Hamburg City Council Minutes – July 27, 2010

Mayor Malz called the regular Hamburg City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmember Steve Trebesch, Councilmember John Barnes, Councilmember Larry Mueller, City Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen, Deputy Clerk Sue Block, Maintenance Worker Dennis Byerly, and Fire Chief Brad Droege were in attendance. Also in attendance was Justin Buckentin (Hamburg Fire Relief Association). Councilmember Brian Cummiskey was absent.

 

Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption

• Added – July Claims List
  
• Added – National Night Out Flyer
  
• Added – Email from Mr. Odoms (150 Jacob St.)
  
• Added – Schedule Form for Lump Sum Pension Plans HFRA
  
• Councilmember Trebesch moved to adopt the agenda with the four additions, seconded by Councilmember Mueller and motion carried. All Council members present voted aye, Councilmember Cummiskey was absent.
  

 

Review Claims List for July 2010

• Members of Council did not have any questions or comments.
  

 

Old City Business

• Councilmember Barnes will report on the playground equipment during his Council Report.
  
• Councilmember Mueller is scheduled to close the Pond gates this Saturday.
  
• ToTheHome's electrical wiring hook-up at the Cities water tower was inspected and needs correcting.
  
• Councilmember Trebesch will install the hand railing for the City Shop as soon as he completes the project he is working on now.
  
• Add to Old City Business – Preliminary Budget Workshop Meeting
  

 

Fire Department Report

 

HFD Relief Association Determination of Plan Liabilities and Required Municipal Contribution for 2011

City Council and Justin Buckentin (Fire Department) went over the reporting forms.

• One new FD Member.
  
• Two fire fighters retired.
  
• Municipal (City) contribution for 2010 - $42,101
  
• Municipal (City) contribution for 2011 - $46,725
  
• Total Fire Department members – 28
  
• Total percentage funded – 82.8%
  

• Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the 2009 Hamburg Relief Association Report, Form RF-10, Financial Report, and Form SC-10, seconded by Councilmember Barnes and motion carried. All Council members present voted aye, Councilmember Cummiskey was absent.
  

2010 FEMA Grant

• No new information on the grant.
  

US Fish & Wildlife Grant

• No new information on the grant.
  

DNR Grant

• The Hamburg Fire Department was notified that they will receive a $425 grant from the DNR.
  

 

Training Grant

• Fire Chief Droege received word that the Hamburg Fire Department will receive about $2,800 from the State Training Grant. The money will help pay for the Bloodborne/Airborne Pathogens/Right to Know classes, Fire Fighter One class, and for two specialty classes (Driving Simulator Training and House Burning Simulator).
  

Request to Contact Congress for Support of AFG Grant

• Fire Department requested permission from Council to send letters to our Federal Senators and Representatives to request their support for the Aid to Firefighters Grant application for the Fire Paging project. City Clerk Gruenhagen will have the letter completed tomorrow for Fire Chief Droege to sign and send.
  

By-Laws of the Hamburg Firefighters Relief Association - Selection vs. Election

• City Clerk Gruenhagen is gathering information from other cities if they use Selection or Election. He will report on this at the next Council meeting.
  

New Paging System

• Fire Departments within the County that are using the new paging system say it is working great. The County is looking at dropping the price from $125 to under $100 per month if all Fire Departments in the County purchase the new paging system.
  

National Night Out

• Fire Chief Droege and Council discussed the events and preparations that are being done for National Night Out on August 3, 2010.
  

Fire Station – Cement Pad

• A new cement pad will be placed outside the NE door of the Fire Station within the next few days.
  

Projector Screen for Community Center

• Fire Chief Droege and Council discussed using Cable Funds to purchase a new projector screen and projector for the Hamburg Community Center.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen will follow up on this and report back at the next meeting.
  

 

Dennis' Report (Public Works & Utilities)

 

Mock OSHA Inspection – July 14^th, 2010

• Council and Maintenance Worker Byerly went over the Mock OSHA Inspection report. The report listed items that should be fixed to comply with OSHA regulations to avoid possible fines.
  
• Maintenance Worker Byerly is working on correcting the items listed.
  

MN Department of Health Sanitary Survey Findings

• Council reviewed the Minnesota Department of Health report on Hamburg's public water supply system. The MDH monitors Hamburg's public water supply system for contaminants required by state and federal drinking water rules.
  

Water Usage – Backwash Cycle

• John Thom (S.E.H.) emailed information on the amount of water used during a backwash cycle. The flow per cycle is approximately 6,500 gallons, assuming one backwash per week. This would amount to 26,000 to 30,000 gallons per month.
  

Community Hall Ramp Canopy Repairs (Estimates)

• Maintenance Worker Byerly and Council decided to obtain estimates on the canopy so it can be fixed before winter.
  
• Maintenance Worker Byerly will continue to ask the insurance adjuster to come out and take another look at the damage caused by the ice jam. More damage had incurred than previously inspected by insurance adjuster.
  

Hall Handicap Bathroom

• Council decided to put this project on hold until the Hall Canopy repair is completed. Canopy repair takes presidents over handicap bathroom project. City may not have enough in the budget to complete both projects.
  

Estimates for Re-Siding Park Food Stand

• Project will be put on the 2011 Budget Wish List.
  

Water Tower Stand Pipe Repair

• The tower repair company has been contacted and will be in Hamburg as soon as they complete another project.
  
• The rust spots on the water tower will be repainted at the same time of pipe repair.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen will check if the repainting will be covered under warranty.
  

Water Wells Usage – Water Consumption for 2010

• Council and Maintenance Worker Byerly discussed the calibration of the magmeters, how accurate are they and how often they need calibrating.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen will continue to monitor the Cities water usage on a monthly basis.
  
• City Council requested Maintenance Worker Byerly to continue working on having water meters installed at the Park and City Shop.
  

Generator (WTP)

• Mayor Malz will pick up oil filter and oil for Maintenance Worker Byerly to service the generator.
  

Wooden Bench in Park

• Maintenance Worker Byerly was asked to remove the wooden bench on the east side of the duck pond.
  

Raise or Lower Curb Stops to Ground Level

• Maintenance Worker Byerly has not worked on this project (assignment date 07/23/2009).
  

Purchase Scaffolding – Menards Account

• Scaffolding was on sale at Menards but was not purchased during the sale dates.
  
• Council discussed and decided to open a City charge account with Menards in Hutchinson. Only selected individuals will be listed as authorized users of the account.
  
  • Authorized Users: City Clerk Gruenhagen, Maintenance Worker Byerly, and Mayor Malz.
    

 

Deputy Clerk Report

 

Delinquent Utility Bills

• Diana Payne (350 Louisa St) – Home is in foreclosure – no information on who to contact. Delinquency amount will be added to property taxes in November.
  
• Chris Tordsen (618 Kim Ave) – Home is in foreclosure – MN Abstract & Title Co. requested assessment & utility search.
  
• Brian Cummiskey (724 Park Ave) – Delinquent letter will be sent.
  
  • Council noted that if no written agreement is obtained a delinquent letter is to be sent out.
    
• Nick Nordin (419 Railroad St) – Utility bill will be paid in full at time of closing.
  

 

City Clerk/Treasurer Report

 

I/I Abatement Program (Sanitary Sewer/Storm Water Improvements)

• There are ten easements remaining to be obtained. The following easements still need to be signed:
  
  • 470 Brad Street (Vacant Lot) – City Attorney Mac working with County Attorney to obtain signage for easement.
    
  • Brian Cummiskey
    
  • EFN Investments
    
  • Mark (Sonny) Kleman
    
  • David and Diane Mackenthun
    
  • Dustin Mackenthun Estate
    
  • Thomas Siebold
    
  • William & Deanna Panning
    
  • Becky Hammers & David Klugherz
    
  • John Schoeppner & Anna Marie Alling
    
• Doug Parrott (S.E.H.) has spoken with the Mackenthun's and will be meeting with Dave Klugherz this Friday at 9:00 a.m. about their easements.
  
• Mark Kleman has two easements on his property and asked if one could be permanent and one temporary. S.E.H. complied with his request and drew up new easements for him to sign however now Mr. Kleman wants some type of compensation taken off his assessment amount.
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen replied to his request that this would not be possible. Mr. Kleman has not contacted the City since.
    
• Council discussed what the next step could be in obtaining the remaining easements. They decided to have the City Attorney get involved with helping the city in obtaining the easements.
  
• Council discussed on what could be done yet this year so the project can be bid this year.
  

I/I Grant Program (Metropolitan Council)

• Ron Seymour (S.E.H.) will be contacted by City Clerk Gruenhagen to look into the possibility of this grant being made available to the City of Hamburg.
  

2011 Policing Model (Proposed Reduction of FTE)

• The Cities of Norwood/YA, Hamburg, and Cologne met with Jeff Enevold (Commander of Operations) and Sheriff Olson concerning cutting police costs for each City.
  
• If the City of Hamburg agrees to the proposed model the cost for 2011 would be $13,163 compared to the 2010 cost of $21,341, a reduction of 38%, or a savings of over $8,000.
  
• Council discussed the new model and made no decision at this time whether or not to approve the proposal.
  

Automatic Door Opener for Polling Place (Community Center)

• The automatic door opener is scheduled to be installed on July 29, 2010. These costs are covered by the EAID grant.
  

City Council Wages for 2011

• Council discussed if they should increase their wages. All city council members have put in extra personal time outside normal council meetings. If they decide to increase wages, an ordinance will have to be adopted and published by the General Election on November 2, 2010.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen will put this issue on List Service asking if any other Cities pay council members for their extra personal time they put in for the City.
  

Filing Dates for Mayor and Two Council Member Seats

• August 3^rd to August 17^th till 5:00 p.m. City Offices will be open until 5:00 p.m. on the 17^th.
  

Primary Election

• The Primary election will be held on August 10, 2010.
  

Special Meeting for National Night Out (August 3, 2010)

• Councilmember Barnes moved to set a Special Meeting for National Night Out on August 3, 2010, seconded by Councilmember Trebesch and motion carried. All Council members present voted aye, Councilmember Cummiskey was absent.
  

 

Next City Council Meeting

• The City Council Meeting scheduled for August 10, 2010 was moved to August 12, 2010 due to the Primary Election on August 10^th.
  

Set Canvass Board Meeting – Review Election Results

• Councilmember Mueller moved to set the Canvass Board Meeting on August 12, 2010 at 6:55 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Trebesch and motion carried. All Council members present voted aye, Councilmember Cummiskey was absent. (Correction – No Canvass Board Meeting is needed for the Primary Election)
  

2011 Budget

• Next week City Clerk Gruenhagen will be starting on the Cities budget for 2011. City Clerk Gruenhagen stated that a Budget Workshop meeting should be set up for the end of August.
  
• Hamburg's proposed levy for 2011 has to be approved by September 15^th, 2010.
  

 

City Council Reports

 

Councilmember Mueller (Sewer & Water)

• City Shop driveway will be torn out and replaced next week.
  
• Councilmember Mueller asked the other members of Council if he could be granted the authority to obtain 50 to 60 yards of black dirt for the side slopes of the shop driveway.
  
• Councilmember Barnes moved to grant Councilmember Mueller authority to obtain 50 to 60 yards of black dirt from Wm. Mueller and Sons for the Shop driveway project, seconded by Councilmember Trebesch and motion carried. All Council members present voted aye, Councilmember Cummiskey was absent.
  
• Councilmember Mueller and others of Council discussed setting up the new playground equipment for the Hall Park. They decided to ask Councilmember Cummiskey to head up the installation of the playground equipment.
  

Councilmember Trebesch (Buildings)

• Councilmember Trebesch commented on Gary Carlson's sump pump running into the street gutter.
  
• Council discussed that the City has an ordinance allowing residents to pump the water from their sump pumps into the gutter.
  

Councilmember Barnes (Parks) had nothing further to report.

Mayor Malz had nothing further to report.

 

Approve Claims List for July 2010

 

Claims List for July 2010

• Councilmember Barnes moved to approve the July Claims List for claim number 14537 through 14559, claim numbers 14508 and 14509, plus the six ACH payments, seconded by Councilmember Trebesch and motion carried. All Council members present voted aye, Councilmember Cummiskey was absent.
  

 

Mayor Malz moved to recess the City Council meeting at 8:47 p.m.

 

Councilmember Mueller moved to close the City Council meeting for the purpose of land acquisition discussion for purchase of private property for the storm water pond, seconded by Councilmember Barnes and motion carried. All Council members present voted aye, Councilmember Cummiskey was absent.

 

 

Councilmember Barnes moved to reopen the Hamburg City Council regular meeting at 9:09 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Trebesch and motion carried. All Council members present voted aye, Councilmember Cummiskey was absent.

 

Councilmember Trebesch moved to adjourn the Hamburg City Council meeting at 9:10 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Mueller and motion carried. All Council members present voted aye, Councilmember Cummiskey was absent.

 

 

 

Submitted by:                                                    

 

 

Sue Block

                                                                                                 Deputy Clerk