Present: Anderson, Olson, Gulbranson, Emerson, Pederson

Absent: None

Others Present: Angela Jacobson, Ron Kleinschmidt, Joe Ketelboeter, Mike Ellefson, Mrs. Mike Ellefson, Mark Gilson, Merlin Wolterstroff, Gretta Petrich, Travis Redetzke and LeRoy Mackove

Mayor Emerson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance was spoken.

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

Motion by Olson, seconded by Gulbranson, to approve general consent items, including November city bills in the amount of $130,902.41, November 2, 2009 and November 18, 2009 meeting minutes. All Ayes

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Olson to close the regular meeting. All Ayes

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Gulbranson, to open the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. All Ayes

Council received the final 2010 expenditure and revenue worksheets.

At the September meeting, the Council voted to increase the levy by 3.66%. This would amount to a $16,800 increase. The 2010 levy is $475,836.00 and the 2009 levy was $459,036.00.

After the city had made adjustments for insurance and overtime, the expenditures decreases by 6.8%. A total of $69,169.86 was cut from the 2009 budget. The 2010 expenditure budget is $1,007,029.78.

The revenue worksheet, after the adjustments of the increases from the changes to the fee schedule is $1,026,921.00.

2010 Revenue $1,026,921.00

2010 Expenditure $1,007,029.78

Balance $19,891.22

Clerk Jacobson suggested to the Council, to leave the levy at the 3.66% increase and keep the extra in the general fund in case further cuts are paid to LGA or unallotment.

The Council can review the budget after the first quarter of 2010 and make adjustments.

All parties had an opportunity to talk.

Council member Anderson thanked the city departments for helping out with the cuts.

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Pederson, to close the public hearing at 7:25 p.m. All Ayes

Motion by Olson, seconded by Gulbranson, to open the regular meeting. All Ayes

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Anderson, to approve the final levy of $475,836.00. A 3.66% increase will be sent to the county for the 2010 taxes.

Motion by Pederson, seconded by Anderson, to amend the motion to include the Revenue and Expenditure 2010 Budget. All Ayes

Council received the Liquor Liability Insurance renewal from Myron Larson Insurance for Illinois Casualty Company.

2009 cost was: $4,130.00

2010 quote is: $4,399.00

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Gulbranson, to approve the Liquor Liability Insurance for 2010 in the amount of $4,399.00 to Illinois Casualty Company. All Ayes

Joe Ketelboeter was in attendance.

Council decided to start the inventory counting at the Liquor Store on January 1, 2010, at 9:00 a.m.

Ketelboeter suggested the Liquor Store Cleaner receive a $100.00 per month raise.

At the present time, the cleaner receives $700.00 per month.

Motion by Emerson, seconded by Olson, to approve a $100.00 per month raise for the Liquor Store Cleaner starting January 2010. All Ayes

Craig Dropik and Pete Erickson were not in attendance. Council received the November run report.

Mark Pomerleau was not in attendance.

Mark Gilson was in attendance. Council received the November police report.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Anderson, to close the regular meeting. All Ayes

Motion by Olson, seconded by Anderson, to open the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. All Ayes

At the November meeting, the Council discussed putting in a one-way alley from Osage Street East to Nestor Street East.

Council received the letter that was sent to the residents in the area on November 20, 2009.

All Parties had an opportunity to talk.

Motion by Gulbranson, seconded by Olson, to close the public hearing at 7:48 p.m. All Ayes

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Gulbranson, to open the regular meeting. All Ayes

Motion by Gulbranson, seconded by Emerson, to deny the one-way alley from Osage Street East to Nestor Street East. All Ayes

Ron Kleinschmidt was in attendance. Council received the November Public Works report.

Kleinschmidt informed the Council that the cover from the water softener tank was leaking and had to be replaced. The cover was very close to coming off and unloading the water tower into the city hall.

Kleinschmidt reported that the leaf vacuum would cost about $2,000.00 and would be available next spring.

Council members will think about this and discuss this issue at a future meeting.

Kleinschmidt updated the Council regarding the proposed water plant.

Clerk Jacobson will check into filling out the forms for Stage II of the Rural Development application.

Council received a letter from Merlin Wolterstorff regarding his assessment at 707 Osage Street East.

Wolterstorff was in attendance.

Clerk Jacobson has discussed this with our city attorney and the Council can let Wolterstorff state his case but the Council is not at liberty to discuss the issue in an open meeting due to the pending litigation on the matter.

If Wolterstorff would like to discuss this matter further, he should contact his attorney to set up a meeting through the city’s attorney.

Council discussed the option of negotiation with Wolterstorff. Wolterstorff would like to set up a meeting to discuss negotiations with our attorney. Clerk Jacobson will contact the city attorney.

Wolterstorff stated he is tires of the lawsuit and just wants it done.

LeRoy Mackove was in attendance. Mackove would like to ask the Council for a letter of support to build on the lot by Hensley Trucking.

Lakes Building Corporation is a 501C3 non tax group.

At the present time, the school has an enrollment of 70 students. The students come from Alexandria, Sauk Centre and Long Prairie. In addition, 7th and 8th classes will be added for at risk students to increase the enrollment to 100 students. The school staff is at 15.

Mackove informed the Council that the current school has been open for 11 years and has a budget of $700,000.00, which includes $400,000.00 in payroll.

At the current location, the rent is $76,000.00 per year. The Lakes Building Corporation would like to construct a new building at a cost of 1.5 to 1.7 million dollars.

Mackove would like to have a letter of support from the city.

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Gulbranson, to approve to draft a letter of support from the city for The Lakes Area Charter School. All Ayes

The Council had a special meeting on November 18, 2009, to discuss the future of the Information Center. The Council received a copy of the meeting minutes.

The Council also wanted to discuss the possibility of moving the city hall to the building.

Council received the newsletter from the Osakis Heritage Center.

This winter the Council will meet with the city employees to hear their thoughts and concerns regarding moving the city offices. They will discuss the space of the building.

It was brought up if the lodging tax could help fund the center. Mayor Emerson was going to discuss this with Jim Leigh.

A meeting was held with Neuman Olson, Mayor Emerson, Council Member Pederson, and Brad Stevens regarding the lodging tax. Stevens is in charge of the Alexandria area lodging tax.

Clerk Jacobson mailed the notice and form for the 2010 gas bid to the three gas stations in town.

The bid close date is December 7, 2009.

Council received the notice and form sent to each gas station.

Deluxe Oil was the only station that submitted a bid.

Bid is accepted at a 14 cent increase for gas and 14 cent increase for diesel minus the tax rate of .243.

Motion by Gulbranson, seconded by Anderson, to approve the gas bid from Deluxe Oil for the 2010 year. All Ayes

The city garbage contract renews in March 2010.

The Council received the RFP via e-mail.

Items that were discussed with the answers from the Council following:

• Prices are set per container size - Yes
• Prices are paid per container billed, not a flat amount each month - Yes
• What does the Council want to charge for a billing fee and should this be charged to the residents or to the waste hauler - $.25 (will be discussed)
• Will the Clean Up day be done at no charge by the hauler – Yes
• Does the Council want to have compost pickup weekly or twice a year as we do now – Yes and twice a year
• 3 year contract – Yes

Clerk Jacobson will check into what other cities charges are for the handling of the billing for the garbage contractors.

Council received a list of the 2009 delinquent bills for Douglas County.

Motion by Gulbranson, seconded by Emerson, to approve to send the delinquent bill list for 2009 to Douglas County to be put on the 2010 taxes. All Ayes

Council received the approved fee schedule. Does the Council wish to change any fees?

Anderson suggested changing the WAC & SAC fee to $1,500.00. Council will review this at their January meeting.

Anderson also suggested changing the special Planning & Zoning meetings to $250.00 and special Council meetings to $500.00.

Council will review for the January meeting.

At the November Council meeting, Chub Hensley was in attendance to discuss the storm water ponds with the Council for JD2.

Council tabled this discussion for December.

In October, the Council reviewed the FEMA recommendation to have a flood plain ordinance. The Council approved to pursue to prepare the flood plain ordinance for adoption.

The ordinance has been given to the Planning & Zoning Board to review and adopt. The Planning & Zoning Board has not adopted the ordinance at this time.

The reasons to pursue the ordinance is for the following reasons:

• If the city does not adopt the ordinance, no one in the city limits can purchase flood insurance, if they are in a flood plain or not.
• If someone is located in the flood plain, they will not be able eligible to receive a federal loan for their mortgage.
• If we do adopt the ordinance, and someone in the flood plain wants to build, then they would be required to get a survey to show elevation. They would have to build above the flood plain.

Planning & Zoning will set up a conference call with John Anderson at their meeting to discuss this ordinance.

Paul Vershure will attend the next EDA meeting to discuss a lot in the Industrial Park to construct a communications tower. A proposed lease of $400.00 a month was discussed.

Motion by Anderson, seconded by Gulbranson, to adjourn at 9:25 p.m. All Ayes

_______________________                     ____________________________

Mayor – Keith Emerson                               City Clerk – Angela A. Jacobson