MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILNOVEMBER 9, 2004Mayor Jim Jellema called the meeting to order at 6:07 P.M. with the following Council present: Jim Jellema, Linus Svoboda, Keith Elbers, Dana Dahlquist, and Ross Metzger. Employees present: Joanne Goehle, City Treasurer, Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk, and Wayne Ward, City Maintenance. Guests: Lexi Moore-Hills Crescent, Dan Cook-Rock County Rural Water, and Wilmer Elbers. Motion by Keith Elbers, seconded by Dahlquist to approve the minutes of October 12th. None opposed, motion carried.Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Keith Elbers to approve payment of the October expenditures, excluding check #11330 to Skewes, Klosterbuer & Vajgrt pending information regarding dishonored checks. General $6,700.57; Park $1,820.69; Fire $14,579.97; Street $3,519.12; Legion $1,472.05; Sewer $1,275.28; Garbage $4,003.44; Recycling $502.95; Water $4,411.02; Baseball $39.17; Softball $20.84; Civil Defense $131.00. None opposed, motion carried. General Checking 58,071.68General Fund CD#18197, 2.5%, 12/4/04 240,288.97General Fund CD#17792 (prev. #15742) 2.5%, 5/29/03 – cashed in 6/3/03General Fund CD#17760 (prev. #17573) 2.5%, 3/15/05 20,994.17Sewer Fund CD#17877 (prev. #17433) 2.5% 10/18/03 – cashed in 10/03 – ($21,000 to general)Sewer Fund CD#18255, (prev. #18171) 1.5%, 7/19/04 – inter-fund loan to Southern Hills Apts. to pay-off apt. bond - $70,771.64Fire Truck Replacement Fund CD#18237, 1.5%, 1/11/05 23,401.93Hills EDA Security Deposit Account 2,414.23Hills EDA checking – Acct. #1248 10,544.67Southern Hills Apt. Acct. #1255 10,269.90Southern Hills Condo Acct. #1263 17.44Southern Hills CD#17759 (prev. #17572) 2.5%, 3/15/05 5,248.54EDA CD#17850 (prev. #17384) 2.5%, 5/7/05 28,313.93EDA CD#18275 (prev. #17268) 1.25%, 07/04 – inter-fund loan to Southern Hills Apts. to pay-off apt. bond - $10,661.76EDA CD#18160, 1.5%, 10/17/04 20,301.95ED CD#18505, .75%, 8/24/04 10,686.39TOTAL $430,553.80Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Dahlquist to renew general fund CD#18197 for six months. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Keith Elbers, seconded by Dahlquist to approve the Treasurer’s report. None opposed, motion carried.Ward was instructed to continue to contact Centennial Homes regarding street damage along Josephine Avenue. Vantek Communications will be invited to the December meeting to discuss the recent mounting of radio antennas on the water tower, wherein three holes were drilled in the roof of the tower; also to discuss a two-way radio system for the City’s use. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Svoboda to hire Liquid Engineering to inspect and clean the water storage tank for $2,415.00. None opposed, motion carried. The Clerk was instructed to contact Sheriff Winkels regarding information on the hiring of school crossing guards along State Highway 270 and Main Avenue. City maintenance was instructed to arrange to have the crosswalk repainted. The Council set a rate of $80 per hour for machine and man-hours, for sweeping streets in the City of Steen. Dan Cook was invited to the meeting to discuss the continuous problem of discolored water. Cook explained that this problem is not isolated to the City of Hills, but is within the entire Rock County Rural Water System, due to the Minnesota State Health Department’s mandate to add phosphate to the system. The added phosphate is a micro and metal cleaner intended to clean and coat metal pipes and fixtures without notability. Cook assured the Council, through information from the MN Dept. of Health, that the discolored water is safe for drinking, but that due to continuous discolored water complaints, RCRW has abstained from using the chemical as of October 19th. RCRW will continue to flush mains, and encourages the City to do the same, until the phosphate is completely flushed out and discolored water is cleared. Cook encouraged the City Council to have a continuous flushing plan in place year-round, with the exception of the winter months unless absolutely necessary. Cook offered RCRW’s services to get the City’s maintenance department initiated in a flushing plan. It is uncertain at this time, whether RCRW will use a different chemical known as C9, which will coat pipes without the cleaning effect, eliminating the problem of discolored water. RCRW will make that determination over the winter months. The Council instructed city maintenance to continue to flush all hydrants at least once per week until the water system is cleared of phosphate and/or discolored water problems. Thereafter, city maintenance should begin a routine water flushing plan, as recommended by RCRW, and keep written records of location, date, time, length of flushing time, and condition of the hydrants. Hydrants that do not work properly should be noted, repaired or replaced, with the same information reported to the fire department. Wilmer Elbers attended the meeting to inquire whether the Council had made a decision to purchase lots in Park View Third Addition. No further discussion or action was taken. Discussed poor maintenance of a certain residential property. Keith Elbers volunteered to contact the owner of this property. Per information from the Rock County Administrator, the Council is not interested in using supervised jail crews for city work at this time.Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Keith Elbers to accept an audit proposal, not to exceed $3,650.00 from Meulebroeck, Taubert & Co. to audit the City’s 2004 records. This proposal includes a $500 increase, due to additional reporting standards of GASB 34, recently required by the State Auditor’s Office. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Keith Elbers, seconded by Metzger to renew On-Sale and Off-Sale liquor licenses to Kelly’s Roadhouse Bar for 2005, pending certification from the State is approved. None opposed, motion carried. As of January 1st, magazines and catalogs will be accepted in curbside recycling. These items must be separated from other recycling materials. Advertisements and brochures will be forthcoming to explain the recycling changes. A canvassing board made up of Keith Elbers, Linus Svoboda and Joanne Goehle moved to accept the November 2nd election results as follows: Jim Jellema as mayor; Dana Dahlquist and Ross Metzger as council members. Elected terms begin January 2, 2005. Oath of Offices were taken and signed by Jellema, Dahlquist and Metzger. The Hills-Beaver Creek School District has agreed to take possession of the City’s garage located at 116 South Central Avenue. The property in which the garage is located will remain the City’s. Maintenance and insurance on the garage will be the responsibility of the School District, a certificate of insurance will be provided to the City.Discussed the purchase of truck fuel for the Fire Department. No further discussion, meeting adjourned at 7:55 P.M./s/ Connie J. WiertzemaConnie J. WiertzemaCity Clerk(11-25)