July 15, 2020 Special Meeting

The Lakota City Council held a special meeting July 15th, 2020, at the City Hall.  Mayor Hooey called the meeting to order at 12:32 p.m. All Council Members were present, except Member Rainsberry who was absent.  Member Hess was in attendance on speaker phone.  Audience members were Nancy Skogen and Kara Koski.  City Supt. Matt Herda was in attendance.

Auditor Vasichek stated the change order #1 for the pool project would need to be approved.  Auditor Vasichek supplied the council with change order #1 and the need to increase the size of the main drain piping and with the deduct of not using the planned drain covers the change order would increase the project by $13,782.  Member D. Mattern stated the labor costs are extremely high and he does not believe the labor should be that much.  Member Vasichek questioned what Member D. Mattern would propose to be done instead.  Mrs. Koski stated the crew will need to complete additional concrete work later that is included in this change order labor costs. 

Member R. Mattern questioned why the size of the piping was not thought of when planning.  Auditor Vasichek stated she has left a phone message and wrote an e-mail to the engineer to ask the question but has not received a response.  Auditor Vasichek stated the engineer is the original engineer for the pool project 30 years ago but is with a different firm for this project.  Member Hess stated sometimes when an engineer leaves one firm, they would not take project records with them to the new firm so he can see how it could have been missed.

Member R. Mattern made a motion to approve the pool project change order #1 for $13,782, seconded by Member Hess.  On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor.  Motion carried.

Member Hess stated he met with Mike and Penny Haman along with Scott Brossart about the water issues at their property.  Member Hess stated he suggested to Mr. Brossart about getting a variance to pump his sump pump into the sewer system.  Mayor Hooey stated if that were approved, he would recommend an additional charge to Mr. Brossart for the additional use.  Member Solberg stated he does not want to go down the road of issuing variances for pumping into the sewer system and would recommend not approving this request. 

Member Hess was instructed to recommend to Mr. Brossart to direct his sump pump outside of his residence.

Mayor Hooey stated he has concerns with the Tiki Shack continuing with the car show on July 25th.  Mayor Hooey stated he does not want a bunch of people coming from out of town to Lakota with increased COVID numbers in neighboring towns and counties.  Member R. Mattern stated John Whitman has completed advertising for this event and has invested money into it already.  Member Vasichek stated he felt we could not shut down the event but could make recommendations to Mr. Whitman.

Member Vasichek made a motion to recommend to all guests of the event on July 25th, 2020 to wear face masks and have classic cars park in every other parking space to help with social distancing, seconded by Member Solberg.  On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor.  Motion carried.  Mayor Hooey stated he will visit with Mr. Whitman on the recommendations for the event.

Member Solberg stated he would like to see Lakota have a COVID testing site at the end of July to help better prepare the start of the school season.  Auditor Vasichek was instructed to reach out the Julie Ferry to solicit Lakota as a test site.

Member D. Mattern stated he has instructed Supt. Herda to obtain bids for a new mower for next meeting as the lease with John Deere is over on the current mower.  Member D. Mattern stated we could trade in the 920 mower on a new one.

Member Vasichek made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Member D. Mattern.  On a roll call vote, all members voting in favor.  Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 1:06pm.

 

            APPROVED BY:                                             SUBMITTED BY:

           

 

Brad Hooey, Mayor                                          Amie Vasichek, Auditor