City of Osakis Proceedings

CITY OF OSAKIS
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY HALL- 14 NOKOMIS STREET EAST
MAY 13, 2024, 7 P.M.
EDITOR’S COPY

Present: Dan Wessel, Laura Backes, Stephanie Finnegan, Al Larson
Motion by Backes, seconded by Larson, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Motion by Larson, seconded by Finnegan, to approve the general consent items, including the April city bills in the amount of $369,212 and meeting minutes from April 3, 2024, April 8, 2024, April 15, 2024 and April 22, 2024. Motion carried.
PROJECT #79: CLERK/AUDIT
Audit information will be available at the June meeting.
PROJECT #239/254: GRANT/OFFICE PROGRAM- SOURCEWELL IMPACT GRANT
The focus of this grant is to be used on the basic city needs for technology and building improvements.
Resolution 2024-14 was presented by Larson, seconded by Finnegan, to approve to submit the Sourcewell Impact Grant for technology and building improvements as presented. When put to a vote, the resolution passed unanimously.
PROJECT #60: ORDINANCE/ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION
Gulbranson will do a ride along with Jake Huebsch. Huebsch will send letters to those that need to address their property issues and include exactly what they need to take care of.
PROJECT #197: WATER PLANT/ WATER TOWER
Motion by Backes, seconded by Finnegan, to skip the summer watering discount for 2024. Motion carried.
Water tower rehab is underway which will reduce the available water. Residents were sent a CODE RED message for conserving water for at least six weeks.
Motion by Backes, seconded by Finnegan, to approve Pay Application No. 5 for Eagle Construction in the amount of $132,866.05. Motion carried.
Motion by Backes, seconded by Finnegan, to approve to pay Nero Engineering for the April bill in the amount of $7,937.25. Motion carried.
PROJECT #7: COMMUNITY CENTER
Sentence to Serve of Douglas County will be painting the interior walls of the Community Center. City will purchase the paint and supplies for the project.
Al Neumann requested funds from the Olson Foundation to help purchase some of the equipment including the stove, dishwasher and supplies for the backroom.
Motion by Backes, seconded by Finnegan, to approve the bill from True Service for the plumbing and faucets totaling $4,590. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
Motion by Backes, seconded by Finnegan, to approve the bill from Hillyard for the new scrubber in the amount of $2,228.01. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
PROJECT #444/60: WASTEWATER PROJECT/ I&I/ ORDINANCE
Eric Meester (Nero Engineering) continues to work through the compliance schedule with the MPCA. An I & I reduction plan will need to be created for the MPCA.
Council will discuss adopting an ordinance to address the sump pump and I & I (Inflow and Infiltration) matter at the workshop meeting.
OPEN FLOOR
Lee Lueth had concerns about Paul Hartmann’s Conditional Use Permit request. Karen Koopman also commented that there will be too much traffic and the road gets muddy and is not maintained. Council informed them to attend the Planning & Zoning public hearing.
Joe Ecklund- property on Hwy 27. Concerns about the city tax increase. Council commented costs are to keep up with city streets, water and sewer.
PROJECT #441: PARK COMMITTEE
The MN Outdoor Recreation Grant was submitted on April 1, 2024. The West Central Community Action Grant was submitted on April 30, 2024.
The Park Board approved moving forward with remodeling the bathroom at Park Osagi. $10,000 grant approved from Sourcewell for the upgrades.
Motion by Backes, seconded by Finnegan, to approve the Park Committee minutes from April 30, 2024. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
PROJECT #312: PARK BEAUTIFICATION TEAM
Motion by Backes, seconded by Finnegan, to approve Pro Power Wash to pressure wash 18 hydrants. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
Motion by Backes, seconded by Finnegan, to approve additional mulch around the rock in the Nokomis Street West Park in the amount of $200. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
PROJECT #468: SPECIAL EVENT LICENSE
Motion by Larson, seconded by Finnegan, to approve a Special Event license for Osakis Festival Parade on June 23, 2024. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
PROJECT #481 WATER/ SEWER- PRIVATE UTILITY BILL
Michael Bowman requested a reduction in the total of a utility bill. Normal bill for the property is $135 to $150. The April bill was for $212.31 so he contacted his renter to fix the issue. May bill was for $429.44.
Historically, the city has not given any refunds because the water goes through their meter and is treated. Then the water goes to the ponds and is treated again. Adjustments on water bills are only done if there is an error.
Motion by Backes, seconded by Larson, to approve a one-time refund of $100 for Mike Bowman for this issue. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
PROJECT #343: FIREWORKS
Craig Dropik is requesting approval to purchase fireworks in the amount of $8,000.
The city will process the lease paperwork with the Osakis Country Club in June.
PROJECT #160: OSAKIS PUBLIC SCHOOL
Justin Dahlheimer provided a draft copy of the SRO contract.
Council considered the following:
Finalize the SRO contract with the school.
Consider Officer Gizinski for the SRO position. The council will need to approve Officer Gizinski to take over the role for the next two years per the contract.
Consider if a fourth officer should be hired to fill Gizinski’s position. Cost for the remainder of 2024 for the additional officer starting July 1st would be $16,000. Council will need to decide how to pay for this extra cost out of the 2024 budget. Council will need to discuss the 2025 budget for an additional officer. Projected costs could be an additional $15,000 to $20,000.
Dahlheimer and the school board like the contract but added a six month evaluation with the police department.
Motion by Larson, seconded by Finnegan, to add language to evaluate the officer after six months. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
Motion by Finnegan, seconded by Larson, to approve to advertise for a fourth full time officer. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
PROJECT #154: EMPLOYEE HIRING
Position for a maintenance worker has been posed online and in the paper. Deadline is May 17th.
PROJECT #213: LIFEGUARD/ CITY BEACH
Two lifeguards are returning for the season. City will advertise for two more lifeguards.
PROJECT #321: VISITOR’S CENTER
Clerk Jacobson would like to increase the wage by $1. Last year the wage range was from $11.50 to $13.
Staff budget is $4,500 including a donation of $500. Clerk Jacobson will work with volunteers to see if they can fill in the weeks both staff members will need off.
Motion by Larson, seconded by Finnegan, to approve a wage increase of $1. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
PROJECT #505: LAVENS LAKEVIEW DRIVE
Council will discuss this at the workshop meeting.
PROJECT #325: ORDINANCE BOOK UPDATES
Council received ordinance book updates for 2023.
PROJECT #124: I-94 SIGN
Pat and Patty Marthaler are requesting an increase for the lease in the amount of $100 annually.
Motion by Wessel, seconded by Backes, to approve to increase the annual lease for Pat and Patty Marthaler to $1,300. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
PROJECT #460: DOWNTOWN PROJECT
Motion by Backes, seconded by Larson, to approve to send a bill to Bolton & Menk asking for funds to pay for the repair. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
PROJECT #496: PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Concerns were brought up about the bullet point list being vague. Only three to four things to get issues taken care of.
PROJECT #190: SPECIAL MEETING/ WORKSHOP
Council will have a workshop to discuss hiring, water plant, and I & I updates on June 5th.
PROJECT #42: CLEAN UP DAY
City wide cleanup day with West Central Sanitation was May 11th. Amber Kral’s cleanup event with the school is on May 14th.
PROJECT #249: PLANNING & ZONING
Council reviewed the draft ordinance for Solar Energy Systems in city limits. This ordinance consists of roof mounted, solar collector, wall mounted and ground mounted systems.
Motion by Larson, seconded by Finnegan, to table again. Motion carries. Absent: Thornbloom.
Jake Huebsch (Sourcewell) will make recommendations for the Planning & Zoning fees for 2025.
No adjustments were made to the current CUP, Preliminary and Final Plats for Paul Hartmann’s project.
Motion by Finnegan, seconded by Backes, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Absent: Thornbloom.
/s/Daniel J. Wessel
Mayor-Daniel J. Wessel
/s/Angela A. Jacobson
City Clerk-Angela A. Jacobson
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