Discuss scheduling public meeting on city’s wastewater treatment upgrades
The coming of 2016 led to the organization for the new for the Mountain Lake City Council at their Monday, January 4 regular meeting.
First approved was the council’s 2016 meeting schedule. the council will meet at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month – with the exception of:
+ The second January meeting to be held on Tuesday, January 19.
+ The second February meeting moved to Tuesday, March 1.
+ The second meeting in June changed to Wednesday, June 22.
+ The first July meeting switched to Tuesday, July 5.
+ The first September meeting moved to Tuesday, September 6.
+ Both December meetings to Tuesdays – December 6 and December. 20.
Following review and corrections made, the 2016 Designations and Appointments (to commissions and committees) were also approved.
Meeting date with MPCA to be scheduled
Council members held discussion on when a public meeting should be scheduled with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Both the council and utility commission will be at the meeting with MPCA staff to discuss and review the city’s wastewater treatment upgrades as being required by the MPCA.
No date was set for the public meeting.
In other business
+ Learned that the Mountain Lake Economic Development Authority (EDA) has received a Termination of Contract notice from the Overland Group for a parcel of property located at the intersection of Cottonwood County Road #1 and First Avenue North. Because of this decision, the EDA will be withdrawing its petition to re-zone the property from Industrial (I) to General Commercial (C-2). The Overland Group had planned to construct a retail store (Dollar General) on that site.
+ Adopted Ordinance #1-16 that establishes rates, fees and administrative fines following review and clarity corrections.
+ Called for RICE/NESHAP (Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines/National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants) Compliance Hardware bids for five electric generators. By ordinance, the expected cost of the hardware required that the council, not the utility commission, call for the bids.
+ Heard from Mountain Lake City Clerk/Administrator Wendy Meyer clarifying that the cost of the new police car authorized at the Tuesday, December 22 regular council meeting does not include the cost of installing any equipment. In addition, council members were updated on damage to the Expedition caused by an accident.
+ Approved the water, sewer and electric budgets for 2016 after review.
+ Reviewed and discussed Section 7.03 Sidewalk Regulation and the removal of snow from public sidewalks following a snowstorm. Administrator Meyer will be sending notices to those who have not cleaned their sidewalks following the recent snows.
+ Approved a $.50 per hour increase for all non-union employees, salary increases as per contract for thos employees represented by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) and Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions are per union contract to union and non-union full-time employees.
+ Approved the documents for the Guaranteed Energy Savings Program (GESP) and called for proposals.
+ Approved the Minimum General Fund Balance and Assignment of General Funds after the resolution was reviewed.
+ Adopted the Investment Policy following its review.
+ Accepted an $8,000 gift from the Mountain Lake Fire Relief Association.
+ Heard from Cheryl Hiebert during the Public Forum portion of the council’s meeting agenda. Hiebert addressed the Memory Park litter problem. The park is often littered with garbage even though there are available trash cans. Hiebert has spoken about the problem to the staff of the neighboring The Studio. It was determined by council members that Mountain Lake Community Center rental information should be amended to remind parties using the nearby building to check the park following their event if attendees use the park.
+ Closed the open meeting for 17 minutes to hold a closed meeting, per attorney/client privilege, on City of Mountain Lake v. Kenneth Yoder and Rachel Yoder. After the closed meeting was closed and the open meeting reopened, no action was taken.
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.
