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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 07.06.1999 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE JULY 6, 1999 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Chuck Rodgers Dirk Kroll Gary Temple Ken Olson Miles Walton Gay Easton Norman Orr Bill Staudinger Bud Johnson OTHERS PRESENT: V. Joe Leckie Larry McCann Larry McCann Rick Musson Mary Embleton Cai Cumin Mary Embleton informed the council that they need to decide whether or not to hold a primary election. The Insurance Committee reviewed the information from the health insurance companies and will make a decision at the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 7th. Mary recently visited with the Department of Revenue's Property Assessment Division to get some insight into the effect of Senate Bill 184. The information she received at the BARS Workshop was a good start, but there are still variables involved. The taxable valuations will be available to the jurisdictions sometime in September. Mary mentioned that the Y2K conversion is mostly complete, but some new hardware needs to be purchased to make it compatible with the software. Bill Staudinger mentioned that there is still a problem with weeds in some locations. Gay Easton commented on the progress of the Log Cabin Project. Rick Musson distributed the June statistics report for the Police Department. There was discussion about the red light that was located in the gable of the log cabin. It was used as a means of communication to notify police officers to call the dispatcher to relay information. Larry Prokop has resigned as a dispatcher and Cheryl Marshall is still not working. Rick thanked everyone for their help during the Fourth of July activities. Larry McCann mentioned that a mechanic is off work with a back injury, and this is the third one this year. This problem is being addressed through the use of MMIA's educational films. Larry stated that the Fourth of July activities went well. Some complaints were received, and some changes have been proposed for next year. The new sweeper is in the shop. Delivery will be taken on July 20th' as the factory representative will not be available until that date. The shop employees are checking to make sure that the sweeper meets the required specifications. The skidsteer is in and will be used for some paving projects this week. Those projects include paving the FAP parking lot, the road at the Sewer Plant, and pieces of streets that have not been paved. There was discussion regarding the handicap access located on the south side of the Senior Citizens' Center. The concern is that someone would come up the access too fast and then go off into the ditch. Larry said that the ditches in the area by the senior center need to be fixed. Two people use the ditch, one lives inside and one lives outside the city. When the ditches are turned on, they flood the south side. The Ditch Company only accepts responsibility to the headgate. Larry will write letters to these two people telling them that the ditches need to be fixed or they will be filled in. Cai Cumin mentioned that the Federal Highway sent a contract on the grant and the mayor should sign it after receiving council approval. Cal distributed a report from the South Pond Oversight Committee. The report explained the three aspects of the South Pond Project. These include the CTEP Project, the Lions Club activities and the State Trails Grant of $10,000. The gravel pile on the site has been sold and the Lions Club will oversee its removal. The design of the picnic shelters and the planting of the trees are the next steps. Because of cost, fencing for the CTEP Project has been deleted from the project. The Lions will look into some possibilities for fencing. Signs warning that no lifeguard is available, that the water is deep, that the bank is steep, etc. must be placed on the fingers. Gates could also be constructed to prevent access. It is necessary to provide fishing access for the handicapped. The Oversight Committee decided that the State Trails Grant money should be used for building and completing the bench along which the trail will be located along the east side of the pond. The Lions Club would like about $2,000 for rental of a piece of heavy equipment to clear and grab the trail around the pond. The remainder of the money will be used for obtaining seed, fencing material, and signage. Miles Walton thanked the Police Department, the Police Reserves, the Public Works Department, Ken Olson and the Fourth of July Committee for the outstanding job with the Fourth of July activities. Miles thanked Larry, Ken and Rick for their work and thanked the Fire Department for the fireworks display. Miles said that a gentleman is putting water out in the trailer court. Larry and Miles have discussed the ongoing problem and it will be addressed. 2 Bud Johnson expressed accolades to Larry McCann for the recent demolition of a residence on West 5th Street. Joe Leckie explained that there is no legal requirement to have a primary election if there is an insufficient number of candidates. It costs about $5,000 to hold an election. This item was on the agenda. Mayor Rodgers thanked all those who participated in the Fourth of July activities. He received good comments throughout the weekend. Thomas Crockett recently conducted an evaluation of the Police Department. Mr. Crockett commented that the Laurel Police Department is very efficient and professional. His complete evaluation should be received in the near future. Dirk Kroll asked if the impending decision regarding insurance would affect the resolution to ratify the union contract. Larry said that the union has already ratified the contract and the insurance issues are not a contract issue. The statement in the union contract specifies that the health insurance would have a $500 deductible. The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cindy Allen City Council Secretary