MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL

MENNO, SOUTH DAKOTA

July 23, 2007

The purpose of this meeting was to swear in councilmen for Wards II and III, confer with the city engineer concerning ongoing projects and to figure the 2008 Budget.

Present at this meeting were: Mayor Larry Tolzin, Councilmen Dennis Aisenbrey, Galen Guthmiller (entered at 7:22 p.m.), Gary Herman, John Huber, Jerome Kotalik (entered at 7:03 p.m.), Darrell Mehlhaf, Superintendent Fred Sayler and Finance Officer Peggy Thranum. Bruce Anderson, Jerome Hoff, Bill & Judy Headley and Brent Rames were also present.

Mayor Tolzin called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

Motion by Huber, second by Herman, to approve the agenda; all present in favor.

Darrell Mehlhaf was sworn in as councilman for Ward II and Jerome Kotalik was sworn in as councilman for Ward III.

It was decided not to enforce water restrictions at this time.

Huber moved to figure $4000 for the Athletic Club into the 2008 Budget. Kotalik seconded; all present in favor.

Herman moved to figure $500 for the Museum into the 2008 Budget. Aisenbrey seconded; all present in favor.

Mehlhaf moved to figure $1000 into the 2008 Budget for Junior Legion Baseball. Huber seconded; all present in favor.

Mehlhaf made a motion to figure $1500 into the auditorium budget to cover our share of the cost estimate for repairing the basement floor in the old gym. Aisenbrey seconded; all present in favor.

City Engineer Vernon Arens entered the meeting at 7:15 p.m. He stated there is very minimal drainage on Pine Street, one-tenth of a percent slope between Poplar and Juniper Street. When information is received from the DOT concerning the Highway 18 project, he will have a better idea what we can actually do for a storm sewer

Mehlhaf made a motion to allow the Care Center to install a culvert for a driveway at the Day Care. Kotalik seconded; all present in favor. Judy Headley left the meeting at 7:27 p.m.

Discussion was had on installing a storm sewer on Heil Street in the alley between East and Pine Streets and tying into the storm sewer on the highway to allow for drainage of the alleys all the way to the south. This will also have to wait until information concerning the highway project is received.

Douglas Street, between Fourth and Third Streets, is basically flat; there’s no drainage at all. From the corner of Third and Douglas south there is about an inch drop. Thirteen to fifteen inches of fill would have to be removed to get the water to run west to the corner of Third Street. The property owners will be contacted. Further discussion is tabled to the next meeting.

Preliminary plans won’t be received from the state for 4-6 weeks.

Brent Rames and Vernon Arens left the meeting at 7:47 p.m.

The council agreed to allow the Legion to replace their sidewalk and to have a light installed on the pole in front of the Legion. The city’s policy is to provide asphalt up to the gutter at no expense to the property owner if curb and gutter is installed and a request is made at a regular meeting.

Anderson, Hoff and Bill Headley left the meeting at 8 p.m.

Mehlhaf made a motion to raise the pool fees for the 2008 season passes as follows: $70 for a family pass and $40 for a single pass. Huber seconded; all present in favor. The seven-day passes will be for patrons outside the Menno area, not for local patrons.

The council agreed to take the finance officers salary out of the following departments and funds for 2008: Finance 50%, Ambulance 10%, Economic Development 10%, Water 10%, Sewer 10% and Garbage 10%.

Mehlhaf made a motion to figure a 3% cost of living raise for the part-time employees and to figure retirement for any that work over 20 hours a week. A 3% cost of living raise will be figured for the general property taxes. Guthmiller seconded; all present in favor.

Aisenbrey moved to adjourn at 9:00 p.m. Guthmiller seconded, all present in favor, motion carried.

ATTEST:

____________________________ _______________________

Peggy Thranum, Finance Officer Larry Tolzin, Mayor