12-1-2008 Minute Summary

The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Bob Schabert in the Courtland Community Center on Monday December 1, 2008 at 7:00 pm. All council members were present.

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

Schwartz made a motion to approve the written minutes of the November 6, 2008 regular city council meeting. Kollmann seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

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

As a representative of Comcast Cable Company, Lance Leopold addressed the council with a proposal for bringing cable and internet service into Courtland in the near future. He sent a copy of the franchise agreement that they would like to have the city grant them to the city attorney Nierengarten last week to have him read over for the city. They stated that the cable would all come into the city mainly on underground cable. They hope to be ready for the city to start hooking up to residents in the spring.

There was extensive discussion on raising the water rates so that the city water department cash flows on its own. The council discussed the fact that the base rate should be raised but also the flow rate. The feelings of the council was that they want to encourage the residents to conserve water and that they shouldn’t raise the base fee over $13.25 but that they should raise the flow rate to $2.25. Schwartz made a motion to approve Resolution 08-111 Increasing Water Rates. Poehler seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor. The clerk stated that she did not find anything in the water ordinance that required that the resolution be published but that she felt we should publish the resolution in order to notify residents of the increase before we actually start charging it. The council told the clerk to publish the resolution.

Schwartz made a motion to approve Resolution 08-109 Setting Final Assessment for the 2007 Utility Improvement Project. Kollmann seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Schwartz made a motion to approve Resolution 08-110 Amended Resolution Setting Final Assessment for the Zieske Road Street Improvement Project. Bents seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Because the regular council meeting would fall on New Years Day the council decided that the January city council meeting would be held on January 8, 2009.

The council went over the budget again and cut several items. One of the items cut was having David Nielsen serving the city as part-time policeman. This was a cost savings of approximately 4 % of the budget. The county will furnish the city with coverage at no cost to the city. The council asked the City Administrator to write a letter to Dave to inform him of this decision. Schwartz made a motion to approve Resolution 08-112 setting the Final Levy for 2009 Budget. Schabert seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favor. This resolution will be forwarded to the Nicollet County Auditor as is if there is no objection when the continuation hearing is held on December 8, 2008.

RESOLUTION 08-112

Adopting Final Property Tax Levy

Be it hereby resolved by the Courtland City Council that $106,813.00 be levied for the current year, collectible in 2009, upon taxable property in the City of Courtland, Nicollet County, Minnesota, for the general fund.

The City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Nicollet County Auditor.

Approved by the Courtland City Council this 8th day of December 2008.

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

The meeting closed at 9:30pm.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Bonnie J. Hubert

City Clerk