HERON LAKE CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019, 7:00 PM
REGULAR MEETING

 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Mayor Jason Freking, with the following council members present; Glenn Kuhnau, Andrew Rasche, Danni Swanson and Carol Wagner.

Others in attendance were Jerry Wagner, Joe Liepold, Police Chief Anthony Fauglid, Fire Chief Chad Diemer, John Haberman, Tamara Shelton and Stacy J. Grube.

 

Approval of Agenda

            Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Rasche, to approve the agenda with the addition of Schaap Sanitation contract and MNDOT response to RCI’s.    Vote on the motion: Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, Swanson and Wagner, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes

            Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Wagner, to approve the minutes of the Council Meeting of January 2, 2019, as presented. Vote on the motion: Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, Swanson and Wagner, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

 

Donation

            Mayor Freking moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve Resolution 2019 – 4, accepting a donation of blankets from Rost Lutheran Church to Heron Lake Ambulance.  Vote on the motion:  Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, Swanson and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Fire Department

Chief Diemer reported the following; 1) Regional Fire Meeting was recently hosted in Heron Lake; 2) Discussed upcoming changes to state fire reporting system; 3) Retired fire fighters were recognized at the Annual Steak Feed; 4) February 26^th at 7:00 pm will be the annual RTK, BBP, Hazmat and confined space training, Council as well as City employees may attend; 5) Replacing turn-out gear is being looked into.   

 

PeopleService

              Joe Liepold reported the following; 1) Reviewed his monthly report; 2) New lift station is currently saving approximately 20%; 3) Well site generator issues were discussed; 4) John Blume from MDH recently visited Heron Lake and recommended that a back-up system should be working in the event RRRW fails, and a screen on the water tower should be replaced; 5) Informed Council that our utility reading equipment will become obsolete and options for future replacement was discussed, no action was taken at this time.  

 

Public Works

              John Haberman reported the following; 1) Work on 17^th Street continues to remain on hold due to weather; 2) Informed Council of crack in large hall that will continue to be monitored; 3) Informed Council of street lights and power lines that need to be moved by REA for the UPRR crossing arms; 4) Reviewed bids for backhoe tires, discussion resulted in,

              Council Member Rasche moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve the bid from Graham Tire for 2 backhoe tires for $590.00.  Vote on the motion:  Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, Swanson and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Police Department

            Chief Fauglid reviewed his monthly report and stated that January yielded 70 calls including traffic related calls and public assists.  Chief Fauglid reported that part time Officer Martinez took a part time position with Jackson County, which may lead to full time in the future.  Chief Fauglid reviewed squad car lease information which included a decision deadline of February 6, 2019.  Lease would be for 5 years on a Dodge Charger.  Lengthy discussion resulted in,

Council Member Rasche moved, seconded by Mayor Freking to approve the lease of the Dodge Charger, but requesting a possible 3 year lease versus 5 year lease.  Vote on the motion:  Freking and Rasche, aye; Kuhnau, Swanson and Wagner, nay.  Motion failed. 

Further discussion resulted in Council directing Chief Fauglid to request purchase price on current squad car and report back to Council.      

 

Schaap Sanitation

            Eric Joens and Jerry Langford from Schaap Sanitation presented a 5 year contract to Council.  No prices were increased from the previous contract from 2014. 

            Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Mayor Freking to approve the 5 year contract with Schaap Sanitation.  Vote on the motion: Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, Swanson and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.

 

MNDOT

            Mayor Freking reported that MNDOT responded to Council’s request of eliminating the RCI at CSAH 24.  MNDOT stated that they have made further modifications at both CSAH 24 and CSAH 9, but will still proceed with the RCI at CSAH 24. 

 

Claims

            Council Member Rasche moved, seconded by Council Member Wagner, to approve payment of claims as presented, totaling $279,890.30. Vote on the motion: Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, Swanson and Wagner, aye; no nays. Motion carried.                               

 

Adjourn         

            Council Member Swanson moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to adjourn at 8:52 PM. Vote on the motion: Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, Swanson and Wagner, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

 

 

Submitted by:  Stacy J. Grube

                         Clerk/Treasurer

 

Approved: 

Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, Swanson, Wagner