Agree to make revision to city ordinance, policies concerning utility deposits
THE MOUNTAIN LAKE City Council. Seated front, from left, Council Member Dana Kass, Mayor Mike Nelson and Council Member Darla Kruser. Standing back, Council Member Andrew Ysker, left and Council Member David Savage, right.
At their Monday, November 22 meeting, the Mountain Lake City Council set the 2017 water, sanitary sewer and electric rates.
Water and sewer rates will increase 2%, electric rates will increase an average of 4.5% and individual electric classes will see increases ranging from 3.3% to 6.7% depending on the class.
The rate increases were recommended in studies prepared by Missouri River Energy Services and Northland Securities. The Utility Commission had also reviewed the rates at a Thursday, November 10 meeting, and recommended to the council the rate raises as posted in the rate studies.
Change coming to utility deposits
By consensus, council members agreed that the $100 vendor utility deposit be eliminated, and directed Mountain Lake City Attorney Maryellen Suhrhoff to revise the city’s ordinances and policies to reflect the change, effective January 1, 2017.
The decision to make the change came following a review of an informal survey of other cities in regard to utility deposits for people purchasing or selling property by contract for deed.
The Municipal Utility currently requires a $250 deposit from the purchaser (vendee) and a $100 deposit of the seller (vendor).
In the informal survey, some cities responded that they require larger deposits from the vendee than for a property owner. No other city that responded requires a deposit from the vendor.
In other business
+ Learned that much of the site preparation work for the new sub-station project has been completed by Mathiowetz Construction of Sleepy Eye. On the request of Mike Thielen of Utilities Plus Energy Services, the project engineer, the council called for bids on the sub-station’s masonry work.
+ Agreed by consensus that an area in the southwest corner of Lawcon Park, at the intersection of Prince Street and Golf Course Road, is the preferred location for a dog park. A sketch of the site, possible amenities, location of fences, mowing, protection of trees and other concerns were discussed. Council Member Darla Kruser and a group of volunteers, along with assistance of city staff, were directed to prepare a detailed plan of the project, including size, fencing, benches, water and other amenities, rules and cost for the council’s review and approval. Below is a map of the location of the proposed dog park:
+ Tabled a decision on the rustic path off the Mountain Lake Trail until the requested Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ permission and limitations for the path is received in writing. The path is located on the north side of Mountain Lake and provides a path to a bench.
+ Heard about a Utility Commission recommendation of an amendment to city code so that the utility account affiliated with a property where a theft or other unlawful act has occurred be billed for the cost of determining and repairing the damage, the unmetered usage and fined.
+ Learned that additional language and revisions addressing Mountain Lake Area Chamber of Commerce functions for the Economic Development Authority and Chamber staff, and the Drug and Alcohol Policy, should be added to the policy. Adoption was tabled to a future meeting.
+ Approved the off-sale license for Uncle B’s Liquor Store.
+ Reviewed, discussed and explained the offers made by Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) and the city concerning contract negotiation. The open meeting was closed, and the closed meeting opened, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 179.01 – 179A.25, to prepare a union contract counter offer. The closed meeting was closed and the open meeting was reopened, with the offer prepared by the city given to the union for their review and consideration.
+ Listed two upcoming council meeting date changes, and one time change. The next council meeting will be Tuesday, December 6, beginning at 6 p.m. and Tuesday, December 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
+ Reviewed and discussed the 2017 designations and appointments:
Elected Officials
Mayor Mike Nelson – Term expires 12/31/18
Council Member David Savage – Term expires 12/31/20
Council Member Darla Kruser – Term expires 12/31/20
Council Member Andrew Ysker – Term expires 12/31/18
Council Member Dana Kass – Term expires 12/31/18
Annual Designations and Appointments
* Reappointment
** New appointment
+ Street Department – *Mike Nelson
+ Acting Mayor – *David Savage
+ Official Legal Publication – *Observer/Advocate
+ City Attorney – *Muske, Muske & Suhrhoff, Ltd.
+ City Forester and Weed Inspector – *Rick Oeltjenbruns
+ Emergency Management Director – *Douglas Bristol
+ Fire Chief – **Tim Coners
+ Ambulance Corps Director – *David Watkins
+ HIPAA Privacy Officer – *Wendy Meyer
+ Data Practices Compliance Officer – *Wendy Meyer
+ City Assessor – *Cottonwood County
+ Salary Negotiations – *Council
+ Official City Depository – *United Prairie Bank and *Northland Securities
Boards and Commissions
+ Library Board (5 members 3-year term)
*Diane Englin – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Vicki Krueger – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Dennis Chords – 1/1/15 to 12/31/17
*Marci Hernandez – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*Barrie Wright – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*Darla Kruser, City Council Liaison
+ Utilities Commission (5 members, 3-year term)
*Mike Johnson – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Mark Langland – 1/1/15 to 12/31/17
*Brett Lohrenz – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*Todd Johnson – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*John Carrison – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*David Savage, City Council Liaison
+ Planning and Zoning Commission (7 members, 3-year term)
*Bryan Bargen – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Tim Swoboda – 1/1/15 to 12/31/17
*Nik Strom – 1/1/15 to 12/31/17
*Sharron Hanson – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*Douglas Regehr – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*Dean Janzen – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*Steve Carson, Building Inspector
*Dana Kass, Ex Officio
+ Housing and Redevelopment Authority (5 members, 5-year term)
*Clara Johnson – 1/1/17-12/31/21
*James Crawford – 1/1/13 to 12/31/17
*Stan Schroeder – 1/1/14 to 12/31/18
*Merv Rempel – 1/1/15 to 12/31/19
*Yvonne Hildebrandt – 1/1/16 to 12/31/20
+ Economic Development Authority (7 members; appointed members, 6-year term and council representatives, 2-year term)
*Darla Kruser, Council – 1/1/17 to 12/31/18
*Mike Nelson, Council – 1/1/17 to 12/31/18
*Mark Hanson – 1/1/17 to 12/31/22
*Brian Harder – 1/1/13 to 12/31/18
*Steve Syverson – 1/1/14 to 12/31/19
*Vern Peterson – 1/1/15 to 12/31/20
*Jerry Haberman – 1/1/15 to 12/31/20
*Clara Johnson, Advisory
+ Lake Commission (7 members, 3-year term)
*Jean Haberman – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Heather Funk – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Jim Peterson – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Open Seat – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Jason Kruser – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*Mike James – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*David Bucklin – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*Lester Rupp, Advisory
*Tim Klassen, Advisory
*Christine Bennett, Advisory
*Mike Nelson, City Council Liaison
+ Police Commission (5 members, 3-year term)
*Susan Garloff – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Christopher Boldt – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Garret Wall – 1/1/15 to 12/31/17
*Charles Witt – 1/1/15 to 12/31/17
*Norm Kunkel – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*Brian Lunz, Advisory
*Andrew Ysker, City Council Liaison
+ Tree Board (5 members, 3-year term)
*Steve Harder – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*Open Seat – 1/1/17 to 12/31/19
*David Bucklin – 1/1/15 to 12/31/17
*Jerry Logue – 1/1/15 to 12/31/17
*Gary Hildebrandt – 1/1/16 to 12/31/18
*Mike Nelson, City Council Liaison
*Rick Oeltjenbruns, Advisory
*Judy Harder, Advisory
+ Fire Department
**Tim Coners, Chief
**Patrick Oja, Assistant Chief
*David Watkins, President
*Steve Peters, Treasurer
*Jason Kruser, Secretary
*Daron Friesen, Grass Rig Maintenance
*Tim Janzen, New Pumper Maintenance
*Rick Oeltjenbruns, Tanker Maintenance
*Patrick Oja and *Robert Gohr, Rescue Vehicle Maintenance
*Andrew Ysker, Old Pumper Maintenance
*Robert Gohr and *Patrick Oja, Training Officers
+ Ambulance Service
*David Watkins, Captain
*Emily Adrian, Assistant Captain
*Tim Janzen, Secretary/Treasurer
*Paula Barnes and *Mark Warner, Training Officers
*Neal Wenner, Maintenance
Tentative 2017 meeting schedule
The tentative 2017 meeting schedule of the council places the January, February, March, April and December meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of those months (rather than the first and third Mondays).
The remainder of the calendar of council meetings will be held on the traditional first and third Mondays of the month – with the exception of the second meeting n June, which has been rescheduled to Monday, June 22 due to the annual Pow Wow celebration and the first meeting in September, which was moved to Tuesday, September 8 because of the Monday, September 7 Labor Day observance.
City of Mountain Lake Meeting Dates
+ Mountain Lake City Council meets the first and third Mondays of every month at 6:30 p.m.
+ Utilities Commission meets the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 7 a.m.
+ Economic Development Authority (EDA) meets the second Friday of every month at 12 noon.
+ Lake Commission meets the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
+ Library Board meets the second Wednesday of every month at 4:45 p.m.
+ Police Commission meets the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.
+ Planning and Zoning meets the last Monday of the month, if needed.
+ Tree Commission meets quarterly – January, April, July and October – at 7:45 p.m.
