Dundas City Council Meeting - September 12, 2022

Posted

DUNDAS CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

Monday, September 12, 2022

7:00 p.m.  Dundas City Hall

UNOFFICIAL MINUTES

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

Staff:      City Engineer Dustin Tipp; Administrator/Clerk Jenelle Teppen. Deputy Clerk Linda Ripka

CALL TO ORDER

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

PUBLIC FORUM

Linda Ripka on behalf of Mac Gimse (Dundas) expressed their sincere thanks concerning Council looking

at approving a contract to complete the landscape plan at the Mill Towns Trail Head.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

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

CONSENT AGENDA

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

Regular Minutes of August 22, 2022; and

Disbursement Report - $170,316.63.  MCU

OLD BUSINESS - No old business brought before Council.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Resolution 2022-20 A Resolution Classification and Sale of Tax Forfeited Property to Adjacent Owners

Administrator Teppen indicated Rice County has requested the City consider the approval of the classification and sale of two tax forfeited properties in Dundas to the adjacent owners. She referred to maps showing the location of said parcels and the adjacent parcels. She stated staff had no objections to the sale. 

Motion by Modory, second by Swartwood, to approve Resolution 2022-20. MCU

Resolution 2022-21 A Resolution Confirming Parcels 17.10.3.00.001 and 17.15.2.25.001 Continue to Qualify for Inclusion in a Rural Service District and the Tax Benefit Ratio Remain Valid

Administrator Teppen reviewed history of two property owners, Henry Albers and Eugene Albers, who petitioned in 2000 to be detached from the City, but subsequently reached an agreement whereby the petitioners agreed to dismiss the Petition and the City agreed to create a rural taxing district with respect to their properties, Ordinance 25.02. State Statute 272.67, Subd.8 requires annual review and staff’s judgement is the tax benefit ratio has not changed be properties be included in Rural Service District.

Motion by Modory, second by LaCroix, to approve Resolution 2022-21. MCU

Resolution 2022-22 A Resolution Adopting a Proposed 2022 Tax Levy, Payable in 2023

Jessie Sturtz of Abdo Financial Solutions summarized key items for consideration in the 2023 budget: (1) 2023 tax levy proposed to increase $166,082 or 12.06%; (2) balanced General Fund; (3) bring budget in line with actual expenditures; (4) property and worker’s comp insurance increase 10-15%; (5) fuel increase 25%; and (6) Capital equipment and improvements of $723,000. She explained Tax Levy is 12.06% with estimate Tax Capacity at 18.93% leaves City Tax Rate at -3.23% comparing Levy to previous years. She also reviewed market value at no increase vs 15% increase comparing on residential and commercial properties.

Shereviewed 2023 General Fund Revenue noting key changes of reduction in LGA. Decrease in interest earnings and fines and forfeitures.

Sturtz reviewed 2023 General Fund Expenditures noting key changes in police due to additional fulltime officer, fire protection due to hiring new Full-Time Fire Chief and streets, highways and roads due to professional services for Transportation Comp Plan.  She reviewed bonds and noted returns down in various investment funds.

Motion by Switzer, second by Fowler, to approve Resolution 2022-22. Councilor Fowler asked if the City receives funds form the State for road maintenance. Teppen replied that the Legislature has in the past allocated funds to cities with populations less than 5,000, though it’s not an ongoing allocation. MCU

Resolution 2022-23 A Resolution Approving 2023 Proposed Economic Development Authority Property Tax Levy

Administrator Teppen stated the tax levy amount for 2023 is $38,527 as was recommended from EDA.

Motion by Swartwood, second by Modory to approve Resolution 2022-23. MCU

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Approving Quotes for Mill Towns Trail Head Improvement Project

Engineer Tipp reviewed three quotes received for the Mill Towns Trail Head Improvement Project noting the low bid is slightly more than what is allocated in the Capital Improvement Plan of $55,000. The remaining amount of $4,977 will come from the General Fund reserves. 

Motion by Fowler, second by Switzer, to approve the quotes and award a contractor for Mill Towns Trail Head Improvement project to Kevin Casey LLC of Prior Lake, MN, in the amount of $59,227. Discussion followed on previous plans and timeline. MCU

Consider Approving Temporary Construction and Grading Easement and Permanent Maintenance Easement Agreement Between the City and Menards, Inc. 

Engineer Tipp stated staff requested an easement agreement from Menards to allow for work to be performed in the stormwater pond located south of Hester Street and east of Third Street involving extending the storm sewer pipe outlet and reducing the pond slopes along Hester Street to allow Public Works staff to mow and to perform routine pond maintenance. He stated this involves entering into a Temporary Construction and Grading Easement and Maintenance Agreement with Menard and the City.

Motion by Swartwood, second by Fowler, to approve a Temporary Construction and Grading Easement and Maintenance Agreement with Menard and the City including Exhibits A and B. MCU    

Consider Accepting 2nd Quarter 2022 Financial Report

Jesse Sturtz of ABDO Financial Solutions, presented and reviewed the 2nd Quarterly Financial Report.  She noted all bank accounts have been reconciled through June 30 with cash and investment showing a decrease since EOY 2021. She presented statement of revenue and expenditures, budget and actual, noting the second half of tax revenue in November will change the negative variance and LGA funds are received in July.  Sturtz explained the variance areas. Sturtz reviewed cash balances by fund and explained variance of $50,000.  She noted General Fund Reserve is at 55% and suggested the Council might consider reducing it. She reviewed the increase in expense in the water fund and increase in revenue in sewer fund.

Motion by Fowler, second by LaCroix, to accept the 2nd Quarter 2022 Financial Report as presented and prepared by ABDO Financial Solutions. MCU

REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS, AND COMMITTEES

City Engineer – Dustin Tipp

Tipp reported striping has been completed for bike lane on First Street and staff will be working on installing warning signs. Councilor Modory requested having no parking signs on the side of street with the bike lane. 

Tipp reported: (1) staff is preparing a quote package to send out to contractors for the 2022 sanitary sewer cleaning and televising project; (2) the owners for the Dundas Dome site have indicated they have a contractor to complete the parking lot work so staff is working to get a plan for parking lot repairs and paving as well as securing a new Letter of Credit for the work; (3) and staff has installed a gravel entrance and culvert connect 115th Street to Highland Parkway for use by emergency services noting the gate will remain locked.

City Administrator – Jenelle Teppen 

Teppen stated there is nothing further to report on Stoneridge Hills II development as still waiting on needed documents from developer. She asked the City Council members to review their calendars for the remainder of the year and let her know if they anticipate missing any of the remaining City Council meetings.

ADJOURN

Motion by LaCroix, second by Fowler, to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 p.m.  MCU

Submitted by: Jenelle Teppen, Administrator/Clerk

Attest: Glenn Switzer, Mayor