April 2, 2007

SURREY CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

MONDAY, APRIL 2, 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 City Engineer Alan Estvold of Ackerman-Estvold Engineering, Chief of Police Brad Seideman, and City Auditor Elaine Christianson.

 

The agenda was reviewed. No additions were made.

 

Mayor Fennewald read the consent agenda: Review and approve the 03/05/07 regular meeting minutes and the 03/22/07 special meeting minutes; Approve financial reports and payments of payroll in the amount of $3,388.81 and bills to be paid in the amount of $17,756.63; Approve the Municipal Court, Police and Public Works Reports.  Klein moved to approve the consent agenda items.  Larsen seconded. Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

Nick Knipp requested Council waive the rental fee of city hall for a fundraising dance sponsored by the Surrey Mustang freshmen set for May 5th, 2007.  Discussion held.  Johnson made a motion to waive the rental fee for the event. Larsen seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

Nathan Jung addressed Council requesting payment for the graveling and leveling of the intersection at Fifth Street and Fifth Avenue Southwest.  Lengthy discussion held regarding responsibility of developers and contractors.  The Council expects Jung Construction to maintain the area with gravel, as this area did not have an issue before they started their water and sewer project.  Further discussion was held regarding paving District 22 and a drainage project.

 

Special Assessment Committee member Alan Leintz’s term expires in April 2007.  Christianson spoke with Leintz and he is interested in being reappointed to the committee.  Larson made a motion to reappoint Alan Leintz to the Special Assessment Committee.  Sasse seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.  Leintz’s new term will expire in April 2013.

 

Under unfinished business, Christianson discussed the North Dakota Forestry Grant was not applied for due to the deadline date and vacation conflicts.  The grant is offered yearly and will be reviewed for next year.

 

Discussion was held regarding the installation of a 4-way stop at the corner of 5th Street and 4th Avenue in the Southwest part of Surrey.  Johnson made a motion to approve the second reading of Ordinance 10-401 authorizing installation of a 4-way stop at the corner of 5th Street and 4th Avenue in the Southwest part of Surrey.  Larsen seconded.  Further discussion held.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

City Engineer Alan Estvold discussed the grant the City applied for through Souris Basin Planning Council(SBPC).  The jobs created/retained at Lafarge North America was estimated at 20.  These 20 jobs include lease drivers.  SBPC discovered that lease drivers cannot be counted towards jobs created/retained, therefore, only 8 jobs would be able to be counted.  This would bring $80,000 in grant funds instead of $200,000.  Council needs more information regarding the special assessment process regarding the proposed lift station before making any further decisions.

 

Estvold and Christianson discussed the Safe Routes to Schools grant with Council.  A multi-use path was proposed for 2nd Street Southeast, 5th Street Southwest, and 3rd Street Northeast.  Christianson requested Council set priorities on these streets so the City might be eligible for at least one part of the project if the full project is denied.  Volk made a motion to approve applying for the Safe Routes to Schools grant and prioritize the project as 1) 2nd Street Southeast, 2) 5th Street Southwest, and 3) 3rd Street Northeast.  Larsen seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

Estvold submitted engineering agreement for services contracts for the Safe Routes to School project, the Street System Master Plan for Mahoney’s 4th Addition project, and the Lafarge Annexation project.  Discussion held.   Larsen made a motion to approve the following:  Safe Routes to School project at $100 per hour not to exceed $1,500; Street System Master Plan for Mahoney’s 4th Addition project at $75 per hour not to exceed $1,500; and Lafarge Annexation project at $100 per hour with an additional clause to include a $4,000 cap and when the services reach $4,000, Council will be notified and reevaluate the agreement for services at that time.  Sasse seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

Christianson addressed Council regarding the following miscellaneous items: 

1)                 A letter received for a donation from the Mustang Boosters.  Council was advised that according to North Dakota Century Code, cities cannot make donations unless a benefit is received by the city.

2)                 A letter received from the Ward County Parks Program of a public meeting April 3, 2007 at 7:00p.m.

3)                 A letter received from the Ward County Director of Tax Equalization that the tax equalization meeting for the City of Surrey will be held Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 7:30p.m. in the Surrey City Hall.

4)                 A letter received from the Ward County Auditor/Treasurer’s Office that Ron Burns was reappointed by the Board of Ward County Commissioners to serve a five-year term on the City Zoning Commission.

5)                 A thank you card received from James Volk.

 

Much discussion was held regarding part-time Public Works Employee James Volk’s resignation.  Sasse made a motion to advertise for a permanent part-time public works employee up to 20 hours per week at a rate of $8 to $10 per hour based on experience with a Class B CDL with air brake endorsement and an application deadline of April 16, 2007 at 4p.m.  Klein seconded.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.

 

As PWS Frank Wollschlager was at training in Bismarck, Christianson addressed Council with his reports/requests.  1). He is requesting permission to purchase a new sewer-jetter nozzle for $1,069.  Larsen made a motion to purchase the nozzle with the condition that the City would have the ability to return it for a refund if it doesn’t work.  Volk seconded.  Discussion held.  Roll call vote: Volk-aye; Klein-aye; Sasse-aye; Larsen-aye; Nelsen-aye; Johnson-aye. All aye, motion carried.  2) The hydrant at the corner of Pleasant Avenue South and 1st Street Southeast will be moved/repaired sometime in April.  More information will be available when the contractor is closer to being ready.  3) He is requesting permission to put in a small drainage ditch from the ice skating rink heading east.  Consensus of Council is to not put a drainage ditch in at this time.

 

Christianson addressed Council regarding the tank filling fees.  Much discussion held regarding wear and tear issues on hydrants during different seasons, a coin-operated water dispenser at a minimum cost of $3,300 and the availability of tank filling in Minot.  Sasse made a motion to keep tank fills at the same price through September 1, 2007, then discontinue tank filling service altogether.  Motion failed for a lack of a second.  Johnson requested this be tabled until next month.

 

Mayor Fennewald discussed the new phone number to the Surrey Police Department.  Fennewald requested Seideman have call forwarding from the office to his cell phone during his shifts.  Seideman stressed the importance that anyone having an emergency should call 911, in which case if he were on duty, he would be dispatched.  All other calls can be made to the Surrey Police Department phone at 852-4159 and a message can be left on the answering machine.  If anyone needed to get in touch with him while he was on patrol in the car, they should call Minot Central Dispatch at 852-1305.  Minot Central Dispatch would then contact Seideman to return the call. 

 

No other business to discuss, motion to adjourn by Nelsen.  Klein seconded.  All aye, meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

 

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