MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR
FRANKLIN
Monday,
December 8, 2008
A Regular Meeting of the Franklin City Council
was held on Monday, December 8, 2008, at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall. Council present were: Duck, Hoffman, McCorquodale, Munsell and
Robinson. Staff Department Heads present
were: Degner, Kokesch, Pederson,
Hoffmann-Distad, and Sullivan. Guests
present were: Ronald Degner, Jason
Schacher, Bill Wiese, Scott Nissen, Brian Pederson, and Joel Harmoning.
At
Mayor
Duck called for approval of the minutes of the November 10, 2008 Regular Meeting.
McCorquodale motioned to approve the minutes as presented, second by
Munsell, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.
No citizens requested to
be addressed.
B. Pederson presented
that past year’s activities of the Franklin Development Corporation. The Development Corporation received and
presented to the city an ELF (Economic Leveraging Fund) Grant in the amount of
$2,500 from Renville County for the TIF and annexation expenses incurred. The Development Corp. also requested any
funding the city could provide them for future economic development
activity. Munsell motioned to donate $2,500 to the Franklin Development
Corporation, second by Robinson, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.
McCorquodale, Munsell
and Pederson visited with the city attorney regarding the community center
purchase agreement and removed the deed restrictions from it. The sale ad was reviewed and felt sufficient. The council discussed the option of using a
realtor and the contractual obligations involved. Munsell
motioned to list the building with Eugene Longstrom,
Realtor at a 5% fee for 6 months; second by McCorquodale, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.
A Firefighter job
description was presented for review, noting individuals must meet physical
requirements of the department.
Hoffmann-Distad stated that she should be able to provide DOT
physicals. All current department
members will receive a DOT physical unless they have proof of a current
one. Fire training was discussed. Several are taking the Firefighter I training
course via the FEMA grant; another grant has been applied for to obtain
equipment and materials needed to provide in-house Firefighter I training for
all members. Munsell moved to rescind the motion mandating Firefighter I
requirements, second by Robinson, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No. Munsell
motioned to accept the Fire Department Position Description as presented,
second by McCorquodale, RC5 Yes, 0 No.
The financial status of the city was reviewed and
current bills were presented for payment in the amount of $34,799.10; November
receipts totaled $67,598.23. Munsell motioned for approval of the bills
and financial report as presented, second by McCorquodale, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.
Department Heads were addressed. Kokesch reported that J. Matlock has a snowblower for sale for $500 if the city is interested;
discussed recent county request to be notified when snow removal is needed,
Robinson and Kokesch will meet with Kevin Sing and note that the city has been
satisfied and would like to keep removal the same as it has been in the past;
the ballpark has been vandalized and it was noted that the cameras at the
tennis court park have deterred vandalism; the League notified cities that
there may be an initiative for infrastructure funding for projects that can be
ready to bid in 120 days-Kokesch contact Andy Kehren regarding this; Kokesch
enlightened the council on the Trotter sewer backup issue as she requested to
be addressed in January; Hoffman questioned who could provide Christmas
lighting on the large evergreens at the city entrance, the city does not have
the bucket needed to do this, Chris Wood will be contacted for his cost to do
this. Pederson reported that the FEMA
grant paid for the Firefighter I training and the remaining grant dollars will
pay for future training; if the city would like representation with MVRRA the
council must appoint a representative. Hoffman moved to appoint Ronald Degner to
represent the city with the MVRRA, second by McCorquodale, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No. Pederson
attempted to apply for a BP credit card, but Chase is not offering business
credit and was denied, an application with Wright Express is in progress. Sullivan priced air compressors and the cost
is approximately $850. Munsell motioned to approve purchasing an
air compressor, second by McCorquodale, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.
A zoning permit was
issued to Denise Johnson to install a 10’ x 16’ shed at 150 Seventh St. E.
McCorquodale motioned to adopt the 2009 Budget and Budget Summary as
presented, second by Munsell, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.
Munsell
motioned to approve Resolution 2008-20, 2009 Property Tax Levy in the amount of
$138,084, second by Robinson, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.
McCorquodale moved that the city does not waive the monetary tort
liability limits of insurance provided by LMCIT.
McCorquodale motioned to approve the 2008 Ambulance and Fire Department
annual wages, second by Hoffman, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.
The Fire Department was awarded an $840 MN DNR Forestry Assistance
Matching Grant, which McCorquodale moved to approve, second by Hoffman, RCV-5
Yes, 0 No.
McCorquodale
moved to approve the Uhlenkamp and Associates 2008
Audit Engagement Agreement, second by Hoffman, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.
Commissioner Fox notified the city that it
recommended that the city look into opening a compost site as Franklin is the
only city in the county that does not provide one and there are new landfill
restrictions that will be enforced.
Possible locations including the ConAgra site were discussed.
In other business, the
outgoing mayor and council members were recognized and thanked for their
service.
At 8:32 p.m.,
Mayor Duck called for adjournment, with McCorquodale motioning for adjournment,
second by Robinson, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.
Respectfully Submitted by Wendy Pederson,
City Clerk/Treasurer