CITY OF WANAMINGO
City Council Election Canvassing Board Meeting
Monday, November 12, 2024 7:00 P.M.
Wanamingo City Council Chambers – 401 Main Street
Wanamingo, MN
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Holmes.
PRESENT: Council: Ryan Holmes, Eric Dierks, and Jeremiah Flotterud
City Administrator: Michael Boulton
ABSENT: Council: Stuart Ohr & Rebecca Haugen
Deputy Clerk: Karen Masters
ALSO PRESENT: Brad Kennedy, Trevor Aase, Parker Erickson, Brian Gudknecht, Josh Revland, and Brandon Lunde
ADOPT AGENDA: Flotterud motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by Dierks. Passed 3-0-0.
PRESENTERS:
A) Brandon Lunde - Wanamingo Fire Department Truck Committee
a. FD Truck Committee presented original idea to the City Council for a new class 1 fire engine in April 2024. The Fire Department, Townships, and City met in August of 2024 to hear the proposed new truck presentation.
b. The truck committee has eight committee members that have spent significant time gathering information and helping to put together specifications for a new pumper truck.
c. The committee investigated E1, Toyne, Rosenbauer, and Pierce for a new class 1 fire engine. E1 is considered the cheap/short term option. Toyne was considered too far away in west central Iowa. Wanamingo has two Rosenbauer trucks currently and they are out of Wyoming, MN. Pierce has a great reputation, out of Appleton Wisconsin, and have service in Apple Valley, MN.
d. Committee worked to develop specs with Rosenbauer and Pierce to obtain an apples-to-apples comparison bid
e. Specifications include custom chassis, five seats, medical cabinet, class 1 pumper, storage, and 70” plus 10.
f. Engine would be 450 HP Cummins with 5 speed Allison transmission
g. Further specs include 1,000-gallon tank, 200-inch wheelbase, and a 1,250-gpm pump (SAM system), and an inverter instead of a generator.
h. Factors to consider – Rosenbauer offers L9 Cummins Diesel (cheaper motor that fits current emissions standards) – Pierce offers X10 Cummins Diesel (more expensive and adds canister for emissions cleanout). Rosenbauer $1,046,948 while Pierce $1,180,892.
i. Committee removed a few items from the specs to bring down the prices by $70,000-$80,000
j. The Rosenbauer Commander offer is good through November 15th to sign the contract
k. Fire Department membership voted 29-1 to go with the proposed Rosenbauer Commander
l. The final price could be lower. There is roughly $50,000 built in for change order items so as not to increase the price if something is missing before build.
m. Truck would be delivered at the end of 2026 or early 2027 from Rosenbauer (Pierce is nearly an additional year out for delivery).
Holmes asked what truck(s) are proposed to be replaced. Lunde stated that the 1991 Mac Pump and 1999 Equipment Truck would be replaced. Gudknecht stated that the pumper truck is 33 years old. Once pumper trucks reach 30 years old the ISO ratings can slip for the fire department and cause increases to homeowner’s insurance. Erickson stated that the pump on the Mac is no longer manufactured and that replacement parts are difficult to obtain. Flotterud asked about how the truck would be paid/financed. Boulton stated that the 2018 Fire Tanker bond payment would be paid off in 2027. The debt service of roughly $31,000 would be planned to be shifted to the new tanker. Boulton stated that the fire department has over $250,000 saved for future trucks/equipment that could be utilized on the truck. Boulton stated that the City/Townships are putting $16,000/year away toward the new truck with $5,000-$10,000 increases coming in 2025, 2026, and 2027. Boulton stated that a bond could be taken out for 10-15 years. Boulton stated that the bond payments could be between $100,000-$150,000. The City and townships will need to increase yearly contributions by roughly $50,000/year (City 54% and Townships 46%). Gudknecht stated that the fire relief association is hoping to contribute charitable gambling toward the payments but could not specify an amount due to the unknown. Boulton stated that roughly $100,000 of the $250,000 cash came through fire relief association charitable gambling contributions. Aase stated that there are other financing options through USDA and FEMA. There are options through these programs on yearly grants to offset interest and/or principal payments. The fire department recently received two grants totaling $14,000 for helmets and turnout gear, reducing the budget and increasing the savings. Lunde stated that the 1979 tankers in the next truck that will need to be replaced. There are talks to replace this with a used tanker or modify the 1991 Mac to a tanker. The fire department understands that the cost for replacement of vehicles is too much and that we will need to get creative moving forward. However, the class 1 pumpers are the one piece of equipment that must meet high standards. Holmes thanked the fire department truck committee for all their work for a very thoughtful process. The Council appreciates all the effort and forward thinking regarding the fleet. Holmes thanked the fire department for working so well with the City and townships to plan ahead and offer an open process. Flotterud stated that he agrees with the purchase but would like to be careful on the levy and that pushing out the payments would not be the worst consideration.
NEW BUSINESS:
RESOLUTION:
24-065 = Certifying the 2024 Local City Council General Election Results: Dierks moved to approve, seconded by VanDeWalker. Ryan Holmes received 636 votes with 10 write-in votes for Mayor. Jeremiah Flotterud received 533 votes, Stuart Ohr received 523 votes, and there were 6 write-in votes for City Council. here were officially 710 votes cast in Wanamingo on Tuesday November 5th out of 764 eligible voters (plus 62 voters registered on election day) or roughly 86% turnout. Passed 3-0-0. Administrator Boulton presented the certificates of election to Mayor Holmes, Councilmember Flotterud, Councilmember Ohr, the declared winners after the canvassing board (City Council) approved the results.
24-066 = Re-Establishing the Polling Precinct and Precinct Location for the City of Wanamingo: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Flotterud. Passed 3-0-0.
24-067 = Authorizing the Order of Fire Department Pumper Truck Utilizing Approved Exemption to the State Bid Process: Flotterud moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Boulton stated that the item was added to the agenda because the fire department must provide Rosenbauer an answer by November 15th. Flotterud stated that the City could still back out of the build with minimal cost. Flotterud stated that it was good to lock in the price. Flotterud would like to explore scenarios for bond payments to keep yearly payments from pushing up the property tax levy. Lunde stated that the fire department may look at converting the outgoing 1991 Mac pump truck at a tanker truck once the new pumper truck is delivered. Estimates are roughly $60,000. Passed 3-0-0.
OLD BUSINESS:
Boulton asked the Council to provide him feedback regarding setting the 2025 final property tax levy at the November 18th City Council meeting. Boulton stated that the preliminary levy was set at $1,170,000 or an increase of 9.35% from $1,070,000 in 2024. Boulton stated that changes have occurred since the preliminary levy was set that include the Goodhue County Sheriff policing contract being lower than anticipated, the City not budgeting for tree removal from Emerald Ash Borer, and the Emerald Valley II Addition City cost share if the developer moves forward in 2025. Boulton advised the Council not to go lower than 7% levy increase but may want to consider keeping the 9.35% levy increase to cover costs.
Administrator Boulton and Public Works Director Kennedy spoke about the health insurance renewal meeting that occurred earlier in the day. The City is an 8.4% increase on insurance premiums for 2025. The two employees that have dependent coverage are seeing a 17.4% increase ($94/month for one and $159/month for another). Boulton stated that the City had budgeted for a 7% increase and it was assumed that dependent coverage would increase similarly. Boulton stated that the City insurance is based off age ranges. Kennedy stated that these increases more than eat up the proposed cost of living raises. Kennedy stressed that if left as proposed that the City could lose an employee to a higher paying job. Boulton stated that the personnel committee would be recommending changes to allow for employees over 65 to opt out of City coverage and obtain Medicare supplements. The City would pay the supplement rates if the cost were less than the city plan. Boulton stated that the savings could be $1,000/month per employee for the City and offer better coverage to the employee. Boulton indicated that this change in policy would see immediate cost savings impact in 2025. Boulton stated that with the savings the personnel committee would investigate increasing the current city contribution toward dependent coverage from the current $450/month. Kennedy and Holmes stated that it would be a one-year fix. Boulton agreed since the preliminary indications for 2026 are 15% increases. Boulton asked if the Council had concerns with at least $100/month increase. There were no objections to consider at least a $100 increase at the November 18th City Council meeting.
*Next City Council meetings are on 11/18/2024 at 7:00PM.
Adjourn: At 8:25PM a motion to adjourn was made by Dierks and seconded by Flotterud. Passed 3-0-0.
Signed: Attest:
_____________________ ____________________________________
Ryan Holmes, Mayor Michael Boulton, City Administrator
