By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday April 24, 2014 with Mayor Swearingen and all Council members present. Also attending the meeting were Phil Kohl, City Attorney, Pete Paulson, Municipal Liquor Store Manager, Josh Otto, Maintenance, Dan Rhoades, Fire Dept., Andy Braaten, Cindy Goebel, Rick Johnson, LeeAnn Hojberg, Clerk/Treas., and Kim Zimprich, Deputy Clerk.
First up was the report from the fire department. Rhoades stated the department is in need of two radios to put in the fire trucks. The radios cost around $7,000 and are already on order. Rhoades said that the department could use six new pagers, as some members have been relying on cell phone alerts and have been missing them. The pagers would run approximately $3,270. The council asked Rhoades if there were any grants available for the radios. He said the DNR has some funds available that the fire department will try to get. The council approved the expenditures. Rhoades informed the council the Minnesota State Fire Convention is June 12-14 and will be held in Owatonna this year.Braaten was present to get a building permit to construct a deck to the front of his house on 3rd Ave. The council instructed Braaten he would need to fill out the certificate of compliance and take that to the county for final approval.
Kohl was at the meeting to give some direction on matters before the council. The first item was the pay equity scale the City is currently working on. The Council had been working on trying to get a wage scale that would include yearly pay raises. Kohl said the Council needs to get all job descriptions and set point values for all jobs, adding that the City has added new jobs and they need to have points assigned. Kohl told the Council that to be under the pay equity umbrella, a person must work 14 hours a week or 67 days a year. The City has some time to get their pay scale in place, as the next reporting time is in 2015.
Kohl relayed some information about the house at 403 5th Ave. The owners are in default of the court order to repair or demolish the property.
Hojberg started her report by informing the Council the dumpster will be coming for the May 3rd clean-up day.
She asked the council about all the different licenses the City has required in the past. The council felt they should continue with the licenses for dogs, cats, and golf carts. The council set May 17th for residents to come to the Clerk’s office and pick-up tags. Residents are asked to bring all records of shots for your animals with you. The hours will be from 9 a.m. to noon on May 17th with a cost of $5 for animal tags and $10 for golf cart permits. If you are unable to attend on this day, please call ahead to make sure someone is at the office in the future.
Hojberg told the Council she had a request to use the Community Building for the area Vacation Bible School June 2-6. Hojberg said there is an event planned for June 6 already. The council moved to have Vacation Bible School June 2-5.
Hojberg requested to attend the League of Minnesota Cities convention for City Clerks. The dates are June 18-20th in St. Cloud. Cost for the convention is $125 plus hotel room. The council felt this would be valuable for Hojberg and moved to approve her attending.
Otto started his report stating he recently passed his Class C water test. Otto added that he has been trying to get someone to sweep the streets, with no luck. Councilmen Goebel and Otto will continue to try and find a party to clean up the streets. Otto asked the council to reconsider the pallet racking that was approved a couple years ago, but never was done. The racking would run $1470 and was approved. Otto next asked the council to consider a pallet jack that would help him move items around in the shop. He told the council he found a used one for $100. The council approved the purchase. The council and Otto discussed Dutton Drive and decided to do 150 more feet of tiling and 15 loads of gravel. Otto told the council he had a bid of $800 for two new dividers for the women’s bathroom in the Community Building. The price included installation; the council approved the purchase. Otto brought up the price for some new tables at the Community Building, which ran $ 79.88 a table. Councilman Reiter will get together with Otto and decide how many to get.
Paulson, in his report, said the new point of sales system is in, and it is his hope to have it running by the end of this week. Paulson handed out his monthly report and told the council that for the first quarter, sales are up $12,000. For Ellendale Days, Paulson said he had the Dan Stursa Band for Thursday evening and was still working on Friday and Saturday night’s lineup.
Johnson wanted to inform the Council there will be a benefit for former Municipal Liquor Store Manager Rick Waknitz. The benefit will be Sunday, May 18th in the Community Building from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The council thanked Johnson for keeping them updated.
Mayor Swearingen reminded council members they needed to have a photo ID made in case of an emergency in town. This can be done at the County Building in Owatonna.
The next meeting of the Ellendale City Council will be May 8 at 7:30 p.m.