CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF WEST CONCORD
October 17, 2024 180 MAIN STREET
7:00 P.M. WEST CONCORD, MN 55985
Meeting at the City of West Concords Bell Tower Center
PRESENT: Mayor Jeffrey McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen and Ripley.
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Administrator/Clerk Paula Even Trenda, Maintenance Supervisor Keith Clemmer, Library Director Heather Fredricks, Police Chief Shannon Boerner, Fire Chief Chad Finne, Chris Sanders of People Services, Joe Palen of Stantec.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA;
MOTION: Motion to approve the agenda as presented
Consent Agenda
A. Approve of Council Meeting Minutes of September 19, 2024
B. Approval of Payment of Claims: September 12 – October 11, 2024: $1,141,334.22 (includes Payment approved for Street Utility Project)
C. Approval of Westcon Lanes Liquor License for On-sale & Sunday
D. Accepting Letter of Interest for open council seat. Appoint new council member for the remaining 2-year term at the November meeting.
MOTION: Motion to approve Consent Agenda as presented.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Burse
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
PUBLIC COMMENT -
No Public Comment
CITY BUSINESS
Resolution 24-51: Approval for Dan Lulf to partition a 98x121 foot piece from 262510060 and create a separate parcel. No zoning or use changes.
MOTION: Motion to approve Parcel Partition.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Preliminary Review of Cannabis Ordinance. We anticipated having the draft ordinance from Dodge County for review and early discussion. Dodge County has been pushed back. Council was provided samples from the state and will have a draft for November meeting with discussion.
Joe Palen, Stantec: Joe provided a brief recap of project and completion. He requested approval for change order #2, as discussed at previous council meetings.
MOTION: Motion to approve change order #2
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Burse
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Joe Palen asked for approval for payment # 6 totaling $274,010.12. They city will withhold 2% for retainer.
MOTION: Motion to approve payment #6
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Burse
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Resolution 24-43: Acceptance of Councilmembers Peterson’s resignation.
MOTION: Motion to accept Councilmember Peterson’s resignation.
Motion made by Councilmember Burse, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Resolution 24-52: Adoption of Assessment Roll
As discussed in the public hearing, the resolution for adoption of the assessment roll allows the city to begin the 30 day period for xxx with the ability to add assessment to the property taxes for 2025.
MOTION: Resolution 24-52: Adoption of Assessment Roll
Motion made by Councilmember Burse. Second by Councilmember Nielsen.
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen, Peterson and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Chris Sanders: Approval of KLM Bid for Water Tower Inspection
Chris Sanders from People’s Service, along with Keith Clemmer, explained the water tower inspection contract has full inspections every 5 years. They would like to do a robotic underwater drone inspection to see if a full cleanout is required or can wait. The cost will not exceed $3200.
MOTION: Approve KLM Bid & contract.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Burse.
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
REPORT OF OFFICERS
ADMINISTRATOR/CLERK REPORT:
The Historical Society donated $2,838.58 for September gambling rents for the Municipal.
The administrator has all bank accounts balanced through September 30, 2024. Included was a YTD Financial Report for the General and Municipal funds. This report included projections for Quarter 4 and year-end. Paula explained areas over budget and under budget that were significant. She is working on ways to reduce costs, specifically in health care coverage and technology for 2025. She explained that a full report like this would be included quarterly for now on. If the council would like other information, she is willing to change the report or include is going forward.
With the current website provider being bought out, the new vendor was requesting a new contract by November 30 for 4 years. Paula went and received bids from 5 suppliers. After narrowing to the top 2, she worked with current volunteer, Dan Lulf to choose CivicPlus with a one-year contract.
LIBRARIAN REPORT:
Heather Fredericks presented her update. She had to move October board meeting. She shared the library is looking at new chairs to be bought with donations. She is applying again for the legacy funds for programs like we’ve done this year, such as the author presentation at the beginning of the month with Minnesota’s Most Haunted Places.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:
Maintenance Supervisor Keith Clammer presented his report. Due to a serious injury with contractor, tuckpointing at city hall needs to be pushed back to spring 2025.
Pool is not yet closed, but it will be. Waiting on some parts and work to be completed.
PEOPLESERVICE REPORT:
Wastewater Supervisor Chris Sanders verbally reported on his report. The grit system is down and he is working on it.
POLICE CHIEF:
Police Chief Boerner provided monthly call log to council.
Police Boerner said he will have a new jake break ordinance draft for discussion in November.
FIRE CHIEF:
Fire Chief Chad Finne mentioned things are going well. The pancake breakfast served over 300 people.
There was a grain bin fire in the last month and a burning ban is in effect. The very dry conditions are not helping.
There have been quite a few ambulance run calls lately, compared to the previous few months.
OTHER BUSINESS
Tom Bond would like the city to authorize City to pay for engineering and/or permit fees for the ball field to add a storage/concession building along the left field line (near the city maintenance building). Venom Softball has secured $10,000 in funding towards building, provided the club could raise the additional funds for the building. Based on drawings from Menards, the anticipate the cost to be around $30,000 with in-kind donations.
Field looks beautiful according to Mayor McCool.
Councilmember Nielson made the motion for the city to cover the engineering and permitting fees necessary to get the project moving forward. Councilmember Burse seconded the motion.
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Motion to Adjourn at 7:45 pm.
Motion made by Councilmember Burse, seconded Councilmember Ripley.
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen and Ripley.
Nays: None Motion passed
By:______________________________
Mayor Jeffrey McCool
Attest:
By:_________________________________
Paula Even Trenda Clerk/Administrator
