MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

MENNO, SOUTH DAKOTA

December 3, 2010

 

Mayor Darrell Mehlhaf called the city council to order at 7:30 p.m. on December 3, 2010 in the finance office at city hall. Roll Call: Darrell Mehlhaf, Ronald Diede, Jerry Fischer, Jerome Hoff and Jerome Kotalik. Galen Guthmiller and Scott Simonsen absent; a quorum was present. Others present: Finance Officer Peggy Thranum, Superintendent Fred Sayler, Editor Erik Kaufman and Aaron Matthaei.

 

Kotalik moved to approve the agenda with the following addition: List house. Fischer seconded; all ayes.

 

A thank you was read from the Klaudt family.

                                               

REGULAR MEETING ITEMS: Hoff moved to approve the minutes of the November 1 regular meeting. Diede seconded; all ayes.

 

Fischer moved to approve the November finance report. Hoff seconded; all ayes.

 

FINANCE REPORT:

 

  General

  Water

   Sewer

Perpetual Care

Totals

Checking Balance 10/29/10

226,469.97

24,820.56

15,925.28

1,869.28

269,085.09

     Warrants:

(30,991.28)

(9,112.77)

(3,644.05)

0.00

(43,748.10)

     Receipts:

73,376.63

9,091.17

5,961.00

0.00

88,428.80

     Interest:

52.36

4.80

3.53

 

60.69

Month End Checking  Balance 11/30/10

268,907.68

24,803.76

18,245.76

1,869.28

313,826.48

Water Deposits Held

 

(4,200.00)

 

Restricted

(4,200.00)

Water Reserve $300/mo (1st 11/2010)

(300.00)

 

 

(300.00)

General Purpose CD

50,000.00

 

 

Account

50,000.00

Designated Purpose CD's

118,151.96

53,079.07

58,114.54

50,981.48

280,327.05

Total Cash Assets:

437,059.64

73,382.83

76,360.30

52,850.76

639,653.53

Profit or (Loss) for the month

42,437.71

(16.80)

2,320.48

0.00

44,741.39

 

Diede moved to approve the following warrants. Kotalik seconded; all ayes.

 

WARRANTS APPROVED: Payroll: Council 480.63; Mayor 161.61; Finance 986.05; Building 124.91; Police 2680.37; Streets 1921.99; Garbage 667.95; Cemetery 121.29; Ambulance 408.95; Parks 134.98; Library 256.82; Development 145.20; Water 958.28; Sewer 958.29; Group Insurance: Wellmark BCBS, 2564.96; Principal Life 768.04; Avesis, vision 47.98; AFLAC 143.64; Menno State Bank, payroll taxes 2608.93; SDRS, retirement 1299.01. Professional Services: Rocky Zeeb’s Garbage Service, 283 residential 3537.50. Utilities: Golden West, Phone 322.88; NorthWestern Energy, electricity 1429.42; Verizon Wireless, police cell phone 36.26. NSF Check, utilities, Carla Gummert, 59.00 & Maelisa Goldammer, 68.33; Avera Queen of Peace, testing 153.80; Banyon Data Systems, winpay support 770.00-backup storage 99.00; Bertsch Law Office, legal fees 646.38; BPI, supplies 237.98; B-Y Water, 1.376 M gallons water 4808.00; CU Greenhouse, supply 38.78; Deposit Refund, Neta Byers Welch 100.00; Dept of Revenue, sewer samples 171.00; Handel Excavation, RU Site R&M 357.14; Ken’s Electric, city hall furnace R&M 77.19; Klaudt Service, fuel 1313.72; Maxwell Signs, golf cart stickers 75.00; Menno Food Market, supplies 36.60; Menno Lumber, supplies 71.40; Menno School 1st ¼ payment bleachers 1874.25 & electrical hookup 270.28; Mettler Implement R&M 45.81; Petty Cash-General, supplies 37.63; SD State Treasurer, sales tax garbage 242.59, gravel 3.60 & copies .06; SCPI, publishing 227.41; SD One Call, locates 11.55; Team Laboratory, lift station degreaser 835.51; Vantek, FD radio supplies 66.25.

 

SCHEDULED BUSINESS: City Engineer Vernon Arens entered the meeting at 7:40 p.m. He made the recommended revisions to the wastewater study and it has been approved. One of DENR’s recommendations was to proceed with the Park Street/Fifth, High & Pearl Streets north of Highway 18 Sanitary Sewer Project to eliminate the need for a lift station. After this has been placed on the State Water Plan, we will see what type of funding, grants and loan forgiveness we would receive before we would continue with this project.

 

Studies at our lift station show that we have a lot of ground water seepage or sump pumps emptying into our system, in excess of 30 gallons per person per day. This excess amounts to 21,870 gallons/day, 656,100 gallons/month or 7,873,200 gallons/year that is treated by our system! This type of infiltration increases our energy/treatment costs, over taxes our pumps wearing them out sooner and shortens the life cycle of our sewer ponds. He recommends a strong ordinance against sump pumps emptying into our sewer. It’s obvious that we need to do something about the infiltration problem. Arens left at 8 p.m.

 

OLD BUSINESS: “To Do List”: Hoff moved to have Mettler’s mow the bottom of the drainage ditch around the NE side of town to allow for good drainage next spring. Diede seconded; all ayes.

 

NEW BUSINESS: Since the notice for the liquor hearings did not get in the paper, Fischer moved to hold a hearing December 16 at 5:30 p.m. for the renewal of the following liquor licenses. Hoff seconded; all ayes.

  1. Renewal - Package (Off-Sale) Liquor – Thomas R. Fischer, d.b.a. The Schnitz, N. 24’ of Lot 3, Block 2 & S 27’ of Lot 2, Block 2, Original Plat, City of Menno.
  2. Renewal - Retail (On-Sale) Liquor with Sunday Privilege – Thomas R. Fischer, d.b.a. The Schnitz, N. 24’ of Lot 3, Block 2 & S 27’ of Lot 2, Block 2, Original Plat, City of Menno.
  3. Renewal - Package (Off-Sale) Liquor – Ruth Mettler, d.b.a., The Beer Garden, Lots 9-10, Block 2, Original Plat, City of Menno.
  4. Renewal - Retail (On-Sale) Liquor with Sunday Privilege – Ruth Mettler, d.b.a., The Beer Garden, Lots 9-10, Block 2, Original Plat, City of Menno.

 

Diede moved to hold a special meeting December 28 at 5:30 p.m. to conclude business for 2010. Fischer seconded; all ayes.

 

Fischer moved to begin winter hours at the restricted use site this month. Winter hours are the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 9 a.m.12 noon, weather permitting. Diede seconded; all ayes. (NOTE: The site will not be open the fourth Saturday in December as it is Christmas Day.)

 

Fischer moved to table further discussion concerning the library to the December 28th meeting. Hoff seconded; all ayes.

 

Hoff moved to table further discussion concerning on/off fees-unoccupied residences to the July, 2011 meeting. Diede seconded; all ayes.

 

Hoff moved to adopt the following resolution; Kotalik seconded. Roll call-Diede, Fischer, Hoff and Kotalik voting aye, Guthmiller and Simonsen absent; motion carried.

RESOLUTION NO. #11 – 12/6/2010

 

RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SALE, OR TRANSFER OF SOLID WASTE OR BY-PRODUCTS, RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, OR SCRAP FROM RESTRICTED USE SITE.

 

                WHEREAS, the City of Menno has a restricted use site that collects solid waste or by-products, recyclable materials, and scrap materials; and

 

WHEREAS at times such materials have value, although often only slight value; and

 

WHEREAS it would be in the best interest of the City of Menno to sell or transfer such materials without the formality required of SDCL Chapter 6-13, for the disposal of surplus property; and

 

WHEREAS SDCL 34A-6-63.1 allows such disposal,

 

                NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Finance Officer shall be authorized to sell or transfer all such materials received at the restricted use site to any interested party.  The City Council may attempt to identify additional prospective buyers and may negotiate the conditions of such transactions with prospective buyers, including price, delivery, transport, quantity, and length of contract, to obtain the price or conditions most advantageous to the governing body, all as allowed by SDCL 34A-6-63.1.  No City Council member or other officer of the municipality may purchase or acquire the materials described in this resolution unless such materials are available for sale to or acquisition by the general public.

 

                Adopted this 6th day of December, 2010                               FOR THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE

                                                                                                                CITY OF MENNO, SOUTH DAKOTA

(SEAL)                                                                                                  

ATTEST: Peggy Thranum, City Finance Officer                            Darrell J. Mehlhaf, Mayor

                                                                                               

Hoff moved to surplus the old picnic tables at the city park. Diede seconded; all ayes

 

Fischer moved to sell the picnic tables for $25/per table. Kotalik seconded; all ayes.

 

Diede moved to approve the following resolution. Hoff seconded; roll call-Diede, Fischer, Hoff and Kotalik voting aye. Guthmiller and Simonsen absent; motion carried.

 

AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION #12 – 12/6/2010

STATE WATER PLAN

 

WHEREAS, the City of Menno has identified the need to improve wastewater utilities along Park Street; and

 

WHEREAS, the City of Menno requests placement on the State Water Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, the City of Menno is eligible for placement on the State Water Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, with the submission of the State Water Plan application, the City of Menno assures and certifies that all State Water Plan program requirements will be fulfilled,

 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Menno duly authorizes the submission of this State Water Plan application,

 

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor of Menno is authorized to execute this State Water Plan application for the City of Menno.

 

Dated this 6th day of December 2010.

 

 

ATTEST: Peggy Thranum, Finance Officer                    SIGNED: Darrell J. Mehlhaf, Mayor

 

Fischer moved to gather information to obtain water meters through a Green Project Grant. Diede seconded; all ayes. 

 

Hoff moved to purchase a fire resistant letter size file for $1399 delivered and set up. Diede seconded; all ayes.    

 

Kotalik has received a complaint concerning the residence at 612 S High Street. The health committee will look into this.

 

For Your Information: The packet and SEFP report for the November MADC meeting were distributed to the council.

 

Fischer moved to enter into executive session to discuss job applications at 9:15 p.m. Hoff seconded; all ayes.

 

The mayor declared us out of executive session at 9:25 p.m.

 

Fischer moved to hire Janelle Bender as a part-time office assistant. Diede seconded; all ayes.

 

Hoff moved to adjourn at 9:25 p.m. until Monday, January 3, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Fischer seconded; all ayes.

 

ATTEST:                                                                    CITY OF MENNO, SOUTH DAKOTA

 

 

                                                                                                                                                   

Peggy Thranum, Finance Officer                                    Darrell J. Mehlhaf, Mayor

 

Published once at the approximate cost of $_________.