Draft                                                                                                                             MINUTES OF THE

REGULAR FRANKLIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, January 12, 2009

 

A Regular Meeting of the Franklin City Council was held on Monday, January 12, 2009, at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall.  Council present were:  Degner, Hoffman, Munsell, Schacher, and Wiese.  Staff Department Heads present were:  Degner, Kokesch and Pederson.  Guests present were:  Tammy Trotter and Victor Johnson.

At 7:00 p.m., Mayor Degner called the meeting to order and noted roll call showing four council present with Munsell late.  Schacher, Wiese, and Degner recited their oaths of office.

Mayor Degner requested approval of the agenda.  Pederson requested to amend the agenda to include Resolution 2009-4.  Hoffman motioned to approve the agenda as amended, second by Schacher, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No. 

Mayor Degner called for approval of the minutes of the December 8, 2008 Regular Meeting.  Hoffman motioned to approve the minutes as presented, second by Munsell, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.

            Citizens addressed were Trotter and Johnson.  Trotter requested reimbursement of $3,691.05 for damages that were not recovered by her insurance for sewer back-ups.  Trotter felt the city was negligent in removing tree roots from the manhole nearest her property and this was the cause of the back-ups.  Trotter stated that the city’s insurance adjuster would not return her calls.  Trotter questioned the city’s manhole inspection policy and the memorandum from Andy Kehren.  Per Kehren, hydraulically others should have had back-up issues if the tree roots were the problem and as none did, he felt this could not have caused the back-ups.  Munsell recommended the city follow the city engineer’s observations, noting the issue may need to be adjudicated as no agreement would be made.  No action was taken.

            The council was in agreement that meetings will continue to be recorded.  The city staff will look into providing a live video of the meeting along with the voice recording.  Pederson noted that the typed minutes are the official record of the city.

            Munsell motioned to approve the 2009 City Council Meeting Schedule, second by Hoffman, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.

            Following discussion and appointments, Munsell motioned to approve Resolution 2009-1, Official Designations and Annual Appointments, second by Schacher, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.

            Munsell motioned to approve Resolution 2009-2, 2008 Annual Contributions ($9,890.00); second by Wiese, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No. 

            Munsell motioned to approve Resolution 2009-3, Renville County Hazardous Mitigation Plan, second by Schacher, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.

            Schacher motioned to approve Resolution 2009-4, Authorizing Facsimile Mayor’s Signature and Prepayment of Certain Invoices; second by Munsell, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.

            Enforcement by MN Pollution Control has caused the county landfill to close if the wind is 25 mph or greater.  John Clobes noted that garbage hauling will be delayed when the landfill is closed.  The council discussed hauling the garbage to a holding site but noted this would not work in the summer.  The council recommends placing garbage in containers and will wait and see if the hauling becomes an issue.

            Hoffman motioned to approve the Tobacco License renewals of the Franklin BP, Franklin Depot and Longbranch Saloon, second by Munsell, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.

            The financial status of the city was reviewed and current bills were presented for payment in the amount of $160,240.14; December receipts totaled $103,618.25.  Pederson also presented the 2008 pre-audit financial statements. Schacher motioned for approval of the bills and financial report as presented, second by Wiese, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.   

            Department Heads were addressed.   Kokesch presented a request for funding from Experience Works, noting we currently are a job site for them.  Hoffman motioned to not contribute funding to Experience Works, second by Wiese, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.  Kokesch reported that ice and snow are a real problem this year, it was noted that everything is o.k. with the county and we are fortunate to have them for snow removal.  Kokesch questioned verification issues with regard to his job; the city will look into identification badges.  Degner questioned Christmas light removal and will check with All-Phase.  Pederson reported that the city’s 2008 LGA was not cut because our population is under 1,000; received approval to attend the clerk’s conference in St. Cloud in March; fire and ambulance physicals need to be completed by June 30, 2009; and noted there are 8 potential utility disconnections for nonpayment.

            No new zoning permits were issued.  

            Kokesch reported on the CapX2020 project regarding transmission lines being installed by Great River Energy.  They have narrowed their plan to two routes, either has a sub-station being installed near Franklin.

            Munsell motioned to approve the 2008 Ambulance Department (total cash on hand $55,475.81) and 2008 Ambulance Association Financial (total cash on hand $81,306.23) reports, second by Wiese, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.

            Schacher motioned to approve the 2008 Rural Fire Association Report (rural expense of $19,113.83), second by Munsell, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.

            Munsell moved to approve the resignation of Douglas Koupal from the Fire Department, second by Wiese, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.

            Mediacom sent a draft franchise renewal agreement to the city.  Pederson will forward this to LMC for review.

            There was no other business.

At 8:42 p.m., Mayor Degner called for adjournment, with Schacher motioning for adjournment, second by Hoffman, RCV-5 Yes, 0 No.    

         Respectfully Submitted by Wendy Pederson, City Clerk/Treasurer