Hartland City Council
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
The Hartland City Council met on April 5, 2011 with all members present. The evening’s agenda and March meeting minutes were approved.
Neil Schlaak was present to discuss his intentions with the property formally owned by WFS. Mr. Schlaak plans to add a hopper bin, wet bin, dryer and shed to the property.
Lance Skov of Hill, Larson, Walth & Benda P.A. was present to discuss the city’s annual audit report. He found no discrepancies in the audit and the council is doing a great job with the annual budget. He recommended increasing the fire department budget to cover expenses. The department has exceeded expenses the last two years for repairs to trucks.
Fire Chief Brandon Flatness reported the department responded to one mutual aid call and three medical calls. The department would like to put the old fire truck and ambulance up for bid. Council instructed Flatness to work with the clerk to get this advertised and put on the League of Minnesota Cities marketplace website. The new fire truck needs a one inch hose, new tires with aggressive tread, water monitor that can be plumbed through L&D Ag and new striping on the exterior of the truck.
Council discussed plans for improving the city hall. Maintenance Supervisor Flatness is waiting for a proposal from Albert Lea Electric which would include a rebate of 75 percent from the electric company. Clerk reviewed the financing options with the council to pay for the hall improvements. Financing options included a fifteen year term at 3.75 percent interest rate financing $110,000 or a micro loan through Minnesota Rural Water Association with a seven year term at 3.50 percent interest rate financing $85,000. Since this is a capital improvement, the city’s debt capacity is limited to 0.16 percent of the taxable market value of property, this includes principal and interest.
Council member Batt motioned to finance hall improvements with the $85,000 micro loan with a term of seven years and an interest rate of 3.50 percent and with government building reserves to pay for expenses which exceed the $85,000 loan amount. The council voted approval of the motion.
Council member Reed motioned to add $15,000 to the micro loan to retro fit the new fire truck, making the total loan amount $37,000 for the new fire truck, the motion carried.
Maintenance Supervisor Andy Flatness discussed repairing city streets and recommended budgeting more in the following years to do this. He also inquired about the sidewalks which still need to be replaced. Hartland University and L&D Ag still need to replace the sidewalks in front of their property on the west side of Broadway. Council instructed clerk to inform the owners that they should have a date the will be replacing the sidewalk by June 15, 2011. Flatness informed council he will need to install two new curb stops on Morin Street.
The review of the Nuisance Ordinance will be tabled until next meeting.
Hartland Little League will join NRHEG community education program this year as a trial basis. If the parents, players and city are satisfied with the program this year they will continue participating with the program. If they are not satisfied with the program next year the city will not join the program, but continue the program independently.
The council approved the bills paid for the month of March.
The council also approved to pay Staloch Construction $1425 for repairs to the city shop, and Olson Excavating $5392.50 for snow removal, repair to a water shut off valve and repair to the lift station.
The council was in favor of allowing council member Pederson to purchase flowers and material needed to plant same.
Lastly, the council granted L&D Ag a building permit for a new roof.
