HERON LAKE CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 3, 2024
7:00 PM


REGULAR MEETING

Attended by:  Mayor Rasche, Council Member Kuhnau, Council Member Schumacher, Council Member Haberman, Council Member Baumann, Chad Diemer, John Haberman, Chief Fauglid, Joe Liepold, Jerry Wagner, Carol Wagner and Marlys Olson, Clerk/Treasurer

 

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

Mayor Rasche called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

APPROVE AGENDA

  • Any additions

Motion made by Council Member Kuhnau to approve the agenda.  Seconded by Council Member Schumacher.  Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann – aye.  No Nay.  Motion passed.

 

MINUTES

  • Approve meeting minutes of December 6, 2023

Motion made by Council Member Schumacher to approve December 6, 20223 Council Meeting Minutes.  Seconded by Council Member Baumann.  Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann – aye.  No Nay.  Motion passed.

 

OLD BUSINESS

  • Cellphone Tower

No other information.

 

  • Website Information

Have the information to get onto the site.  The previous person is out of the area to walk us through it.

 

  • Earned Sick & Safe Time

Discussion on who all is affected.  Motion made by Mayor Rasche to approve Resolution 2024-01 for the City of Heron Lake Earned Sick and Safe Leave.  Seconded by Council Member Schumacher.  Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann – aye.  No Nay.  Motion passed.

 

  • Summons

Discussion on Criminal and Civil Case.  Civil case will be 2/13/24 in Jackson County Court.

 

  • Jackson County Abatement

Continued discussion on abatement vs TIF.  More questions to be asked of our TIF agent.  Discussion on development of our own abatement guidelines.  Motion made by Mayor Rasche to start the process for tax abatement for the city of Heron Lake.  Seconded by Council Member Kuhnau.  Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman – aye.  Baumann – Nay.  Motion passed.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

  • Fee Schedule

Motion made by Council Member Schumacher to approve the 2024 Fee Schedule with stated changes.  Seconded by Council Member Kuhnau.  Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann – aye.  No Nay.  Motion passed.

 

  • Setting Appointments

Discussion on term limits for the EDA (6 years term limit) and the RFL committees (3 terms at 3 years per term).  With that we have to make a lot of changes and have some openings.  City Clerk will work on filling the vacant spots.  Motion made by Mayor Rasche to setting the appointments as discussed with finding representatives for the open positions.  Seconded by Council Member Schumacher. Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann – aye.  No Nay.  Motion passed.  City Clerk will present the complete list at next council meeting.

 

  • Meeting Dates

Meeting dates to continue on the first Wednesday of the month, except for the month of April fir the LBA&E.  Motion made by Mayor to approve the dates provided.  Seconded by Council Member Kuhnau.  Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann – aye.  No Nay.  Motion passed.

 

  • Accept Donation

Heron Lake Ambulance received a donation of $84.50.  Motion made by Council Member Schumacher to accept donation.  Seconded by Council Member Baumann.  Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann – aye.  No Nay.  Motion passed.

 

  • Revolving Loan Fund Meeting Notes

For review

 

  • Library Meeting Minutes

For review

 

  • Contract for Birkholz & Associates

Mayor Rasche had signed the new contract for Birkholz & Associates. 

 

  • Zoning Infraction

Letter sent to New Vision on a zoning infraction.

 

  • Accept resignation of Deputy Clerk

Read the letter of resignation for the deputy clerk.  Motion made by Council Member Baumann to accept resignation.  Seconded by Council Member Haberman.  Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann – aye.  No Nay.  Motion passed.

 

LIQUOR STORE – MONTHLY UPDATE – BRIDGIT PRESTON, MANAGER

Liquor Store Manager not able to attend.  Liquor Commissioner Schumacher stated that they did the inventory.  He stated that they were having trouble with the ice machine and decided to move one of the freezers to get more air to the ice maker.  Schwalbach was there to check on an issue with the walk-in cooler.

 

AMBULANCE – MONTHLY REPORT – JOE LIEPOLD, DIRECTOR

Four Calls this month, with 94 for the year.  Cashed in CD and made on 12-month CD and a 6-month CD trying to alternate when CD’s become due. Working on year-end stuff.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT – MONTHLY REPORT – CHAD DIEMER, FIRE CHIEF

Been Quiet.  Boots & flashlights have come in, just waiting for the helmets.  Payroll and end of year stuff to get to.  Blood Borne Pathogens scheduled for February 27.  Doll house burn in March.  Burn Trailer in June with the Okabena Fire Department.

 

PEOPLESERVICE – MONTHLY REPORT – JOE LIEPOLD, OPERATOR

Presented images of the leak in the north industrial well.  Dug to well, pit list leaking. Option to pull well, dig around again, replace pit list.  Piping and put well back together.  Well pull is scheduled for this summer.  Discussion on replace well know instead of doing it again later.  Discussion on adding an extra sump hole.  New wastewater permit has been received to keep us current to 2028.  Will continue to do nitrate testing.

 

PUBLIC WORKS – MONTHLY REPORT – JOHN HABERMAN, PUBLIC WORKS

  • Street Sweeper

Sweeper steer cylinder is leaking.  Barrel is pitted really bad.  Need to get one.  Hopper not any better.  McKeown is busy and not returning calls.  New hopper from Elgin = $10,000.  Get a quote before the special meeting.  Discussion on the completed roof.  The mower from C&B.  Discussion on trade in to replace because not what we ordered and not working correctly.  Will talk with Mark @ C&B to see what he can do to make this right.  Have the Falco Heights furnace health check scheduled.  The furnace that was pulled out of #528 had three cracks in it. 

POLICE DEPARTMENT – MONTHLY REPORT – TONY FAUGLID, POLICE CHIEF

  • Heron Lake Police Report

OSHA Training completed.  State reports done.  Inclement weather shooting taken. 

  • Jackson County Report

OTHER BUSINESS

  • Next Meeting February 7, 2024 @ 7:00 pm
  • Will schedule a special meeting after the interviews that will be done this Thursday.

CLAIMS

Motion made by Council Member Schumacher to pay the claims presented.  Seconded by Mayor Rasche.  Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann – aye.  No Nay.  Motion passed.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Motion made by Mayor Rasche to close the meeting.  Seconded by Council Member Kuhnau.  Vote on the motion:  Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann – aye.  No Nay.  Motion passed.

 

 

                                                                                                Submitted by:  ________________________________

                                                                                                                                                Clerk/Treasurer

 

Approved:  ____________________________

Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Baumann