DRAFT – These minutes are not official until approved at the next regular City Council meeting.

City of Bigfork

Special Meeting July 27th, 2006

Members Present: Amy Tendrup, Amy Pifher, and Richard Salmi Absent: Lonnie Kacon and Jean Lexvold Also Present: Dave Waters, Robin Custer, Bob Zimmer, Gene Rajala, Gary Matson, & Mike Bakke.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm.

Council’s Review of Licensing Coverage: Motion by Mayor Tendrup to reconsider the motion made at the last Special Meeting (to accept Dave Waters’ verbal proposal effective July 27th, if there was no coverage by a licensed operator) due to new information, seconded by Pifher, with Salmi opposing. Motion carried. Salmi asked if there was a quorum present. Pifher and Tendrup replied that there was. Salmi asked Tendrup to explain the motion. Tendrup explained that the motion made at the last Special Meeting was now up for discussion because new information had been gathered. She stated that contractors who work for the City need liability insurance of their own. She said that the City has a couple of other options as well. NTS gave the City a quote of what it would cost to help Bigfork fulfill its permit requirements. They quoted $1000-1250 per month which would include mileage and insurance up to $1,000,000. Tendrup referred to the League of MN Cities Insurance Trust recommendations for hiring contractors which lists the responsibilities of a city. Salmi said that it was dropped on them quickly. Tendrup agreed that everything has happened quickly. Salmi suggested hiring Dave Waters for 4 hours per week at $15 per hour and the City would take care of the liability. He went on to say that Waters’ lives in town and would make the City his priority. Pifher asked whether liability insurance covers just employees of the City. Tendrup stated that it did. Salmi said that he would like Waters to work 4 hours a week for the City and that he is close by and knows the system. Tendrup said that there are currently legal issues between Waters and the City that may make the relationship a conflict of interest. Salmi again stated that it is only 4 hours per week. Tendrup agreed that 4 hours is not much, but restated that there may be a conflict of interest based on some other issues that are going on. Tendrup went on to talk about the written proposal and contract from Mark Maki to continue to use his license to cover the City’s permits. The liability insurance and workman’s comp insurance would remain in place to continue to cover him as a city employee. Salmi stated that Maki had resigned, so there was no insurance. Tendrup stated that Waters had also resigned. Maki’s insurance was still valid and would carry over until the City told them otherwise. Salmi argued that Maki would not be able to teach a new employee while living in Kinney and asked what would happen if there were two water main breaks in the two towns. Tendrup referred to Maki’s schedule proposal and stated that the City does have two other employees, a Commissioner to supervise, and a City Engineer. Gene Rajala asked why the meeting wasn’t about hiring a candidate. Tendrup replied that two people were interviewed and both had turned down the offer because of the salary. Tendrup called for a vote on the motion that was being reconsidered. Salmi was for, Tendrup and Pifher against. Motion reconsidered. Salmi said that there was too much information that he had not seen, and said that people were doing things behind the scenes. Pifher and Tendrup said that they had not seen the information ahead of time either. Tendrup said that she is the Mayor and that it is her responsibility to protect the City and look into City matters, whether insurance is valid, whether the City can hire a contractor, what the permits require, etc. She asked Salmi if he had done any behind the scenes checking for himself. He stated that he had. He said that the way to save the City money is to hire Dave at $60 per week because Maki’s price will go up. Motion by Tendrup to re-advertise the Superintendent position for three weeks with the salary of $34,500, seconded by Pifher, opposed by Salmi. Motion carried. Salmi suggested changing the job to be 30 hours per week at $16 per hour. Pifher asked who Salmi thought the City could find to work for that amount when the two candidates that did apply would not accept $34,500. Salmi said that an apprentice could work for that amount under Waters until they had their licenses. Motion by Salmi to advertise the job as an apprenticeship working 30 hours per week at $16 per hour. Motion died for lack of a second. Gene suggested changing the title of the job from Superintendent to Working Foreman to give a better idea of what the job entailed. Tendrup said that can be put on the agenda for the Personnel Committee to review. Motion by Tendrup to accept the written contract made by Maki to cover the City with his licenses for $550 per month which includes mileage, seconded by Pifher, with Salmi opposing. Motion carried. Salmi again made accusations of information being passed behind the scenes and asked that Waters written proposal be looked at. Pifher said that at the last meeting Waters refused to write up or sign a written proposal. Mayor Tendrup adjourned the meeting.