KIESTER CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, December 14, 2020
THESE ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL

The Kiester City council held a regular meeting on Monday, November 9, 2020 at the City of Kiester Offices

Mayor Rich Goggin called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Council Members Present: Hope Bauman, Larry Dahleen, Jason Kluender, Brandon Hagenson; City Maintenance: Gary Skartland; City Clerk: Doris Troll; Members from the public: Marcia Dahleen, Judy Goggin, Jan Engebretson, Carol Rienhart, Nicole Swanson, Dawn Flaskerud, Kristy Flaskerud, Vickie Savick, Beth Gonyou, Pat Oquist

Agenda: Motion to accept agenda, with the addition Fire Department, and Visioning Kiester grant monies Hope Bauman, seconded by Larry Dahlen, vote 5-0 motion carried.

Council minutes: Motion to accept the November 9, 2020 council meeting minutes by Hope Bauman seconded by Brandon Hagenson, vote 5-0 motion carried.

Claims: Motion by Larry Dahleen seconded by Hope Bauman approving claims totaling $ 72,791.83 Vote of 5-0 motion carried.

Financials: Motion by Larry Dahlen, seconded by Jason Kluender, approving financials as presented. Vote 5-0, motion carried.

Past Due Water Billing: Being aware of the Minnesota peace time order, we cannot shut off water, however the past due letters are still going out. Motion to accept the list as presented by Brandon Hagenson, Seconded by Hope Bauman. Vote 5-0, motion carried.

Building Permits: Motion to approve building permits for D Deleon , by Hope Bauman, seconded by Brandon Hagenson, vote 5-0, motion carried.

Public Comment: 1. A resident complained about County road 2 becoming an all no parking street with the cars now speeding past her house. There are kids that play along the street as well as a bus stop. They felt that there were not enough markings to get the cars to slow down. The council will investigate get more signage up as well as talking to the Sheriff’s department for more patrolling.

Library: Dawn Flaskerud reported that Mary Aske has turned in her resignation Brandon Hagenson made a motion to accept here resignation with regret seconded by Hope Bauman. Vote 5-0, motion carried. Dawn also reported that Karen Busch will be replacing her on the board. Motion by Hope Bauman and seconded Larry Dahleen vote 5-0. Motion carried.

Liquor Licenses: liquor licenses were presented for Forever Berma’s, and the Kiester American Legion.
Motion by Jason Kluender seconded by Brandon Hagenson, vote 5-0, motion carried.

Condemned House: House at 612 West State St motion to make a resolution to have the house condemn by Hope Bauman seconded by Brandon Hagenson
to condemn, vote 5-0, motion carried.
House at 100 N 2nd St. This owner contacted the city today about this property, the city was advised by the City to condemn the house and the owner will have 90 days to have a plan to bring the house up to code. Motion by Rich Goggin seconded by Bandon Hagenson to condemn the property vote 5-0, motion carried.

House at 206 Wigern Drive, motion to make a resolution to have the house condemn by Hope Bauman seconded by Brandon Hagenson

Recycling: The clerk was asking permission to send a letter of changes to the recycling center. Motion to send out by Jason Kluender seconded by Hope Bauman, vote 5-0, motion carried.

2021 Tax Levy: The council discussed the tax levy. A motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Larry Dahleen to set the levy at:

General Government $ 169,939.00
Ambulance $ 37,000.00
Library $ 10,040.00
Fire Department $ 21,605.00
EDA $ 63,640.00

TOTAL LEVY $ 302,224.00

Vote 5-0, motion carried.

Liability Waiver: The League of Minnesota Insurance Trust has sent the city a liability waiver about the deductibles for the upcoming policy year that needed to be approved for signature.
Motion by Hope Bauman seconded by Rich Goggin to approve and have the clerk sign. Vote 5-0, motion carried.

Grocery Store Equipment: there is extra equipment at the store that the Market group has had inquiries to. Rich will look at the items. Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Hope Bauman, to put up for sealed bids.

Frontier: The city has been informed that they will be putting in fiber optic into the city in the near future.

Fire Department: Brandon presented the council with a contract for mutual aid contact for Foster Township for the next five years. Motion Jason Kluender seconded by Hope Bauman to approve the contract. Vote 4-0, motion carried with Brandon Hagenson abstaining.

Brandon requested that the council move $ 8551.71 of mutual aid monies into a CD’s for the equipment fund. Motion by Hope Bauman Seconded by Rich Goggin vote, 4-0, motion carried with Brandon Hagenson abstaining.
Brandon then requested the council move $7000.00 of donation monies from the fire relief fund to into a CD for the equipment fund. Motion by Jason Kluender seconded by Larry Dahleen, vote 4-0, motion carried.

SMIF Grant Monies: There are sill $ 3155.00 left in grant monies that are still unused. After a call to SMIF about the question of being able to use the monies for distance learning. Along with a meeting with the library board it was determined that we can use those monies to purchase 2 new computers as well as various books to enhance the school reading program.

Staff Raises: A discussion as I had to raises. Motion by Hope Bauman seconded Larry Dahleen to give Adam a pay increase of $ .67, vote 5-0 motion carried.
Motion by Hope Bauman seconded by Larry Dahleen to give Carol a pay increase of $1.00 per hour, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Gary and Doris will remain the same as last year.

Maintenance Report: We have removed the tree on 2nd street. We have put the winter decorations up. We have put snow fence on the west end of town and on the north end of town up. The discharging he ponds for the year, Empire Pipe will be here to do the yearly cleaning out of the catch basins.
The candle has a quote for repair and replacement of the heat exchanger at the Retail Center.

Motion by Rich Goggin seconded by Larry Dahleen to repair the heat exchanger, vote 5-0, motion carried.

Gary presented the council a quote for capping off the old city wells off.

Gary asked if the council had an issue if we did not open the recycling center on 12-26, part because of the changeover as well as being close to the holiday. The council had no issue with this.

Clerk Update: The button has been pushed for the USDA grant which will on the first of many steps in the grand process. Doris is working on items that must be done by year end.

Mayor Update: The Mayor would like to express Happy Holiday’s to all present at the meeting.

There was one last questions from a resident that arrived late to the meeting about his property tax bill, they were informed to go to the clerk’s office with tax information they were looking at the clerk would try to help them out.

Motion to adjourn made by Jason Kluender and seconded by Rich Goggin. Vote 5-0, motion carried Mayor Goggin adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully Submitted by
Doris M Troll
City Clerk/ Treasurer