Hamburg City Council Minutes - November 27, 2012

Mayor Richard Malz called the Hamburg City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Councilmember John Barnes, Councilmember Larry Mueller, Councilmember Steve Trebesch, Councilmember Chris Lund, City Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen, Deputy Clerk Susan Block, Maintenance Worker Dennis Byerly, and Fire Chief Brad Droege were in attendance.  Richard Odoms was also present.

 

Public Comment

·         No comment from the public.

Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption

• Added – Lawful Gambling Permit for Green Isle CPA Banquet on January 26, 2013
• Added – Updated Delinquency List
• Remove – Minutes for November 13^th; not sent to Council members for review.
• Added to the Public Works Report – Estimate from Robb’s Electric for Community Center lighting.

• Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the agenda with the added items and removal of the November 13, 2012 Minutes, Councilmember Trebesch seconded and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.

Approve Consent Agenda

• Approve Time-off Request (Jeremy Gruenhagen)
• October Cash Flow Statement
• Water Wells Usage/Water Consumption Reports for October 2012
• MN Department of Health (Grant Funding to Seal Wells)
• Hamburg Post Office Public Meeting (Survey Results)
• Public Notice – MN Prairie Line Railroad
• Delinquent Utility Bills Report
• Lawful Gambling Permit for Green Isle CPA Banquet (January 26, 2013)

·         Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the Consent Agenda with the removal of the November 13, 2012 Minutes and addition of Green Isle CPA Banquet Lawful Gambling Permit, Councilmember Trebesch seconded and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.

 

Fire Department Report – Chief Brad Droege

DNR Grant

• Will be closing at the end of this week.

Ag Star Grant

• Has been closed out.

HFD Officer Elections

• Fire Chief – Brad Droege
• 1^st Assistant – Adam Glander
• 2^nd Assistant – Justin Buckentin
• Training Officer – Chris Petz
• Secretary/Treasurer – Brenda Jurek
• Councilmember Barnes moved to approve the election of Hamburg Fire Department Officers for 2013, Councilmember Mueller seconded and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.

Toy Drive & Breakfast

• The annual toy drive is going on until December 17^th.
• The Toy Drive Breakfast will be held at Parkside Tavern on December 9^th from 9:00 till noon.

 

Hamburg & Norwood/Young America Fire Department Explorers Group

• There will be an Explorers organizational meeting at the Hamburg Community Center on November 28^th starting at 7:00 p.m.  

Hamburg Fire Department Relief Association – HFDRA Pension Increase

·         Councilmember Mueller moved to approve a $50 pay increase to the HFDRA Pension Fund which would take effect in 2014, Councilmember Trebesch seconded and motion carried. Councilmember Lund opposed. 

 

Old City Business

 

Signs for City Hall/Township/Fire Department

• The signs will be delivered Thursday, November 22.

Revised NIMS Training Program (Requirements)

• Training for the NIMS program will be addresses in January 2013.

 

Public Works & Utilities Department Report

 

Clean City Sewer Lines

• The sewer lines from William Street to Brad Street, Robert Avenue, and Donald Avenue were televised and cleaned.  About 4,000 feet of sewer lines were completed with only one bad connection. 
• It was suggested that about 5,000 to 6,000 feet of the sewer lines east of the Railroad tracks should be televised and cleaned next spring.

Paint Community Center

• Maintenance Worker Byerly is planning to start painting next week.

Liftstation and WTP Pumps

• The Liftstation and WTP pumps were calibrated and were to close to be adjusted.

Community Center Lighting

• Robb’s Electric submitted a quote to install new LED exterior lights at the Community Center and Xcel Energy may have a rebate on changing the lights to LED.
• A decision on how to proceed with changing the lighting will be discussed next year.

Hamburg Fire Department Bell

• The HFD Bell that was damaged during a storm last spring will be re-hung this Friday.

Hall Tiles

• Floor tiles behind the bar area are loose and will be replaced this week.

 

City Clerk/Treasurer Report

 

2013 Final Budget/2013 Tax Levy

• 2013 Health Insurance
• Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the 2013 Health Insurance as stated, Councilmember Trebesch seconded and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.
• City Fee Schedule Proposal for 2013
• Hall Rates - $600 non-resident, $550 resident with entry to building no sooner than 9:00 a.m. on Friday.  Requests for Thursday entry would be no earlier then 4:00 p.m. on Thursday with an additional $100 charge.  Saturday Renters can guaranty all day Friday rental for an additional $200.  Hall must be cleaned up by 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.
• Pop Fee – possible increase.
• Council Special Meetings was changed from $25 per meeting to $50 per meeting.
• Water Fund – Basic Rate increase by 7%.  (Funding for future Water Tower needed.)
• Sewer Fund – Basic Rate decrease by 5%.
• Storm Water Fund – Increase to $33.50 per month and decide on how to bill residential vs. businesses.

2013 Budget Workshop Meeting

• Scheduled for December 4, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

2013 Final Budget Meeting

• December 11, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Approve Claims

 

Approve Payment of Added November 2012 Claims

• Councilmember Mueller moved to approve the two (2) added ACH payments and check number 15948 to 15968, Councilmember Barnes seconded and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.

 

City Council Reports

 

Councilmember Mueller Report (Sewer & Water)

• The police report has been listing 140 Jacob Street as a city address which it is not, it is a township address.  If any issues go to prosecution the City of Hamburg should not be billed.
• A city resident was walking his dog from his home, across the street to the railroad tracks when he was stopped by the CSO.  The CSO told the resident to put the dog on a leash or he was going to give him a ticket.  Two days later the same CSO parked at the end of Brad Street and waited for the resident to come out with his dog.  The CSO then stopped by the resident’s house and took down the license plate of his car.  The City of Hamburg does have an ordinance that all animals must be leached when in the city limits.
• Council agreed that the CSO did not conduct himself in a professional manner.

 

Employee Reviews

• Maintenance Worker Dennis Byerly, Deputy Clerk Sue Block, and City Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen all requested a closed meeting for their reviews.

 

Recess City Council Meeting

 

Councilmember Lund moved to recess the Hamburg City Council Meeting at 8:55 p.m. to hold the employee reviews, Councilmember Barnes seconded and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.

 

Open Closed Meeting

 

Councilmember Trebesch moved to open the closed meeting at 9:00 p.m. for the purpose of employee reviews, Councilmember Barnes seconded and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.

 

Close Closed Meeting

 

Councilmember Mueller moved to close the closed meeting for employee reviews at 9:57 p.m., Councilmember Trebesch seconded and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.

 

Reopen the City Council Meeting

 

Councilmember Barnes moved to reopen the Hamburg City Council Meeting, Councilmember Trebesch seconded and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.

 

Adjourn City Council Meeting

 

Councilmember Barnes moved to adjourn the Hamburg City Council meeting at 9:57 p.m., Councilmember Trebesch seconded and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present. 

 

Submitted by:                                         

 

 

 

Deputy Clerk Susan Block