Osakis City Council Proceedings

Osakis City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall
14 Nokomis Street East
June 10, 2024, 7:00 PM
Editor’s Copy
Present: Dan Wessel, Laura Backes, Stephanie Finnegan, Al Larson, Tim Thornbloom
Motion by Backes, seconded by Larson, to approve the agenda as presented with the additions of Community Center wages, welcome sign, #205 – Public Works discussion and O.T. Report discussion. Motion Carried
Motion by Finnegan, seconded by Thornbloom, to approve the general consent items, including the May city bills in the amount of $514,856.41 and meeting minutes from May 13, 2024. Motion Carried
PROJECT #79: AUDIT
Dean Berkeland (Carlson SV) commented that Jacobson and staff are well prepared and do a good job to have everything complete.
The audit received a gold standard which is the best an audit can have.
PROJECT #24: LIQUOR STORE
Goodwin was going to get information for part-time employee ads published, full-time employee cost and gambling information. Council asked Goodwin to post the ad in the Liquor Store and paper and on Facebook.
Goodwin will get a bid to replace the septic tanks.
PROJECT #79: CLERK
Council will receive all fund balances at the end of June for 6 months. Budget meeting will be in August.
PROJECT #60/76: ORDINANCE / ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION / POLICE
Council commented – if someone is on duty for day shift, and when they should be on duty they are not to put on-call to get callouts.
PROJECT #205: PUBLIC WORKS
Motion by Larson, seconded by Finnegan, to approve Gottwald to work at current wage and council will review at the July meeting. Motion Carried
PROJECT #197: WATER PLANT / WATER TOWER / METERS
Water Plant updates:
• Currently working on the rehab of the existing gravity filter.
• New pressure filter for iron removal will arrive later in June.
Water Tower:
• Residents are still asked to conserve water. A CODE RED message has been sent to conserve water and not to use extra water that is not a necessity.
• Water tower colors were chosen – Mediterranean Blue and Delphinium Blue.
Water Meters:
• Over the last few months, some meters have not been reading. It has been discovered that the batteries are failing and need to be replaced. Cost to replace the battery and sender head assembly is $179 per meter. After multiple discussions with Mueller Systems, they said we can buy 150 replacement batteries from them at a time and start the process of replacement. The initial cost for the 150 meters will be $26,850. Replacing all 686 meters, batteries will be $122,794.
• A quote to replace all of the meter for 686 meters is $247,371.50.
Motion by Backes, seconded by Finnegan, to approve Eagle Construction Pay Application #6 in the amount of $211,346.09. Motion Carried
Motion by Larson, seconded by Thornbloom, to approve S.J. Stezer Pay Application #1 in the amount of $116,770.20. Motion Carried
Motion by Larson, seconded by Finnegan, to approve to purchase meter batteries per bid as needed. Motion Carried
PROJECT #444/60: WASTE WATER PROJECT I & I / ORDINANCE
I & I plan has been sent to the MPCA.
Motion by Larson, seconded by Finnegan, to approve to move forward with reviewing a draft copy of the City of Brandon’s ordinance for sump pumps and I & I. Motion Carried
PROJECT #441: PARKS & RECREATION
Motion by Backes, seconded by Larson, to approve the Park & Rec meeting minutes from May 28, 2024. Motion Carried
PROJECT #312: PARK BEAUTIFICATION TEAM
Amber Kral updated the council:
• All sections of the fishing dock should be put in Wednesday at noon. Kral hopes the community is supportive of the progress. The first storm will test how it will hold up. This is a big project with a lot of things to accomplish.
PROJECT #7: COMMUNITY CENTER
Larson updated the progress of the Community Center:
• Painting is complete.
• Boy and Girls Scouts will be making new matching boards.
• Would like a curtain on the back wall to cover the boards for events.
• Wessel and Larson will meet with the janitor about floor stripping and buffing.
Motion by Backes, seconded by Larson, to refund Lake Osakis Association the cost of the rental due to not enough chairs. Motion Carried
Quotes for new tables and chairs will be reviewed at the July meeting.
PROJECT #428: ALLEY
Travis and Anna Thom (owners of Tip Top Dairy Bar) were in attendance to discuss the blocking of the alley way between them and the grocery store. Thom’s said they checked in the alley and it has been open for many years for the public to use.
Thom’s had spoken with an attorney to have a prescriptive easement in place for a passage that has been used for 7 to 10 years. Would like to leave it the way it was and put up signs and speed bumps.
PROJECT #249: PLANNING & ZONING
Council reviewed an ordinance for Solar Energy Systems in city limits. This ordinance consists of roof mounted, solar collectors, wall mounted and ground mounted systems. Council discussed the ordinance and the provision to allow solar ground mounted systems. The ordinance would allow in the Urban Reserve district with 10 acres or more. Solar farms have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years and would tie up the land for the life of the solar panels.
Motion by Backes, seconded by Finnegan, to approve the Solar Energy System Ordinance without the ground mounted solar farm systems. Motion Carried
Motion by Larson, seconded by Finnegan, to table the approval of Paul Hartmann’s CUP and Preliminary Plat until next month and see if information is submitted for an access. Motion Carried
PROJECT #468: SPECIAL EVENT
Motion by Thornbloom, seconded by Backes, to approve a Special Event License and One-Day Liquor License for the VFW street dance on June 22, 2024, contingent on receiving the required insurance for the event. Motion Carried
PROJECT #154: EMPLOYEE HIRING
At the council workshop, council offered the 3rd Public Work’s position to Damion Majerus and the 4th position to Darrin Stoetzel. Majerus will start in two weeks and Stoetzel denied the position.
Motion by Larson, seconded by Thornbloom, to approve to hire Brandon Breer as a full-time office at Step 1 at $26.08. Motion Carried
PROJECT #213: LIFEGUARD / CITY BEACH
Returning lifeguards include Connor Gulbranson, Aaron Collins and Faith Schmidtbauer.
Madison Albers and Zoe Wright will be the two new lifeguards.
PROJECT #321: VISITOR’S CENTER
Visitor’s Center staff will be Anna Jacobson and Jackie Schultz.
PROJECT #56: INSURANCE
Motion by Larson, seconded by Wessel, to approve the deductible option for worker’s comp in the amount of $250. Motion Carried
PROJECT #263: POLICE UNION
Council received a notice to negotiate.
PROJECT #229: ELECTION / ELECTION JUDGE
Motion by Thornbloom, seconded by Finnegan, to approve Election Judges for the 2024 Elections. Motion Carried
PROJECT #368: EXCEL ENERGY
Council received information from Xcel Energy on upcoming public hearings.
PROJECT #110: GAMBLING
Council will set up quarterly meetings with the gambling organizations. Each will be contacted to invite 1 to 2 members. The first meeting will be July 15th at 6 p.m.
PROJECT #294: TRUCK TRAFFIC
Truck Traffic was discussed last November. Jacobson reached out to Tim Peterson (Douglas County) for an update on traffic and signage but has not heard back.
PROJECT #21: DEMOGRAPHER
Council received the state demographer update. Estimated population of Osakis is 1776.
PROJECT #160: OSAKIS PUBLIC SCHOOL
Council approved to move forward with the School Resource Officer program. No updated contract from the school.
PROJECT #343: FIREWORKS
Motion by Wessel, seconded by Finnegan, to approve to purchase fireworks in the amount of $7,500. Motion Carried
PROJECT #42: CLEAN UP DAY
Clean Up Day was held May 11th. No final report from West Central Sanitation has been received.
PROJECT #505: LAVENS LAKE VIEW DRIVE
Quistorff will discuss with Wessel to get the road figured out and taken care of.
PROJECT #489: MAIN LIFT STATION
At the March meeting, the council approved to go out for bids. No bids or updates at this time.
OPEN FLOOR
Council does not want to add a Welcome Sign at this time on Hwy 82. Wessel will see if the Osakis Lions will take care of the Welcome Sign on Hwy 27 by I-94.
Discussed wages for the Community Center janitor.
Motion by Wessel, seconded by Thornbloom, to raise the wage to $13.00 and to look at it again at budget time. Motion Carried
Overtime Reports (Finnegan) – council have it in on time. Issues getting payroll submitted on time puts it back. Need to crack down to get it done so there is a time to process the report.
Need to make decisions on the Liquor Store and discussed if more part-time employees are needed. Discussed counting the gambling pull-tabs – someone else to do them instead of the manager. If Goodwin is spending 13 to 15 hours on pull-tabs, the group can count and give Goodwin more time to be the manager.
Motion by Thornbloom, seconded by Finnegan, to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. Motion Carried
Mayor –
Daniel J. Wessel
City Clerk/Treasurer –
Angela A. Jacobson
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