11-1-2007 Minutes Summary

The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Bob Schabert in the Courtland Community Center on Thursday, November 1, 2007 at 7:00pm. All members of the council were present.

Nielsen made a motion to approve the agenda as printed. Schwartz seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

The public hearing for the final assessments on the Zieske Road Improvement Project was opened for comments. Joe Duncan stated that this meeting was for the property owners that will benefit

from the road improvements. He stated that this is the last step before the actual assessments would be certified to the county to be put on the tax roles.

The public hearing was closed.

Schwartz made a motion to approve Resolution of 07-113 Setting Final Assessment for The Zieske Road Street Improvement project. Schabert seconded the motion. The motion passed with all in favor. Roll call vote was as follows: Ron Kollmann, Al Poehler, Bob Schabert, Greg Schwartz and Tami Nielsen all voted yes.

Schwartz made a motion to approve the written minutes for the regular city council meeting held on 10-4-2007. Poehler seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Schwartz made a motion to approve the written minutes for the continuation meeting held on 10-9-2007. Kollmann seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Joe Duncan stated that there were changes to the plans from what had been discussed previously as to the grinder pump for America Midwest Transportation. The state plumbing code advisory board was told by the state attorney general office that they should remove all of the amendments that have been added to the code over the years. By doing so a private party may not get a permit to install a grinder pump on private property. This means that the city would have to request a permit from the MPCA and would have to have an easement around the grinder pump. This would not change the agreement as to who would buy the grinder pump but the city would have to take over ownership and maintain it and the city could bill them for all services including labor to fix it if it fails. Schabert stated that this would have to be added to our development agreement. America Midwest Transportation would be responsible to put in a check valve so if the grinder pump did fail it would not back up sewage into the building. Duncan also stated that the utilities easement is under S & S parking lot and lights so the utilities will have to be put in by boring. He stated that this is more expensive than open trench but if we have to tear up and replace S & S’s parking lot and lights it would run approximately the same amount as boring. Duncan informed the council that if Bloedel comes to the city to put in a service road along Highway 14 for access to the proposed west 5 acre plot that the city should remember that they have a responsibility for the safety of the public and that by allowing a service road it would be a dangerous situation. This is all for the future development of the rest of the 20 acres that Bloedel purchased. Poehler made a motion to direct the city attorney to draft Addendum #1 with changes to the utility agreement regarding E-1 grinder pumps and service lines with America Midwest Transportation, Inc., also stating that the city will take over ownership of the grinder pump after it is installed and will maintain it but will bill the labor and materials back to America Midwest Transportation for any repairs. The City Administrator/Clerk and Mayor are to negotiate/sign Addendum #1, pending proper changes have been made that were suggested by the city administrator. Schwartz seconded the motion. The motion carried on a 4-1 vote. Schabert, Poehler, Nielsen and Kollmann voted yes and Schwartz voted no.

Schwartz made a motion to approve Resolutions 07-114 and 07-115 for the 2007 Utilities Extension.

Nielsen seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Schwartz made a motion to approve Resolution 07-116 for a Simple Lot Division. Kollmann seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Schwartz made a motion to approve the bills for the month of October 2007. Poehler seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

The council reviewed the sidewalk survey and decided that at this point the sidewalks will remain as they are at the present.

The clerk informed the council that December 3, 2007 will be the first of the Truth in Taxation hearings and also will be the regular council meeting at 6:30pm. The second Truth in Taxation hearing will be at 6pm on December 10, 2007.

Schwartz made a motion to adjourn the meeting. 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

RESOLUTION 07-118

Increasing Sewer Service Rates

WHEREAS, the sewer fund is an enterprise fund, intended to be self-supporting as a business-like activity;

WHEREAS, sewer service rates are necessary for operation and maintenance, debt service, and replacement funds for the sanitary sewer system;

WHEREAS, Section 803.09, Subd. 1, of the Courtland City Code provides for increasing the sewer service rates by resolution;

WHEREAS, the utility committee discussed current rates and noted that the flow charge to New Ulm will be increased by 16 cents effective January 1, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the utility committee has recommended increasing sewer service rates to maintain the solvency of the sewer fund.

The City Council of the City of Courtland hereby approves a flow charge of $3.95 per 1000 gallons. This is an increase of 20 cents per 1000 gallons. The base and system replacement charges remain the same. This resolution is effective upon publication.

Passed by the City Council for the City of Courtland on the 3rd day of December, 2007.

Signed:__________________________________

Bob Schabert, Mayor

Attest:___________________________________

Bonnie Hubert, City Clerk