DRAFT – Minutes are not official until approved by Council at the next regular meeting.
City of Effie
June 8, 2009 Minutes
Members in attendance were Mayor Matt David, Tim Stewart and Liza Erickson. Absent was Bill Hastings. Also in attendance were Julie Aakhus, Tom Boland and Joe Zimmer.
Mayor Matt David called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Matt opened the public forum. Joe Zimmer stated that Bill had asked him to give an update on the sewer. He stated that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Midwest Assistance Program and Rural Development had been present to do a walk-through inspection of the system. A punch list of items to be taken care of was developed. One million gallons of sewage has gone through the system since it began operating.
Minutes: Matt had a correction to the May minutes that Godfrey Knight had offered to build the City a “hand-hewn log cabin”, not a “heated log cabin”. Motion to approve the minutes as corrected by Matt, seconded by Tim, MCU.
OLD BUSINESS
Sewer Update: Matt explained the items on the punch list that Zimmer had mentioned. Things that will be fixed include leaking manholes, electrical issues, filling and re-seeding, a staking discrepancy on the as-built, brush pile clean-up, a flow meter, conduit around wires, exposed phone cable and one of the grinder pumps. Matt reported that the engineer had reviewed Burman’s connection and found that it would not require a grinder pump if made from the original spot, however it would require digging across the lawn. The cost to the City would be $1,560. Burman has not yet agreed to this and wanted some time to think about it. Matt stated that Pugh Brothers would be up as soon as the weather was good enough for them to get started on the punch list items and the connection at the DNR office and a decision on Burman’s will need to be made at that time. Motion by Matt to have Pugh Brothers do the work at the contract price if Burman is willing to allow it, seconded by Liza, motion carried with Tim abstaining. Matt reported that the creek clean-up has been completed and the American Legion had volunteered to do the seeding.
Housing Rehab: Matt reported that some of the projects are currently under construction. Storlie will call Kootasca to see if all the spots have been filled and what the status of the most recently submitted applications is.
Miss Effie Pageant Donation Request: The request was tabled at the May meeting for more information and the pageant had received a donation from People In Business Care in the meantime. The request was tabled again and Storlie was directed to send Crystal Fisher a letter asking her to come to the July meeting if she still needed funds.
Rodeo Committee: Lil reported that she had reserved the front page for the rodeo ad. She will put up flyers to see if anyone is interested in serving on the committee. Motion by Matt to apply to People In Business Care for $1,000 for fireworks, seconded by Lil, MCU. Motion by Matt to spend $1,000 on fireworks and to have Mike Marthaler get them, seconded by Tim, MCU. Motion by Matt to purchase fireworks insurance through Hovila, seconded by Liza, MCU. Storlie was directed to make sure Mike is available before purchasing the insurance and to contact Honey Bear to reserve the satellite toilets for the weekend.
Tim asked for an update on the contract for deed on the church property. Storlie reported that the purchaser had made their payments through April of this year and had reimbursed the City for the 2008 property taxes.
NEW BUSINESS
Insurance Renewal: Motion by Liza to not waive the statutory limits, seconded by Matt, MCU.
Itasca County Historical Society Donation Request: The City did not budget to donate to the Itasca County Historical Society.
Matt stated that the fence around the playground that was discussed previously had never been finished because the Girl Scouts did not have the means to get it done. He felt it would be sufficient to put cedar posts four feet apart. Tim will contact Ostendorf again about the cost of cedar posts and Jeff Powell to see if he would drill the holes with his ASV auger. He will also check with the Girl Scout leader to see if they would stain the posts after they are installed. Matt will try to get the flower barrels out this week so they can be planted.
Liza reported that the Building Committee hadn’t yet met and set the first meeting for June 22, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
Matt brought up the issue with the Community Center bathroom. The toilet continues to plug due to calcium buildup. Motion by Matt, seconded by Tim to have Range Water take a look and give the City some options, MCU.
Bills: Motion to approve the bills by Liza, seconded by Lil, MCU.
Motion to adjourn by Matt, seconded by Liza, MCU at 7:56 p.m.
Angela L. Storlie City Clerk
