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April 2007

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Askov City Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at the Askov Community Center.  The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.  Present were Frederiksen, Odle, Seek, Weulander, Clerk Budd, and Deputy Clerk Ecklund.   Also present were Marguerite Walz of the Askov Fair Board and Fire Chief Pete Watrin.  Upon addition of one item to new business, motion was made by Seek and seconded by Frederiksen to approve the agenda.  Motion carried 4-0.  Marguerite Walz presented Council with four requests from the Askov Fair Board;  she asked the council to approve 1.) closing the streets for festival as they were last year -- Brogade, H. C. Andersen, and also Dannebrogsgade on three sides of the fair triangle; 2.) permission to have a beer garden staffed by the fire department;  3.) permission to have a fireworks similar to last year’s;  and 4.) permission to conduct a street dance.  Fire Chief Watrin informed Council that the department had acquired two additional vehicles from the DNR for $500 apiece.  These vehicles will belong to the department and will not need to be returned to the DNR.  The Chevy Blazer used as a personnel carrier is in poor condition; it will be retired and returned to the DNR.  Lights and sirens from the Blazer and storage will be installed on the two new vehicles; installation can be done within the department and will not need to be hired out.  The new vehicles are blue and need to have a red paint job and a logo.  Watrin had an estimate for one truck from Gebhart Collision for $1650 for the paint job.  There was some discussion on the painting, and Seek suggested it be tabled until next month.  For information, Watrin presented the Council with a press release on increased fees for Sandstone Fire Department.      

The consent agenda was then reviewed.  Council requested that sentence wording be changed to read “Motion was made by Maloney, seconded by Seek that the City of Askov enter into discussion with Township for possible orderly annexation of 160 acre parcel.”  At the end of the minutes, Seek requested that a sentence be added to state, “Lions donate frequently to the Center.”  Council also requested a copy of the March Public Hearing minutes, which were inadvertently left out of the packet.  Ecklund presented Council with an updated accounts payable.  Request made of clerks to notate in future accounts payable which vehicle has been worked on, and to keep monthly PeopleService labor fees separate from contract fees.  In PeopleService report, council requested that the addresses or individual’s names be included for whom meters are replaced or work done.  Clerk to check on policy for interior and exterior meter ownership and charging for replacement of same.  Motion by Odle, second by Seek to accept the consent agenda with the updated AP as presented. Motion carried 4-0. 

In the sewer project update, notification of an SCDP grant for $600,000 for the City was received.  Notification was also received that the Corps of Engineers would be unable to fund anything for us this year.  Seek stated he would be visiting with Oberstar at Cambridge on Saturday.  Clerk requested to check with engineers regarding:  1.) if inflation has changed the cost of the sewer facility substantially;  2.) if the extensions are indeed in the plans at the current cost;  3.) if replacement of all sewer mains are in the cost, and if not to include them in the cost of the project, and to provide the City with the revision of numbers for current day dollars.  Frederiksen wished it noted that there is the potential for catastrophic direct ground discharge from the old sewer mains.  When talking about I&I in the system, it was noted that the school building appears to be funneling some roof drainage into the sewer system.   

Frederiksen also wished clerk to check with the PCA regarding the potential for service to an annexation and to receive that information in written form.  Question to include would the City be able to extend services under the current plan to the addition, and would the increase on the facility be within acceptable limits.

The Council was informed that the dying tree next to the center had been taken down.  The floodlight for the parking area has been installed.  Also signs have been ordered to implement the semi-parking ordinance, and signs for Vossevangenvej were ordered as well. 

In other old business, a letter from Gerster’s regarding the Partridge Café water and sewer bill was presented to the Council.  After explanation of the account by Ecklund, motion was made by Weulander and seconded by Odle to give a $766 credit, if Gerster abided by the terms that he stated in his letter, which was to pay the outstanding amount within sixty days.  Motion carried 4-0.

  In new business:  Motion was made by Frederiksen and seconded by Seek to approve the requests of the fair board for a fireworks presentation, a beer garden, a street dance, and the closing of the streets adjacent to the fairgrounds for the Rutabaga Festival on August 24 and 25.  Motion carried 4-0. 

Council had been given two sample investment policies for the City.  Frederiksen selected one of the policies and made the following resolution:

WHEREAS, establishing an Investment Policy is required by Minnesota Statute Chapter 118A.07 Subd. 2.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the following Investment Policy be adopted:

(Entire text of the policy can be found on file in the Clerk’s office).

Resolution was seconded by Odle, and passed with a vote of 3-1, with Seek voting nay.

Council was reminded of the Board of Review, Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m.   Council was also requested to review their policy for long-term stays at the RV park.  Clerk instructed to ask listserve for policies, fees, amenities in municipal campgrounds.  Motion by Seek, second by Odle to adjourn.  Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, 

 

Arla Budd 

07/13/2008