Council Minutes, February 3, 2020

Posted: February 3, 2020

City of LeRoy MN – Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2020

A regular meeting of the LeRoy City Council was called to order by Mayor Brian Thiel on Monday, February 3, 2020, at 6:30 PM at the LeRoy Community Center with the following members present:  Mayor Brian Thiel, Council Members Ashley Huntley, Jan Whisler, Harold Shipman, and City Clerk Patty White.  Maintenance Supervisor John Jones was absent.
Also attending: Joey Miller, Cassidy Milks, Daisie Fox, Axel Gumbel, Jim Gronwoldt.  All present stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda:

  • Council reviewed the items included in the consent agenda. Thiel noted the annual audit will be convening soon; he would like to get direction from the auditors as to how to address the segregation of duties that is written up in each audit.
  • Motion by Whisler, second by Huntley to approve the consent agenda with the correction to the minutes. Motion carried 4-0.

Appointment of Council Member:

  • Council reviewed three letters of interest submitted for the council seat vacated by the resignation of Kathleen Gottschalk. Joey Miller and Daisie Fox were in attendance; the other letter of interest was submitted by Chad Bundy.  Bundy was not in attendance as he was driving bus for an athletic event at the school.
  • Thiel questioned Mr. Miller and Ms. Fox if they had any particular issues they would like to see addressed if they were appointed to council. Miller would like to look at the water facilities and how they can be improved.  Ms. Fox had no particular issues; she would like to give back by serving on the city council.  Council questioned if bus driving would hinder Mr. Bundy’s ability to attend council meetings.  Thiel noted council could appoint one of these three people to the vacant seat, or the council could carry this over to the March council meeting.
  • Motion by Shipman to appoint Daisie Fox to the city council. Shipman’s motion died for lack of a second.  Whisler noted he was glad to have these letters of interest and would not have problem in carrying this over to the March meeting.
  • Motion by Huntley to appoint Chad Bundy to the city council. Huntley’s motion died for lack of a second.  Motion by Whisler to defer this appointment to the March city council meeting.  Whisler’s motion died for lack of a second.
  • With an apparent council impasse, Thiel noted this appointment will be carried over until the March 2, 2020, city council meeting.

No one present had anything to report during Public Input Time.

Standing Committee Reports:

  • Huntley noted the per-capita for the LeRoy Area Ambulance Service will probably increase to $10 per person for the next budget cycle.
  • Huntley reported the Fire Department Personnel Committee met; they recommended to appoint Devan Gates to the fire department.
  • Shipman reported Prairie Visions is working on the trail connection with the Shooting Star Trail and the Wapsi Trail at the Minnesota/Iowa border. The Wapsi Trail marathon will be held on May 2; this will be a certified marathon and will begin near Lake Louise State Park.

Police Report:

  • There was not a deputy in attendance. White will follow-through with Sheriff Sandvik to see if a deputy can attend the council meetings or at least provide a written report each month.

 

Volunteer of the Month:

  • No submission letters have been received to nominate someone for the Volunteer of the Month award.

Charitable Gambling Request:

  • Jim Gronwoldt from Travel Lanes was in attendance to again request to be able to sell E-tabs through the Spring Valley VFW at his establishment.
  • Shipman reported this had been discussed at the most recent LeRoy Community Foundation meeting. The Foundation is in favor of allowing Spring Valley VFW to come with the e-tabs.  The Foundation does not feel the e-tabs will affect the sale of the paper pull-tabs.
  • Shipman noted he doesn’t feel the council should hamper a business from offering something else at their business. Huntley questioned council if they want to see these charitable gambling dollars leaving the community.  Gronwoldt noted the e-tabs may bring more customers to his business and to the community.
  • Motion by Huntley to approve this and pass Resolution 2020-02, a premise permit for Spring Valley VFW. Second by Shipman.  Motion carried 4-0.

Liquor License Request:

  • Council reviewed a 3.2% Liquor License request from Soltau Enterprises, Inc. for BP Food Shop. Motion by Huntley to approve the 3.2% Liquor License for Soltau Enterprises.  Second by Whisler.  Motion carried 4-0.

Resolution of Appreciation to Kathleen Gottschalk:

  • Motion by Whisler, second by Shipman to pass Resolution 2020-03, a resolution of appreciation to Kathleen Gottschalk for the years she served as a city council member. Motion carried 4-0.

Appoint Election Judges for Presidential Primary Election:

  • White reported the State of Minnesota will be conducting a Presidential Primary Election on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. White requested council to appoint Mary Speer, Deb Iverson, John Kerr, Leslie Kerr, Jerry Utz, Georgia Eastvold, Diane Whalen, and Craig Bucknell as election judges for the Presidential Primary election.
  • Motion by Shipman, second by Huntley to appoint the named eight people as election judges for the Presidential Primary Election. Motion carried 4-0.

Land Use Permits:

  • There were no land use permits for council review.

Communications File:

  • Council reviewed the information received for the rebuilding of some of the wind towers near Grand Meadow.
  • White presented information on new Christmas decorations for Main Street. These decorations are currently on sale at 40% off the regular price.  Motion by Whisler, second by Shipman to pursue 20 snowflake decorations and to apply to the LeRoy Community Foundation for funds for these.  Motion carried 4-0.

Snow Removal:

  • Thiel noted he had a conversation with Mark Panek from MnDOT about the snow removal contract. Panek noted Mn DOT realizes that the dollar figures quoted may be revisited.  Thiel noted it would probably not behoove the council to try to fight this.
  • Motion by Thiel to sign this joint powers agreement and authorize Thiel and White to sign the agreement. Second by Whisler.  On a roll call of votes Thiel, Whisler, and Shipman voted aye.  Huntley cast a nay vote.  The motion carried 3-1.
  • Cassidy Milks questioned about snow removal in front of the school. Milks was directed to talk to MnDOT or previous custodial staff to see how snow removal was done in the past.

School Speed Limit Signs:

  • The maintenance guys are working on getting the speed signs adjusted for brightness. White needs to contact the company with the LED sign at the Community Center to get it operating correctly.

Other Business:

  • Thiel noted there was a sanitary sewer backup along West Cabot Street on Sunday, February 2. Maintenance Worker Nick Sweeney used the jetter to clear the main.  This will be monitored for any future issues.

Being no further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Shipman, second by Whisler at 7:31 PM.

– Brian Thiel, Mayor

– Patty A. White, City Clerk-Treasurer

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