HL City Council Minutes – 08/02/17

HERON LAKE CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017, 7:00 PM

PUBLIC HEARING

Mayor Freking opened the hearing, with the following council members present; Carol Wagner, Roger FitzHenry, Glenn Kuhnau and Andrew Rasche. Others in attendance were; Jim Eigenberg,  Jerry Christopherson, Jerry Wagner, Dean Schumacher, Wayne Rasche, Joe Liepold and employees Duane Hattendorf, Tamara Shelton and Brenda Martin-Granstra.

The hearing was called to propose that the council designate a local development organization, Falcon Development Corporation, to receive payments of future City of Heron Lake Revolving Loan Fund loans, for the purpose of defederalizing the grant monies. Jeremy Janssen was to come to the hearing to explain the process, but did not attend.

The Revolving Loan Fund Committee had met on July 25 and recommended that the council approve amendments to the city’s RLF guidelines to include widening the service area to a 30 mile radius and include all of Jackson County, increase maximum loan amount to $100,000 and reduce the full time job equivalent requirement from 1 FTE for each $10,000 loaned to 1 FTE for every $$20,000. The Heron Lake RLF committee also recommended that the city council designate Falcon Heights Development Corporation as the LDO eligible to receive revolving loan funds.

Several council members and others in attendance voiced concerns about who can stipulate RLF and LDO guidelines, LDO oversight and opening up the fund to applicants possibly from Worthington or Windom. A suggestion was made that the city might consider giving the RLF funds to Jackson County to administer.

Staff is to do research and the RLF/LDO groups will need to get more information to the council. Mayor Freking closed the hearing.

HERON LAKE CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017, 7:30 PM

REGULAR MEETING

 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Freking, with the following council members present; Carol Wagner, Roger FitzHenry, Glenn Kuhnau and Andrew Rasche.

The same people in attendance at the hearing remained for the meeting, with the exception of Dean Schumacher.

Approval of Agenda

            Council Member Rasche moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve the agenda as presented. Vote on the motion: Freking, Wagner, Kuhnau, Rasche and FitzHenry, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes

            Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member FitzHenry, to approve the minutes of the council meeting of July 5, 2017, as presented. Vote on the motion: Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, FitzHenry and Wagner, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

Revolving Loan Fund and Falcon Development Corporation

These items were tabled for further research and review at a later date.

North Heron Lake Game Producers

Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Wagner, to approve the lawful gambling application for NHLGP to conduct a raffle at their fundraiser to be held at the Community Center on September 23, 2017. Vote on the motion: Freking, Wagner, FitzHenry, Rasche and Kuhnau, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

People Service

            Operator Brady Powers resigned his position with PeopleService to accept a job with the City of Fairmont. Joe Liepold will be the PeopleService operator for Heron Lake.

Joe reported that Ron’s Electric has been working on the panel at the main lift station and that it should be ready to go on-line Friday. He also informed the council that Red Rock had been in town looking for a location to install a transducer for monitoring water pressure and that the city’s water treatment plant might be a possibility.

Public Facilities Authority Requirement, Water Rates Resolution

Council Member FitzHenry moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to adopt Resolution 2017-9, Adjusting Water Service Rates for the City of Heron Lake to include a $2 base rate increase for the year 2018. Vote on the motion: Freking, FitzHenry, Kuhnau, Rasche and Wagner, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

Wastewater Project

Mayor Freking moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve payment of GM Contracting’s 7th pay request for $24,067.24. Vote on the motion: Freking, Wagner, Kuhnau, Rasche and FitzHenry, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

Council Member FitzHenry moved, seconded by Mayor Freking, approve the proposal by Bolton & Menk for a boat landing of Cable Crete to cost approximately $4,000.  Vote on the motion: Freking, Wagner, Kuhnau, Rasche and FitzHenry, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

Public Works

            Public Works Director Duane Hattendorf spoke to the council about the need to find a motor for the pontoon before September 15, when Joe might need to treat the ponds before discharging. Duane also informed the council of an offer of $200 for the old boat, trailer & motor and an offer for the old lift station generator for $250. Both offers were declined.

            There was discussion about the storm sewer lift station pump on 10th Street and 6th Avenue that isn’t operating. Duane provided the council with estimates for repair or replacement with two different options ranging in price from $3,575 for repair to $6,000 to $9,000, depending on make. Council directed Duane to get more specifications and warranty information.

Police Department

 Police Chief Anthony Fauglid was on vacation, but had submitted his monthly report. There were no questions at the time of the meeting.

Library

            Council Member Wagner reported that the library board had said that cleaning was going better at the library and that one of the board members who recently resigned did not elaborate beyond “personal reasons” for leaving.

Summer Recreation Donation

Mayor Freking moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to accept the donation of $750 from the Young Mens Club to the Heron Lake Summer Recreation Program. Vote on the motion: Freking, Wagner, Kuhnau, Rasche and FitzHenry, aye; no nays. Motion carried. 

Zoning Permit

Council Member FitzHenry moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve the change to the placement of the storage shed on the old feed mill property on 2nd Avenue. Vote on the motion: Freking, FitzHenry, Rasche, Wagner and Kuhnau, aye; no nays. Motion carried. 

Liquor Store

Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Wagner, to approve a .50 increase to liquor store manager Willie Kaufman’s  hourly salary with his six month review. Vote on the motion: Freking, FitzHenry, Rasche, Wagner and Kuhnau, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

Claims

            Council Member FitzHenry moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve payment of claims as presented, totaling $346,405.52. Vote on the motion: Freking, FitzHenry, Wagner, Rasche and Kuhnau, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

Adjourn        

            Mayor Freking moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to adjourn. Vote on the motion: Freking, FitzHenry, Rasche, Wagner and Kuhnau, aye; no nays. Motion carried.       

Submitted by: __________________________

Approved: 

FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, WagnerHL