Lanesboro City Council
Monday, December 17th, 2007
Council Chambers at 5:30 p.m.

Present: Steve Rahn, Kevin Drake, Tom Dybing and Vince Jeannette
Absent: Joe O’Connor
Visitors: Lisa Brainard, Jade Wangen, Jill Veerkamp, Ann Hutton, Andy Drake and Dillon Dombrovski from Yaggy Colby

REGULAR MEETING:
The regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Steve Rahn.
The agenda was approved, with the addition of Snowmobiling complaints, with a motion by Dybing, second by Drake, motion carried.
The minutes from the public hearing and regular City Council meeting on December 3rd, 2007 were approved with a motion by Drake, second Jeannette, motion carried.

PERSONS WITH BUSINESS BEFORE THE COUNCIL:
Andy Drake: Fire Department – New Member Request and 2008 Officers:
Andy Drake asked the Council to appoint Dean Benson to the Lanesboro Volunteer Fire Department and to also appoint Andy Drake as Chief, Rob Wagner as 1st Assistant, Ryan Peterson as 2nd Assistant, Jerod Wagner as 3rd Assistant and Pat Schmidt as Secretary. Dybing made a motion to accept the officers as stated and to appoint Dean Benson as a new member of the Department, second Jeanette, motion carried. Jeannette noted that he had seen Jack Burnell, who lives up in the triplex, and he was amazed at the wonderful job that the fire department did with the recent fire and Jeanette thanked the fire department on his behalf.
Ann Hutton: SELCO – County Funding Explanation:
Ann Hutton appeared before the Council after the Council requested her attendance to explain the $4,000 cut in the Lanesboro Library rural funding. Hutton gave a handout that showed how the funds were distributed the last time (3 years ago) that negotiations were made. Since that time the rural users in some libraries have increased and others have decreased. There was no change as to how the money was distributed this contract period, which is a five year average calculation, but a new five year period was used to determine the distribution. Hutton apologized to the Council, because she felt she did not do the job she needed to do, as far as, getting numbers out and figuring the numbers based on the County’s increase. The Lanesboro Library will have to work with the same distribution method for the next 3 years, through 2010, until the possibility of a new distribution can be made. Vickerman noted that Mayor Rahn received a letter from the Rushford Library Director making certain statements and references. Vickerman noted that the Council is well aware that 2008 is the first year of the three years that this is in place and was unsure of the reason the letter was sent. Hutton noted that the Rushford Library Director stated she was going to send a letter, however, she felt that if any other Library was cut $4,000 they would be concerned as well and seek out to find the answers.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Library: Monday, December 10th – Jeannette:
Library Director Jill Veerkamp gave an update on the Library Board meeting. She noted that it was a short meeting and pretty much an overview of the year of 2007 was discussed and finalizing the 2008 budget.

HOUSEKEEPING:
Assessment Policy / Capital Planning:
Vickerman discussed that she had met with Dillon from Yaggy Colby, Joe O’Connor and briefly with Jim Peterson and Andy Drake. All projects were discussed. Dillon from Yaggy felt that the Whittier project was a priority due to the storm water run off issues. Vickerman recommended that the Council approve the Whittier Project for 2008, and include the Maple Drive project if funds are yet available, since Maple Drive already has the storm water run off in place and mainly would need curb and Asphalt. Also, Vickerman noted that we must have an assessment policy in place and a policy that all members of the Council are willing to support, even if times get tough. Dybing made motion to move forward with the Whittier and Maple Drive projects for 2008 and to have the engineers begin the projects, second Rahn, motion carried.
Library Director Increase:
Vickerman noted that the hiring committee for the Library Director noted that after a successful 3 month probationary period that an increase from $27,990 to $29,051 would be necessary. Vickerman noted that she felt that Veerkamp was doing an excellent job and that the Library Board recommended the increase as well. Rahn made a motion to give Jill Veerkamp, Library Director the increase as recommended, second Jeannette, motion carried.
Paying of the Bills:
Drake made motion to pay bills as presented, second Jeannette, motion carried.
Administrator Report:
Vickerman stated that the auditors began their pre-audit today. She has been preparing for them and does not have a physical report available. She noted that she is pleased with how the audit has been so far.
Budget and Levy Final:
Dybing made motion to send a letter to the Fillmore County Auditor stating that the 2008 Tax Levy for the City of Lanesboro will be $382,576, and to approve the 2008 budget as presented to the State Auditor, second Drake, motion carried.
Christmas Eve Office/Employee Request:
Vickerman noted that Christmas Eve falls on a Monday and employees are to work until noon. Vickerman asked if the Council would consider giving the staff off the morning hours, since the staff was unable to have the 4 hours off for “employee day” during the summer due to the flooding. Drake made motion to give the City employees the entire day of Christmas Eve off with pay, this year only, due to not receiving the four hours in the summer, second Jeannette, motion carried.

 

Personnel Policy Change Request:
Vickerman noted that when she wrote the personnel policy she understood how the PTO worked, however it seems to very complicated to understand by the employees and the employees that have been here the longest are being penalized, which was not the original intent. She requested to have the rollover amount to be determined on December 31st and then the accrued PTO from the prior year occurring on January 1st, to help alleviate some confusion. Dybing stated that maybe we should consider pay out options for non-practical times or hardships, noting that with low numbers of staff; sometimes it is unfeasible for employees to take time off, especially if another staff member is ill. Another option, he noted, was to have pay out options for a certain amount of unused time. Rahn noted that we should discuss these options further and that Vickerman should write up these options for presentation to the Council.
Snowmobiling Complaints:
Vickerman and Rahn have received complaints of snowmobiles going on private property and operating at all hours of the night. Vickerman stated that she discussed the issue with the Chief of Police, who contacted the snowmobile club and asked them to put up better signs to designate the trail. Vickerman or Chief Schultz will also be contacting the DNR to have stronger enforcement of the snowmobile trail going through town. It was noted that we would not want to eliminate the trail and it is unfortunate that a few can ruin it for everyone. Dybing asked if a notice in the paper could be made, Vickerman stated that she would do a notice for snowmobiles along with a notice about parking and snow removal.
Citizens Comments
There were no citizen comments.

Kevin Drake noted that he received a verbal thank you from a Rushford resident for all that Lanesboro has done to assist and help them, especially the fundraiser.

Respectfully submitted,

Bobbie Vickerman

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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