March 2, 2021 Regular Meeting
The Lakota City Council held its regular meeting March 2nd, 2020, at the City Hall. Mayor Hooey called the meeting to order at 5:59 p.m. All Council Members were present except Member Hess who was absent. David Matejcek, Rob Marquart, Dan Ferguson, Angela Herda, Sheriff Keith Olson, and Engineer Barry Glienke were in attendance. City Attorney Jayme Tenneson, City Auditor Amie Vasichek, City Employees Kim Burkland and Josh Ulland were in attendance.
Member Vasichek made a motion to approve the February 2nd, 2021 regular council meeting minutes and February 5th, 2021 special meeting, seconded by Member Solberg. Motion carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mayor Hooey stated one unfinished business item is the golf course mower. Member Vasichek stated Randy Karas had found a good used mower in Mankato for $23,700 with 800hrs on it. Member Vasichek stated he also looked into the mower and felt it was a good piece of equipment.
Member Vasichek made a motion to provide a budget of $23,000 for the purchase of a golf course mower and have Randy Karas use the city vehicle to transport, seconded by Member Solberg. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
Mayor Hooey recognized David Matejcek.
Mr. Matejcek stated he would like to offer to lease the entire city building he currently has his business in for a 5-year contract and $500/month. Attorney Tenneson stated the city would need to advertise the building for a lease option to the public. The council stated they would also like the incubator option advertised at the same time.
Mr. Matejcek left the meeting at 6:15pm.
Mayor Hooey recognized Engineer Glienke.
Engineer Glienke stated he believes the pre-construction meeting for the water transmission line project should be scheduled within the next couple weeks and he is hopeful to start the project by the end of the month. Engineer Glienke stated he has contracts for signatures to be completed tonight.
Mayor Hooey questioned the status of the Caldwell Tanks dispute. Attorney Tenneson stated he had sent an e-mail rejecting the offer provided by Caldwell and has not received a response back.
Mayor Hooey instructed Attorney Tenneson to provide a trailer home ordinance by the next meeting requiring new trailer houses to be anchored to the ground.
Mayor Hooey recognized Angela Herda, Dan Ferguson, Rob Marquart and Ben Varnson.
Ben Varnson gave an overview of the pumping system north of Lakota that was put in place last year. Auditor Vasichek stated the Water Board took out a loan for most of the project costs and the Lakota Township and the city of Lakota are equally responsible for the loan payoff. Currently the balance of the loan is approximately $21,000. Auditor Vasichek stated the grant funding available for the project last year was for emergency purposes only and will not continue for this year. Mrs. Herda stated the city currently has the pumping station as a mitigation option and could look into grant funding thru it but would require engineering.
Member Vasichek made a motion to approve a 6-month lease agreement with the Water Board for the North Pump of $1,350/month, seconded by Member R. Mattern. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Varnson questioned if the Lakota Township would be doing the same lease agreement as the previous year. Mr. Marquart stated the township will continue with the lease agreement as stated prior.
Member D. Mattern questioned how long this lease will continue. Auditor Vasichek stated the pump would become jointly owned by the city and the township once the loan is paid off and the maturity date is 5/15/22.
Mr. Varnson gave a review of the potential watershed project going on north of Lakota that would also benefit the city by dropping the slough by 1-1 ½ feet.
Varnson, Ferguson, Marquart and Herda left the meeting at 6:53pm.
NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Hooey stated the advertisement for the superintendent position has been advertised for 3 weeks. Mayor Hooey stated the only applicant has been Josh Ulland and he would like to have Dennis Fahey and Bill Solberg conduct the interview. Mr. Ulland stated he thought he could start full-time April 1st if he was offered the position.
Attorney Tenneson recommended to advertise the position another time with a closing date of March 15th, 2021. Auditor Vasichek will handle the advertisement.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Mr. Ulland stated there have been 2 leaks in resident houses that have been remedied and were part of the water loss issue.
Mr. Ulland provided a quote for a flammable liquid safety container for the city shop for $789.
Member Vasichek made a motion to approve the flammable safety container for $789 at the city shop, seconded by Member R. Mattern. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Ulland stated Michael Woods will require upgraded electrical service to his property.
Mr. Ulland stated he would like to require a policy for trenching prices for the city projects.
Member Solberg stated he spoke with Paul Miller about the transmission for the 1997 Ford and he quoted $3,900 which includes labor.
Member R. Mattern made a motion to approve $3,900 to replace the transmission for the 1997 Ford to be completed at Miller’s Repair, seconded by Member Solberg. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
ENGINEER REPORT
No additional report provided.
SHERIFF’S REPORT
Sheriff Olson stated they received 121 calls last month. Sheriff Olson stated the team brought a drug dog thru high school with no issues.
Member Fahey stated he was interested in an ordinance restricting a marijuana dispensary in Lakota. Attorney Tenneson stated he will look into an ordinance.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Hooey stated the bond resolution will need to be approved for the loan funding of the water transmission line project.
Member Vasichek made a motion to approve the Resolution Authorizing the Water Treatment Revenue Bond, Series 2021 for $313,000, seconded by Member D. Mattern. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
Member D. Mattern questioned what Attorney Tenneson discovered about the cemetery assessment from last meeting. Attorney Tenneson stated in the NDCC the city is not able to special assess the cemetery for the project. Auditor Vasichek stated she will refund the payments already made back to the Lakota cemetery.
Member R. Mattern made a motion to approve Brad Hooey as the MRES representative and Josh Ulland as the Alternate, seconded by Member Fahey. All voting in favor. Motion carried.
Mayor Hooey stated Matt Herda had requested a severance package at the special meeting on February 5th, 2021. Mayor Hooey stated he does not feel this is necessary as Mr. Herda will be receiving unemployment benefits. Attorney Tenneson provided the council with his opinion that it is not a requirement to provide a severance package to an employee.
Member Solberg stated he was not in favor of providing a severance package to Mr. Herda. All members agreed to the recommendation. No action taken.
Member Solberg stated the council received an e-mail from Auditor Vasichek stating MRES has been success in acquiring reimbursement funds of approximately $63,000 for overcharging of transmission fees. Member Solberg suggested refunding the electric customers a portion of those funds. Member Solberg suggested providing $25-$50 back to each customer per meter.
Member D. Mattern made a motion to provide a $25 refund to all electric account customers, seconded by Member Solberg. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Ulland stated the staircase at the lift station is needing to be fixed or replaced. Mayor Hooey suggested getting bids to weld the section damaged before the next meeting.
Mayor Hooey suggested reminding all residents in a newsletter that they are responsible to check on their own households during cold weather.
ADVISORY REPORTS
No report given.
MAYOR REPORT
No report given.
AUDITOR REPORT
Auditor Vasichek’ s written report was provided and attached with minutes.
The council reviewed the financial and utility reports provided.
ATTORNEY REPORT
No report given.
After review of the bills and vouchers, a motion was made by Member Vasichek to pay all the bills presented for payment and those bills paid prior to the meeting. Member D. Mattern seconded the motion. Motion carried on roll call vote of 5-0.
Advanced Business Methods $ 289.00
Agcom $ 15.02
BND $ 19,332.68
BCBS $ 5,220.22
Bolton & Menk $ 22,695.00
Border States $ 444.84
Cardmember $ 387.52
CMS $ 158.09
Dacotah Paper $ 8.62
Dakota Implement $ 46.35
Dept. of Justice $ 223.80
EFTPS $ 2,219.45
EFTPS $ 1,763.44
Farmers Union Oil $ 2,162.60
GF Utility Billing $ 44.00
Hintz, LeRoy & Carol $ 153.36
Krabbenhoft Auto $ 124.10
Lakota Farm Service $ 100.00
Lakota Municipal Utilities $ 300.00
Lakota Municipal Utilities $ 711.97
Lakota Municipal Utilities $ 10,787.93
Lakota Sanitation Service $ 7,665.40
LFS Professional $ 430.92
Mailfinance $ 600.00
MARC $ 876.55
MRES $ 65,854.05
Nationwide $ 145.00
Nelson County Highway $ 491.75
Nelson County Sheriff $ 2,318.40
Neonlink $ 28.40
Nodak Electric $ 1,183.36
ND Telephone $ 60.85
Polar $ 1,379.32
Quadient Leasing $ 203.07
Quill $ 125.32
Tri-County Water $ 6,260.00
US Bank $ 63,618.75
USABluebook $ 54.18
Verizon $ 265.68
City Salaries $ 12,349.66
City Salaries $ 9,360.75
TOTAL $ 240,459.40
Next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6th, 2021 at 6pm. Auditor Vasichek reminded the council of the Tax Equalization meeting at 5:30pm on April 6th, 2021.
Member D. Mattern made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Member Vasichek.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Brad Hooey, Mayor Amie Vasichek, Auditor