Lanesboro City Council
Monday, August 21, 2006
Council Chambers, 5:30 p.m.

Present: Steve Rahn, Tom Dybing, Joe O’Connor, Robert Norby and Kevin Drake
Visitors: Wanda Hanson, Dale Forster, Jan Meyer, Tom Manion, Drue Fergison, Ann Hutton and Mike Charlesbois

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Steve Rahn.
Additions to the agenda included Terry Neumann on parking, garbage downtown, closing of the office, employee day and intern for the office.
Dybing made motion to approve the amended agenda, second O’Connor, motion carried.

The minutes from the August 7th meeting were approved with a motion from O’Connor, second Norby, motion carried.

Persons with business before the council
Ann Hutton- SELCO
Hutton gave an update on the support and use of the library; she commended the library for the work that they done to make the World War I series a success being that Lanesboro was the smallest town in the country to have been selected.
She stressed that the city is making an effort to provide a good library. She described the library as being very busy, and added that Lanesboro needs to “grow its collection”, understanding space limitations the site still needs new things on the shelf.
SELCO will be in negotiations with Fillmore County, six months before the end of the contract. She suggested that representatives from City are involved, preferably both elected and employed makes negotiations go smoother.
O’Connor asked if there was any public libraries partnering with schools.
Hutton answered there is not a lot of discussion for combining them.

Drue Ferguson- Library
Fergison reported on a survey from patrons.
Effective January 2nd 2007, Library hours will be restructured, simplified and increased from 25 to 30 hours per week. Neither the Library staffing nor budget is being increased in order to accomplish this goal.

Terry Neumann-Mrs. B’s- Parking
A letter was presented to council on the concerns of several businesses downtown on the parking issues, claiming that the ordinance needs to be changed to allow unrestricted parking downtown 6 days a week.
Several tickets were issued downtown and some to the customers at the Inn, but later they were dismissed.
Council members had a discussion on which nights would be the least busy, mostly all agreeing that Thursday morning works the best for the street sweeping.
Torgerson pointed out that in the winter that there is a need to keep the seven day restriction due to snow removal.
Rahn made motion to go back to the parking the way it was before and have proper signage telling when it is, along with talking to the Street Supt. on the matter, second Norby, motion carried.

Mike Charlesbois- Concerns
Charlesbois stated that he had concerns about some of the businesses being taken off the City’s tax roll; if Cornucopia acquires the empty St. Mane building lots it probably would be tax exempt. With declining LGA monies the City should be thinking more about giving business owners more opportunities.
Another suggestion was to move the street shop and fire hall, so new businesses could be developed along the riverfront.

Committee Reports
Library- August 14th- Dybing
The budget was passed and presented to Torgerson.
Public Utilities- August 15th- Drake
There will be Public Hearing on September 17th at 6:30 p.m.

Housekeeping
Paying of the bills
Drake made motion to pay the proposed bills, second Dybing, motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report
Torgerson reported she will be looking into the investments of the CD’s and Money Market, along with doing an internal audit in Sept.
Fire Truck Purchase
O’Connor made motion to pay the balance of the purchase of the new truck of $14,696.00, with the $4,696. being paid back at the end of the year, second Norby, motion carried.

Council and Mayor Salaries
Council and Mayor Salaries have not been looked at for several years and compared to other Cities they are very low.
Recommendations from Torgerson was to increase the Mayors salary to $1600 and council salaries to $1000.
Originally the Mayor received $1000 and council $600.
Drake made motion to raise the salaries as proposed by the City Administrator, second Norby, and motion carried.
O’Connor – opposed

Employee Increases
Torgerson and Rahn have been working on procedure for evaluations and pay step increases; the process for Pay Equity is going to take considerable amount of time and effort, to be completed by the end of the year.
Rahn & Torgerson made the recommendation to increase all full-time staff by $.62/ per hour rate increase, and no increases for part-time positions this year due to the significant increases last year.
O’Connor made motion to approve the raises for full time employees, second Dybing, motion carried.

Preliminary Budget
The budget was reviewed, will need to have it finished by the next meeting, and submitted by Sept. 12th.
Approval of the 2005 Auditor Report
Motion was made by O’Connor to approve the report, second Norby, motion carried.

Emergency Management Plan
O’Connor made motion to adopt the Emergency Management Plan Handbook and making Lanesboro Community Memorial Center the emergency center with Lanesboro Fire Department as back-up, and the City Administrator and Mayor as contact persons, second Norby, motion carried.

Garbage Issues downtown
Some of the businesses have shared containers behind the Parkway Pub; concerns are to make it look a little nicer.
Torgerson asked if the council would okay her to work as a mediator to resolve some of the issues they have.
All council agreed they could see no harm in Torgerson getting involved in this matter.

November Clean-Up in the Office
Torgerson requested that the City Office to officially closed the week of thanksgiving in order to due some clean up, filing and etc.
O’Connor made motion to approve the request, second Norby motion carried.

Employee Day
O’Connor made motion for on Friday Sept 22nd to give the employees off from 1:0-3:30 p.m., for employee day, second Dybing, motion carried.

Office Help- Intern
Torgerson stated that she will contact the local colleges about getting someone to work in the office for an internship.

With no further business at 7:00 p.m., Norby made motion to adjourn, second O’Connor, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Rita Peterson

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City of Lanesboro Steven L. Rahn, Mayor | Bobbie Vickerman, City Administrator 202 Parkway Avenue South - - Lanesboro, MN 55949 507-467-3722 | lanesboro@acegroup.cc