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CITY
OF
LANCASTER,
MINNESOTA
LANCASTER
CITY
COUNCIL
PROCEEDINGS
The Lancaster City Council met for its
regular meeting on Wednesday, December 8, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. in the
City Hall. The
following members were present: Rice, Olson and Swenson. Stenquist and Nordin were
absent. Also, present
was Mary Barron, Council Member elect.
Swenson moved to approve the minutes of the
November 10, 2010 Regular meeting and the December 1, 2020 Special
meeting, seconded by Olson and carried. A copy of the Minutes will be
posted at the Lancaster City Hall and U.S. Post Office and available
upon request to the clerk.
The council reviewed the Decemberr 2010 Bills
to be paid. Olson moved to approve the bills for payment, second by
Swenson and carried. An
abstract of bills will be posted with the minutes and are available
upon request to the clerk.
At 7:15PM the mayor, Gary Rice, called the
Municipal Liquor Store Hearing to order. Mary Barron was the 1 public
person present. The
Mayor stated that the hearing was being held because the Liquor
Store has sustained a net operating loss for the 2 of the 3 previous years and
that by state statute a public hearing is required to be held within
45 days of the close of the next year. The Mayor reviewed a 13 year
income and expense comparison, 2009/2010 Daily Sales Comparison
worksheet and a 2009/2010 Profit and Loss worksheet. The Mayor reported that the
Liquor store has shown a profit of $24,909.27 as of November 30,
2010 The mayor then
opened the meeting for public input. There was no public
input at this time.
Rice reported that with operating profits in 2009 and 2010
there would be no need for a public hearing next year. The hearing
was adjourned at 7:40 PM.
Clerk handed out the State Auditor’s Fire
Relief Association Report Card for the council’s information. The Fire relief association
has sustained no losses during the recession.
Mayor Rice set the Liquor Store inventory for
January 1, 2011 at 10:00A.M.
The Clerk has a liquor license application
for Bernstrom Oil, the only form missing is the liquor liability
certification that the clerk has been assured will be received
shortly. Swenson moved
to approve the 3.2 Off-sale Liquor License for Bernstrom Oil Co. for
the period of January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 and allow the
Clerk and Mayor to sign the license forms pending receipt of all
paperwork, seconded by Olson and carried.
Clerk reported that the city has qualified
for $1,197.88 in State monies for the flooding in June 2010. Olson moved to accept the
money, second by Olson and carried.
Clerk reported that North Kittson Rural water
is increasing their rates to $2.14/1000 gallons of water.
Olson moved to have new benefitted employee’s
health insurance start the first day after the first full month of
employment and amend the Employee Handbook with this wording, second
by Swenson and carried.
Clerk reported on the Health insurance quotes
for single person health insurance. The MN Public Insuarnce
Program quote was $436.62/month for a $2500 deductible plan, Clerk
also received quotes from Sjostrand Agency for a Blue Cross blue
Shield $2500 deductible plan or $242/month and a $1500 deductible
plan would cost $254.50/month.
Olson moved to accept the $1500 Blue Cross Blue Shield plan
costing $254.50/month and that the city would pay the $254.50 for a
single person coverage, second by Swenson and carried.
Council discussed purchasing a token of
appreciation for the retiring Public Works Director, Tom
Sebenaler. Swenson
moved to allow the purchase of a small gift not to exceed $50.00 for
retiring employees, second by Olson and carried.
Clerk reported that the Kittson County
Highway Department has raised their equipment rental rates for 2011
and will charge extra if the employee is receiving
overtime.
Clerk reported that due to new IRS payroll
deposit rules effective January 2011 all payroll deposits must be
made electronically and with one account. The Liquor Store and Golf
Course deposits would need to be made with the City General Fund
checking account and then reimbursed from the Liquor Store and Golf
Course.
Olson moved to allow clerk to pay council per
diems for 2010, second by Swenson and carried.
Council discussed the proposal to increase
the clerk’s hours to 30 per week and make the position benefitted at
the pro rata fulltime portion per the employee handbook rules at the
clerks 10 year employee status. Olson moved to
increase the clerk’s hours to 30 and allow benefits at the 10 year
rate, effective for hours worked after January 1, 2011, second by
Swenson and carried.
Clerk reported that Hanson Manufacturing has
made the September loan payment and promised to pay the October 2010
payment prior to the end of 2010. Council tabled this until
the next meeting.
Rice reported that Minnesota Dept of
Employment and Economic Developement has requested a full
application for the Small Cities Grant and that the city must hold a
public hearing to gather citizen input. The total grant amount is
$579,000.00 with a city match.
The city doesn’t have to expend the total amount. Rice reported that we need a
conceptual drawing for the Application and for the Hearing. Olson moved to set the
hearing for January 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM and Allow Rice to contract
with an architect for the conceptual drawing, second by Swenson and
carried.
Council reviewed the November City and Liquor
Store financial information, Liquor Store Daily sales and Gambling
Monthly receipts.
Council again discussed that the liquor store cost of goods
for resale is out of balance with sales.
Jen Rice requested to be allowed to purchase
a laptop computer for the Liquor Store for Ordering, scheduling,
Inventory and advertising needs. Olson moved to allow the
purchase of a laptop with the cost not to exceed $500.00, second by
Swenson and carried.
Wikstrom Telecom requests an easement on the
City Maintenance Shop property for fiber optic installation. Swenson moved to grant the
easement and allow the Mayor and Clerk to sign the document, second
by Olson and carried.
Clerk reported that the Lancaster Economic
Development checking account at Prime Security Bank is considered
dormant, it has not been used in 10 years. The account balance is
$229.31 and the bank will start charging a monthly fee for this
account. Olson moved to
transfer the funds to the city General fund, second by Swenson and
carried.
The Kittson County Saddle Club has inquired
if they can use the city property south of town on the east side of
US Highway 59 for a riding arena. The council discussed the
issue and wil have the Public Works Director review the issue.
Council Adjourned as there was no further
council business.
Carol Johnson
Clerk/Treasurer
Other links: Lancaster Riverside
Golf Course |
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