Review Capital Improvement Plan
Mike Johnson of Hometown Sanitation updated the Mountain Lake City Council on the company’s garbage hauling rates at the city government group’s Wednesday, June 21 meeting. Johnson also responded to questions and comments during Hometown’s slot on the agenda.
The current contract with Hometown reads, “Beginning on April 1, 2017, the price shall increase by 2.5% annually, and the City will be notified of new rates one month prior to their effective date.” Johnson explained that Hometown did not increase rates April 1, but would like to do so as of July 1.
He also acknowledged that the July 1 date does not meet the required 30-day notice, and requested the council waive it.
The new rates were reviewed, and methods of notifying residents were discussed.
By consensus, the council agreed that the new rates can become effective on July 1.
Capital Improvement Plan Review
The Street/Parks Department plan, specifically the replacement of the current 1997 Champion motor grader within the next several years and the replacement of the pay loader in five or more years were discussed during review of this part of the draft Capital Improvement plan.
Champion motor graders are no longer manufactured, and finding parts for the city’s 1997 grader is becoming an issue.
Brian Thilges of RDO Equipment Inc. of Mankato was on hand to discuss base state bids of John Deere and Caterpillar motor graders, the pros and cons of leasing, warranties, determining when to trade/purchase new equipment, trade-in values and equipment rental.
Also discussed was the equipment rotation schedules of other cities, counties and townships.
Staff was directed to get quotes for tuck-pointing the remaining portion of the power plant, as well as replacing the building’s ceiling. It was agreed that a quote for tuck-pointing the Mountain Lake City Park Bandstand should also be requested.
In other business
+ Reviewed and approved the list of tax-forfeited properties for sale. Cottonwood County will be demolishing the buildings at 1308 4th Avenue and 826 10th Street North. There was discussion on other properties in the city that are in poor condition and should be demolished. Administrator Meyer will contact the owners of these properties and check if property taxes are current.
+ Reviewed a public nuisance summary. Questions were asked about specific properties. No action was taken.
+ Adopted Mountain Lake Fire & Rescue’s Mutual Aid Agreement with the Southwest Fire Department Association and the West Central Fire Department Association following review and discussion.
+ Reviewed the Richard Lohrenz fire call. Information regarding the matter was shared by Mountain Lake City Administrator/Clerk Wendy Meyer, and discussed. Additional questions were raised. Administrator Meyer will gather additional information for discussion at a future meeting.
+ Reviewed and discussed a letter from an attorney representing the property owner at 812½ 5th Avenue concerning a fire call billing. The bill will not be withdrawn or the amount owed decreased.
+ Heard the second reading of of city ordinance concerning the Mountain Lake Rural Service District. The ordinance adds six undeveloped agricultural parcels to the existing rural service district. No action was taken. The required public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, July 17.
+ Approved payment of $90,000 to Farabee Mechanical for material and labor for a portion of the new sub-station project that was awarded on February 6.
+ Set the Mountain Lake Community Center rental rate for Georgia’s Dance Elements at $10 per day. The studio rented the center during the past school year for that same fee, and requested that the rent remain the same for the 2017-2018. The business uses the community center three evenings a week.
+ Tabled the video/audio broadcasting/rebroadcasting of city council meetings until the Monday, August 7 meeting.
+ Approved the hiring of Ian Glassic as a Summer Electric Department Worker as of June 9.
+ Approved a donation to the Mountain Lake Pow Wow Road Race.
+ Reviewed and amended the list of upcoming meetings. Mayor Mike Nelson discussed the June 12 Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) School Board meeting he had attended. Council Member Darla Kruser will attend the Monday, June 26 meeting of the school government meeting.
+ Heard from Ron Melson, Electric Superintendent during Public Forum. Melson was at the meeting to discuss the journeyman program with council members. The lineman who left city employment in May had completed the three-to-four-year program. Melson would like to offer the program to the eventual new hire, but asked for council approval before doing so. There was discussion on requiring the employee to sign an agreement to remain with the city for a year or two after completing the program. By consensus, the council agreed that the program would be offered to he eventual new hire. Mountain Lake City Attorney Maryellen Suhrhoff and Administrator Meyer were directed to prepare a draft agreement for discussion at the next council meeting.
+ The Mountain Lake City Council meetings during July will be held on Monday, July 10 and Monday, July 24, 7 p.m., at Mountain Lake City Hall.
+ Mayor Mike Nelson will be attending the Monday, June 26 Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) School Board meeting.
+ The public hearing on city ordinance concering adding parcels to the Mountain Lake Rural Service District will be held on Monday, July 17.
+ The next “Coffee With The Council” will be held on Tuesday, August 15, 9:30 a.m., at Sweetfields. Attending will be Council Member Darla Kruser and Mayor Mike Nelson.
2017 meeting schedule
Council meetings will be held on the traditional first and third Mondays of the month – with the exception of:
- The second meeting in June has been rescheduled to Thursday, June 22 due to the annual Pow Wow celebration.
- Both July meetings were rescheduled to the Fourth of July on Tuesday, July 4. The first meeting of the month will be Monday, July 10 and the second, July 24.
- The first meeting in September has been shifted to Tuesday, September 5 due to the observance of Labor Day on Monday, September 4.
- New dates have been scheduled for both meetings in December due to local school holiday events. The first meeting of the month will be on Tuesday, December 5 and the second on Tuesday, December 19.
- Meeting start times are 7 p.m.
City of Mountain Lake Meeting Dates
+ Mountain Lake City Council meets the first and third Mondays of every month at 7 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.
