City Council Minutes 08-09-1982MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
August 9, 1982 - 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Fran Fair, Ken Maus, Phil White, Dan Blonigen.
Members Absent: Arve Grimsmo.
1. Call To Order.
2. Approval of the Minutes for the Meeting Held on July 26, 1982.
A motion was made by Fair, seconded by Blonigen and unanimous-
ly carried to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held
on July 26, 1982 as presented.
3. Petitions, Requests, Complaints/Citizens Comments.
None.
4. Consideration of an Amendment to an Ordinance Establishing a
Policy for Assessments of Public Improvements.
At the previous council meeting, concerns were expressed by
developer, Marvin George, over the city's ordinance require-
ment that requires full payment of any outstanding assessment
prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or within
a 180 days after issuance of a building permit, whichever comes
first. Mr. George was not contesting the certificate of occup-
ancy provision, but felt that in today's real estate market, a
180 day provision is questionable.
In reviewing the item with the City Attorney, Gary Pringle, it
was determined that a 180 day provision could be questionable
and was recommended by the attorney that this part of the ordin-
ance could be eliminated with the city still requiring the
assessments to be paid in full at the time of the issuance of
the certificate, since usually a transfer of ownership occurs
at this time.
The Council also disccussed the possibility that a require-
ment for all outstanding assessments to be at the certificate
of occupancy time should be possibily included in our sub-
division ordinance rather than in the assessment policy and as
result, it could be a requirement of a subdivider that the
assessments be paid at the time of a certificate of occupancy
as one of the conditions of the subdivision plat.
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Council Minutes - 8/9/82
A motion was made by White, seconded by Fair and unanimously
carried to amend the ordinance Section 13-1-2 (h) deleting
the 180 day provision requiring the assessments to be paid.
See Ordinance Amendment 1982 - #121.
5. Consideration of the Creation of the Position, Laboratory
Analyst, for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Whether or
not to call for Applicants.
After the new Wastewater Treatment Plant becomes operational,
the City will be preparing its own laboratory testing within
the confines of the plant. Because of this, a new position
within the treatment plant should be established that would
create a job category called "Laboratory Analyst". While the
job will require considerable lab analysis work, the person
in the position would also be assuming duties related to
plant maintenance and operation, etc.
A job description for the new position was drafted by John
Simola, Public Works Director, Jim Miller, Plant Superin-
tendent, along with City Administrator, Tom Eidem. The lab
analyst position would be a salaried position and would be
non-union. After review of the job description drafted,
a motion was made by Fair, seconded by Maus and unanimously
carried to authorize the creation of a new position within
the Wastewater Treatment Plant called "Lab Analyst".
A motion was then made by Maus, seconded by Blonigen and
unanimously carried to attempt to promote from within
current city employees by posting a five day notice indi-
cating that the City would accept applications from the
present employees to see if an individual will meet the
qualifications with a salary to be negotiated at that
time.
6. Consideration of an Agreement Between the City and Thomas A.
Eidem Providing for a Deferred Compensation Plan with
National Life of Vermont.
Previously, City Administrator, Tom Eidem, elected to with-
draw from the State PERA Retirement Program and elected
to establish his own retirement plan.
Mr. Eidem recently selected a deferred compensation plan
with National Life of Vermont and in order for the plan
to be a qualified deferred compensation plan, an agreement
has to be established between Mr. Eidem and the City of
Monticello indicating how the compensation deferred will be
distributed upon retirement, death or severance of employment.
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Council Minutes - 8/9/82
A motion was made by Blonigen, seconded by Fair and unanimous-
ly carried to approve entering into an agreement with the
City Administrator, Tom Eidem, in regard to the establishment
of a deferred compensation plan and agreement with National
Life of Vermont. (See Exhibits 89 - 82 #1).
7. Consideration of a Request to Install Concrete Flooring in
the new City Maintenance Building.
Lester's Incorporated has recently completed the new pole
building on the maintenance building property along West
County Road 39.
The total cost of the building was $19,368 or $2,382 less
than originally budgeted for and as a result, the Public
Works Director, John Simola, requested authorization to use
the excess funds for the installation of a concrete floor
in the new building at this time. The estimated cost of a
concrete, reinforcing wire and joint material was estimated
at $2,230 and it was estimated that approximately $800 worth
of city labor would be needed to complete the job.
A motion was made by Maus, seconded by Fair and unanimously
carried to authorize the expenditure of $2,230 for concrete,
reinforcing wire and joint material for the installation of
a concrete in the new city maintenance building.
In addition, the Public Works Director was authorized to
install a 100 amp electrical service in the new building
using a service panel, lights, conduit and miscellaneous
wire salvage from the Oakwood building with approximately
$150 in cost necessary to purchase service wire and breakers.
8. Consideration of Quarterly Financial Report - Liquor Store.
Mark Irmiter, Liquor Store Manager, reviewed with the Council
the six month financial statement for the liquor store opera-
tions. It was noted that sales for the first six months of
1982 increased approximately 3-2% over the same period in 1981
and also gross profit increased approximately 70 over 81
figures. The net operating income decreased approximately
$1,000 from 1981 due to increased operating cost. The gross
profit percentages remained in line with what was expected
and the anticipated year end report should indicate the same
amount of revenue we experienced in the past. No action was
taken other than review of the statements with Mr. Irmiter.
It was noted that on future reports, a count of the customers
will be included to provide an indication of the traffic that
the store is generating each quarter.
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Council Minutes - 8/9/82
9. Consideration of Proposal to Construct a Freight Loading Dock
at Hi -Way Liquor.
At previous Council meetings, the Liquor Store Manager was
authorized to seek quotes and bids for the installation of
a loading dock in the rear of the liquor store. In review-
ing the construction of a loading dock, it was determined
that the water line servicing the liquor store would have to
be relocated or lowered because of the excavation required
for the loading dock and as a result, the initial estimates
are coming in quite higher than originally proposed. Mr.
Irmiter noted that only one bid has been received so far for
the complete construction of the dock along with the reloca-
tion of the existing water line for a total cost of approxi-
mately $8,000 which is double what originally was anticipated.
Although relocating and lowering the existing water service
is increasing the cost of the project considerably, it was
noted that the water service will probably have to be re-
located no matter whether a dock is built or not to elimi-
nate potential freezing problems in the future.
In addition, the Council discussed whether or not a wooden
type dock should be built instead, which would still provide
the same features of a permanent concrete dock and would be
much cheaper. It was the concensus of the Council to have
the Liquor Store Manager, Mark Irmiter, pursue the altern-
ative of constructing a wooden loading dock rather than a
permanent concrete structure.
10. Consideration of a Proposal to Provide Electrical Power to
the Animal Pound.
As part of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Project,
a new underground service for the plant will be a 460/480 volt
three phase service, which will not be suitable for providing
electrical service for the dog pound.
NSP has estimated that the cost of providing a new separate
service for the dog pound at $3200 while the electrical
contractor at the Wastewater Treatment Plant project esti-
mated the cost of providing single phase power from the sludge
vehicle garage to the dog pound at $1500 to $1800.
John Badalich, City Engineer, noted that the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency recently indicated that funds may be available
for the conversion of this electrical power since it is part of
the Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Project.
As a result, Blonigen made a motion, seconded by Fair and unani-
mously carried to approve the expenditure of $1500 to $1800 to
provide electrical service to the dog pound at the Wastewater
Treatment Plant. It was noted that if funding is available
through PCA, this item will be considered as a change order as
part of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Project.
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Council Agenda - 8/9/82
11. Consideration of Establishing Election Judge Role and Desig-
nating Polling Place.
State Statutes require that the City Council appoint all of
the election judges for both the primary and general elections
and also to designate the official polling place.
A list of 26 individuals was presented to the Council who have
indicated that they would be willing to serve as judges in the
upcoming elections. In addition, possibly 4 additional people
will be added to the list making a total of 30 election
judges available to cover all shifts for both elections. In
the past, the official polling place for city residents has
been the City Hall Council Chambers.
A motion was made by Blonigen, seconded by Fair and unanimous-
ly carried designating the official polling place for the up-
coming primary and general elections to be the Council Chambers
in City Hall and also approved appointing the 26 individuals
listed in Exhibit 1 as election judges for the primary and
general elections of 1982. (See Exhibit 89 - 82 #2 for the
list of 26 names) .
12. Review of Feasibility Study for Boyle Property.
Mr. John Badalich, City Engineer, presented to the Council a
preliminary report and cost estimate of providing public
improvements to property owned by Mr. James Boyle who plans
a subdivision known as Meadow Oak.
Mr. Badalich explained briefly that the project could be con-
structed providing sewer and water and street improvements
over a six stage development plan with a total project cost
exceeding four million dollars ($4,000,000). The initial
stage of providing sewer and water to the subject property
and serving approximately 63 residential lots in the first
stage of the development would cost approximately $1.4 million.
Mr. Badalich noted that additional cost estimates will be
available in the preliminary report that will be presented
at the public hearing on the feasibility of the improvements.
No action was taken by the Council at the present time until
further subdivision takes place on the Boyle property. A
public hearing on the feasibility report will be presented
in the future after the subdivision requirements have been
met by the developer.
Meeting Adjourned.
Rick Wolf Steller
Assistant Adminis ator
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