KIESTER CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, October 11, 2021
THESE ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL

The Kiester City council held a regular meeting on Monday, October 11, 2021, at the Kiester Community Center / Fire Hall.
Mayor Rich Goggin called the meeting to order Council Members Present: Hope Bauman, Larry Dahleen, Brandon Hagenson; Jason Kluender was absent. City Maintenance: Gary Skartland; City Clerk: Doris Troll; Members from the public: Vicki Savick, Jan Engretbretson, Marcia Dahleen, Bruce Anderson.
Agenda: Motion to accept agenda with addition of Bruce Anderson, by Hope Bauman seconded by Larry Dahleen, vote 4-0 motion carried.
Council minutes: Motion to accept the September 13, 2021, meeting minutes with changes By Hope Bauman seconded by Brandon Hagenson, vote 4-0 motion carried.
Claims Motion by Hope Bauman seconded by Rich Goggin approving claims totaling $44239.10 Vote of 4-0 motion carried.
Financials: Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Larry Dahleen approving financials as presented. Vote 4-0, motion carried.
Past Due Water Billing: Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Rich Goggin to shut off if not paid by the 10-21-2021. Vote 5-0, Motion carried.
Building Permits: presented building permits for D Folven, W Oldfather, D Deleon, J Hendrickson, Motion Hope Bauman Seconded by Hope Bauman, Larry Dahleen vote 4-0 motion carried.
County Commissioner: Bruce” Charley” Anderson was present to introduce himself to the council, as Kiester’s Representative. He gave information to council on how to get a hold of him if there was anything that we needed his help on.
Ambulance: The Pork feed went very well with around 185 meals served.
Fire Department: no report
Library: no report
Liquor Store: no report, as Carol was not present.
EDA: Vickie Savick reported they had a meeting with Annie Nichols, with the CEDA and there would be grants for new coolers in the grocery store the city could apply for. She also gave Savick information on a program for repairs on homes. The Eda had to meet with the Market Group for discussions of a new lease.
The Marker Group informed the Eda that they will have a loan to SMIF paid off this summer and that would free up approximately $800.00 a month.
The EDA recommended the Market Pay $100.00 a month with profit & loss information each month. The Council then had a discussion as to the financials that the market had presented. The council will need more information as the financials from the Market stated showed that they made almost $1100.00 a day last year. The financial made no sense to the council. No Cost of goods sold were listed. The financials show not the cost of goods sold. If their financials are correct, they could pay for all the utilities. The Council has a responsibility to the taxpayers of the city for how they spend those tax dollars. The city clerk had prepared as requested by council for tonight’s meeting to put the expenses that the city has paid for the Market over the past 5 years of $ 142,808.27, in which the taxpayers of Kiester has been paying over the last five years. Council feels we need a grocery store, however, at to what tax payer expense.
Public Comment A resident made the comment it is a Catch 22 with the grocery store. If the grocery store closes, your town will die. However, the city cannot continue to pay. It was discussed about golf carts in town. This is when the question of a Seconded meeting was brought up.
The question was asked about a seconded meeting a month. They feel there a lot of issues that are falling through the cracks. The council then had a discussion how if they went back to two meetings a month what it should look like, 2 voting meetings, 1 voting one work session. Motion by Brandon Hagenson to have the 2nd Monday of the month as a voting meeting, held at the Community Center with the 4th Monday of the month being a work session conducted at City hall starting Vote-4-0, motion carried.
Ordinance: 2021-04 the clerk did the first reading of present an ordinance for inflow and infiltration. This ordinance has to do with the areas of town that have rainwater running into the sewer systems. This is also in accordance with Pollution Control, as they will crack down on towns. I asked the council to look at it and get and changes to Doris by 10-8-2021 so that she may get a rough draft to the council for review at the Octobers meeting.
City Pick up: The council had a bid in their packets for the body and plow functions for the new pickup. They discussed the quote and the features that the city will have for this. Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded By Hope Bauman to purchase the box and plow set up from Crysteel. Vote 4-0, motion carried,
Budget: The clerk informed the council that the medical insurance will go up by 8% for next year. Items that were discussed were pay raised by staff. The minimum wage is going up to $10.33. so the liquor store staff would go up. The council felt that Gary and Doris should have a 3% raise which would be $0.54 and Carol should go to $13.50. Motion by Hope Bauman seconded by Rich Goggin to give pay raises as listed. Vote 4-0, motion carried.
Water and Sewer bills: Motion by Brandon Hagenson to raise the water by $3.00 and to raise the Sewer by $3.00 seconded Rich Goggin Vote 4-0, motion carried.

Maintenance: Flushing Hydrants at the end of the month, turning all water valves. Had the street sweeper out to make sure it was working ok. The water in the park if off. Kyle Boing was contacted as to getting a price for the 805 West State Street house. It would approximately be $80.00 per foot to dig the sewer from the center of the road to the house. Mark Daly was also contacted what the require after we tear up the county road. They informed Gary that the new pavement would have to be at least 20 feet by 20 feet. Gary was asked to get written quotes for the sewer work. So that we will have information to send to the homeowner with what will need to be done to get to city Sewer.
Clerk Update: The clerk reported that the Liquor Conference that Carol and she attended had great information and filled with good ideas and the upcoming trends. After attending, Carol will order some new items, including non-alcoholic wines, that taste like wine. Carol is also planning on doing samplings of the new products.
The Clerk has seen a class put on Minnesota Rural Water on asset management. That she is planning on attending. The class is up in Wahkon, on November 16. This is a free class. With the upcoming grant, this will be information that will be needed to track the infrastructure. The clerk will go up on the Monday before at her own expense.
Mayor Update: none
Motion to adjourn made by Brandon Hagenson and seconded by Rich Goggin Vote 4-0, motion carried. Mayor Goggin adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully Submitted by
Doris M Troll
City Clerk/ Treasurer