City of Bigfork

Regular Meeting September 8, 2009

Members Present: Mayor Roger Logdahl, Amy Pifher, Bob Zimmer and Mike Stevens Absent: Linda Koppelmann Also Present: Tara Duvall, Dick Salmi, Al LaTrace, Blessing Rahier, Jim Manske, Pat Richards, Jon Babcock, Mike & Diane Bakke, Julie Kennedy, Warren & Caroline Welch, Jesse Storlie, Joe Zimmer, Karen Campbell, Dean Springer, Chuck Almhjeld, Gene Ward, Carol Pifher and Julie Aakhus

Mayor Logdahl called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Public Forum: As no one wished to address the Council the public forum was closed.

Jon Babcock – Personal Comments: Police Chief Jon Babcock commended City Clerk Angie Storlie for her years of service to the City.

Additions to the agenda included a contract for clerk services. Motion by Stevens to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Zimmer, motion carried unanimously (MCU).

Consent Agenda Motion by Zimmer to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: #1- approval of the minutes of the August 11, 2009 regular and August 25, 2009 special City Council meetings and the September 1, 2009 Budget Committee meeting #2- approval of the Police Department Report for August 2009 #3- approval of the City Clerk’s Office Report for August 2009 #4- approval of the Financial Report for August 2009 #5- approval of the Public Works Department report for August 2009 #6- approval to pay out the City Clerk’s unused sick time #7- approval of the claims paid in the amount of $21,129.68 including the August 14th, 31st and clerk’s unused vacation/sick payrolls and approval of the claims for payment in the amount of $37,787.07 Motion seconded by Pifher, MCU.

Commissioner’s Reports: Airport Commissioner Dick Salmi, Police Commissioner Mike Bakke and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Amy Pifher gave their reports.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Engineering Updates: Julie Kennedy of Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. had a number of updates for the Council. As in the past, SEH will facilitate submitting the annual update to the airport Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Kennedy noted that Council members should notify her of any changes they would like to the CIP and also recommended that a representative be sent to the MnDOT outreach meeting coming up on September 22, 2009. Kennedy presented a engineering contract amendment for condemnation assistance work. This work is covered by grants. Motion to approve the contract amendment by Stevens, seconded by Zimmer, MCU. Kennedy reported that considerable effort from the Mayor, City staff and SEH was put into obtaining the US Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Permit which was approved Friday, Aug 28. Construction at the airport has begun. Casper Construction ran into a layer of peat at the north end of the runway that was about 300 feet long and covered the width of the runway. Neither of the adjacent borings that were completed by MnDOT indicated the presence of peat; only clay. Casper excavated the peat and replaced it with granular borrow. Pay request #1 will be submitted at the October Council meeting. Kennedy worked with City staff to assemble the operating budgets for water and sanitary sewer and a proposed rate structure. With the proposed rates the average residential user would see an increase of 2.9% in their monthly charges. Kennedy reported that base maps are going to Public Works Superintendent Chuck Almhjeld for final review. Stage III Rural Development paperwork for the water system improvement project is being completed. Kennedy and Almhjeld are looking at a solution for the line on Golf Course Lane and additional water line corrections in the area are being looked at as well.

Police Department Issues: Logdahl brought up the issue of reimbursement to the liquor store for theft and Babcock reported that it is a juvenile issue and he could not discuss the details. He added that he would do his best to provide a timetable for resolution of the issue by the next Council meeting. Logdahl had concerns about use of personal vehicles for police business and Babcock provided information from the April 2007 City Council meeting showing permission from the Council to do so and explaining that his personal insurance is liable, not the City’s. Almhjeld stated that he is not allowed to use the City vehicle for Effie and asked if he could either be allowed to or submit for mileage reimbursement. It was felt that since it was part of his job, he should be allowed to use the City vehicle. The contract with Effie will be added to the October Council agenda to ensure enough is being charged to cover those costs.

Commissioners: There were concerns from Council members about the actions of a certain commissioner. Motion to replace water/sewer Commissioner Dave Waters by Pifher, seconded by Zimmer, motion carried with Logdahl abstaining. Anyone interested in serving as the volunteer water/sewer commissioner should contact the City Clerk’s office.

NEW BUSINESS

BWC Committee Request: Tara Duvall introduced herself and other members of the Bigfork Wilderness Celebration Planning Committee. She explained that donations for the annual event are dwindling and the Committee would like to form a non-profit organization independent from the City so that they can apply for grants. The new organization would be separate from the City which would save on costs of clerk time and supplies for the event. They would still ask the City to be a sponsor of the event so that their insurance coverage would be in place. This is at no cost to the City. Motion by Pifher to allow the group to form an independent organization, seconded by Stevens, MCU. A check will be written to the new organization for the balance of the funds they have remaining.

Hydrant Flushing/Water Quality: Logdahl asked if Almhjeld had worked on the issues he discussed with him. Almhjeld reported that hydrant flushing is being done once per week. He still can’t get chlorine to the north end of town, however water quality is improving. He reported that there is no way for him to clean out the trailer court lines. He will be working on Pifher’s line to try to improve the water quality there. Almhjeld reported that his standard operating plan is almost completed.

Budget Committee Recommendation: The Budget Committee met on September 1, 2009 and presented the preliminary 2010 budget and levy for review and approval. The proposal is for a zero percent increase in the tax levy from 2009 to 2010. Motion to approve Resolution 2009-09 by Pifher, seconded by Stevens, MCU.

Planning & Zoning Commission Recommendation: The Planning & Zoning Commission recommendation was for the Council to reconsider the practice of not disconnecting water service for nonpayment. It is the recommendation that if an account is assessed at the end of a calendar year, if that same account is not kept current service, will be disconnected on April 16th of the following year and will not be reinstated until all charges are paid in full. An additional recommendation was to have people who wish to be disconnected from the system and not pay the monthly base rate pay a fee of $300 to have the meter removed and an additional $300 if they wish to be reconnected. Motion to have the clerk draft the necessary ordinance amendments by Stevens, seconded by Pifher, MCU.

Personnel Committee Recommendation: The training and experience rating form, job description and interview questions need approval by the Council. Motion to approve these items by Zimmer, seconded by Pifher, MCU. Interview will take place Wednesday, September 9, 2009 with a special Council meeting set for Thursday, September 10, 2009 to complete the hiring process.

Airport Grand Opening: Gene Ward, Airport Commissioner Salmi and Tendrup will work together on planning for a grand opening celebration at the airport. As it will be nearly winter by the time the airport is ready to be re-opened, it was felt that the celebration should wait until spring and possibly be planned to coincided with the Bigfork Wilderness Celebration.

Contract for Professional Services: Bigfork Valley Resources Group provided a proposed contract for city clerk services during the interim period while the City hires a new clerk/treasurer. The Council wanted to amend the contract to reflect that services will not be paid for in advance due to the fact that the number of hours they will be contracting for is unknown. Motion by Stevens to approve the contract with the amendment and contingent upon City Attorney John Licke’s review of it, seconded by Pifher, MCU.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m. in motion by Stevens seconded by Pifher, MCU.

Angela L. Storlie City Clerk/Treasurer