CITY OF WANAMINGO
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, March 11, 2024 7:00 P.M.
Wanamingo City Council Chambers – 401 Main Street
Wanamingo, MN
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Holmes.
PRESENT: Council: Ryan Holmes, Jeremiah Flotterud, Eric Dierks, and Rebecca Haugen
City Administrator: Michael Boulton
Deputy Clerk: Karen Masters
ABSENT: Council: Stuart Ohr
ALSO PRESENT: Brandon Theobald – WHKS, Brad Kennedy, Earl Merchlewitz – Goodhue County Emergency Management Director, Stephen Kingsbury, Beth Haas – Zumbrota News-Record, Andrew Deziel – Kenyon Leader, Edward Matul – Goodhue County Deputy Sheriff, Emily Anderson – Goodhue County Deputy Sheriff, and Todd Greseth – Goodhue County Commissioner.
ADOPT AGENDA: Haugen motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by Dierks. Passed 4-0-0.
CONSENT AGENDA: Dierks motioned, seconded by Flotterud. Passed 4-0-0.
PRESENTERS:
A) Brad Kennedy reported on:
1) Built new flag brackets for Main Street light poles.
2) Hung up Main Street banner on light poles.
3) Trimmed trees on Emerald Valley II storm water pond. Still have to trim trees on pond closer to river
4) Stained four garden plot boxes that were constructed and installed last year.
5) Recycled brass water meters that have been stockpiled the past two years as meters were replaced. The roughly $2,500 in scrap is planned to be utilized to purchase a new hot water pressure washer.
6) Purchased and picked up hot water pressure washer
7) The wellhouse scale quit working. The scale required a cell rebuilt kit with new load cell cables. The cost to rebuild was roughly $1,000 while a new scale is roughly $2,500. The maintenance staff relocated the sewer plant scale to the wellhouse until the rebuilt scale is reinstalled.
8) Kennedy and Peens attended the Minnesota Rural Water training conference in St. Cloud March 5th – 7th. Peens attended training and took the D Sewer Operator License exam while Kennedy attended training for ongoing educational hours for his C Sewer Operator License.
9) Street sweeper has been out a couple of times. The entire town has been swept at least once.
10) Installed new stop and yield signs in the Prairie Ridge Estates subdivision based upon Council action from February City Council meeting.
B) Earl Merchlewitz, Goodhue County Emergency Management Director, reported on:
1) Introduced himself to the Wanamingo City Council. Has been the Goodhue County Emergency Management Director since May 2023. Has been trying to get to Cities and Townships to introduce himself so that leaders know him before an emergency takes place.
2) Has eighteen years of law enforcement experience.
3) Working on Goodhue County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The update to the County Hazard Mitigation Plan is a couple of years past due the recommended five-year update. Once completed and submitted jurisdictions can apply for Federal Hazard Mitigation funds for identified projects within the plan.
4) Has been working on school safety within the County since hired. The County has two contracts with School Districts within Goodhue County for SRO (School Resource Officers) Officers. The Sheriff’s office helps with additional planning and coordination. Schools have come a long way in the past couple of decades to improve safety at the school buildings. There is still a need for SRO’s for relationships with kids which lead to a number of positive outcomes within our community now and years later.
C) Brandon Theobald, WHKS City Consulting Engineer reported on:
1) The North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District (NZSSD) four facilities plans have been submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency before March 1st. The plans include sewer details of the communities and growth, engineering, scope of proposed work, costs of the proposed project, and effects on rates to users.
2) A public hearing will be called through a resolution later in the meeting by the City Council for April 8th. The Council will also consider resolutions for both the land purchase approval and the State bonding bill request.
3) In the facilities plan Wanamingo will pay the highest user rates due to inflow and infiltration (I & I). The proposed rates would be $20-$30/month higher than Goodhue, who has no I & I issues. Wanamingo has the lowest proposed growth in the plan because there is assumption that I & I can be reduced moving forward. Growth has lower flows because only metered water use goes into the system with no I & I. The City sees spikes in waste water flow up to eight times regular flows during wet weather events. I & I reduction options, including a sump pump inspections program, have been discussed with Mayor Holmes, Councilmember Ohr, and staff in the past. Other options include drain tile inspections, replacement/lining of services lines, replacement/lining of sewer mains, and testing for cross connections with stormwater lines. A sump pump program is the most cost-effective option to reduce I & I. The program would go into all homes for inventory later to ensure sump pumps do not hook into sanitary sewer, that all lines are plumbed outside, and all sump pump baskets have pumps and discharge lines (or are sealed off). In the past and currently the Wanamingo wastewater collection and treatment system can handle the I & I the direct costs have been limited or hard to quantify. Wanamingo has not seen backups to force reductions in I & I. Kasson had several 100-year rain events that lead to areas of town having backups into basements on a number of occasions that lead to public outcry and action. Once Wanamingo is hooked into the NZSSD residents will see quantifiable real costs for the I & I treatment. Most residents will be paying for a handful of residents discharging storm water into the sanitary sewer system. In order to reduce potentially higher rates than Goodhue, Pine Island, and Zumbrota there needs to be reduction in I & I. In the future smoke testing will be completed to check for cross connections with storm water lines and the next street project will both replace some clay sewer lines and add storm water and drain tiles lines to the back of curbs. The proposed sump pump inspection program is estimated to cost $70,000-$75,000. WHKS has handled sump pump inspection programs in a number of Southeast Minnesota Cities including Plainview and Kasson. WHKS would help to educate residents on the program which would include a dedicated website with information. Flotterud asked how many houses could possibly have sump pumps discharging into the sanitary sewer system. Theobald stated 10%-15% is what WHKS has seen in most cities. Holmes asked what the best place to discharge sump pumps would be. Theobald stated that drain tiles behind the back of curbs is the ideal location for discharge. Some streets do not have drain tiles in the back of curb. Therefore, the lines need to drain into the yard, or in certain circumstances, the street (depending upon local ordinances).
D) Todd Greseth, Goodhue County Commissioner, reported on:
1) March 13th is Townships Day. The day includes annual meeting and elections of officers.
2) County is still in discussions on Transfer Station. They are not money makers and may be difficult to turn over operations directly to private sector. Goodhue County may still need to be involved in the operations. It will be a fight to open back up the Wanamingo location for a transfer station after the demolition landfill was closed in late 2023. There are a number options in discussion including ½ days per month where roll off dumpster could be present at the Goodhue County Public works location in Kenyon. There is also an option to pull recycling out of Red Wing and place it in a centrally located municipality in the County. Currently, residents need take materials to Red Wing or go outside the County to locations such as Rochester. Holmes stated that it is nice to have a close location on the west half of the County.
3) There is frustration determining the 2025 Sheriff Policing Contract costs with Cities such Wanamingo, Goodhue, Pine Island, and Dennison. The costs keep increasing with area pay studies and other inflationary items. Boulton asked if the board still plans to have numbers by May. Greseth thought that the plan was still on track for May. There have also been discussions on SRO contracts with the two school districts in the County. The costs for the SRO contracts are increasing similar to the policing contracts with Cities.
Mayor Holmes thanked the election judges that served during the Presidential Nomination Primary (PNP) from on March 5th. Mayor Holmes stated that judges served in two shifts but some had served more than 15 hours that day. There were 142 votes cast in Wanamingo.
NEW BUSINESS:
RESOLUTION:
David Jacobsen, Jacobsen Law Firm, P.A. - Wanamingo City Attorney:
1) Provided a written 2023 summary of criminal attorney services
2) City of Wanamingo pays $1,200/month for prosecution services and $600/month for civil work to Jacobsen Law Firm, P.A.
3) Law firm has been handling prosecution since 2011 and civil since 2014. Currently has one attorney (Daivd), one semi-retired attorney (Mike Hero), has two full-time paralegals (Suzy Bergquist, and Shelley Klemensen), and one contract paralegal (Michele Viken).
4) Gave breakdown of Prosecuted Offenses within City of Wanamingo - 22 offenses (12 traffic and 10 community offenses). 17 of the 22 cases have been closed.
5) There were 104 hours dedicated towards prosecution for the City of Wanamingo in 2023
6) The City of Wanamingo received $1,247.82 in fine revenue after Goodhue County and State of MN received their shares of total fines.
7) Civil attorney work included: supported staff, reviewed Council packets, drafted ordinances (Cannabis Moratorium, Native Landscaping, and NSPM Electrical Franchise Agreement), lot split/parcel combinations, personnel advice, building permit enforcement, fire department by-laws update, fire hall space lease agreements for WiFi, Habitat land purchase and development agreement, MPCA enforcement consultation, and provided advice to Council and Staff.
24-022 = Approving 2024 2nd Quarter Maintenance Work Plan: Flotterud moved to approve, Seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0.
24-023 = Certifying Delinquent Utility Bills and Other Services to the Goodhue County Auditor for Collection with 2025 Real Estate Taxes: Haugen moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Boulton stated that the original certification list included four parcels. This twice a year process pushes those behind to get paid up. The list narrowed to two for certification. Mayor Holmes asked if anyone wished to contest the certifications. No input was given. Passed 4-0-0.
24-024 = Approving North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District (NZSSD) Land Purchase Agreement: Flotterud moved to approve, Seconded by Haugen. Boulton stated that the land is the first choice on location (across the Zumbro River and east of the current Zumbrota WWTP). There is 43.5 acres of land proposed to be purchased for $957,000 ($22,000/acre). Passed 4-0-0.
24-025 = Calling for a Public Hearing on the Wanamingo Portion of the North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District Facility Plan: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0.
24-026 = Approving a John Deere 331P Compact Track Skid Loader Lease and Service Agreement With Midwest Machinery Co: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0.
24-027 = Approving Support for a North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility G.O. Bonding Bill Request: Flotterud moved to approve, seconded by Haugen. Boulton stated that the capital request is for $44.8 million. The $44.8 million is half of the costs minus the $10 million received in 2023 from the State. The total project costs, with inflation, is $109.6 million. Passed 4-0-0.
OLD BUSINESS:
Enforcement Process – Mead Johnson - Reckitt – 90 day written letter toward meeting goal of waste pH – Boulton stated that the City had received a letter from Mead Johnson – Reckitt which reiterated the work that had been done, to date, since April 2023 to present including conducting plant inspection, wastewater mapping validation and chemical consumption, installed 24-hour pH sampler, onsite tracking of pH levels and reporting to City, using contractor to clean out solids in sewer pipelines in June and October 2023, modification of sedimentation process, and pH adjustment of the hydration wastewater discharge, cleaning of the lift station, and a frac tank and required connections were added to the system which allow for pH adjustments before discharge. Mead Johnson – Reckitt is continuing pH monitoring and cleaning of the pipes. In the long term they are designing a pH monitor and treatment station. They are also working toward design and installation of a new lift station with pH treatment. Boulton stated that the Wanamingo staff are still monitoring the wastewater discharge from Reckitt-Mead Johnson. There were consistent high pH levels measuring between 9.5-11.5 in February. Boulton stated that the production lines have been shut down most of the months of December and January and back on in February. Kennedy stated that the plant can handle high pH levels rather than low pH levels. Kennedy stated that the microbiological bugs are dead on the north side digester where Reckitt/Mead Johnson flow comes into. Kennedy stated that the main part of the facility is running well. Kennedy stated that the numbers were worse earlier in the month and better in the second half of the month. Prior to December results have regularly shown extremely low and at times high pH levels along with the presence of high levels of QAC (Quaternary Ammonium Compounds) have been sent to Reckitt-Mead Johnson. The pH levels should be within 5.0 and 9.5. City Staff have been working with Reckitt-Mead Johnson toward a solution to bring the pH levels within the limits. The City appreciates the open dialogue and work, to date, from Reckitt- Mead Johnson. The City continues to keep the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency informed during this process. The City is required to be within the discharge limits or show significant steps toward getting back under the discharge limits. Boulton stated that the City Council should enforcement actions if the pH levels are not consistently within the 5.0 to 9.5 range. Kennedy stated that March will be a big month to see where the consistent pH levels are for Reckitt/Mead Johnson. Boulton stated the Enforcement Process would be left on the monthly agenda until November 2024, or when the action items are completed. Boulton stated the Mead Johnson -Reckitt would be required to provide written monthly updates to the City Council.
Administrator Boulton provided an investments of funds update. The City of Wanamingo has a CD (Certificate of Deposit), created in 2018 with $100,000, that yields a 0.8% interest. City staff checked into breaking and creating a new CD at today’s market rates. State Bank was able to help with an early withdrawal the $104,112.63 CD and created a new CD with the current 13-month special rates of 5.09%. This will net $5,299.33 in interest in the next 13 months. The on CD would only have net $832.90 in the same time period.
The City had created four (4) $250,000 CDs with 13-month special interest rate of 4.5% in April 2023. The CD’s mature in early May 2024. City Staff spoke with Security State Bank on future investments of the roughly $1,045,000 ($45,000 interest) after the CDs mature. Security State Bank would like the City to continue to have the deposit and are willing to offer another special interest rate CD for what the going rate interest is in May. The current special interest rate is 7-month 5.09%. The City Staff will work with Security State Bank in late April regarding the new investment of funds.
The interest earned will be accounted for under the general fund. These investments should leave plenty of funds for cash flow in checking account. The checking account, new CD’s, the current CD, and money market funds diversify the City investments.
Administrator Boulton provided a memo on the hot water pressure washer purchase. The City maintenance staff have requested a hot water pressure washer for the past five years. The Council placed the pressure washer in the capital improvements plan for purchase in 2024 and in the 2024 budget. The City owns a 2001 Alkota 3-gallon 3,000 PSI mobile pressure washer. The City has also borrowed other local business’s pressure washers in the past to complete larger projects such as the swimming pool. The City staff have been able to order parts to repair and maintain the Alkota pressure washer (Express Pressure Washer – Blooming Prairie). There are a number of tasks that would be better suited for a hot water mobile pressure washer. Some of these projects would be completed sooner with a second pressure washer. The list includes preparation work for painting at the swimming pool, pressure washing the mildew off the stucco Medical Center Building, cleaning the mildew off the Riverside Park playground equipment, and pressure washing the grease/grime/dirt off the street department equipment (specifically the pay loaders).
The pressure washer that the City owns does not have hot water with soaping capability. Projects trying to remove mildew, grease, grime, and caked on dirt require hot water and soap to remove from surfaces. The pressure washer is powered by a gas engine. The City looked into a 4-gallon 3,000+ PSI hot water pressure washer in 2022. The cost was roughly $7,000 and the City ultimately did not purchase the pressure washer due to budget constraints. Larger model pressure washers require 220 40-amp plug-ins. The City shop has the necessary 220-Volt 40-amp plug ins. The Swimming Pool, Medical Center Building, and Street Shop have 220-Volt into the buildings but would need some electrical box upgrades and new 40-amp plug-ins installed. City staff spoke with Shane Electric which provided an estimated of roughly $1,000 to make the necessary upgrades and plug adaptor.
The maintenance staff reached out to American Pressure Inc. (Robbinsdale) who have two floor model 2020 STP 3.5 GPM 2000 PSI 230V 1 Phase HW DD for $4,495 plus the attachments package for an additional $599. Other add-ons would include auto start/stop, hose reel platform, 100-foot hose reel, 100-foot pressure hose, 5-foot jump hose from pressure washer to hose reel, and live pressure swivel. The 2020 floor model comes with the standard 1-year warranty. This is slightly smaller than the 4-gallon 3,000+ PSA pressure washers that were considered in 2022. However, the cost for the larger models have increased from roughly $7,000 to $9,800 (State bid). The 2020 floor model is the best cost-effective route to purchase the necessary pressure washer in 2024. City staff purchased the floor model 2020 STP 3.5 GPM 2000 PSI 230V 1 Phase HW DD for $4,495 plus the attachments package for an additional $599. Flotterud asked about purchasing a portable generator rather than upgrading electric outlets at buildings. Kennedy stated that he was open to assistance in sizing the correct generator to see if it would be more cost effective than the upgrades and plug adaptor. Flotterud stated that he would assist with the process.
*Next City Council meeting on 4/8/2024 at 7:00pm.
Adjourn: At 7:59PM a motion to adjourn was made by Dierks and seconded by Flotterud. Passed 4-0-0.
Signed: Attest:
_____________________ ____________________________________
Ryan Holmes, Mayor Michael Boulton, City Administrator
