September 10, 2007
SURREY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2007
Mayor Steve Fennewald called the meeting to order at 7:00p.m. Present were Council Members Terry Johnson, Blaine Klein, Kevin Nelsen, and Laura Volk. Also present were Alan Estvold and Jason Strand of Ackerman-Estvold, Chief of Police Brad Seideman, and City Auditor Elaine Christianson.
The agenda was reviewed. Park Board contract, garbage contract, Neptune software agreement, Ward County meeting, Railroad management bill, District 16 update were added to the agenda.
Mayor Fennewald read the consent agenda: Review and approve the 08/06/07 regular meeting minutes and the 08/27/07 preliminary budget meeting minutes; Approve financial reports and payments of payroll in the amount of $11,909.50 and bills to be paid in the amount of $14,236.38; Approve the Municipal Court, Police and Public Works Reports. Johnson moved to approve the consent agenda items. Nelsen seconded. Roll call vote: Johnson-aye; Nelsen-aye; Klein-aye; Volk-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Council was updated in regard to North Prairie Rural Water District, the correspondence with the State Water Commission, and the meeting with the Ward County Water Board. Estvold exited the meeting.
Council Members Dana Larsen and Jarvis Sasse entered the meeting during this discussion.
Ward County Water Board Chairman Maurice Foley has suggested the City of Surrey, North Prairie Rural Water District and the City of Minot have a meeting to try to resolve the water supply issues. Larsen made a motion to go forward with the planning of this meeting. Sasse seconded. Roll call vote: Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye; Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Discussion was held regarding the status of checking the water shut-off valves and the potential cost of a water shut-off valve replacement project. Wollschlager was absent from the meeting. Christianson will talk to Wollschlager and have him follow up at the October meeting.
Discussion was held regarding a request Volk received about the installation of a walking path along 2nd Street Northwest. This street is actually owned by Ward County and is Ward County Road #12. The City has no available funds for this request.
The water billing policy on new construction was discussed. Council advised Christianson to call around to other cities to find out their policies and report back to Council.
Ken Johnson, President for the Surrey Park Board, requested a one-year contract for the City to mow the park next year for $1,500.00. Discussion held. Sasse made a motion to approve the proposed contract. Volk seconded. Roll call vote: Sasse-aye; Klein-aye; Volk-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Christianson updated Council about the status of the Full Moon Lounge. Discussion was also held about the status of the poll on the back of the water bills.
Seideman requested Council approve the purchase of a taser, cartridges, and accessories for this budget year. Discussion held. Sasse made a motion to approve the police department’s immediate purchase of a taser, cartridges, and accessories not to exceed a total of $600.00. Johnson seconded. More discussion held. Roll call vote: Sasse-aye; Klein-aye; Volk-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Christianson updated Council about Wollschlager’s eye injury earlier in the day, the status of part-time public works employee Eric Westman, and budget payroll issues regarding part-time employees. More discussion was held regarding the current payroll step system in place. Council advised Christianson that the payroll step system is a tool for the implementation of 4% employee raises and that employees do not have to be hired at exact step amounts and to correct the budget accordingly.
Under the Engineer’s Report, Christianson and Strand held discussion about contact from Nathan Smith with Estvold regarding the drainage at the end of 3rd Avenue Northeast. Also, discussion was held on the inspection schedule of the Jung sewer line.
Christianson presented the bid amounts received on Sewer Improvement Districts #23 & #24 and informed Council of Estvold’s recommendations. Much discussion held regarding the engineer’s estimate versus the bid amounts. Sasse introduced and moved adoption of Resolution 2007-19 - Awarding the District #24 Sewer Improvement Construction Contract to Post Construction in the amount of $59,354.00. Larsen seconded. Roll call vote: Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye; Volk-aye; Klein-aye. All aye, motion carried. More discussion held regarding Sewer Improvement District #23. Volk introduced and moved adoption of Resolution 2007-20 - Awarding the District #23 Sewer Improvement Construction Contract to Post Construction in the amount of $84,052.50. Additional discussion held. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-nay; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. Five ayes, one nay, motion carried.
Christianson presented Paving District #25’s preliminary engineer’s report to Council and explained how this district was going to differentiate from other district’s due to the protest process. Klein introduced and moved adoption of Resolution 2007-21 - Approving detailed plans and specifications for Street Paving District #25 and Resolution 2007-22 – Declaring Improvement Necessary for Street Paving District #25. Nelsen seconded. Roll call vote: Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye; Volk-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Discussion held regarding the proposed lift station in Northwest Surrey. Council advised Christianson to issue a letter to Terrance Hofer to request information about his plans and timeline for development of his land.
The garbage contract with Circle Sanitation expires December 31, 2007. Volk made a motion to allow Christianson to call for bids. Johnson seconded. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Christianson presented information on software and hardware support for the radio-read meter system. Much discussion held regarding continuing costs for the meter system. Council requested Christianson contact a representative from Northern Water Works to attend the next council meeting.
Christianson held discussion with Council regarding a meeting being held by Ward County with the cities, a lease bill for water and sewer lines from BNSF Railroad, and the final figures involved with paying off District 16. Sasse made a motion to approve the District 16 final figures as $20,700.00 paid to the ND Public Finance Authority and $610.70 transferred from the District 16 Fund to the General Fund to close out the District 16 Fund. Klein seconded. Roll call vote: Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye; Volk-aye; Klein-aye. All aye, motion carried.
Under other business, discussion was held about the Keller slough needing to be cut, the junk and grass behind the Surrey welcome sign, the dead plants at the welcome sign, and residents still in violation of the junk ordinance.