Present: Emerson, Tholen, Astleford. Pederson, Hagemann

Absent: None

Mayor Gary Astleford called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm

The Pledge of Allegiance was spoken.

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Tholen to approve agenda as presented. All Ayes.

Motion by Tholen, seconded by Hagemann to approve the Consent items including City bills in the amount of $144,946.40 and all other Consent items as presented. All Ayes.

Chief Mark Gilson was in attendance.

Council received the police report for the month of February.

Chief Gilson had no more information to add.

Motion by Emerson, seconded by Hagemann to approve the February police report. All Ayes.

Ron Kleinschmidt was in attendance.

Council received the February reports.

Ron would like to carry over 2 days of vacation. Council has no problem with this.

United Building Center has given the City an estimate for insulating the City Shop. Insulating would change the R-Value from R-0 to R-13. The estimate is $25,000, which includes 1 ½ inch foam insulation and steel siding. Tholen asked about the condition of the overhead doors. Ron informed the Council that they are old, but was not concerned about them at this time.

Ron informed the Council of the problem with the snow drifting on Lake Street. The City Crew has been out with the blower to move the snow back farther off the street. A suggestion was to plow to the south side of the street and use the wing to get more off the street.

Pete Erickson and Craig Dropik were in attendance to ask questions of the Council.

Council received the First Responder’s run sheet for the months of January and February.

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Pete asked why the City would be taking over their funds and how the process would work.

Council is required to have the funds under the City’s control and the only thing changing is that the bills will be turned into Angela for payment.

Pete asked the Council if the City is still willing to pay for First Responder classes for the new recruits. The Council informed them that the City will continue to pay for the class.

Craig asked the Council about the stipends for runs at 20%. Council would like them to evaluate the members who have responded to 20% of the runs and they would receive the stipend.

Bob Kulzer was in attendance representing the Catholic Church.

Council received a request from the Catholic Church asking the Council to consider approving a 2 day liquor license for July 12, 2008 and July 13, 2008. In the past they have requested a one day liquor license. This year they would like to have a band on Saturday night. According to our new ordinance, they must obtain a license to have a band.

Motion by Emerson, seconded by Tholen to approve the 2 day liquor license and the entertainment license for the Catholic Church for the dates of July 12, 2008 and July 13, 2008. All Ayes.

In attendance: Paul Hartmann, Merlin Wolterstorff, Daniel Maus, Tom Klemenhagen, Lil Ortendahl, Pete Erickson, Craig Dropik, Jerry Olson and Ron Kleinschmidt.

Council received eight letters from residences on 8th Avenue East, Osage and Nestor Streets.

Questions were raised regarding the field tile on the Wardrip’s property.

Merlin Wolterstorff stated his concerns about the 70-30 split for the cost for 8th Avenue East and Osage. He would like the Council to consider changing it.

Concerns about the road height on 8th Avenue East and Osage were brought up. The concern is that with this height, would the water drain properly? Engineers will evaluate when planning the project.

Brian Bangtson would like access to the trail.

Paul Hartmann would like the City to check with the Sauk River Watershed District about having to put in a storm water pond. He suggests the City change the west side of Faille Lake into wetland.

Council member Pederson stated the cost of the project will not decrease. A feasibility study was done 8 years ago and now another one. The Council understands the concerns that have been raised and this is a tough decision, but at times tough decisions have to be made.

A Resolution was presented by Emerson, seconded by Pederson to approve the Resolution to call for the preparation of plans and specifications on 8th Avenue East, Osage and Nestor Streets. When put to a vote, the Resolution passed unanimously. For: Pederson, Hagemann, Emerson, Astleford. Abstain: Tholen

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Bridget Schmidt was in attendance.

Council received the survey for the new Charter School location. She is asking the Council for permission to continue with the splitting of the property.

The Charter School will grant an easement to Roger Akervik and the road will be built to City standards.

The Council stated it was ok to continue the process of splitting the property.

The Board of Review and Equalization is set up for Tuesday, April 8th at City Hall. Todd County will be at 9:00 a.m. and Douglas County will be at 10:00 a.m.

Council received a list of individuals who have completed the Board of Appeals training.

Emerson and Pederson have attended the Board of Appeals training. Anyone else can attend if they would like.

Council received a letter from the OEDC regarding a meeting to be held on March 12, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. at the Ed Pollard Community Center. The meeting is in regards to a county wide Economic Development Corporation.

The EDA members also received this letter and some members are planning to attend.

Council received a gambling form and a Resolution to renew a gambling license for the OEDC at the Liquor Store. The resolution passed in December 2007, indicated the City would charge 10% to pay for the building expenses.

Council received a copy of the state statute for gambling.

A Resolution was presented by Emerson, seconded by Tholen to approve to renew the OEDC lease for gambling at a 10% charge of the gross profits per month. When put to a vote, the Resolution passed unanimously.

Council received an ordinance that the City had in their old ordinance book, but was not included in the new ordinance book.

Motion by Hagemann, seconded by Emerson to approve to adopt the Ordinance for Temporary Liquor License. All Ayes.

The Catholic Church had to change their gambling license date from March 9th to March 2nd.

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Council received a letter from Douglas County asking if we would like to participate in the County Hazard Mitigation Plan.

A Resolution was presented by Astleford, seconded by Emerson to approve to participate in the Douglas County Hazard Mitigation Plan. When put to a vote, the Resolution passed unanimously.

Council received a Resolution to transfer the control of the Cemetery Association into the City’s name.

A Resolution was presented by Pederson, seconded by Emerson to approve the transfer of the Cemetery Association to the City’s control. When put to a vote the Resolution passed unanimously.

Clerk reported to the Council regarding Lodging Tax. The Lodging Tax Ordinance was adopted in May of 1992. This ordinance was started due to the state statues #469.190 and 471.59.

The City collects the lodging tax from each resort. Each resort must make a payment to the City by the 25th of the month following the month in which it was collected. The City Clerk deposits the money into the Lake Osakis Resort Association’s account, and retains 5% of the total amount for the City’s time.

Council received a spreadsheet regarding who pays the lodging tax and how much is paid per month and year. In 2007, a total of $30,717.00 was collected and $29,181.00 was deposited into the Lake Osakis Resort Association’s account. This money is generated from ten resorts. Each resort charges 3% on the lodging amount as a separate line item on the bill.

After the money is deposited into the Lake Osakis Resort Association’s account, they have an individual who takes care of advertising for the resorts. This person currently is Jim Leigh of Idlewilde Resort. All the money that is collected is spent on advertising for the resorts, from paper ads to mailings and postcards, to internet advertising. Each year a committee of the LORA members look over what advertising they want to do and what needs to be changed.

Council member Pederson will talk to Jim Leigh regarding their advertising process. Would like to know if there is anymore that can be done.

Alexandria sponsors a fishing contest to get more people into town with the lodging tax money.

Council received the February overtime report.

Council asked what the 10 hours of overtime was for Chief Gilson. Clerk stated that Chief Gilson had a call out on February 29, 2008 for 2.5 hours. This was after the payroll was paid in January.

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Last year we did not have any lifeguards for the beach.

Questions regarding the beach:

Does the Council want to start looking for lifeguards at this time?

Should the City have the beach open with no lifeguard?

If the City does not have a lifeguard and the beach is not being used, should the City consider selling the property?

Council decided to not advertise, but to do the same as last year and have the beach open with no lifeguards.

Ron commented that if the City does not have lifeguards, the City Crew will be spending time there to keep it clean.

Council received a letter from the school for the Summer Recreation program. There will be a meeting on March 17, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.

Pederson is the school representative and will attend the meeting.

The Council budgeted to pay for the 2008 fees and will ask for help from the VFW.

The Clerk received a letter from the MN Department of Health, requesting the City to put our Water Plant Project on the Project Priority list for funding. After we are placed on the list, we can start the next step. Being placed on the list is only a tool for low interest funding when the City decides to proceed.

The engineer cost to fill out this form is $1,568.00. Ron and Angela feel they can complete most of this form with little help from the engineer.

Motion by Emerson, seconded by Pederson to approve to fill out the form to put the water plant on the Project Priority list, and if information is needed from the engineer, it is approved to contact him. All Ayes.

Clerk informed the Council that 8th Avenue West was not a dedicated City Street. The street is dedicated in the Osakis Properties 1st Addition plat and the First Addition to Sunset, but the rest of the street is not dedicated.

The street has been maintained by the City for over 7 years so it is considered the city’s, but only the part that is maintained. In order to have a 66 foot easement the City will have to have it surveyed and recorded.

Council would like to know the cost of this survey, and have a report to be given at the April Council meeting.

Lil Ortendahl was in attendance. She is requesting the City to donate $100 to the Easter Day Celebration.

Motion by Emerson, seconded by Hagemann to approve to take $100 from the Liquor Store Fund for the Easter Day Celebration. All Ayes.

Motion by Emerson, seconded by Astleford to adjourn meeting at 9:10 p.m. All Ayes.

_______________________ ____________________________

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

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