Minutes September 2015

Lancaster Sign

CITY OF

LANCASTER,

MINNESOTA

LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

The Lancaster City Council met for its Regular Meeting on Wednesday, September 9 2015, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Meeting Room. The following members were present: Olson, Sebenaler and Hilman. Barron and Nordin were absent.

Hilman moved to approve the council minutes of the August 12, 2015 regular meeting, seconded by Hilman and carried. A copy of the Minutes will be posted at the Lancaster City Hall and U.S. Post Office and available upon request to the clerk.

The council reviewed the September 2015 bills presented this night and any other bills that have been paid prior to this meeting to avoid late payments, receive discounts & meet payroll and all payroll expenses as approved in the 2015 Rates, Fees & Appointments Schedule. Sebenaler moved to approve the bills, second by Hilman and carried. An abstract of bills will be posted with the minutes and are available upon request to the clerk.

Council reviewed the Employee Handbook vacation policy changes as requested at the last meeting. Hilman moved to add Veteran’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and President’s Day to the schedule of paid holidays effective as of this meeting, second by Sebenaler and carried.

Council discussed surveillance cameras for the downtown street area. No action was taken.

Mayor set the Liquor Inventory for October 4, 2015 at 6:00PM.

Anderson Sanitation presented a list of delinquent garbage bills for the council’s approval to be placed on the tax rolls of the effected properties. Sebenaler moved to accept the list as presented and place the delinquent bills on the property tax rolls, second by Hilman can carried.

Assistant Fire Chief’s, Casey Faken and Tyler Swenson, met with the council to discuss the sale an additional piece of unused equipment, a 1800 gallon water tank, that they would like to add to the sale approved at the June 2015 council meeting. Hilman moved to allow the water tank to be added to the items for sale, second by Sebenaler and carried. Asst. fire chiefs reported that 4 wheeler ramps have been purchased and that an air compressor might be purchased with the monies approved for small equipment purchases in February 2015 meeting.

Clerk reported that Dana Olson had submitted his resignation from the Lancaster Fire Department. Sebenaler moved to accept the resignation with regret as of September 9, 2015, second by Hilman and carried.

Council reviewed 3 proposals for the step system: 7 year with increase to steps 4-7, 9 year with increases to step 4-9 and a 10 year proposal that implemented a 2.5% and 3% increase to all steps. All proposals added a part time cleaning job and a skilled water/sewer part time job to the step system (these jobs replace the maintenance part time job). Council discussed the need to encourage long term employment with the city and spread out the payscale from year 1 to the top of the step system. Hilman moved to accept the 10 year step system proposal with the 2 new job descriptions effective for January 1, 2016, second by Sebenaler and carried.

Sebenaler moved to increase the annual salary of the Downtown Park and flower maintenance employee by 3% effective January 1, 2016, second by Hilman and carried.

Council reviewed the proposed 2016 budget as was discussed at the last meeting. The proposed overall general tax levy is $92,000.00 an increase of $5,000.00 from the 2015 levy. The budget projection is that the city will use reserves of $123,213.00 for major sewer repairs, water tower painting; street repairs and equipment needs. Hilman moved to set the final General Levy Budget at $92,000.00, second by Sebenaler and carried.

Council reviewed the August 2015 City and Liquor Store financial information and daily sales averages for the liquor store.

Sebenaler reported that Clarence Nelson would like to purchase a small parcel #38.001260 that the city owns just south of his property. Council discussed that the parcel is too small to build a house on and that it would to get the property back on the property rolls. Hilman moved to offer the property to Nelson for $100.00 and that the city offers a Quit Claim Deed with purchasers to pay all attorney fees, second by Sebenaler and carried.

Sebenaler reports that he has located a 1995 Elgin street sweeper for $29,000.00 and a 2003 Elgin street sweeper for $42,0000.00, plus the cost of hauling from the twin cities area. Council discussed if they should wait to make a purchase in 2016 as the sweeper is budgeted for in 2016. Sebenaler will get additional information regarding the sweepers and freight for the next meeting.

Sebenaler reports that gravel is needed on Manitoba, Washington Street and the Alley behind the Community Center. Sebenaler moved to purchase 3 loads of gravel for these areas, second by Hilman and carried.

Hilman discussed purchasing a used auto fry for the liquor store for $3000.00; new cost is around $8000.00. Sebenaler moved to purchase the auto fry, second by Hilman and carried.

Olson discussed removal of a hazardous building and contents in Original town of Lancaster, Block 4 lots 4, 5 & 6. Volunteers have offered to cleanup and haul contents to landfill if the city paid the tipping fees and and for removal of the building. Sebeanler moved to authorize the tipping and building removal, second by Hilman and carried.

Olson discussed the need to trim brush on the trails in the Highway 59 Park. Sebenaler will look into using the city equipment for this project.

Being no further business the council adjourned.

Carol Johnson, Clerk/Treasurer Approved: Mike Olson, Mayor

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