Dundas City Council Meeting - August 22, 2022

Posted

DUNDAS CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

Monday, August 22, 2022

7:00 p.m.  Dundas City Hall

Present:  Mayor Glenn Switzer; Councilors Larry Fowler, Luke LaCroix, Grant Modory, Luke Swartwood

Staff:      City Engineer Dustin Tipp; Administrator/Clerk Jenelle Teppen

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Switzer called the Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  A quorum was present.

PUBLIC FORUM

No one presented to Council.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion by LaCroix, second by Fowler, to approve the agenda. Motion Carried Unanimously (MCU)

CONSENT AGENDA

Moton by LaCroix, second by Fowler, to approve the consent agenda as follows:

Regular Minutes of August 8, 2022 and

Disbursement Report - $77,564.30.  MCU

OLD BUSINESS

No old business brought before Council.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Resolution 2022-18 A Resolution Accepting and Approving a Contract Amendment Extending the Term of the Agreement Between the City and Dick’s Sanitation, Inc.

Administrator Teppen presented current contract expiring December 21, 2022 and an Amendment extending term another five years thru 2027.  She state the City Attorney was asked if an Amendment was allowed under current City Code and State Statutes and he responded it is allowable.

Motion by Swartwood, second by Fowler, to approve Resolution 2022-18. Councilor Modory asked if any gas surcharge and Teppen stated no. Councilor Fowler and Teppen both stated that DSI is doing a good job with customer service.  MCU

Resolution 2022-19 A Resolution Approving Contract with MnDOT for Signal at Hester Street and Hwy 3

Administrator Teppen presented a contract from MnDOT for the traffic signal at Hester Street and Hwy 3. The City of Northfield was awarded a Local Partnership Program Grant to install Emergency Vehicle Preemption signals on all the traffic lights on Highway 3 through Northfield and Dundas.  Councilor Modory stated the lights at Hester and Hwy 3 are temporary.  Teppen stated the City has been doing maintenance on the lights and will continue to do so under this agreement.

Motion by Modory, second by LaCroix, to approve Resolution 2022-19. MCU

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Approving 2023–2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

Administrator Teppen presented the CIP noting no changes from discussion at work session. Mayor Switzer asked about cold storage building for public works with Engineer Tipp stating it is still in discussion and design phase.

Motion by Fowler, second by Swartwood, to approve the 2023 to 2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). MCU 

Consider Approving 2022 Compensation Study

Administrator Teppen reviewed report from DDA Human Resources, Inc. on the 2022 market wage review. She noted the comparison of the City’s current pay grid to other comparable cities (benchmark) noting Dundas was 12% below market average. She stated DDA recommends that in order to make Dundas a competitive employer, they calibrated a proposed pay grid moving the City to 96% of market average. Teppen stated DDA suggested move into grid at closest step in current grade with implementation October 1. She indicated police officers would not see an increase in October as they have a collective bargaining agreement which expires end of 2022, and any adjustments to Police Officers compensation will need to be done through that process. Councilor Modory asked how the range to implement was determined with Teppen explaining by the grid as he felt could be up to $4.00 an hour at their current range in grid. Discussion followed along with 2023 COLA at 2%.

Motion by LaCroix, second by Switzer to approve the 2022 Compensation Study and implementation of new pay grid. MCU

Consider Approving Quote for Snowplow Blades

Administrator Teppen reported the new snowplow received in July was ordered without blades so the staff could choose the type of blades suitable for the City’s needs.

Motion by LaCroix, second by Swartwood, to accept quote from H&L Mesabi Company, Hibbing, MN, for snowplow blades at a cost not to exceed $6,102. MCU 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

City Engineer – Dustin Tipp

Tipp reported: (1) notices to households on the bike lane project for 1st Street were sent out and project should be done within the next two weeks; (2) grading plan for ECRT parking lot has been completed for  the future; (3) extensive pavement repair for Forest Avenue will be included in 2023 CIP and reported for Depot Street for 2024 CIP; (4) quotes for Mill Towns Trail Head landscaping will be back for September 12 Council meeting with completion September/October; (5) staff is waiting for developer of Stoneridge Hills 2nd Addition to provide the required documentation of signed Development Agreement, mylars and revised construction and landscape plans; (6) staff began hauling blocks to 115th Street.

WORK SESSSION

2023 Proposed General Fund Levy

Administrator Teppen indicated additional factors since the work session discussion on 2023 budget have influence an increase. She stated the League of MN Cities recommends budget include a 10 to 15% increase in worker’s comp insurance, 5 to 10% increase in general property insurance, and a reduction of $13,000 in Local Government Aid.

Jess Sturtz of ABDO Financial Solution summarized key items for consideration of the 2023 budget noting increase for tax levy will be $166,082 or 12.06%; 25% increase in fuel and capital expenditures up due to inflation and cost factors. She reported overall the proposed tax capacity will be 18.93% and City Tax Rate decreased -3.23% based on information from Rice County. Sturtz presented the property tax impact on residential and commercial properties comparing different tax rate. She reviewed revenue and expenditures noting key areas effecting changes along with department budget worksheets and capital expenditures.

ADJOURN

Motion by Fowler, second by Switzer, to adjourn the meeting at 7:57 p.m.  MCU

Submitted by:    

Jenelle Teppen, Administrator/Clerk

Attest:

Glenn Switzer, Mayor