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CITY OF
LANCASTER,
MINNESOTA
LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
The Lancaster City Council met for its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. The following persons were present: Mayor, Kathy Bernstrom; Council members: John Stenquist, Krista Matthew, and Teri Halvorson. Also present Anna Jauhola, with Kittson County Enterprise, Public Works Supervisor, George Zondagh, Liquor Store Manager, Shannon Bowlin, and Clerk-Trainee Janet Johnson.
Matthew moved to approve the January 8, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes, second by Stenquist 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 January 2025 bills and December 2024 Electronic Fund Transfers and other bills that have been paid prior to this meeting to avoid late payments, receive discounts & meet payroll and all payroll expenses as approved in the 2025 Rates Fees & Appointments Schedule. Stenquist moved to approved bills and EFT’s, second by Matthew and carried. An abstract of bills will be posted with the minutes and are available upon request.
Council members discussed the appointment of a new council member. Halvorson made a motion to appoint Mike Faken, no one seconded the motion and it failed. Matthew made a motion to appoint Brandon Warnke, no one seconded the motion and it failed. Halvorson moved to table the appointment of a new Council Member to the March meeting and was seconded by Matthew and carried.
Zondagh, met with the council to discuss GPS Mapping for the Utility System as the current method is not sufficient. Stenquist made a motion to approve Zondagh to work with MN Rural Water to obtain additional information and a quote and was seconded by Halvorson and carried.
Matthew moved to approve fire turnout gear and boots not to exceed $3450, second by Stenquist and carried.
Bowlin met with the council to review the Year End and January Liquor Financials.
Halvorson moved to transfer $5000 from the Liquor Store fund to the Community Center Debt Service Fund, second by Matthew and carried.
Matthew moved for an additional payment to the USDA for Community Center Loan in the amount of $5000, seconded by Halvorson and carried.
Stenquist moved to accept the quote for $5,773.20 from Rigg Electric for replacing lighting fixtures in the Community Center and Meeting Room along with replacing light bulbs in the Liquor Store, second by Halvorson and carried. The work will be done in March and payment will come from the General Fund. There will be a LED Lighting Rebate of approximately $3,060.00 with a potential estimated energy savings of $1,686.00 per year.
Matthew moved to accept the Lancaster Lions donation of $2,000.00 for Security Cameras improvements, second by Stenquist and carried.
Stenquist moved to make application to the Lancaster Legion #214 in the amount of $3,000.00 for the Lancaster Golf Course for purchasing golf carts, second by Matthew and carried.
Matthew moved to adopt Resolution 2025-01 Approving Permit Applications to Kittson County for Closure of CSAH 27 and CSAH 26 Roads for 2025 Year Special Events, second by Halvorson and carried.
Stenquist moved to approve full grant application, to be submitted by John Wynne with NWCA, second by Matthew and carried.
Stenquist moved to appoint Janet Johnson as City Clerk/Treasurer as of March 1, 2025. Second by Matthew and carried.
Matthew made a motion to add Janet Johnson and Teresa Halvorson to the Signature Cards as well as remove Michael Olson and Carol Johnson at United Valley Bank, American Federal Bank, and 4M Fund effective March 1st 2025, second Stenquist and carried.
Halvorson moved to approve the proposed Community Center Donation Request Letter to be sent out next month, second by Matthew and carried.
Clerk Johnson presented council with the 2024 Revolving Loan Fund report.
Stenquist moved to updated wording on the Payroll Step System Form to read “An existing employee who doesn’t work for the city in one of the 6 consecutive months prior to the new year would remain at current step”, Second by Matthew and carried.
Council reviewed City and Liquor Store final/year end and January financials.
Other items discussed:
Halvorson moved to approve a Retirement Party, and approved to pay expenses of the party, for former Mayor Mike Olson and Clerk Carol Johnson on February 27th from 2pm to 4pm, second by Matthew and carried.
Halvorson moved the approval to pay Krista Matthew, at the Cleaning Rate, for additional cleaning of the Community Center during Heritage Days and the 105th All School Reunion, second by Stenquist and abstaining from vote was Matthew. Motion carried.
Matthew moved to approve the addition of Janet Johnson to the city credit card, second by Halvorson and carried.
Stenquist moved to approve quote from EZ-Locksmith for the repair and possible replacements of locks and locking systems, not to exceed $2000, second by Matthew and carried.
Clerk discussed the visit earlier that day with the City Auditor Gordon Dale, mentioning it was his last year working with us, and advised she has contacted a new auditor for the 2025 year with Hoffman Philipp & Martell, PLLC out of Thief River Falls, MN for a quote.
Clerk mentioned the need for stronger shelves in the Meeting Room Closet as they are not safe for the heavy boxes currently housed on them. Stenquist moved to approve for stronger shelves not to exceed $400 in material/labor, second by Matthew and carried.
Mayor closed the meeting as there was no further business for council.
Carol Johnson, Clerk/Treasurer Approved: Kathy Bernstrom,Mayor
Approval Date: 03/12/2025
Other links: Lancaster Riverside Golf Course | Lancaster Public School | NW MN Multi-County HRA
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