DANUBE CITY COUNCIL

Regular Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 7:00 PM

Danube City Council Chambers

A regular meeting of the Danube City Council was conducted on September 28, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Gene Allex presiding. 

The following Councilmembers were present:  Ryan Bentley, Dave Maurice, and Phil Standfuss.

Councilmembers absent:  Al Strunc

Others Present:  Public Works Director Dan Kaufenberg, City Clerk-Treasurer Sara Wilson, and media.

Swear into Office New Councilmember

New Councilmember Phil Standfuss was sworn into office.

Approval of Agenda

Councilmember Maurice moved and Councilmember Bentley seconded a motion to approve the Agenda.  The motion carried unanimously.   

Approval of Minutes

Councilmember Bentley moved and Councilmember Maurice seconded a motion to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of September 14, 2011.  The motion carried unanimously. 

Public Works Director Dan Kaufenberg

Public Works Director Dan Kaufenberg was present to give his monthly employee report.  He addressed the following:

·         The water shut off by the school has been replaced by Monson.  They will be back to fix the road where it was dug up.

·         Hurley’s Tree Service will be in town to clean up trees in the park that were damaged by the July 1^st storm.  Kaufenberg would like them to take down hangers in some trees along the boulevards as well. 

·         Thein Well has been contacted for prices to pull the wells for visual inspections.  It will cost $2,500-3,000 to inspect both.  They haven’t been inspected for 10 years and should be looked at every 5 years.

·         Kaufenberg checked the sludge layers in the primary pond.  He determined there is about a foot of sludge on the bottom of the pond.  There is an enzyme available for $900 for 25 pounds plus another 25 pounds free.  It multiplies and eats away at the sludge.  It also helps control algae and weeds and meet MPCA regulations.  Kaufenberg will talk to other cities that use it to get an idea on how well it works.  Typically it is used twice per year to maintain ponds. 

·         Kaufenberg asked permission to have the windshield replaced in the city pickup.  It’s very pitted and when driving into the sunlight, he can’t see.  It poses a hazard.  A new windshield will cost $250-300. 

·         Mayor Allex asked Kaufenberg to suck out and make sure all curb water shut offs work before winter comes.

·         Mayor Allex spoke with Jim Aalderks about running the snow plow this winter.  He agreed to do it for the same pay rate as last year, which was $15/hour. 

·         Mayor Allex also spoke to Lonny Davis about being available to check the boilers twice a day in the event that Kaufenberg is gone.  Davis said he’d do it for $20/day. 

·         Mayor Allex reported that he talked to Chief Les Schneider and told him that Kaufenberg needs to be called if there are maintenance issues at Tri-Valley.  The council decided that a letter should be sent to Tri-Valley outlining the procedures for reporting problems.  They will need to call the City Clerk when they need something fixed or dealt with. 

·         The Clerk will get an update from Americana Insurance on the insurance claim at the school.  There have not been any reports or money received yet.

Councilmember Maurice moved and Councilmember Standfuss seconded a motion to replace the windshield in the city pickup.  The motion carried unanimously.

Councilmember Bentley moved and Councilmember Maurice seconded a motion to pay Lonny Davis $20 per day when he checks on the boilers at the school in the absence of Dan Kaufenberg.  The motion carried unanimously.

2^nd Street East

The assessment hearing notice has been sent out to all property owners along 2^nd Street East.  The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers.

Community Center Update

Community Center Custodian Randy Grunke has installed a vent in the attic space of the Community Center that will hopefully stop the ice build up from forming that has been causing the water leaking in the women’s bathroom. 

Grunke had a repairman look at the City’s buffer that was being used by Tri-Valley.  Repairs would cost around $500.  A used buffer would also cost around $500 and a new one would cost over $900.  Mayor Allex will talk to Grunke about the floors.

Clerk Wilson was asked to talk to Grunke about repairing the bottom of the front door of the City Office Building. 

FEMA

Clerk Wilson met with the two men from FEMA again regarding funds that will be available for the July 1^st storm.  Public Works Director Dan Kaufenberg took them around to show them the storm damage and the brush site.

DNR Park Grant Post Completion Inspection

Tabled

Approval of Bills

Councilmember Maurice moved and Councilmember Bentley seconded a motion to approve the bills as submitted in the amount o $11,235.84.  The motion carried unanimously. 

Rezoning of the Ruplinger Property

Clerk Wilson received a letter from Mark Erickson regarding the rezoning of a property located adjacent to the City of Danube in Section 7, Troy Township.  Mark Ruplinger, President of Danube Lumber, plans to move his lumber yard to this property that he owns.  The Planning Commission is considering rezoning the property from agricultural to commercial at a public hearing on October 17 at 7:00 p.m. and would like input from the City of Danube.

Mayor Allex visited with Ruplinger about the rezoning.  The City is responsible for the water line to the shut off valve within the City Limits. 

Letter from the OSA

Clerk Wilson received a letter from the Office of the State Auditor stating that the 2010 Audit Report must be filed by September 30 in order to receive 2010 LGA.  To this point, the 2010 Audit Report has not been filed, at the request of the prosecuting attorney in the EDA theft case.  Upon receiving this letter and speaking to City Auditor Dennis Oberloh, Oberloh called the OSA and confirmed that the report needed to be filed.  Oberloh will file it before September 30.

Set 2012 Fee Schedule

The following fee schedule was adopted, by motion, for 2012:

Councilmember Maurice moved and Councilmember Bentley seconded a motion to approve the 2012 City of Danube fee schedule as shown above.  The motion carried unanimously. 

Insurance Renewal on School Building

Councilmember Maurice took a look at the insurance renewal for school building.  It is currently through Auto Owners Insurance.  It’s insured for $8.5 million with a $11,422 annual premium and $1,000 deductible.  It includes an equipment breakdown policy for $211. 

Clerk Wilson will find out why it’s not insured through the LMCIT. 

Transfer of City Funds

None Needed

Correspondence

The Grainmillers Union will donate $100 per month for use of a room in the school building for storage and meetings.  They would like 4 keys and will move in after the storm damaged floor is repaired. 

Adjournment

There being no further business before the council, Councilmember Bentley moved and Councilmember Standfuss seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.  With all members voting in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:  Sara Wilson, City Clerk