations are listed on page 1 of 15 in the Sanitary Sewer Study Book.

We currently have $142,000 in our sewer reserve savings that is to be used for a new treatment system.

Council will wait with a decision until the city hires a new superintendent and new council members are elected.

Ken Weber will refresh the council at that time.

Ken attended the Minnesota Rural Water for financing community projects and what programs are involved.

Ken will fill in the council members that are interested to know what is available.

Project #196: Fee Schedule

Council received a copy of a comparison study with other cities sewer rates. This page can be found in your comprehensive plan.

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Council received the rates section from the information Ken Weber gave to the council for the September meeting.

Council received a spreadsheet the clerk created on a six year plan. The figure Ken Weber had in his report was $51.67 per month for sewer, and as you can see after 6 years we have exceeded that amount. To get to this point each year is a fairly aggressive change, and I changed the base rate and the 1,000 gallon rate. It would be much easier and safer to just change the base rate because you are then guaranteed those numbers, which is what is needed to make payments. The comprehensive plan indicates we have 3-5 years of growth capacity until a new system has to be added.

Council received a copy of the fee schedule for 2007 and the suggested changes are indicated, are there any additional changes needed.

Check on fee schedule for amount used for projects for hookup charged and how many properties there are.

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Timmerman to approve the 2007 schedule presented for the rate increases according to the utility rate sheet. All Ayes.

Project #130: Docks on Public Property (Vacating K Street)

Jim Snyder was in attendance.

Jim called Gopher state one call and had them locate the utilities in K Street. The clerk talked with Tom Klemenhagen and he stated if it is not an issue it would be best to leave the road easement at 66 feet, however he felt the minimum the city should go if needed is 50 feet.

As stated in Jim's letter the current easement is 10' on the lakeside, 16' road, 40' lot side. Instead of making the easement smaller the easement could be shifted more to the lake side.

Council received a letter and a map from Jim Snyder, showing how the vacating portion of K Street would be divided between property owners.

Public hearing to vacate K Street at the December Council meeting at 6:45 or 7:00 p.m.

Planning and Zoning will also review the proposed vacating.

Motion by Timmerman, seconded by Pederson to approve to vacated K Street between 4th and 5th Avenues to partition District Court to receive proper title.

No vote was taken; motion was withdrawn until a public hearing can be held.

Project #388: On-Sale Liquor License

Council received a letter from Wes David asking the city for an On-Sale Liquor License.


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In order for Wes David to be issued an On-Sale Liquor license a special election must be called by
resolution by the council and the council shall determine what question shall be on the
election ballot. A special election has to be at least 40 days after the general election.

A resolution was presented by Pederson, seconded by Timmerman to approve to set up a special election for Wes David for On-Sale Liquor License. When put to a vote, Hagemann, Timmerman, Pederson and Astleford were in favor. Apposed: Emerson

Project: Osakis Women's Association

Osakis Women's Association did not get the grant for the park.

They have raised a total of $45,646.41, including money from Osakis and Orange Townships.

On behalf of the Mayor, the City Council would like to commend the Osakis Women's Association for their work to improve the city.

Motion by Timmerman, seconded by Emerson to let the Osakis Women's Association order the equipment for the playground with the money they have already received. All Ayes.

Project #249: Planning and Zoning

Council received the minutes from the October 19th, 2006 Planning and Zoning meeting.

Jerry Olson said the Planning and Zoning stated to Ralph Laven that the city is not responsible for the maintenance and insurance for the four sided clock and would like that in writing.

Project #312: Osakis Onward

Council received the October 12th, 2006 minutes.

Project #102: Economic Development Authority

Council received the September 25th, 2006 minutes.

City is asking Tastefully Simple for a donation for the park.

Mayor Astleford recommended we use the money from the rent at the Liquor Store to pay for the park.

No motion was made.

Project #154: Employee Hiring

Michael Richards turned down the Superintendent position. We are advertising again for this position. Clerk put an ad in the Echo Press and on the League of MN cities website and booklet.

Council received a copy of the ad.

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The deadline of applicants is November 15th, 2006.

Clerk also looked into putting an ad in the St. Cloud Times. The costs are as follows:
Sunday Ad and 30 days online $674.56
Sunday Ad and 7 days online $526.06
Ad and 2 days and 7 days online $857.16

If the council wants to put an ad in the St. Cloud Times, the deadline is the day before the ad runs.

Clerk will contact People Services about the position.

Clerk will check into prices from the Sunday Tribune.

Project #170: Osakis Chamber of Commerce

Council received the October 19th minutes.

Laura Backes presented a list of events that could be held for the 150th year celebration and the cost of some of these items.

They are still looking for donation to fund these events or they will have to cut events from the list.

Project #185: Water Tower Maintenance

Council received a quote from Water Tower Clean and Coat.

Darrin Quistorff stated we need to do the exterior and interior cleaning. Interior cleaning is recommended every 5 years and has not been done since being constructed in 1996.

Cleaning the exterior may be a good idea with our 150th anniversary in 2007.

Clerk will check with other companies about bids for cleaning.

Clerk will call other cities and get information on how it is done and if they liked how the water tower looked when it was finished.

Project #233: Sauk River Watershed

Council received:
October 3rd, 2006 minutes
October 17th, 2006 agenda
October 17th, 2006 minutes
November 8th, 2006 agenda



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Project #243: Canvass Votes

A reminder that a special meeting will be held on Wednesday November 8th, 2006 at 11:00 AM.

Project #321: Visitor and Heritage Center

Council received October 17th, 2006 minutes.

Project #80: Garbage

Council received a letter from Waste Management regarding their new recycling containers.

Waste Management is aware that this does not mean a contract for them.

West Central Sanitation presented a letter and an article about Waste Managements recycling.

Project #56: Insurance

Council received a notice from Minnesota Joint Underwriters for Liquor Liability Insurance. The current amount due is $15,741.52.

Council also received a rate chart form the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association and their premium would be $11,403.21.

Clerk will check on rates for liquor license. Contact Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association about a quote for their price and Larson Insurance and ask if rates are staying the same.

Clerk will ask Larson Insurance about the general insurance for the city and to come to the council meeting to update the council.

Project #167: Tax Increment

Council received two letters from David Drowns Associates. The first one is the 2005 TIF report for all TIF districts in Osakis.

The second letter is for the Industrial Park TIF. David Drowns recommends that we look into paying up the agreements early.

Council received the termination agreements for Lindrite and Maus Fabrications.

Motion by Emerson, seconded by Hagemann to approve to authorize tax settlements and to also decertify the TIF district. All Ayes.

Project #389: Bioscience

Traci Ryan was in attendance.

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On October 5th, 2006 the council approved applying for bioscience acreage for industrial use.

Council received a memo from DEED on Bioscience Zones. Jason Murray will be doing the application for the Bioscience Zones.

Motion by Astleford, seconded by Hagemann to approve a resolution for Bioscience Zones. All Ayes.

Tab Hendricks

Tab Hendricks had received a notice form the Osakis Police Department to clean up his property at 101 Lavens Lakeview Dr. He has been cleaning and it is still not cleaned up enough to meet the city ordinances.

Tab would like an extension on the court date. He wants to know if he builds a shed and puts up a privacy fence would he be allowed to have his business there. He does not want to do all this

work and then be told he can not have a business.

After much discussion, Kip Emerson said he will stop and talk with Mark Gilson about this issue.

The clerk will talk to Mike Dolan about getting an extension on the court date.

Ordinance cited were: 1102.08, 801.04 sub 14 and 302.03 sub 1.

Will have Planning and Zoning look into this issue at their meeting.

Project #216: Employee Salary

In September the council discussed giving Darrin Quistorff a raise for filling in as Superintendent until we get a replacement. With our last round of interviews he will be in this position even longer. Clerk recommends he receive some type of raise for taking on these responsibilities.

The superintendent position wages are from $37,000 to $43,000. His current wage is $36,000.

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Emerson to approve Darrin Quistorff $200.00 a month from August 1st, 2006 until a superintendent is hired for the position. All Ayes.

Project #79: Auditors

Council received a copy of Post employment Benefit Liability from the State Auditor's office.

Motion by Hagemann, seconded by Emerson to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 p.m. All Ayes.



_________________________ _________________________
Mayor - Gary L. Astleford City Clerk - Angela A. Jacobson

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