January 3, 2022 Regular Meeting
The Lakota City Council held its regular meeting January 3rd, 2022, at the City Hall. Mayor Brad Hooey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. All Council Members were present, except Members R. Mattern and D. Mattern who were absent. Barry Glienke and Brian Osowski were the audience members. City Auditor Amie Vasichek, City Attorney Jayme Tenneson and City Superintendent Josh Ulland were also in attendance.
The council and audience stood and conducted the pledge of allegiance.
Member Vasichek made a motion to approve the December 6th, 2021, regular council meeting minutes seconded by Member Hess. Motion carried.
Mayor Hooey recognized Brian Osowski. Mr. Osowski stated he represents AMKO Advisors, and he is presenting the opportunity to refinance the city water debt for potential saving up to $112,839.95. Mr. Osowski stated his team would solicit to sell the bonds and get a lower interest rate. Mr. Osowski requested to work with City Auditor Vasichek in order to come to the March meeting with the refinancing opportunity.
Member Vasichek made a motion to allow Brian Osowski to AMKO Advisors to analyze the water debt for refinancing potential, seconded by Member Hess. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Osowski left the meeting at 6:09pm
Mayor Hooey recognized Barry Glienke.
Engineer Glienke stated the surveyor completed the topo work for the Hulstrand property but came down with an illness, so he is still waiting on the approved information.
Mayor Hooey questioned what Engineer Glienke felt the recent land should be valued at to provide a thank you to the Hulstrand family. It was decided after some discussion to estimate the value at $30,000 if needed by the family.
Mayor Hooey requested a proper thank you be published in the Lakota American.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mayor Hooey stated the council needs to decide on wage adjustments for 2022. Mayor Hooey asked the council if there were any questions from the last meeting about changing the cost share structure of health insurance for the full-time staff in lieu of a wage increase.
Auditor Vasichek provided a spreadsheet to each member showing the percentage of a benefit to each employee as a 80/20 split or an 85/15 split for health insurance versus a 5.9% COL wage increase. Below is the spreadsheet.
|
80/20 health insurance setup |
Annual benefit to employee |
% INCREASE |
Amount to match 5.9% increase |
|
Josh - family |
$ 2,483.16 |
3.54% |
$1,646.84 |
|
Kim -single plus dependent |
$ 2,066.76 |
4.08% |
$928.44 |
|
Jesse - single |
$ 595.08 |
1.43% |
$1,859.32 |
|
Amie - single plus dependents |
$ 1,855.80 |
3.90% |
$945.63 |
|
Total annual city expense |
$ 7,000.80 |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
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|
85/15 health insurance setup |
Annual benefit to employee |
% INCREASE |
Amount to match 5.9% increase |
|
Josh - family |
$ 3,748.32 |
5.35% |
$381.68 |
|
Kim -single plus dependent |
$ 3,123.72 |
6.17% |
($128.52) |
|
Jesse - single |
$ 902.16 |
2.17% |
$1,552.24 |
|
Amie - single plus dependents |
$ 2,807.28 |
5.91% |
($5.85) |
|
Total annual city expense |
$ 10,581.48 |
Mayor Hooey suggested if the council changed the health insurance set up for full time employees instead of increasing a wage to also increase employee Schuh’s wage as his health insurance benefit would not amount to much. Member Hess questioned Supt. Ulland what his thoughts were on increasing the health insurance benefit versus a wage increase. Supt. Ulland stated either way it is a pay increase, so it did not matter. Auditor Vasichek stated health insurance is the number one thing potential or current employees are looking for with employment so the increase on what the city share of health insurance would be ideal.
Member Hess made a motion to change the health insurance cost share for full time employees to 85/15 split and increase employee Jesse Schuh’s wage by 3.5%, seconded by Member Solberg. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor, except Member Vasichek who abstained. Motion carried.
Member Solberg made a motion to give Nancy Skogen a $2.50/hr. increase for year 2022, seconded by Member Hess. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
Member Solberg made a motion to approve a 5.9% COL increase for employees Angela Jutila and Gary McLean, seconded by Member Hess. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
The council discussed having new seasonal employees start at $14/hr. and ongoing seasonal help increase to $15/hr. with the consensus of the council agreeing. No motion made.
NEW BUSINESS
Auditor Vasichek stated most of the touchless items have been installed at the community center by Rysavy Plumbing in addition to the glass of the front door being replaced.
Supt. Ulland stated the score boards will need to be replaced sometime as the current ones are no longer serviceable. Member Vasichek stated the community center committee will discuss what to do at their next meeting.
Auditor Vasichek provided the information on the recent water rate study. Auditor Vasichek stated the base charge is not covering the debt service and the usage income is making up the shortfall. The study recommended increasing the base charge by 2% each year.
Member Hess made a motion to increase the water meter base charge for each rate by $1/month effective March 1, 2022, seconded by Member Fahey. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
Auditor Vasichek was asked to look into monthly fees for the main street camera.
Mayor Hooey stated he would like a policy in place for office employees when there is a severe storm. Mayor Hooey explained at the recent snowstorm the majority of businesses were closed in Lakota while the city hall was open. The council decided to follow what the Nelson County Courthouse does for closures due to severe weather.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Supt. Ulland stated he did not provide a monthly report as the majority of his and the crew’s time has been spent on snow removal and installing water meters.
Supt. Ulland requested to have a separate boot allowance. Mayor Hooey stated he would like to know when the uniform allowance was increased before council would act on the request. Member Hess stated boots are currently an allowable purchase against the uniform allowance. Auditor Vasichek stated she will look back thru budgets to find the requested information.
ENGINEER REPORT
No additional report provided.
SHERIFF’S REPORT
No additional report provided.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Member Fahey stated he would like to pursue the webcam on main street further. Auditor Vasichek stated she received a quote for $495 to have the earth cam crew conduct the pre-installation site survey and if the city would hire the same crew to install the camera, the $495 would be put towards the install expense. There was discussion on where to put the camera but decided to wait on placement until more information about the installation could be obtained.
Member Fahey made a motion to approve the purchase and installation of a webcam for main street with EarthCam, seconded by Member Hess. On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor. Motion carried.
ADVISORY REPORTS
No report provided.
MAYOR REPORT
Mayor Hooey stated he is concerned with the possibility of someone using a camper trailer as living arrangements in the winter. Attorney Tenneson stated the ordinances allows the city to have a building inspector and health inspector. The city decided to consult with the city of Devils Lake to hire those inspectors on a as needed basis.
Mayor Hooey stated he would like the city council to consider hiring another employee for the city crew. Mayor Hooey stated the new hire would eventually take the place of an employee who retires.
AUDITOR REPORT
Auditor Vasichek’ s written report was provided and attached with minutes.
Auditor Vasichek stated the city council will need to make decisions on the ADA compliant issues in the city hall along with the parking to the north of the building. Auditor Vasichek will check with AE2S about any spec sheets that were made during the water tower project as these improvements were originally part of that project.
Auditor Vasichek reminded the council of the 2022 election and petitions can be picked up now.
The council reviewed the financial and utility reports provided.
ATTORNEY REPORT
After review of the bills and vouchers, a motion was made by Member D. Mattern to pay all the bills presented for payment and those bills paid prior to the meeting. Member Vasichek seconded the motion. Motion carried, on roll call vote of 4-0.
Advanced Business Methods $ 300.06
Aflac $ 232.08
Aramark Uniform $ 40.90
BCBS $ 6,070.28
Bolton & Menk $ 682.50
Border States $ 155.33
Cardmember Services $ 961.02
CHS DL $ 25.00
City of Lakota $ 250.00
Dacotah Paper $ 146.04
Dakota Implement $ 85.96
Don Dvoark Gravel $ 2,857.20
EFTPS $ 1,972.69
EFTPS $ 2,234.02
Farmers Union Oil $ 280.99
Ferguson Waterworks $ 536.22
GF Utility $ 44.00
Hawkins $ 622.17
Job Service $ 999.92
John Deere Financial $ 2,047.72
Krabbenhoft $ 34.95
Lakota American $ 66.00
Lakota Farm Service $ 50.00
Lakota Hardware $ 396.80
Lakota Municipal Utilities $ 290.00
Lakota Municipal Utilities $ 527.70
Lakota Municipal Utilities $ 8,393.83
Lakota Sanitation Service $ 7,896.15
MARC $ 2,266.75
Miller Repair $ 929.45
MRES $ 50,111.23
MMUA $ 395.00
Nationwide $ 290.00
NDLC $ 210.00
NDPERS $ 3,004.04
NDPERS $ 3,142.68
Nelson County Sheriff $ 2,318.40
Nelson County Treasurer $ 24,515.23
Nelson Electrical $ 40.80
Nodak $ 683.57
ND Chapter $ 135.00
ND Telephone $ 60.50
ND Water Users $ 100.00
North-Holt Electric $ 5,000.00
Northstar Aviation $ 1,624.00
Office of State Tax $ 290.49
Polar $ 682.66
Rysavy Plumbing $ 140.58
Roy, Megan $ 29.91
TEAM Lab $ 156.00
Glass Shop $ 510.20
Verizon Wireless $ 222.64
Witzel Construction $ 2,721.00
City Salaries $ 10,918.83
City Salaries $ 13,075.95
TOTAL $ 161,774.44
Next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday February 7th, 2022, at 6pm.
Member Vasichek made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Member Fahey.
Meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Brad Hooey, Mayor Amie Vasichek, Auditor