REGULAR MEETING  – DANUBE CITY COUNCIL – SEPTEMBER 9, 2009

Gene Allex called the regular meeting of the Danube City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9, 2009.  Councilmembers present:  Sharon Lothert, Al Strunc, Les Schneider, Sr., and Ryan Bentley.  Absent: None

Also present:  Police Chief, Les Schneider, Jr. and Danube business owner Leann Koford

A motion was made by Sharon Lothert to approve the agenda with the addition of “street sweeper estimate” and “building permit application” under new business. Al Strunc seconded and the motion carried unanimously. 

A motion was made by Ryan Bentley to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of August 26, 2009, with noted corrections.  Al Strunc seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Police Chief, Les Schneider, Jr., was present and gave his monthly employee report.  The statistics for August 2009 are as follows:  Calls: 63; Reports: 32; Traffic Stops: 62; Citations: 19; Mutual Assists:  34; Home Security Checks: 2.

The following items were also discussed by Schneider, Jr.

·         The City received the POST Board continuing education reimbursement on 8/19/09 in the amount of $1585.66.

·         The bat problems have been resolved at the school building.

·         The remaining unlicensed dogs all have vet appointments during September.

·         Officer Krueger brought the squad car to the mock crash at the Renville County Fair.

·         The bathrooms at the city park have been locked indefinitely due to continuous vandalism.

·         Danube First Response will renew their contract with Ridgewater College for training.

·         The First Response rig has a diesel leak.  The repairs needed will cost $1286 and will include replacing the fuel pump, fuel filters and turbo pipes and replacing the front crank seal and oil pump housing O-Ring.  The 1995 rig has low miles. 

·         Schneider spoke of Danube’s civil defense policy.  It was adopted in 1996 and just needs to have contact information updated.  FEMA does not require an additional plan.

A motion was made by Ryan Bentley to approve the First Response training contract with Ridgewater and to do the necessary repairs to the First Response rig.  Les Schneider, Sr. seconded and the motion carried unanimously. 

Schneider, Jr. reported that all but two street lights have been repaired.  Bentley made mention of another one in town that is out. 

The city clerk reported to the council that on two separate occasions, there has been cash missing from the city’s petty cash fund.  The council will allow her to replenish the fund with $50 and have the only key with access to the money.  The spare key will be in the safe deposit box at the bank.

In other business:

·         There was nothing new to report on the Mahoney case.

·         The street repairs are complete for the year.

·         The clerk checked on phone service through Hughsnet and found it unavailable. Schneider, Sr. brought in some prices for business phone charges from Mediacom. 

·         Updates in plans/ideas for the paving of 2^nd Street East were discussed. 

·         The City received a check in the amount of $500 from the Danube Lions Club to put towards new playground equipment in the park. 

·         The clerk handed out a report outlining the topics discussed at the Clerk’s Conference she attended in St. Paul in August.

·         The council was updated on the city’s cash accounts. 

·         The council reviewed the Loss Prevention Report on the boiler.  The recommendations will be addressed at the next council meeting.

·         The clerk will verify what information is needed to send to the County Auditor regarding upcoming budgeting and levy related council meetings.

The council was given 3 different price examples on publishing the minutes in the newspaper after each meeting.  It will cost more than the council is prepared to approve. 

A motion was made by Sharon Lothert to change the hours of the clerk’s office.  The hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 until noon and 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.  This schedule will stay in affect year round.  Ryan Bentley seconded and the motion carried unanimously. 

A motion was made by Les Schneider, Sr. to get repairs done on the street sweeper at a cost of $700 or less.  Lothert seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

A motion was made by Strunc to approve the bills as submitted in the amount of $9,216.97.  Bentley seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

A motion was made by Strunc to allow the door to be open between the bar and the Community Center on Friday, September 11, for a private event.  Lothert seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

A motion was made by Lothert to approve a building permit for Millers on Main to build a smoke shack on the south side of the bar.  Schneider, Sr. seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

The clerk requested Wednesday, September 23, off for a doctor’s appointment but will return in time for the council meeting that night.

There being no further discussion, at 9:25 p.m. a motion was made by Strunc to adjourn the meeting.  Bentley seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted:  Sara Wilson, City Clerk