February 4, 2008
SURREY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2008
Mayor Steve Fennewald called the meeting to order at 7:05p.m. Present were Council Members Terry Johnson, Blaine Klein, Dana Larsen, and Jarvis Sasse. Also present were City Engineer Alan Estvold, Chief of Police Brad Seideman, Police Office Lou Coca, PWS Frank Wollschlager, City Auditor Elaine Christianson, and Deputy Auditor Rosemary McNamara. Council Members Kevin Nelsen and Laura Volk were absent.
The agenda was reviewed. Wendell Lesmeister, a request from Surrey Blue Sox Coach Jeremy Feller, a ND Health Lab Service contract and training for Christianson in March were added.
Mayor Fennewald read the consent agenda: Review and approve the 01/07/08 regular meeting minutes; Approve financial reports and payments of payroll in the amount of $11,870.05 and bills to be paid in the amount of $31,313.81; Approve the Municipal Court, Police and Public Works Reports. Larsen made a motion to approve the consent agenda items. Johnson seconded. Roll call vote: Larsen-aye; Johnson-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Wendell Lesmeister of Northland Bus Company requested permission to place Bus Stop signs around Surrey for the children riding school buses. Council advised Lesmeister to contact Surrey School and develop a map of the requested sign areas. Lesmeister will need to submit completed Bus Stop map to Council for final approval.
Seideman requested permission to purchase a new radar unit and a long gun. The original cost of the Stalker DSR 2x radar unit is $2,591.00 less a grant for $1,500.00 and a donation in the amount of $243.00 for a total purchase price of $848.00. Seideman also requested permission to sell the current radar unit. Sasse made a motion to approve the purchase of the new radar unit including the grant contract. Klein seconded. Roll call vote: Sasse-aye; Klein-aye; Johnson-aye; Larsen-aye. All aye, motion carried. Discussion held regarding selling the current radar unit or keeping it as a backup. Larsen introduced and moved adoption of Resolution 2008-01 Sale of City Property – Value less than $2,500 – Police Department Radar Unit to sell the radar unit at private sale in an amount not less than $350.00. Johnson seconded. Roll call vote: Larsen-aye; Johnson-aye; Sasse-aye; Klein-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Lengthy discussion held on the purchase of a long gun and accessories for the Police Department. The cost breakdown is as follows: Rock River AR-15 Tactical Carbine long gun $900.00, C-More ARVW-4 Red Dot Optic $200.00, Guardforce AR-15 hardcase $105.00, three extra AR-15 clips $60.00, PMC223 Ammo 1000 rounds 55FMJ $200.00 for a total cost of $1,465.00. Sasse praised Seideman’s recent patrol efforts. Mayor Fennewald discussed concerns with the police schedule and need for weekend coverage. Sasse made a motion to approve the purchase of the long gun and accessories in an amount not more than $1,465.00. Larsen seconded. Discussion held regarding the Police Department budget. Roll call vote: Sasse-aye; Klein-nay; Larsen-aye; Johnson-aye. Three ayes, one nay, motion carried. Seideman and Coca exited.
Johnson held discussion regarding inadequate street lighting on 2nd Street Southeast from Pleasant Avenue South to Highway 2 East. Christianson discussed the proposal in the council packet adding three additional lights on 2nd Street Southeast. Sasse made a motion to change the four current lights from 9000 lumens (HPS9) to 23000 lumens (HPS23). Johnson seconded. Roll call vote: Sasse-aye; Klein-aye; Johnson-aye; Larsen-aye. All aye, motion carried. Christianson will contact Tom Miller from Ottertail with Council’s request.
Discussion was held on a letter received from North Prairie Rural Water District (NPRWD) about a rate increase. Further discussion was held regarding Fennewald and Wollschlager attending the January 31, 2008 NPRWD meeting. Christianson discussed the NPRWD contract. NPRWD can raise the rate as long as they show justification, which they did. NPRWD stated in the letter that the effective date of this increase would be March 1, 2008 however, according to the contract, they must provide 90 days notice to the City. Larsen made a motion to approve signing the contract amendment only after the correct effective date of the rate increase is added by NPRWD. The effective date of the rate increase must be after April 24, 2008. Johnson seconded. Roll call vote: Larsen-aye; Johnson-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-nay. Three ayes, one nay, motion carried.
Klein held discussion with the Council regarding the unsightly corrigenda bushes on 3rd Avenue Northeast (South of 2nd Street Northeast). Further discussion held regarding blind corners in Surrey due to bushes and trees. This item will be tabled until the March meeting to give Wollschlager time to research the blind corners in Surrey.
Johnson exited the meeting.
Discussion held regarding the purchase of eight new chairs and four new tables for meetings including cost and storage issues. Council will use the chairs in Seideman’s office for meetings. Larsen made a motion to purchase four – 8 foot resin tables at a cost not to exceed $400.00. Klein seconded. Roll call vote: Larsen-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Estvold presented a rough estimate to Council of $435,000 to $450,000 for the Northwest lift station, water and sewer connections for the Springtime Addition only. This calculates to $20,000 to $22,000 per lot over a 20 year assessment. Much discussion held. This item will be tabled until the next meeting when more Council Members are attending.
Estvold exited the meeting. Johnson entered the meeting.
Christianson presented the Annual Financial Statement. Sasse discussed increasing water rates. Sasse made a motion to approve the following year-end transfers including the creation of the Water Reserve Fund, Sewer Reserve Fund and Garbage Reserve Fund:
Transfer $4,000 from the Highway Fund to the Capital Equipment Fund
Transfer $1,000 from the Water Fund to the Capital Equipment Fund
Transfer $3,000 from the Water Fund to the Water Meter Fund
Transfer $5,000 from the Water Fund to the Water Reserve Fund
Transfer $1,000 from the Sewer Fund to the Capital Equipment Fund
Transfer $3,000 from the Sewer Fund to the Sewer Reserve Fund
Transfer $1,000 from the Garbage Fund to the Capital Equipment Fund
Transfer $1,000 from the Garbage Fund to the Garbage Reserve Fund
and to table the rate change until the next meeting. Larsen seconded. Roll call vote: Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Johnson-aye; Klein-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Under the Auditor’s Report, Christianson discussed the 2008 Surrey City Council Calendar, a letter received from Cook, Wegner & Wike regarding the last bond issue, and a Souris Basin Planning Council Economic Development Seminar on February 27, 2008. Christianson discussed a potential grant from the North Dakota Forest Service. Council asked McNamara to research the grant for the City and the Surrey Park District. Christianson will be on vacation February 28, 2008 through March 9, 2008.
Christianson discussed a request from Jeremy Feller, Coach for the Surrey Blue Sox, for permission to place a fund-raising Pepsi machine next to the City’s Coke machine. Klein made a motion to approve the request. Johnson seconded. Roll call vote: Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Christianson discussed the North Dakota Health Lab Services Contract that she received that day. Two contracts exist – one that runs January 1 through December 31 and one that runs from July 1 through June 30. These contracts are for different services for water and sewer testing. Sasse made a motion to approve the contract from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. Klein seconded. Roll call vote: Sasse-aye; Klein-aye; Johnson-aye; Larsen-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Christianson requested permission to attend training in Bismarck March 25-27. Sasse made a motion to approve the request. Larsen seconded. Roll call vote: Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Johnson-aye; Klein-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Wollschlager reported on the problems with the water tower and the repairs that were completed. Wollschlager will be on vacation February 13, 2008 through February 19, 2008. Tom Klein will be checking the cistern and lift stations and be available for snow removal if necessary. Gary Mehrer will also be available for snow removal if necessary. Discussion was held on the part-time public works position. The job is posted on the ND Job Service website and on the back of the January water bill. Council advised notices to be posted at Barry’s, the Post Office, and the Steer Head.
No other business to discuss, motion to adjourn by Klein. Larsen seconded. All aye, meeting adjourned at 9:33p.m.
THESE MINUTES HAVE NOT YET BEEN APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.