December 8, 2009

The regular meeting of the Staples City Council was called to order by Mayor Etzler at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at the Staples Government Center. Present were Mayor Etzler, City Council Members Carlson, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg. Council Member Einerwold was absent. Also present were City Administrator Mathews, City Clerk Lindaman, Community Development Director Nelsen, Public Works Director Klein, Police Chief Huber and other interested persons.

It was moved by Miles and seconded by Flaten to approve the agenda as presented. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

It was moved by Schmieg and seconded by Miles to approve the consent calendar items consisting of the minutes from the previous meeting and payment of the bills presented. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

Bills Presented
A.W. Research	$116.80
ACS	735.42
Alden Pool & Municipal
Supply	108.81
Anderson Brothers	35,359.00
Bartley Sales	21,600.45
Batteries Plus	194.39
Berndt, Bobby	10.00
Blade Publishing	36.00
Calix, Yolanda	353.61
Central Building Supply	42.64
Charter Business	560.98
Coast True Value	146.87
Conflow Corp	200.99
Culligan	41.26
Derek Holst
Construction	5,244.00
Ernies	42.84
Gary’s Diesel	95.40
Gaugert, Steve	284.43
Giza	109.97
Goff, Chris	5.00
Gopher State One Call	26.10
Grondahl, Bruce	294.90
H & L Mesabi	1,556.99
Hawkins	25.00
Hillyard	502.02
Holden Electric	65,464.50
Hollco Inc	939.68
Huber, Kyle	5.00
IKON	339.86

Kennedy & Graven	1,025.80
Landsburg
Landscaping	27,130.10
Leaf River Area
Habitat for Humanity	50.00
Lundberg Plumbing &
Heating	11,803.75
Mayer, Porter & Beinhorn	130.00
Meyer, Cathy	33.98
Miller True Value	330.65
Minn Chiefs of Police
Assoc	180.00
MN Copy Systems	24.41
Minn Dept of Labor &
Industry	10.00
Minn Energy	253.53
Minn Power	76.42
Mitch’s Fuel Service	1,326.75
Morris Electronics Inc	48.75
Morrison County	514.85
Multiple Concepts
Interiors	11,207.53
NAPA	902.58
Northern Water Works
Supply	327.10
Northway
Construction	19,200.00
Nyhus Chev	42.53
OK Tire Stores	1,235.28
Paul Drake Tree Serv	134.00
Pike Plumbing	811.18
Quill	19.22
Reliable Office Supply	140.39
SouthSide Mini Mart	41.54
St. Cloud Acoustics	12,302.50
Staples Self Serve	70.13
Staples Sign Co	1,956.00
Staples Vet	253.68
Staples Water & Light	16,287.88
Staples World	2,159.55
Teledyne ISCO Inc	2,390.77
Thelen Heating &
Roofing	380.00
Thorman, Gary	495.76
Todd County Attorney	2,605.00
Todd County Solid Waste	36.00
Todd Wadena Co-op	851.78
Tower Pizza	51.19
Verizon	11.85
VISA	260.74
Waste Management	1,251.90
Total	$254,365.98
Jason Anderson	$72.70
Bobby Berndt	574.88
Scott Braith	1,500.00
John Cole	76.14
Anthony Evans	31.43
Emily Fuhrman	81.57
Josiah Fuhrman	94.14
Chris Goff	1,425.69
Ryan Goff	269.10
Bruce Grondahl	62.86
Jeff Jares	344.93
Kelly Kossan	158.32
Erik Nelsen	16.32
Anna Nice	533.00
Joshua Nice	547.69
Margaret Raybern	381.52
Jeremy Reeck	850.00
Nancy Roth	73.85
Caleb Silgjord	199.29
Katherine Stone	23.57
Nathan Warner	551.31
Scott Yungbauer	350.00
Total	$8,218.31

It was moved by Quance and seconded by Schmieg to give Ordinance No. 483 its second reading and adoption modifying Ordinance No. 481, which granted Minnesota Power a franchise to operate and maintain an electric distribution system in the City of Staples. (Modifications relate to the extension of service, construction restrictions, rates and service, franchise fee, water services, and amendments.) Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

It was moved by Carlson and seconded by Schmieg to give an ordinance its first reading establishing a natural gas franchise fee of $1.50 per month per meter plus $0.013 per 100 cubic feet of gas, adjusted annually for inflation. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

It was moved by Carlson and seconded by Flaten to give an ordinance its first reading granting Todd- Wadena Electric Cooperative a franchise to operate and maintain an electric distribution system in the City of Staples. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

Public hearing was held to consider the proposed assessment of the costs to remove public nuisances. No objections were received. Public hearing closed. It was moved by Schmieg and seconded by Carlson to introduce Resolution No. 1486 adopting Assessment Roll No. 322 for the costs to remove public nuisances as proposed. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

It was moved by Carlson and seconded by Miles to introduce Resolution No. 1487 adjusting the electric, water and sewer rates effective with the February 1, 2010 billing. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

The proposed 2010 final property tax levy totaling $721,683 and proposed 2010 City budget totaling $6,036,508 were reviewed and compared with the 2009 tax levy of $701,094 and 2009 amended budget of $5,787,320. The proposed tax levy reflects a 2.94% increase from the previous year. The preliminary levy adopted in September reflected a 3.60% increase from the previous year. City Administrator Mathews reported that the 2010 tax capacity grew 3.19% and the 2010 tax rate will decrease form 61.02 to 60.87 if the proposed levy is adopted. City Administrator Mathews explained that the proposed tax levy and budget reflect the expected unallotment of Local Government Aid, a net decrease in health insurance costs, a 2% increase in wages, an increase in franchise fee revenue, transitioning the full-time Community Center janitor to part-time as part of the PERA Phased Retirement Program, increases in electric and sewer rates, and the addition of legal fees in the Police Department budget due to possible labor arbitration. No citizen comments were received. After some discussion, it was moved by Schmieg and seconded by Quance to introduce Resolution No. 1488 adopting the 2009 Final Property Tax Levy collectible in 2010 in the amount of $721,683 as proposed. Council Member Carlson expressed his feelings that he would like to see no increase in the levy to match the social security cost-of-living adjustment. After further discussion, it was moved by Carlson to amend the motion to increase the levy .94% from the previous year. Motion died for lack of a second. Upon vote being taken on the original motion and second to introduce Resolution No. 1488 adopting the 2009 Final Property Tax Levy collectible in 2010 in the amount of $721,683 as proposed; Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg voted yes. Carlson voted no. Carried.

It was moved by Carlson and seconded by Quance to adopt the following departmental budgets for 2010:

Department	Amount
Administration	$250,857
Election	3,900
Legal	32,500
Planning & Zoning	40,500
City Hall	37,900
Police	600,194
Fire	207,540
Community Concern
for Youth	2,915
Animal Control	4,000
Street Lighting	102,000
Airport	61,950
Park & Recreation	79,087
Library	26,686
Permanent Improvement	157,500
Street	258,104
Tarring	15,000
Community Center	277,687
Bond & Interest	654,279
Comm Development
Revolving Loan	178,013
Light	2,308,417
Water	419,932
Sewer	317,547
	$6,036,508

Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

City Administrator Mathews updated the Council on various projects and activities.

It was moved by Miles and seconded by Quance to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.
Approved:
Chris Etzler,
Mayor
Attest:
Phil Lindaman,
City Clerk 51pnc