1-4-07 Minutes Summary

The Courtland City Council started its first meeting of the new year by administering the oath of office to the newly elected or re-elected members of the city government.

New city administrator Michael Boulton administered the oath to Mayor Bob Schabert and council members Ron Kollmann and Tami Nielsen. Schabert and Kollmann were re-elected to their positions in November; Nielsen is a first-time member of the council.

The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Bob Schabert in the Courtland Community Center on Thursday, January 4, 2007 at 7:05pm.

Poehler made a motion to approve the amended agenda to include civil defense sirens under old business and audit charges under new business. Schwartz seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Poehler made a motion to approve the written minutes of the December 11, 2006 truth in taxation meeting. Kollmann seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Schwartz made a motion to approve the written minutes from the December 11, 2006 regular city council meeting. Poehler seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Schwartz made a motion to approve the December bills. Poehler seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Steve Farasyn, contractor for the Upper Riverview Addition development, attended the meeting to ask the council if there was a possibility of amending the development agreement that he has with the city. He stated that soil conditions that the contractors were not aware of added some preparation work which in turn delayed the preliminary work on the lots. He asked if the date for the final work on the street could be changed. The agreement now states that the blacktop should be in place by the spring of 2008. He requested that the council move that date to June l, 2009. Kollmann made a motion to extend the deadline for blacktopping the street to June 1, 2009 unless all lots are sold sooner. Schwartz seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor. The city council instructed the city clerk to contact Hugh Nierengarten to make the necessary amendment to the agreement.

The city clerk informed the council that New Ulm is raising the sewer rate to the city by 25 cents per 1000 gallons of flow. This means that the city needs to raise the rate that we are charging our customers. Kollmann made a motion to increase our sewer rate by 25 cents. Schwartz seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Schwartz made a motion to approve the Appointment Calendar with the correction of the salary of the assistant fire chief. Nielsen seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Nielsen made a motion to approve the removal of Dan Wietecha and the addition of Michael Boulton and Al Poehler to the bank signature cards. Schabert seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Schwartz made a motion to approve Resolution 07-101 Authorizing and Documenting Interfund Loan for TIF District No. 1. Kollmann seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

City clerk Hubert asked for a council decision on what to do if the Courtland Plains does not pay the recording fees due to the city by January 10. The council agreed that a certified letter should be sent before the due date, stating that if the fees are not paid by January 10, the project will not be allowed to take out any zoning permits and that, in addition, there will be a late fee. Schwartz made a motion to send a letter to Courtland Plains certified. Nielsen seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Schwartz made a motion to adjourn. Poehler seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

A signed written copy of the minutes is on file in the office of the city clerk.

Respectfully submitted,

Bonnie J. Hubert

City Clerk