HERON LAKE CITY COUNCIL

November 13, 2024

7:00 PM

REGULAR MEETING

Attended by:  Council Member Kuhnau, Mayor Rasche, Council Member Haberman, Council Member Schumacher, Council Member Baumann, Joe Liepold, Operator, Chad Diemer, Fire Chief, Chief Fauglid.

 

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

Meeting called to order by Mayor Rasche

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

APPROVE AGENDA

  • Any additions 

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

  • Approve meeting minutes October 2, 2024

Motion made by Council Member Schumacher to approve the minutes.  Seconded by Council Member Haberman. Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed

 

OLD BUSINESS

  • FEMA – Heron Lake Recovery Scope Meeting

Update on the FEMA Grant was given by City Clerk Olson.  All is done on our end.  FEMA must go through and approve one project before all complete.

  • Squad Car Update

Update on the squad car.  Engine sounds good – did have a high pitch whine so took it back to the shop.  Needs a new alternator.  The dash does not work.  The LED screen works but not the rest. 

  • gWorks

Moving forward with gWorks.  We have some training classes that we are taking online right now.  Looking at December 9th to get everything put in for us.

  • Rental Contract Change

Not able to get this done.

 

NEW BUSINESS

  • Resolution 2024-20 Canvas Elections

Motion made by Council Member Haberman to approve the election results as presented from the Jackson County Auditor’s Office.  Seconded by Council Member Baumann.   Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed

  • Zoning Board – 301 11TH ST Resolution 2024-21

Discussion on why this was sent to the zoning board.  Motion made by Council Member Baumann to accept the zoning permit for 301 11th St.  Seconded by Council Member Kuhnau. Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed

 

  • Zoning Board – 511 10TH ST Resolution 2024-22

Discussion on why this was brought to the zoning board.  Zoning board approved the zoning permit with stipulation.  Motion made by Council Member Baumann to approve the zoning permit with the stipulation as requested by the zoning board.  Seconded by Council Member Kuhnau.  Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed

 

  • Approval of New Election Judges Resolution 2024-23

New Election Judges went through classes to become judges for the Presidential Election 2024. 

Motion made by Mayor Rasche to approve Resolution 2024-23.  Seconded by Council Member Schumacher.  Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed

 

  • Resolution 2024-24 Adopting Assessment for Unpaid Bills

Discussion on the sidewalks – Garoutte is done – Cotter is not finished.  Reviewed the list to assess.  Motion made by Council Member Schumacher to approve the assessments for unpaid bills.  Seconded by Council Member Kuhnau.  Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed

 

  • Library Boilers

 Discussion with Public Works on the Boiler in the library building that is from 1989.  Boiler works fine.  Registers are original.  Just wanted to put it on the table to think about Boiler vs HVAC for the future and with next year’s budget.

 

  • AA use of Senior Room

Discussion was letting the local AA use the Senior Room for their weekly meetings.  Discussion of cost and the price to use and the council came up with $60 per meeting.  Clerk will inform AA.

 

  • Forfeited Land Sale November 21

Mayor Rasche discussed the first round of the forfeited land sale for the property in Heron Lake.  No one put in a bid for the forfeited property, so the next auction will be November 21 at the Jackson County Auditor’s Office. The price will go down to $3400.  Mayor Rasche asked if anyone else would like to go. Discussion on what to bid up to.   Motion made by Council Member Schumacher that if bidding is necessary to not go above $8000.  Seconded by Council Member Haberman.  Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed

 

  • Zoning Board recommendations for shipping containers & rear yard allowance

From the last Zoning Board meeting, it was recommended that we need to add to the Zoning Ordinance a section on shipping containers.  Zoning Board stated that they would only accept shipping containers if they were temporary.  Those that request a permit for a shipping container will go directly to the Zoning Board for approval.  The Zoning Administrator was wanting to change the rear allowance to be changed to 10 feet as the same as the side yard regulations.  Currently, it is at 20%.  Zoning Boards agreed to the change.

 

Discussion on the subjects presented to the council.  The Council agreed to the request for storage containers but, would continue with the 20% of the rear yard as stated in the Zoning Ordinance.  Clerk will make the changes for the ordinance and start process for community approval.

 

  • Community Center Toilets

Discussion on the toilets in the lady’s bathroom.  With all the events that were at the community center using the big hall, the floor has had to mopped up due to toilets flowing over.  Public Works, Kaufmann Heating & Cooling both worked on the toilets with it failing.  Public Works brought in a quote from Jacob Burdick to replace the four stools with stools that have a bigger neck.  Stools will be $400 a piece with the total quote for $1900.  Motion made by Council Member Baumann to go with the quote from Jacob Burdick for $1900.00.  Seconded by Council Member Schumacher.  Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed

 

  • Insurance MNPeip vs BCBS

City Clerk presented the quotes for MNPeip and Blue Cross Blue Sheild.  Requested to stay on MNPiep with Dental & Vision through Delta.

 

 

 

  • HL-O Schools Request

The HL-O Schools are asking for the City of Heron Lake to pay for half of the Red Ball Diamond Sand that was put on the baseball field this summer stating that the ball diamond at the school is used a lot by our Summer Rec.  The discussion was on who all uses the fields and the Summer Rec not using the Laker Field where some of the Red Diamond Sand was put.  Motion made by Council Member Schumacher to approve an agreement of one-fourth of the rock and trucking to be paid to the HL-O Schools.  Seconded by Council Member Kuhnau. Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed

 

 

LIQUOR STORE – MONTHLY UPDATE – BRIDGIT PRESTON, MANAGER

Manager not present.  The eight stools have arrived.  Inventory has been going good except for a couple things that were possibly changed by the system.  Gift Cards were ordered for the holiday season.  Customer Appreciation has been scheduled for December 6.

 

AMBULANCE – MONTHLY REPORT – JOE LIEPOLD, DIRECTOR

Director reported that there were 12 calls with ¾ medical the rest trauma.  The ambulance attended the homecoming parade and Trunk or Treat.  We are borrowing our old cot to the Windom Hospital to use through the construction phase.  The ambulance is starting to pull to the right.  Will have to take in.  Will have to coordinate with Lakefield Ambulance on when they are available to cover.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT – MONTHLY REPORT – CHAD DIEMER, FIRE CHIEF

Fire Chief stated that it has been quiet for the department.  There were some pager repeater issues coming from the Lakefield Repeater.  Fire Prevention week went well with the kids.  Were in the Homecoming Parade in Okabena and escorted the Cross Country Team to the football field for the game.  OSHA hearing was yesterday but have not heard anything on this.

 

PEOPLESERVICE – MONTHLY REPORT – JOE LIEPOLD, OPERATOR

Operator found a leak on 16th St on city ground.  Dug it up around and did not find any leaking at that time.  Discussion on replacing the curb stop.  Will do Monday of next week with the help from Mayor Rasche.  Generator for the HLBE Well was checked out.  They had to replace the pump and top off the coolant.  Also replaced the AC unit.  The AC unit keeps the controls in a constant temperature with low humidity.  Tuesday the DOH was her to check the infrastructure.  She took samples with.  Fire Hall hydrant – had to replace the lower plunger and break-away coupler.  Discussed the use of that hydrant for next year bulk water requests – either do not do at all or figure out how to keep on – seal the hydrant & keep on?  Quality Flow was here and checked the main lift station.  All good there.  The ponds are good until Spring.

 

PUBLIC WORKS – MONTHLY REPORT – JOHN HABERMAN, PUBLIC WORKS

Public Works presented four quotes for a tire on the grader.  Motion made by Council Member Haberman and seconded by Council Member Baumann to purchase the Titan for $1400 from Haberman Repair.  Seconded by Council Member Kuhnau. Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed.

Discussion on seal coating for next year – public works is to check the rate for sealcoating for next year.  He is to only do the new streets in 2025.  Discussion on the library roof.  Had McDowell’s here and they estimated that roof at being from the late 80’s early 90’s.  Is to get quotes for steel roof – flat or pitched.  Discussed the stop sign on corners of 4th St and Smith Ave.  Decided to keep the way it is until when we must start moving snow.  At that time, we will put the one on the east side of Smith Ave on the corner of that resident’s property.  Will remove the stop sign from the west side of Smith Ave.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT – MONTHLY REPORT – TONY FAUGLID, POLICE CHIEF

  • Heron Lake Police Report

 Chief Fauglid discussed that trunk or treat went well.  No issues on Halloween.  Waiting on the squad car after the second alternator blew.  Did talk to the Jackson County Sheriff about funeral processions.  Sheriff is to notify Highway Patrol to maintain the exits that are out of the city limits.

  • Jackson County Report

Report Reviewed.

 

CLAIMS

  • Review Claims

Discussion on a Schaap’s invoice.  Will have them remove the recycling at the barn.  Motion made by Council Member Schumacher to pay the claims.  Seconded by Council Member Haberman.  Vote on the motion Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Haberman, Bauman – aye.  No Nays.  Motion passed

 

 

BUDGET

  • Certified 2025 LGA = $258,969

  • Preliminary Levy Certification = $293,721.00 at 10%

  • Budget Work Session December 3, 2024 @7:00 pm

 

OTHER BUSINESS

  • TNT & Monthly Council Meeting December 4, 2024 @ 7:00 pm