PRESENT: Mayor Jeffrey McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley.
ABSENT: Councilmember Burse
ALSO PRESENT: Administrator/Clerk Paula Even Trenda, Police Chief Shannon Boerner, Fire Chief Chad Finne, Chris Sanders of People Services, Joe Palen of Stantec, and Jeanne Vogt of Ehlers, Inc.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA;
MOTION: Motion to approve the agenda as presented
Consent Agenda
A. Approve of Council Meeting Minutes of August 15, 2024
B. Approval of Payment of Claims: August 10 – September 12, 2024: $609,396.76
MOTION: Motion to approve Consent Agenda as presented.
Motion made by Council member Nielsen, seconded by Council member Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Council members Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
PUBLIC COMMENT -
Karen Johnson – Noticed new windows at bowling alley and thought they looked nice. Wanted council to push lightly on raising taxes.
CITY BUSINESS
Resolution 24-46: Accepting donations for Library. The library received three donations for use on what they deem necessary.
MOTION: Motion to approve Library Donations.
Motion made by Councilmember Ripley, seconded by Councilmember Nielsen
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Resolution 24-41: Hiring of Accounting Clerk/Administrative Assistant: Paula Trenda, City Administrator mentioned we have hired Elizabeth Albers as the new full-time Accounting and Administrative Clerk for the city. She will begin her role on September 30, 2024.
MOTION: Motion to approve Hiring of Accounting Clerk/Administrative Assistant.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Resolution 24-42: Change of signatory for banking accounts. Remove former accounting clerk Michelle Lee and replace with Elizabeth Albers.
MOTION: Motion to approve change of signatory at Heritage Bank.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers 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 Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Karen Johnson: Resident Karen Johnsons requested permission to host Rosary Rally on Saturday, October 12 at Centennial Park from noon to 1:00pm and hang banner beginning at 11:45a. This prayer rally will be to pray for the direction of our country and our governmental leaders.
Mayor McCool thanked Karen for asking permission and said since it’s a peaceful gathering, at a public park, she was fine to host it.
MOTION: Grant permission for rosary rally on October 12. Motion made by Councilmember Nielson. Second by Councilmember Ripley.
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Burse, Nielsen, Peterson and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Stantec: Joe Palen
1. Project Update: Everything is prepped, and they hope to finish paving and seeding the boulevard next week. There are a few manhole adjustments to make. Irvin Street will not get a final wear coat until spring 2025 to allow for settling.
2. Approval of Payment #5 for contractor in the amount of $221,220.86.
a. Motion to Approve Payment made by Councilmember Ripley. Second by Councilmember Nielsen. Motion approved.
3. Resolution 22-44: Declaring costs to be assessed and ordering preparation of proposed assessment.
a. Joe Palen went over the breakdown of project costs, how the assessments were calculated, and shared that even though bond fees were higher, the project came in under budget. A sample assessment letter and public notice were provided to the council.
MOTION: Motion to approve street improvement assessed costs and order preparation of assessment.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
4. Resolution 22-47: Declaring public assessment hearing for 6:00pm on October 17, 2024
MOTION: Motion to approve street improvement assessed costs and order preparation of assessment.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Council members Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Ehlers: Jeanne Vogt
Jeanne Vogt from Ehler’s was at the council meeting to go over the preliminary budget and ask for acceptance of the preliminary max levy amount. Jeanne went over the changes we had made during the previous budget meeting, historical overview of tax levy in West Concord, as well as the changes to the homestead tax credit and how it impacts city tax base. No questions were asked. City staff will continue to adjust the budget and make changes to lower levy increase prior to the truth in taxation hearing on December 19, 2024.
MOTION: To approve Resolution 24-45 setting Max Tax Tavy and truth in taxation public hearing.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley.
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Resolution 24-48: Accepting donations for Fire and Police Departments from Historical Society Gambling proceeds.
$1000 will go towards a fan ventilator for the Fire Station and $2000 will go towards radios for the police department. Mayor McCool thanked the Historical Society for their generous gift.
MOTION: Motion to approve Fire and Police Donations.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Resolution 24-49: Hiring of Part-Time Police Officer pending background check.
Thomas Walek is currently undergoing necessary background checks to become a PT officer with West Concord. We hope to have him on board in October.
MOTION: Motion to approve hiring of PT Officer Thomas Walek.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
Resolution 24-50: Approve the 2025 City of West Concord Insurance Plan.
The city appoints Jeff Stevenson/Stevenson Insurance as our agent of record. Approves a worker’s comp deductible of $2500, non-waiver of tort liability cap, approve liquor liability and discuss if we wanted the additional premium for excess liability. Excess liability was declined by council.
MOTION: Motion to approve 2025 Insurance as presented.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
REPORT OF OFFICERS
ADMINISTRATOR/CLERK REPORT:
The Historical Society donated $3780.08 for August gambling rents for the Municipal.
The Municipal had our main commercial freezer compressor go out. Using insurance, a new commercial freezer was purchased with a deductible of $250.
The administrator shared a pool recap from Glenda Andrews. There were more family passes sold in 2024, but daily attendance was low, especially in June when the weather was cold and wet. Aquasize and adult lap swim remain popular.
The administrator met with other Dodge County clerks, administration, and public health to discuss the Cannabis Ordinance for the county. The city of West Concord will begin creating our ordinance for discussion in October or November. The county hopes to have their ordinance discussed and approved in November. The county will allow 2 licenses for the county, based on population. Administrator will submit a draft ordinance to the council and public in October.
Currently we are in the process of updating all job descriptions for all staff positions to bring them into 2024/2025 compliance and make them digital. Administrator will bring as a consent agenda item when all are complete.
LIBRARIAN REPORT:
Heather Fredericks was not present but submitted her report to the council.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:
Maintenance Supervisor Keith Clammer was not present but submitted his report to the council, along with a tree report for the EAB Grant.
PEOPLESERVICE REPORT:
Wastewater Supervisor Chris Sanders verbally reported on his report and requested $2880 for replacement of a refrigerator and heater needed for collecting water samples. He has attempted to repair it, but it needs replacement. The administrator will check with insurance to see if this qualifies as an equipment breakdown replacement. Regardless, Council member Nielsen made a motion to replace the unit. Council member Ripley seconded the motion.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded by Councilmember Ripley
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley
Nays: None Motion passed
POLICE CHIEF:
Police Chief Boerner provided monthly call log to council. He would like to see signs installed stating the parking area behind city garage is not a though street. He understands a sign will not stop people from driving through but hopes it will eliminate some, as it can be dangerous for officers and staff to back in and out of garages. Council agreed to allow signs to be installed.
Police Boerner also requested adding an ordinance for Jake Breaking under our noise ordinance. He will provide an ordinance for review at the next council meeting.
Chief Boerner also brought up that the Cannon Falls Mason’s donated a FST (Fire Suppression Tool) to the city. He explained it assists first responders in controlling fire in an enclosed area and lowers temperature to save people or animals.
FIRE CHIEF:
Fire Chief Chad Finne mentioned things are going well. The pancake breakfast is October 13 from 7a-1p and will include a raffle. The Fire Relief Association will send out invitations to all households. The administrator said she will add to October water bill.
A brief discussion on EMT and Ambulance Director was had. We have a number of EMT applications, as well as 3 or 4 Director applications. We hope to start interviewing in late September or early October.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Motion to Adjourn at 8:02 pm.
Motion made by Councilmember Nielsen, seconded Councilmember Ripley.
Ayes: Mayor McCool, Councilmembers Nielsen and Ripley.
Nays: None Motion passed
By:______________________________
Mayor Jeffrey McCool
Attest:
By:_________________________________
Paula Even Trenda Clerk/Administrator
