City and AFSCME, LELS negotiations closing in on final contracts
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.
A public meeting to discuss the City of Mountain Lake’s 2017 Budget and Levy preceded the Mountain Lake City’s Council’s Tuesday, December 6 meeting. To open the meeting, Mountain Lake City Administrator/Clerk Wendy Meyer briefly reviewed the preliminary budget and levy.
There was discussion on adjustments to the budget and levy in preparation for adoption at the Monday, December 20 council meeting.
Discussion among the council members and Mountain Lake residents attending the public meeting covered the topics of the increase in value of property, public nuisances, wet basements and the possible 2017 public school referendum.
Contract negotiation between city and AFSCME, LELS continues
The council closed the regular open meeting twice to discuss contract negotiations.
The first closed meeting, to discuss negotiations with Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS), followed an open meeting discussion with Mountain Lake Police Chief Doug Bristol concerning officer uniform allowances and a “fitness-for-duty” memorandum of understanding. The meeting was closed pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 179.01 – 179A.25 to prepare union contract offers and counter offers.
The initial closed meeting was closed, and the open meeting reopened, to address contract negotiations with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). In open meeting, offers prepared by the city and AFSCME were exchanged, reviewed and discussed. It was agreed that a special meeting would be held this Thursday, December 15, to continue negotiations.
The open council meeting was then closed for the second time, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 179.01 – 179A.25, in order to prepare a counter offer.
After the closed meeting was closed, the open meeting was reopened.
In other business
+ Heard from Dean Janzen during the Public Open Forum concerning the dog park currently under consideration. Janzen listed his concerns with the area being considered – location, proximity to Lawcon Park’s shelter and playground equipment, potential damage to grass and trees, animal waste disposal, cost, run-off and liability. He felt that this site could be better used. Janzen suggested the City of Windom be contacted because the city had considered a dog park, but chose not to build one. Council Member David Savage suggested that the City of Springfield, which did construct a dog park, also be contacted. Administrator Meyer will contact both cities. Below is the map of the location west of Lawcon Park currently being considered:
+ Approved payment of $223, 748.10 to Farrabee Mechanical for upgrades to the Municipal Power Plant’s three Fairbanks-Morse generators contingent on the third engine meeting standards, and Mountain Lake Utilities receiving all certifications and other paperwork necessary to document compliance. The generators were upgraded in order to make them compliant with National Emission Standard Hazardous Air Pollutant (NESHAP) standards. Two of the engines were tested on December 6 and met the standards, with the third still needing to be tested. The power plant’s two Caterpillar generators were earlier upgraded.
+ Raised the current city flexible spending account contribution limit from $1,500 to $2,600. The increase was made because the 2017 Internal Revenue Service maximum contract limit was raised to $2,600. This benefit is funded completely by the employee through payroll deductions.
+ Reviewed an updated per diem claim form, and suggested improvements that will be added to the form.
+ Authorized Mountain Lake Mayor Mike Nelson to sign the 2016 Audit Engagement from Dennis E. Oberloh, Ltd., following its review. This is the final year of a three-year contract.
+ Adopted the 2017 Council Meeting Schedule. The council will hold its regular meetings on the first and third Mondays of the month, with the following changes:
- Tuesday, January 3 (due to New Year’s Day observance).
- Tuesday, January 17 (due to the Martin Luther King Day observance).
- Tuesday, February 21 (due to President’s Day observance).
- Wednesday, June 21 (due to Pow Wow). Monday, July 10 and Monday, July 24 (due to Fourth of July observance during the first week of July).
- Tuesday, September 5 (due to Labor Day observance).
- Tuesday, December 5 and Tuesday, December 19 (due to local school holiday events).
+ Tabled any action on the Rustic Path update connected with the Mountain Lake Trail due to the fact that Randy Markl of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been out of the office.
+ Briefly reviewed information about 2016-2017 premium rates and the 2016 dividends with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT).
+ Heard the third and final reading, and adopted Ordinance 11-6, Amendment of Section 3.05, Subdivision 7, Paragraph E.
+ Approved on/off-sale license for Brodar, Inc./The Laker Bar & Grill.
+ The next council meeting will be Tuesday, December 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
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.
