Mayor Beyer called the Regular Meeting of the Rockford City Council to order at 7:00 p.m.  The meeting was held in the Council Chambers of City Hall 6031 Main Street, Rockford, MN.

 

ROLL CALL

Roll call was taken, the following members were present: Beyer, Altringer, Graner, and Nichols. Absent: Seymour.  Also in attendance was: Attorney Couri, Administrator Carswell, Engineer Mark Statz, Kevin Reed Fire Chief and Public Works Supervisor D. Peterson.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was given.

 

*Consent Agenda

MOTION was made by Graner, seconded by Altringer to approve all items on the consent agenda.

 

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, AND NICHOLS.

 

*Approve minutes/March 11, 2008

MOTION was made by Graner, seconded by Altringer to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2008 council meeting.

 

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, AND NICHOLS.

 

*Payment of Claims

MOTION was made by Graner, seconded by Altringer to approve the payment of claims #014593 - #014632 in the amount of $79,956.16.

 

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, AND NICHOLS.

 

*Approve Fireworks quote for River Days

MOTION was made by Graner, seconded by Altringer to approve the purchase of the Fireworks from Premier Pyrotechnics Inc in the amount of $3,000 for the 2008 Rockford River Days Celebration.

 

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, AND NICHOLS.

 

*Amend 2008 City Wages - Corrections

MOTION was made by Graner, seconded by Altringer to approve the corrected 2008 Employee Wages and Step plan effective immediately.

 

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, AND NICHOLS.

           

*Authorize Part Time Parks Employee advertisement

MOTION was made by Graner, seconded by Altringer to authorize the Public Works Department to advertise for a summer part time employee in the South Crow River News paper.

 

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, AND NICHOLS.

 

*Approve Change Order #6 / Rochon Corp. / Public Works Facility

MOTION was made by Graner, seconded by Altringer to approve Change Order #6 from Rochon Corp for the net credit amount to the city which equals ($13,866.77) for the public works facility.

 

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, AND NICHOLS.

 

*Approve Pitney Bowes Lease Payment

MOTION was made by Graner, seconded by Altringer to approve a lease agreement on a new postage meter with Pitney Bowes in the amount of $74 per month for 60 months.

 

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, AND NICHOLS.

 

Open Forum/Rockford Lions

Rick Martinson was present for Open Forum on behalf of the Rockford Lions Club. Mr. Martinson informed the city council that if they proceed with constructing an event center that the Rockford Lions are willing to provide some labor for finishing work, etc.  Mr. Martinson thanked the city staff for repairing the city clock in the tower downtown.  The city council was invited to attend the Rockford Lions Green Back Dinner April 12th at the Rockford Town Hall.  The food is being catered by Famous Dave’s and tickets are $75 per couple.  

 

Kettenacker Park Playground Equipment Project

Staff members Kathy Dougherty and Darcy Desen discussed replacing the playground equipment in Kettenacker Park.  The park has some outdated equipment that is becoming unsafe and showing its age.  This project has been listed on the Park Dedication Fund’s five year capital improvement plan (CIP) since 2003.

 

In 2006 staff began to work with a playground design team to select the individual pieces of equipment and lay them out so we could see how it all would fit together. There are two phases to this project and the park commission would like to see phase one installed this year.  The largest portion of the playground equipment will be installed in phase one.

 

Two quotes were submitted for the playground equipment from Minnesota/Wisconsin Playground $42,037.75 and Sinclair Recreation $47,233.15.  The park commission is recommending that park dedication funds finance the purchase of equipment and site preparation.

 

Council asked if the existing equipment was being sold or salvaged. Staff was not sure and would check into this and inform council at a later date. There was some discussion that if the equipment was unsafe that it would be best to salvage the metal.

 

Council discussed the specifications for the ground preparation and stated that equipment must be installed at a 12” depth.  The public works department will prepare the site for the equipment.  The Rockford Lions are assisting in the installation which will save the city nearly $2,000.

 

MOTION was made by Nichols, seconded by Graner to approve the purchase and installation of phase one of the Playground Equipment from Minnesota Playground in the amount of $42,233.15 to be installed in Kettenacker Park in 2008 to be financed with Park Dedication Funds.

 

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, AND NICHOLS.

 

Riverside Park Playground Equipment Project

Staff members Kathy Dougherty and Darcy Desens discussed purchasing a new play system to be installed in Riverside Park.  Last year the park department had to remove the old swing set that was across from the back stop area near the Lion’s Building.  The swing set was unsafe and no longer met the safety regulations.

 

Two quotes were submitted for the Toddler Five (5) play system. Ground preparation costs were prepared by the parks department at a cost of $1,895.00.  The total project cost is $8,542.51.  The park commission is recommending that park dedication funds be used to fund this project.

 

MOTION was made by Graner, seconded by Nichols to approve the purchase of the Toddler 5 play system for Riverside Park from Minnesota/Wisconsin Playground in the amount of $6,647.51 and funds for said project be expended from the Park Dedication Fund and the cost for ground preparation in the amount of $1,895.00 also be expended from the Park Dedication Fund.

 

MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, ALTRINGER, GRANER, AND NICHOLS.

 

Economic Development Report

Joanne Foust from Municipal Development Group presented her quarterly report. Projects reviewed included: Business summit, Industrial Park Update, Commercial Retention/Expansion, Marketing materials and preparations for the upcoming HRA meeting to be held April 22, 2008.

 

Reviewed Revised Developer’s Agreement/Parkwood

Attorney Couri informed the city council that he had drafted the revised Parkwood Development Agreement and forwarded the document to both US Homes and the Wagner’s attorney’s for review.  Attorney Couri stated that he has not received any comments from either attorney at this time.  Council requested that this item be placed on the April 1, 2008 special council meeting.

 

Financing Levee and River Bank Stabilization Project

Mark Statz from Bonestroo presented an updated cost estimate for the rehabilitation of the Levee and River Bank Stabilization projects.  The total costs for the flood control projects are estimated at a cost of $1,185,955.  Engineer Statz stated that he plans to invite the Army Corps of Engineers out to inspect the levee now that the added fill has been placed on the levee and the trees removed. 

 

The city council also discussed how the city would finance the project. Mayor Beyer stated that he has been drafting a script for the DVD the city council will make to educate the residents about the flood control projects and how a local sales tax will be used to fund the project.  Mayor Beyer also stated that he will be present at the Business Expo on April 5th to further discuss the flood control projects with residents that may stop by the city booth.

 

Ongoing Directives

Council reviewed the ongoing directives.

 

Administrator’s Report

Council reviewed the Administrator’s Report including the following items: Hurst Woods, Fire Board, Lack of Firefighters, local sales tax, grant, proposals for Engineering Services, 2008 general fund budget, Board of Appeal and Equalization.  Public works: frozen catch basins and culverts, waste water department.

 

Administrator Carswell informed the city council that the city just received an upgrade in the cable equipment that would have otherwise cost the city $32,000.  This equipment is made possible from franchise fees paid from Charter Cable to the Wright/Sherburne Cable Commission in which the city is a member.

 

Fire Chief’s Report

Kevin Reed, Fire Chief informed the city council that the fire department is seeking day time members and noted that one new member that just joined the department is able to be present during the day. Mr. Reed also updated the city council on the planned burn scheduled for the Cozy Rest Motel at 8740 Highway 55 should take place the beginning of April.  The Fire Department will be recruiting members at the Business Expo on April 5th at the Community Center.  The Fire Department also taped a recent training which they want the city to play on the government channel.  The ’48 fire truck is being upgraded and painted for the River Days parade.

 

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Altringer, seconded by Graner.

 

Mayor Beyer adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                   _______________________________

                                                                   Michael Beyer, Mayor

ATTEST:

 

 

______________________________________   

Nancy Carswell, Administrator