MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

MENNO, SOUTH DAKOTA

January 9, 2006

 

Mayor Larry Tolzin called the city council to order at 7:30 p.m. on January 9, 2006 in the council room at city hall. Council present: Dennis Aisenbrey, Galen Guthmiller, Gary Herman, John Huber, and Darrell Mehlhaf and Finance Officer Peggy Thranum. Superintendent Fred Sayler entered the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Councilman Jerome Kotalik was absent. Erik Kaufman and Marsha Schelske were also present.

 

Aisenbrey moved to approve the agenda with the following addition: Finance Officers’ Meeting Sioux Falls 1/19. Huber seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

Mehlhaf made a motion to pay expenses for Thranum to attend the finance officers’ meeting in Sioux Falls on January 19. Aisenbrey seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

REGULAR MEETING ITEMS: Herman moved to approve the minutes of the December 5 regular meeting and the December 28 special meeting. Guthmiller seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

YEARLY BUSINESS: Huber made a motion to name Menno State Bank as the official depository for 2006. Guthmiller seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

Herman made a motion to name the Hutchinson Herald as the official publication for 2006. Aisenbrey seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

Huber made a motion to set the 2006 bond for the finance officer at $150,000. Aisenbrey seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

Herman made a motion to place an ad in the paper for the following council terms expiring May 1, 2006 – Mayor, Larry Tolzin, 2-year term; Alderman, Ward I, Gary Herman, 2-year term; Alderman, Ward II, Galen Guthmiller, 2-year term; Alderman, Ward III, John Huber, 2-year term. The following will be appointed to the election board: Joan Nusz, Judge, Ward I; Joyce Heirigs, Clerk, Ward II; and Lorraine Mammenga, Superintendent, Ward III. They will be paid $75 for the day and $10 for election school. Mehlhaf seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

Guthmiller made a motion to designate the meeting room at city hall as the official polling place for all wards of the City of Menno for the municipal election to be held Tuesday, April 11, 2006. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Huber seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

REGULAR MEETING ITEMS: Guthmiller made a motion to release the following annual contributions: Library-2000.00, School-Gym-2000.00, and Museum 500.00. Herman seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

Huber made a motion to approve the December finance report. Aisenbrey seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

FINANCE REPORT:

 

  General

  Water

   Sewer

Garbage

Perpetual Care

Sales Tax

Totals

Checking 12-1-05 Balance:

95,843.16

52,987.83

16,833.45

29,564.33

1,626.28

17,962.04

214,817.09

     Warrants:

(51,267.04)

(6,682.81)

(3,639.01)

(5,287.86)

 

0.00

(66,876.72)

     Receipts:

34,829.82

6,701.39

4,135.67

6,048.50

150.00

9,175.06

61,040.44

     Interest:

55.42

36.19

11.83

20.70

 

18.53

142.67

Checking 12-29-05 Balance

79,461.36

53,042.60

17,341.94

30,345.67

1,776.28

27,155.63

209,123.48

Water Restricted Cash

 

(2,950.00)

 

 

Restricted

 

(2,950.00)

General Purpose CD's

50,000.00

 

 

 

Account

 

50,000.00

Designated Purpose CD's

46,582.46

 

11,605.41

502.03

43,646.00

 

102,335.90

Total Cash Assets:

176,043.82

50,092.60

28,947.35

30,847.70

45,422.28

27,155.63

358,509.38

Profit or (Loss) for the month

(16,381.80)

54.77

508.49

781.34

150.00

9,193.59

(5,693.61)

 

 

RECEIPTS: Water 6591.39; Sewer 3960.67; Garbage 5988.50; Late Fees 90.00; Ambulance 854.87; City Hall Rent, South Central Child Development 15.00; Tree & Park CD Interest 4.38; Liquor License Renewals-Off Sale Schnitz 400.00 & Pit Stop 400.00 – On Sale Legion 100.00, Beer Garden 1400.00, & Schnitz 1400.00; Bad Check Fee, Lonnie Schultz 20.00 & Mona Haase 20.00; Principal Financial Group, Dividend 148.20; Cemetery CD Interest 55.83; Cemetery Lot (2), Ken Bertsch 150.00; Sales Tax 1% 9175.06 & 2% 9152.01; 5% License 404.90; Mobile Home Tax Nov’ 04 490.65; Real Estate Taxes Nov. ’04, 19,431.28; Penalty & Interest Nov ‘04 59.87; Mowing Assessment, Emily Auch 220.00; Mowing Assessment-Penalty & Interest 12.83; Water-Off Fee, Ida Mae Chance 10.00; Deposit, James Pond 100.00; Sewer Tap, SD DOT 175.00; RU Site-Shingles, Herrboldt Construction 50.00; White Goods, Ron Mettler 10.00;  Perpetual Care Cemetery Lot (2), Ken Bertsch 150.00; Interest Earned 142.67. Total Receipts: $61,183.11.

 

WARRANTS APPROVED: Utilities: Golden West Co., Phone 256.02; Verizon Wireless, Police Cell Phone 69.12. Water Fund: B-Y Water, 1.030 M. Gallons 2740.00; Board of Operator Certification, License Renewal-Fred Sayler 12.00 & Roger Heckenlaible 6.00; Ken’s Electric, heater-pump house 765.00; One Call Systems, Locates 5.18; Petty Cash, Postage 8.71; SD Work Comp, 429.44. Sewer Fund: Board of Operator Certification, License Renewal-Fred Sayler 12.00 & Roger Heckenlaible 12.00; DENR, Wastewater Permit Fee 750.00; One Call Systems. Locates 5.17; Petty Cash, Postage .60; SD State Treasurer, Excise Tax 10.71; SD Work Comp, 322.08. Garbage Fund: Petty Cash, Supply 2.20; Second Century Publishing, Ad 23.80; SD State Treasurer, Sales Tax 222.91; SD Work Comp 214.72. General Fund: Brown & Saenger, Office Supply 52.67; Menno Community Library, Annual Contribution 2000.00; Menno Historical Society Museum, Annual Contribution 500.00; Menno Public School, Annual Contribution-Gym 2000.00; Mettler Implement, Snow Removal 90.00; Municipal Street Maintenance, 2006 Dues 35.00; Petty Cash Supplies 8.97; Planning & Development-District III, 2006 Dues 910.00; Principal Life, Group Insurance 308.83; Second Century Publishing, Minutes-Ads-1 year subscription 385.40; SD Assoc. Of Code Enforcement, 2006 Dues 40.00; SD Government Finance Officers’ Assoc., 2006 Dues 20.00; SD Human Resources Assoc., 2006 Dues 25.00; SD Municipal Attorneys’ Assoc., 2006 Dues 20.00; SD Municipal League, 2006 Dues 565.08; SD Police Chiefs’ Assoc., 2006 Dues 96.02; SDML Workers’ Comp Fund, 2006 Work Comp 4401.76. Warrants Approved: $17,302.59.

 

Guthmiller made a motion to approve the warrants as presented. Herman seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

OLD BUSINESS: The council has studied pay for ambulance personnel from surrounding communities for the past few months, trying to find a way to encourage more people to become EMT’s. Ambulance Director Marsha Schelske presented the council with a proposal for ambulance personnel pay. Herman made a motion to pay ambulance personnel the following: EMT Base Rate – $20/hour minimum, EMT-Intermediate Rate – $25/hour minimum, EVOC Drivers –$11/hour minimum, Mutual Aid or No Transport Calls (DOA-MVA) Base Rate, Standby for football games (1 EMT-billed to the school) Base Rate, EMT Continuing Education Classes, Base Rate (Need to be present at class to be paid). Aisenbrey seconded, all present in favor.

 

YEARLY BUSINESS: Huber made a motion to approve the following wage listing for 2006:

Salaried Monthly:                               Mayor                                                                                                                    $150.00 p/mo                                                                                         (Have to be present at meetings to be paid.)                                                   $ 25.00 p/mtg

                                                                (Have to be present at meetings to be paid.)                                                   $ 25.00 p/sp mtg

                                                                Council Members                                                                                                $  75.00 p/mo

                                                                (Have to be present at meetings to be paid.)                                                   $  25.00 p/mtg

                                                                (Have to be present at meetings to be paid.)                                                   $  25.00 p/sp mtg

Adella Auch, Cleans City Hall                                                                          $107.12 p/mo

Cemetery Sexton                                                                                 $117.83 p/mo

Any council member (including the Mayor) that attends a meeting for the city will be paid $25.00 per day.     

Salaried Hourly:                  Attorney                                                                                                                $76.00 p/hr

Finance Officer                                                                                                   $10.18 p/hr

Police Chief                                                                                                          $13.01 p/hr

                                                                Relief Police, Certified                                                                                      $10.92 p/hr

                                                                Relief Police, Part-time (Uncertified)                                                             $  8.32 p/hr

Street Superintendent                                                                  $13.01 p/hr

Ambulance Personnel                                                                                        $20.00 p/hr minimum

                                                                Ambulance Personnel –EMT-I (ALS Trips Only)                                          $25.00 p/hr minimum                                                                            EVOC Drivers                                                                                                     $11.00 p/hr minimum

                                                                Ambulance-Mutual Aid or No Transport Calls (DOA-MVA)     $20.00 p/hr minimum

                                                                Ambulance-Continuing Education Classes                                    $20.00 p/hr minimum

                                                                Ambulance- Standby - (Football Games-1 EMT-school billed)    $20.00 p/hr minimum

Maintenance - Parks                                                                                         $  6.43 p/hr

Economic Development Coordinator                                                                $10.18 p/hr                            

                                                                Librarian                                                                                                              $  8.32 p/hr

                                                                Water/Sewer Superintendent                                                                           $13.01 p/hr

                                                                RU Site Manager                                                                                 $  6.97 p/hr

                                                                Other RU Site Personnel                                                                                  $  6.16 p/hr

                                                                Clean “Old Fire Station” Meeting Room                                                       $  5.51 p/hr

Guthmiller seconded, all present in favor, motion carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS: Aisenbrey made a motion to advertise for a pool manager. Herman seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

OLD BUSINESS: “To Do List”: A new, vented heater has been installed at the pump house. We are looking for someone to help Randy Quast keep the Christmas lights in working order. A truck pulled down the garland that goes across the street. The pole it is attached to is broken and needs to be replaced.

 

NEW BUSINESS: Mehlhaf made a motion to hire a professional exterminator to inspect some homes for cockroaches. Guthmiller seconded, all present in favor; motion carried. Our maintenance personnel will ask property owners’ permission to have their property inspected. (Homes will be selected at random to protect privacy.) The exterminator will inspect the property. If bugs are found, it is the property owner’s responsibility to have them sprayed and continue to do so until they are gone. If the property owner refuses, the city will have it sprayed and collect from the property owner by whatever means the city attorney suggests. We have one quote for $50 to inspect one home, but would receive a reduced rate, depending on how many homes are inspected. Other sources will be contacted and the best quote will be hired.

 

Schelske left the meeting at 8 p.m.

 

The council gave permission to have the police cell phone upgraded.

 

Herman made a motion to purchase 6 safety vests for the maintenance personnel to wear when they work on the roads. Huber seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

We received notice form the Department of Health that we need to apply for a Certificate of Waiver from the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment Certificate that will cost us $150 every two years. This is something we need to comply with for our Medicare/Medicaid Provider Agreement for the ambulance. Huber made a motion to apply for the CLIA Certificate of Waiver. Guthmiller seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

Mehlhaf made a motion to approve the following fire chief’s 2005 Year End Report and the list of officers and members of the Menno Volunteer Fire Department, with corrections. Aisenbrey seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

2005 Year End Report: Rural – 7 Grass Fires, 0 Loss, Wagon/Wheat Field Fire, $254 Loss, Hay Fire, $400 Loss, House Fire, Unknown Loss; Power Pole Fire, $700 Loss and 1 smoking clothes dryer, 0 Loss; City – Menno, Storm Clean-up, Unknown Loss and Olivet, 1 Gas Detection, 0 Loss; MVA, 3 Assists, $19,200 Loss and Mutual Aid - 1 Lesterville, Hay-Silage Fire (correction-$7000 loss went to Lesterville Fire Department). A total of 39.5 hours were spent on the 19 calls with an average of 13 firemen responding to each call. 

Officers: Fire Chief, Shannon Herrboldt, Assistant Chief, Jai Walter; Secretary-Treasurer, Gary Herman; Foreman-City Truck, Jerry Fischer; Foreman-Rural Truck, John Huber; Foreman- Rural Grass Unit, Daniel Mettler; Foreman-Department Grass Unit, Wesley Schaeffer; Foreman-Rescue Unit, Chris Buchmann; Foreman-Tanker, Scott Simonsen.

Members: David Bender, Tim Bender, Ron Diede, (correction-add David Fischer), Matt Fischer, Tom Fischer, Terry Goehring, Mark Hento, Brad Knutson, Jerome Kotalik, Greg Liebl, Ron Luikens, Audrey Maas, Fred Sayler, Marsha Schelske, Roger Simonsen, and Mike Walter.

 

Mehlhaf made a motion to pay expenses for Thranum to attend the Annual Report Workshop in Sioux Falls on January 20. Aisenbrey seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

Huber made a motion to pay expenses for those city officers’ that wish to attend Municipal Government Day in Pierre February 2. Mehlhaf seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

Guthmiller made a motion to approve the court appointed rates set by the State of South Dakota for attorney fees, $76/hour as of January 1, 2006 Herman seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

 

The council received notice from Mediacom that the monthly rate for Family Cable service will increase by $2 beginning January 15, 2006. Mediacom received considerable feedback from their customers and local franchise authorities about their pending removal of RFD and are please to announce they will continue carriage of RFD in its current channel position.

 

For Your Information: The minutes of the December development meeting and SEFP report were included in the council packets.

 

Aisenbrey made a motion to adjourn at 8:20 p.m. until Monday, February 6, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. Guthmiller seconded, all present in favor.

 

ATTEST:                                                                    CITY OF MENNO, SOUTH DAKOTA

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

Peggy Thranum, Finance Officer                                    Larry Tolzin, Mayor