CITY OF WANAMINGO
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, January 10, 2022 7:00 P.M.
Wanamingo City Council Chambers – 401 Main Street
Wanamingo, MN
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Holmes.
PRESENT: Council: Ryan Holmes, Larry VanDeWalker, Eric Dierks, Stuart Ohr, and Jeremiah Flotterud
City Administrator: Michael Boulton
Deputy Clerk: Karen Masters
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Brad Kennedy, Benjamin Dierks, and Todd Greseth – Goodhue County Commissioner.
ADOPT AGENDA: Ohr motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by VanDeWalker. Passed 5-0-0.
CONSENT AGENDA: Dierks motioned, seconded by VanDeWalker. Passed 5-0-0.
PRESENTERS:
A) Brad Kennedy reported on:
1) Started trimming brush and trees along the Nature Trail
2) Picked up branches from December 15th wind storm. Livery Barn has roof damage that will be repaired later by Jason Bauer.
3) Trimmed tree along trail easement between MN TH 60 and 1st Avenue
4) Changed out 19 water meters this month
5) LED light fixtures were installed at shop behind City Hall
6) Worked on Livery Barn clean up and organizing
7) Plowed snow twice and sanded streets on a number of occasions
8) Hockey Rink - have been building ice for the past two. The ice is skateable but will need additional layers
9) Made repairs to backup mobile generator that is meant for use at the fire hall
VanDeWalker asked Kennedy how the new roll of maintenance supervisor is going. Kennedy stated that the transition has worked well since the Council approved his hiring in the fall. Boulton stated that Kennedy officially began his new position on January 1st.
B) Todd Greseth – Goodhue County Commissioner reported on:
Here to listen to the Council’s concerns and to provide some County Board of Commissioners updates
County Board approved a final 2022 budget with a 5.9% levy increase (1.7% increase to existing properties as rest was covered by new growth). The board needed to make up the loss of $2 million due to a court ordered valuation decrease on Xcel Energy of $71 million.
ARPA classifications of how funds are spent continue to change. Still would like to find a way to purchase new EMS radios that are nearing 20 years old and are no longer serviceable.
Lake Byllesby improvements update – The County portion of the project increased to $835,000 while a grant is covering $1.35 million for improvements of a bathhouse and bathrooms.
Holmes thanked Greseth and the County for their support of the North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District (Cities of Goodhue, Pine Island, Wanamingo, and Zumbrota) bonding bill project.
David Jacobsen, City Attorney provided a written email explaining that he had completed draft large industrial waste water users changes to the Wanamingo Code of Ordinance and had drafted a sample permit, sample rate schedule, and a sample fine schedule. The committee of David Jacobsen, Rick Turri, Brad Kennedy, and Michael Boulton will review the drafts, and make necessary changes. Once reviewed that drafts will be brought to the City Council for review at the February City Council meeting and then consideration of approval at the March City Council meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
RESOLUTION:
22-001 = Approving 2022 Appointments & Legals: Flotterud moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Passed 5-0-0.
22-002 = Setting 2022 City Council Meeting Schedule: VanDeWalker moved to approve, Seconded by Flotterud. Passed 5-0-0.
22-003 = Authorizing Temporary Liquor License for the Fire Relief Association snowmobile run: Ohr moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Passed 5-0-0.
22-004 = Approving 2022 Updated Wanamingo Emergency Management Plan: VanDeWalker moved to approve, Seconded by Flotterud. Boulton stated that he and Gregg Erickson, the Wanamingo Civil Defense Director, had reviewed and made the necessary changes. The changes were mainly in the contacts and contact information. Passed 5-0-0.
22-005 = Authorizing a Temporary Gambling Permit for the Wanamingo Fire Relief Association: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Flotterud. Passed 5-0-0.
22-006 = Approving Financial Authorization: Flotterud moved to approve, seconded by Dierks. Ryan Holmes, Larry VanDeWalker, and Michael Boulton continue to be designated check signers. Karen Masters is authorized to do banking transactions for account ending in 9301. Michael Boulton is authorized to do banking transactions for accounts ending in 9301 and 9314. Passed 5-0-0.
22-007 = Approving the Pay Equity Implementation Report for the City of Wanamingo: VanDeWalker moved to approve, seconded by Ohr. Boulton stated that the updates from 2019 report include the addition of the Maintenance Supervisor position along with the increased five year pay scale by 10%. VanDeWalker stated that the Personnel Committee is concerned that it would be difficult to hire new staff at the current pay scale and that an adjustment was needed. Passed 5-0-0.
22-008 = Approving Communications System Agreement with Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office: Dierks moved to approve, seconded by Flotterud. Passed 5-0-0.
22-009 = Authorizing a Temporary Gambling Permit for the Cannon Falls Youth Sporting Club, Inc.: Flotterud moved to approve, seconded by Ohr. Passed 5-0-0.
22-010 = Accepting a Wanamingo Fire Relief Association Charitable Gambling Donation and Designating the Funds to the 333 Equipment Fund – Fire Department Tanker Portion of the 2022 Bond Payment: VanDeWalker moved to approve, seconded by Flotterud. Boulton stated that the $28,655 would be placed in the 333 Equipment fund with the intention to utilize as the 2022 bond payment. The fund balance will increase for the purpose of stopping the levying/billing to townships early or aid in the purchasing of the next fire truck. Passed 5-0-0.
OLD BUSINESS:
Public Hearing - Mayor Holmes opened Ordinance #196 - 2022 Fee Schedule Hearing at 7:30PM. Administrator Boulton went over the anticipated changes from 2021 Fee Schedule for the proposed 2022 fee schedule including increasing the water meter cost from $290 to $315, increasing the cigarette license fee from $40.00 to $50.00, increasing the sewer debt service/base fee from $18.00/month to $20.00/month, increasing the monthly garbage fee from $14.25/month to $15.21/month, and increasing the monthly recycling fee from $6.30/month to $6.45/month. The increase to the cigarette license fee will help to cover actual costs. The increase to the water meter fee helps to cover increases to the actual costs of the water meters and readers. Boulton stated that the proposed monthly sewer base rate/debt service fee increase of $2.00/month to each hook-up would bring in roughly $12,000 in new revenue in 2022. The garbage and recycling monthly increase reflect the yearly contract increases with Waste Management. Throughout the year, including the budgeting process the Council has discussed and has recommended the above changes. The City Auditors recommend that the Council review sewer/water rates and make small adjustments regularly to capture revenue as opposed to large jumps. The waste water treatment plant will need upgrades in the near future which could cost millions of dollars. The plan is to replace the Mingo View and downtown water towers, a new chemical building, and additional water main looping in 2022 which will cost over $2.5 million. The City needs to continue building a larger fund balance in waste water fund before upgrades become reality. Administrator Boulton said estimates are between $7 million to $10 million for plant upgrades with $200,000 to $300,000 yearly debt service costs. In past years the City has increased its cash reserve $50,000-$70,000 per year. The fund has a current estimate balance of $500,000. Administrator Boulton stated that the Council should review and make small yearly increases over the next few years to build up the fund balance. No Public Comments Offered. Mayor Holmes closed the public hearing at 7:35PM.
Ordinance #196 - 2022 Fee Schedule - 2nd Reading - Dierks moved to approve, seconded by Ohr. Passed 5-0-0.
Administrator Boulton presented the 2021 Wanamingo Outstanding Indebtedness Report. The Wanamingo EDA paid $25,000 in principal in 2021 and owes $351,000 at the beginning of 2022. The City paid $1,291,000 in principal and added $2,153,000 in principal in 2021 and owes $4,970,000 at the beginning of 2022. The City refunded three bonds and advanced refunded two bonds in 2021. The two advanced refunding bonds carry over $1,510,000 which will be paid back 2/1/2022. Without the advance refunding balance on the books the total debt owed by the City/EDA would be $3,811,000. Administrator Boulton stated that this would be the lowest amount of debt on hand for many years as the plan to add roughly $2,440,000 in 2022 for the Utility Improvements Project. The report has been submitted to Goodhue County According to the MN State Statutes.
North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District Update: Mayor Holmes and Administrator Boulton attended a meeting with all the mayors along with the district work group subcommittee. The group discussed the 2022 Minnesota State Legislative Session strategy for the bonding bill and other funding sources for the proposed project. The mayors will be taking an active roll in lobbying for the project. The committee has discussed the potential of hiring a lobbyist to aid in the process of when the group needs to reach out and lobby for the project. It was discussed to hire the Olmstead County lobbyist, Jennifer Berquam. Berquam served on the Wanamingo City Council from 2012-2015. Boulton stated that district subcommittee would bring cost estimates to the Council for approval before any hiring action takes place.
Boulton stated that the annual City Council/Staff Appreciation Dinner would be held on Saturday January 29th. The event will be held at Area 57 Café with social starting at 6:00PM and dinner at 7:00PM. Boulton stated that formal invites would be sent out later in the week.
*Next City Council meeting on 2/14/2022 at 7:00pm.
Adjourn: At 7:43PM a motion to adjourn was made by VanDeWalker and seconded by Ohr. Passed 5-0-0.
Signed: Attest:
Ryan Holmes, Mayor Michael Boulton, City Administrator
