May 7, 2007

SURREY CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

MONDAY, MAY 7, 2007

 

Mayor Steve Fennewald called the meeting to order at 7:00p.m. Present were Council Members Terry Johnson, Blaine Klein, Dana Larsen, Kevin Nelsen, Jarvis Sasse, and Laura Volk.  Also present were Jason Strand of Ackerman-Estvold, PWS Frank Wollschlager, Chief of Police Brad Seideman, and City Auditor Elaine Christianson.

 

The agenda was reviewed.  Designation of the Official Newspaper and Laura Forbes of the Ward County Sheriff’s Department were added to the agenda.

 

Mayor Fennewald read the consent agenda: Review and approve the 04/02/07 regular meeting minutes, the 04/13/07 special meeting minutes, and the 04/19/07 special meeting minutes; Approve financial reports and payments of payroll in the amount of $19,197.40 and bills to be paid in the amount of $98,476.94; Approve the Municipal Court, Police and Public Works Reports.  Volk moved to approve the consent agenda items.  Johnson seconded. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

Discussion was held regarding the public hearing and recommendation from the Planning and Zoning commission on a request of zone change and variance from Wes and Jamie Soper on Outlot 34 of the NW1/4 SW1/4 Section 19, T155N, R81W.  Sasse made a motion to approve the first reading of the zone change from Commercial to Residential and to approve the variance on the existing building.  Nelsen seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

The Mighty Mustang 4-H Club requested permission to hold a car wash in front of city hall on June 2, 2007 from 10:00a.m. until 2:00p.m.  Johnson made a motion to approve the request.  Klein seconded.  Discussion held.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

The Minot Hockey Boosters had the gaming site authorization paperwork in order for a site at the Steer Head Saloon.  Sasse made a motion to approve the gaming site authorization at the Steer Head Saloon for the Minot Hockey Boosters.  Klein seconded.  Discussion held.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

Discussion was held regarding numerous inquiries received by Christianson from Surrey residents regarding junk and junk automobiles around the City.  Lengthy discussion held regarding the junk and junk automobiles ordinance and procedures.  Council advised Christianson to work with Seideman and Wollschlager to issue letters to residents violating the ordinance.

 

Klein discussed debris caused from previous years fireworks.  Much discussion held regarding residents’ responsibility of cleaning up their own fireworks.  Consensus of Council is to monitor situation, inform residents of their responsibility of clean up, and if it continues to be an issue, Council will consider banning fireworks in the City of Surrey.

 

Klein inquired about Welcome Sign landscaping and lighting.  Wollschlager informed Council that grass was recently seeded, as it did not appear to be sprouting from last fall.  Christianson updated Council what she knew regarding the lighting.

 

Surrey Park Board President Ken Johnson approached Council regarding installing fire rings at the RV Park.  The Park Board would like the State to install a sign advertising the RV Park but the State requires a certain standard including available fire rings.  Discussion was held regarding the City’s open burning ordinance.  Sasse made a motion that the Surrey RV Park is exempt from the open burning ordinance.  Klein seconded.  More discussion held regarding signage of current fire index in park and legality of exemption.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-nay; Johnson-aye. Five ayes, one nay, motion carried.

 

Ward County Deputy Laura Forbes was available for questions.

 

Volk made a motion to designate the Minot Daily News as the official newspaper for the City of Surrey.  Sasse seconded.  Discussion held.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

Under unfinished business, discussion was held regarding tank filling fees and tank fillings.  Since the new police office has been completed, tank fills will no longer be available from the garage area.  This leaves tank filling from the fire hydrants.  Lengthy discussion held regarding maintenance issues when using fire hydrants for tank fills, the cost of the recent fire hydrant replacement, the cost of installing an automatic water salesman, and the availability of tank filling in Minot.  Larsen made a motion to keep the rate the same on tank fills until September 1, 2007 at which time tank fills would be discontinued.  More discussion held.  Larsen rescinded his motion.  More discussion held.  Nelsen made a motion to keep the rate the same on tank fills until June 30, 2007 at which time any filling from hydrants, except for fire protection use or city use, will be discontinued.  More discussion held.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-nay. Five ayes, one nay, motion carried.  Council advised Christianson to contact anyone who has used the tank filling over the previous year and the Surrey Fire Protection District of the change. 

 

PWS Frank Wollschlager discussed the following miscellaneous items:

1)                 The crack sealing maintenance schedule

2)                 The need for a fence for around the cistern

3)                 Researching grants to help pay for fence

4)                 The sanding truck is in Minot for repairs

5)                 Requested authorization to purchase a used sickle mower

6)                 Ideas for street sweeping

7)                 Tree ashes have been buried as required by State

 

Sasse made a motion to purchase the sickle mower if it is in good shape for $1,100 maximum.  Klein seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

Seideman reported that Police Officer Coca has been working on grants for the police department.  The police department is interested in purchasing a new radar unit, which a grant is available for 75% of the cost up to $1,500.  Council advised Seideman to get more information regarding the cost of the radar unit.

 

Christianson addressed Council regarding the following miscellaneous items:  according to the State, blanket permits are issued at the discretion of the Council; reminder the Tax Equalization Meeting is May 10, 2007 at 7:30p.m.; the Council will be paid in May for the Special Meeting held 04/19/07 as it was overlooked during April’s payroll.

 

Christianson requested permission to waive the deposit fee for the Surrey Senior Citizens water account.  Christianson also requested permission to donate an old copier, fax machine and scanner to the Surrey Senior Citizens.  Sasse inquired about donation laws.  Christianson will check into donating equipment versus donating cash.  Consensus of Council is to donate items if legal.

 

Christianson and City Engineer Alan Estvold, who had entered during the meeting, updated Council on the information they found out regarding the proposed Northwest lift station and other sewer improvements.  Sasse introduced the following resolutions for the City of Surrey and moved their adoption:

Resolution 2007-2 - Creating a Sewer Improvement District #23 to add a new storage vault to the existing northeast lift station.

Resolution 2007-3 – Creating a Sewer Improvement District #24 to install a new force main from the connection where the northeast lift station and the southeast lift station merge out to the existing sewage lagoon.

Resolution 2007-4 – Directing the Engineer for the City of Surrey to Prepare a Report as to the General Nature, Purpose, and Feasibility of the Proposed Improvement and an Estimate of the Probable Cost of Work for Sewer Improvement District #23.

Resolution 2007-5 – Directing the Engineer for the City of Surrey to Prepare a Report as to the General Nature, Purpose, and Feasibility of the Proposed Improvement and an Estimate of the Probable Cost of Work for Sewer Improvement District #24.

Volk seconded.  Discussion held.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-nay; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. Five aye, one nay, motion carried.  More discussion held regarding Terrance Hofer’s potential plans of development for the Northwest area of Surrey.  Council advised Christianson to contact Hofer.

 

Fennewald proposed payroll change for employees.  Discussion was held regarding different payroll time frames.  Larsen made a motion to pay employees bi-weekly with paychecks to be issued one week following the workweek.  Johnson seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

Discussion was held regarding Jung Construction’s sewer line not being completed and the City being unable to go forward with the paving project.  Jung’s lots are being advertised for sale.  More discussion held regarding building permit procedures, sewer line procedures and paving procedures.  Larsen made a motion to have City Attorney Deb Hoffarth notify Jung Construction no building permits will be issued until the sewer line is finished and if said sewer line is not completed by June 15, 2007, the City will have the sewer line completed and the charges will be billed to Jung Construction.  Sasse seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

Under other business, Christianson informed Council the tree landfill would be open again the weekend of May 12th and 13th because of the rain received May 5th and 6th, the grass dumpster has been working well for the most part except some branches and plastic bags have been found in the dumpster-branches and plastic bags are not allowed, and the NDLC Annual Conference is in Bismarck September 13th-15th. 

 

Christianson requested permission to attend the ND Municipal Finance Officers Institute at MSU June 13th-15th.  Volk made a motion to allow Christianson to attend the training.  Sasse seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried. 

 

Christianson updated Council regarding some changes in State rates.  Sasse made a motion make the following changes in the Personnel Policy Manual effective August 1, 2007:  Lodging will be reimbursed at $55.00 per night if not direct billed.  Mileage will be reimbursed at $0.45 per mile.  Johnson seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried. 

 

Discussion was held that Lafarge North America has purchased the land West of Surrey, however, there is no activity as of yet.  Seideman informed Council the roof in the police garage is leaking.

 

No other business to discuss, motion to adjourn by Klein.  Johnson seconded.  All aye, meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

 

THESE MINUTES HAVE NOT YET BEEN APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.