HERON LAKE CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2022, 7:00 PM
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

 

                The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Mayor Rasche, with the following Council Members present; Mitchell Ferguson, Glenn Kuhnau, Zach Schumacher, and Carol Wagner.  

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

 

Approval of Agenda

                Council Member Wagner moved, seconded by Council Member Schumacher, to approve the agenda with the addition of MnSP pipeline, UB Max, and an update regarding Southwest Broadband.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.

 

Approval of Minutes

Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Mayor Rasche, to approve the minutes of the Council Meeting of November 30, 2021, as presented.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.

Council Member Schumacher moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve the minutes of the Council Meeting of December 1, 2021.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Food Truck

                Tonya Smunk has requested to have her food truck at the Municipal Liquor Store a couple times a week, which she approved with the liquor store manager.

                Council Member Schumacher moved, seconded by Council Member Wagner to approve the food truck at the Municipal Liquor Store.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Organization of the City

 

Meeting Dates

Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Schumacher, to approve Council Meeting dates to be the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM, unless otherwise stated.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.

 

Appointments

                The following changes were made to the 2022 Appointments: Council Member in charge of Burn Site: Mitchell Ferguson.

                Council Member Wagner moved, seconded by Council Member Schumacher, to approve Resolution 2022 – 01, approving the above changes to the 2022 Appointments for the City of Heron Lake.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.

 

Fee Schedule

                The following changes were made to the 2022 Fee Schedule:

Ambulance Calls                                                                             

                Base Rate                                                                                       $650

                No Transport                                                                                  $200

                Non-emergency Transport                                                             $200

                Mileage Rate                                                                                   $15.00 – per loaded mile

Fire Calls

                Base Fire Call Rate                                                                          

                No equipment used, first hour of service                          $500

                Equipment used, first hour of service                                $750

                Secondary Rate                                                                   $250

                Water charge, per load after initial                                      $200

                Class A foam used/gallon (1 gallon minimum)                    $20.00

                Class B foam used/gallon (1 gallon minimum)                     $30.00

                No Swimming Pool Filling

Mileage

                IRS rate                                                                                             $.585

Zoning Fees (non-refundable application fees)                                 

                Up to $5,000                                                                                       $50

                Conditional Use or Variance w/ hearing                                             $150

                Failure to obtain permit prior to building                                           $120

Council Member Wagner moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve Resolution 2022 – 02, approving the 2022 Fee Schedule with the above listed changes.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Revolving Loan Fund

                Information regarding requested modifications to the recent RLF Loan with Olsem Aerial were reviewed.  Requested modifications include changing payment structure from monthly payments to yearly payments and revisions to the description of the engine on the Security Agreement. 

                Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Ferguson, to approve the requested modifications to the RLF loan with Olsem Aerial including changing payments to yearly payments and revisions to the description of the engine on the Security Agreement.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Accept Donations

                Mayor Rasche moved, seconded by Council Member Ferguson, to approve Resolution 2022 – 03, accepting donations from the Eigenberg family and Eric Hartman in memory of Alfred Eigenberg for $425.00 to Heron Lake EMS and from the Kruger Family in memory of Lois Kruger for $500.00 to Heron Lake Fire Department and EMS.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Hanson’s 4th Addition Covenants

                Council reviewed correspondence from City Attorney regarding the current covenants for Hanson’s 4th Addition.  City attorney stated that we can require construction within a specified amount of time from when lots are purchased.  Council directed staff to research wording for covenants and consult with the city attorney regarding additional questions.    

 

Fire Department

Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Schumacher to approve the recommendation of the following officers for 2022: Chad Diemer; Fire Chief, Andrew Rasche; First Assistant Chief, Mitchell Ferguson; Second Assistant Chief, and Leo Schmidt; Secretary.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

Fire Chief Chad Diemer reviewed a safety walk thru that was completed at the FD & EMS buildings and reviewed safety practices that they will be completing.  He also presented bids for pagers; discussion resulted in:

Mayor Rasche moved, seconded by Council Member Wagner, to approve the purchase 6 Swissphone s.Quad Voice ATEX pagers from Racom for $3,685.50.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.  

 

Ambulance

                Ambulance Director Joe Liepold reviewed his report from the recent EMS meeting which included adjustments to ambulance call rates and a review of officer positions.  Recent training included epi pens, practice, and disposal of expired dosages.

 

PeopleService

                Operator Joe Liepold reported that the following: 1) Water leak found in an unoccupied home which the owner wanted the curb stop left on, curb stop is now off; 2) MnSP water level transducer froze thus water flow to MnSP was increased due to low level in tower; 3) 3-day discharge was completed in December; 4) Structures at pond were winterized unused equipment has been stored away until spring.

 

Public Works

                Public Works Director John Haberman reported the following: 1) Storm sewer at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 11th Street is quite slow, Council directed staff to make a list of storm sewer issues; 2) Working at Falcon Heights with water lines, recommended replacing flooring in the bathroom due to stains, Council directed staff to contact Carpet Plus to see if there is a time available prior to new renter moving in February 1st; 3) Bids were reviewed for the bathroom/office project at the city shop, Council directed staff to obtain additional bids for lumber and an adjusted bid to include installing a header. 

 

Police Department

                Police Chief Fauglid reported a quiet December, training has been completed, and has been communicating with new apartment building owners.  Chief Fauglid also reported annual call volume for 2021 to be at 673 calls.   

 

MnSP Pipeline

                Council reviewed correspondence from City Attorney regarding the transfer of the pipeline to MnSP.  His recommendation it so assign any and all rights it has in the pipeline based on the 2003 Agreement and Utility Permit to MnSP. 

                Mayor Rasche moved, seconded by Council Member Schumacher, to assign and an all rights it has in the pipeline based on the 2003 Agreement and Utility Permit to MnSP.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.

 

Other Business – No action taken

                Tree Trimming – Letter of Dispute:  Council reviewed a letter of dispute including photos from Anthony & Gina Katona.  Council declined action.              

Red Rock Rural Water Rates – Current water rates will continue until July 1, 2022, billing, at which time there will be capacity amount assigned to each water service based on the 2019 and 2020 calendar years plus a 15% increase for seasonal fluctuations.  Council directed staff to contact RRRW with questions regarding averages and when they re-access the capacity amounts assigned. 

UB Max – Adjusted offer from UB Max (Utility Billing Software) was presented to Council and was tabled at this time. 

SMBS – Council Member Kuhnau reported that Federated REA recently purchased Back40 Wireless, no issues with SMBS are noted.

 

Claims

                Council Member Schumacher moved, seconded by Council Member Wagner, to approve payment of claims as presented, totaling $356,437.910.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.                                            

 

Adjourn              

                Council Member Schumacher moved, seconded by Council Member Ferguson, to adjourn at 9:03 PM. Vote on the motion: Rasche, Ferguson, Kuhnau, Schumacher, and Wagner, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

 

Submitted by:  Stacy J. Anderson, Clerk/Treasurer
Approved: February 2, 2022     

Rasche, Ferguson, Schumacher, Wagner