MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

JUNE 13, 2005

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, June 13, 2005, at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall with acting Mayor Pro-tem John Lee presiding.  Council members present at roll call were Larry Esk, Bob Hanson, John Lee, and Terry Rasmusson.  Absent was Mayor Jeri Neely and council member Roger Fritz.  Also present were 9 visitors and members of the community.

 

Motion by Hanson, second by Esk to appoint council member John Lee as acting Mayor Pro-tem for the meeting.  All in favor.

 

Motion by Lee, second by Hanson to approve the consent agenda containing the following items:  agenda, minutes from the May 23, 2005, meeting as written, treasurer’s report, clerk’s reports, claims as submitted, and tax abatement for Micah Anderson.  All in favor.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

Department Head Reports were as follows: 

 

Street Department - Street Superintendent Harold Hovick reported the chicken has been apprehended, Scharnweber should be in town later this week to finish installing the storm sewer, hasn’t heard anything from Jack on the purchase of the two lots on Bryan Avenue, and Cooper & Sons are planning to be in town to sweep the streets with curb & gutter.  The company that did the street sweeping in the past has gone out of business.  Cooper & Sons agreed to do the spring street sweeping at a cost not to exceed $850.00.

 

Water/Wastewater Department - Water/Wastewater Superintendent Dean Uitermark reported the installation of the water and sewer at Industrial Park is complete,  materials for the N. Cottonwood - Ash Street water main loop have been delivered, the coil in the heater at the swimming pool was plugged and was repaired.

 

City Clerk - City Clerk Deneen Frost reported she is back to working full time and there will be a Board of Adjustments meeting on Tuesday.

 

Wayne Peterson was present to ask the council to consider asphalting the parking on Maple Street from the alley between Cottonwood & Main and Main Street.  He has tried to keep gravel in it, but the rain washes it out.  Council member Hanson stated that he had talked to Phil Leeman and Phil said that the street is about six inches higher now than it was when he first bought the Roland Service Center.  Street Superintendent Harold Hovick stated he put together some preliminary figures on the cost of asphalting a section 16’ wide by 160’ long by 5” thick at approximately $5,000.00.  Council members asked Harold to contact Manatt’s and find out what the appropriate depth of the asphalt should be and how much it would cost to asphalt that section.  There was also discussion  on who’s responsible for the 20’ section of sidewalk in the alley.  Does it belong to the abutting property owners or does it belong to the City?  City Attorney Tom Wynia will research who is responsible for that portion of the sidewalk.

 

Mike Oliver and Becky Barclay were present representing the Pool Board.  The Pool Board would like to have the City write them a one time check for the amount that was budgeted for concessions.  They will place it in a Pool Account and pay for the concessions and deposit the concession funds in it.  At the end of the season, any profit that was made will be used by the Pool Board to make improvements at the pool.  City Attorney Tom Wynia stated that he feels that since the pool is owned and funded by the City, the funds should stay with the City.  This way the City can show how the funds are being spent.  Becky stated she would like the council to try it for a season and see how it works.  Motion by Rasmusson, second by Hanson to turn the budgeted amount of concession funds over to the Pool Board with the funds to be placed in a separate checking account so the funds can be monitored.  AYE:  Esk, Hanson, Rasmusson;  NAY:  Lee.  Motion carried.

 

Motion by Hanson, second by Esk to approve Resolution No. 05-05 entitled, TO FIX A DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON A LOAN AGREEMENT IN A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $400,000.00.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Esk, Hanson, Lee;  NAY:  Rasmusson.  Motion carried.

 

Council reviewed the proposal received from Marvin & Jill Wright for the purchase of the Hardware Store building.  Motion by Esk, second by Hanson to approve the proposal presented by Marvin & Jill Wright.  AYE:  Esk, Hanson, Lee;  NAY:  Rasmusson.  Motion carried.

 

There was discussion on the salary resolution.  A proposed 3% increase was presented.  Council member Rasmusson stated that with all the cutbacks businesses are having to make, he’d like to see it reduced to 2%.  He would also like to see what the employees total benefit package is along with their wages. City Clerk Frost will have that information for the council at the next meeting.  Council will revisit the salary resolution at that time.

 

Council/Mayor comments consisted of the following:  Council member Esk stated he talked with Jack Frandsen, and the party that was interested in purchasing the lots on Bryan Avenue are no longer interested in purchasing them.  Council member Rasmusson commented on a couple of yards that need to be mowed.  Comments were also made about the lack of effort some of the property owners that received letters to clean up their properties have made, but there are a couple that made great strides and their properties look great.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

With no further business at this time, Rasmusson moved adjournment of the meeting at 7:49 p.m., second by Hanson. All in favor.  The next regular Council meeting will be Monday, June 27, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.