Agenda and Minutes

City Council

Sep 14, 2009

CITY OF UPSALA
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES
September 14, 2009

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council of Upsala, MN met in regular session on Monday, September 14th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Upsala Fire Hall. In Attendance: Mayor Dan Cheney; Council Rollie Johnson, Robert Maciej, Bethany Malisheske, Joan Olson. Staff: Michele Caron, Frank Koopmeiners. Visitors: Henry Fuchs, UBA; Cheryal Hills, Region Five Development Commission; Don Anderson, Engineer; Nadine Drevlow, President Upsala Community Center.

Meeting called to order by the Honorable Mayor Cheney at 7:00 p.m.

Agenda- Motion by Johnson to approve with addition of visitors and regional meetings, second by Malisheske; unanimously carried.

Minutes- Mm by Johnson to approve regular August meeting minutes, second by Maciej; unanimously carried. Mayor Cheney noted there were no minutes available for the budget meeting at this time.

Visitors, Requests, Petitions
• Cheryl Hills Region Five Development Commission gave an overview of their mission and services they provide. They are attending council meetings and are a municipal entity like cities. Supported by levies and grants. Goal is to help municipals find financing through grants and loan programs; although they do not have actual money. Council thanked her for attendance.
• Nadine Drevlow appeared as chairman of the board for the Upsala Community Center. She wanted to announce their annual meeting October 4th. It is a potluck dinner at 5 p.m. with the meeting after. She presented a financial overview of the center. The group is looking for help with new ideas to fundraise and/or to make it more profitable. Clerk Caron suggested a thrift store with very low prices and compared to one in another city that is non-profit and makes lots of money.
• Henry Fuchs for Upsala Ballpark Association they need a physical address and would like to put up a sign identifying the ball fields. Clerk will send information to him. They are sponsoring a wood bat tournament on Saturday September 19th from 10-6. Clerk invited him to e mail her events to put on the community calendar at the city website of www.cityofupsala.com.
• Don Anderson WSN bid tabulation from September 10th for Tower Road has Knife River at the lowest $130,178.45. Motion by Cheney to award bid to Knife River, second by Johnson, unanimously carried.

Ordinances and Resolutions
• 2009-10 Annual Fire Relief Pension Certification
• 2009-11 Preliminary tax levy 2010 same as 2009 and 2008 at $145,000 general and $7,757 fire.
• 2009-12 Appoint County Attorney as prosecutor for state law violations due to change in Minnesota law. Will add item to organizational resolution annually.

Maintenance Report
• Water for August 24,290 gal/day down 4,162 gal/day and Sewer 1.68 hr/day down .24 gal/day.
• Alarm is going off on the new panel installed in water plant-needs adjustment
• Jetting of sewer lines completed, found one plugged line from flushed items
• Checking on culvert cleaning for City of Elmdale
• Storm Sewer project completed by Virgil Helmin’s property
• Snow plow needs a new box or repairs-rusting out. Sand and salt sitting in it causes that. No way to keep it in a pile and load it when needed. Mend to get by for this budget year.
• Johnson asked about tar broken up by the grocery store. Is that a city street or alley? Could have repaired when Tower Road is done.
• Olson asked about trees hanging over Oak Avenue. If it hangs over street or sidewalk it is city maintenance. Johnson and Cheney will look into it.
• Willows were trimmed on Tower Road and in ditch. Only up to fence by tower. Council decided the job was complete

Fire Department Report
• Fire Chief reviewed information for the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Upsala currently owns. This company has had lawsuits for faulty air masks. One firefighter from Upsala did say his failed once, but he thought it was a one-time event. They are 8 years old. Costs to fit all firefighters with a complete new tank and air system could be up to $50,000, but the new company has a great reputation and even supplies the military. Discussion that masks which have had a history of failing are a safety hazard to our firefighters. Motion by Cheney to authorize fire department to order new equipment to not exceed $50,000, second by Johnson, unanimously carried. Clerk will bring options for funds to use next month.
• False alarm at Camp Lebanon should be billed. Upsala fire dep’t responded.

Planning Commission
• Minutes from the September, 2009 meeting reviewed. Next meeting October 7th 6:00 p.m. at the Upsala City Hall.
• Don Marty land use permit for entryway approved
• Rezoning recommendation of Lange Oil property zoned as its current use of commercial from agricultural and Soltis from industrial to agricultural. Public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on regular city council meeting date October 12, 2009. Motion by Olson to approve both recommendations, second by Maciej, unanimously carried.




Upsala Community Development Commission
• Minutes from the September, 2009 meeting reviewed. Next meeting will be October 5, 2009 at the Upsala City Hall at 6:00 p.m.
• Recap of Heritage Festival, great time and good feedback.
• Clerk finishing grant financial report to Initiative Foundation.
• Bills presented to clerk from Heritage Festival.

Recreation Board Report
• Minutes reviewed of September, 2009 meeting. Next meeting October 6th 7:00 p.m. at the Upsala City Hall.
• Remodeling of recreation building reviewed. They are looking for bids to be in from contractors by the November meeting. One survey back from a renter that requested items in the kitchen available for use. Joan will check into getting supplies before the next rental. Clerk mentioned some places auctioning used items.

Unfinished Business
• Snow shoveling of sidewalks-how can it be enforced? Residents that do shovel stop when snowmobiles drive through snow banks and cause snow to get on shoveled sidewalk. City does not have many sidewalks. Council members will look into hiring out cleaning of the sidewalks to someone with a machine that can do it quickly for business access. Clerk will remind DOT to not plow so fast since it blows snow onto sidewalks. City does not have that equipment.

New Business
• Regional meetings coming soon-usually carpool and attend the same one.
• Johnson had discussion with Carol Anderson from Community Development of Morrison County regarding revolving loan fund Upsala has for businesses. Clerk will call her to get information sent in writing.

Financial Reports, Bills Audited and Paid
• Bills audited and ordered paid in the amount of $28,595.27. Minutes become official upon approval at next meeting. Next Upsala City Council meeting Monday October 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Upsala City Hall. Columbus Day is an optional Federal Holiday for cities to conduct business at their discretion.

Meeting adjourned by Mayor Cheney at 9:45 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,


Michele Caron, Clerk

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