REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, April 4, 2023
CALL TO ORDER AND DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM
The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Olivia, Minnesota, was called to order by Mayor Hawkinson at 5:30 P.M.
Council Members Present: Jon Hawkinson, Blanca Ferguson, Matt Baumgartner, and Landon Padrnos.
Council Members absent: George Ebbers
Others present: Aaron Walton, City Attorney; Mary Jo Halliday, Interim City Administrator; Jasmine Miller, Deputy Clerk; Jodi Gilberts, Administrative Assistant; Ross Okins, Renville County Register; Greg Rauenhorst, Resident, Justin Black, SEH; Richard Parr, SEH, via Zoom; Todd Howard, Resident; Unknown Guest, Via Zoom.
PUBLIC FORUM
Mayor Hawkinson temporarily suspended the regular meeting and opened the public forum at 5:30 P.M. He clarified the amount of time allocated for public comments and the decorum expectations for those who participate in the Public Forum.
No other public comments were offered. Mayor Hawkinson reopened the regular meeting at 5:32pm.
AGENDA APPROVAL
Motion by Padrnos, second by Baumgartner: to approve the agenda. Motion passed unanimously.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Senator Andrew Lang came to share an update on happenings in the legislature. He shared that they are one-third through the legislature approaching the 3rd deadline. They have seen double the number of bills and have agreed upon a spending target of $73 billion which is up from the previous $50 billion. They are working on some big-ticket items including Paid Family Leave and Safe and Sick time.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Padrnos, second by Baumgartner: to remove Agenda Item G which is March Expenditures to Discussion / Business Items as E in order to discuss further. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Ferguson, second by Baumgartner: to approve the consent agenda striking Agenda Item G. Motion passed unanimously.
- Regular Meeting Minutes of March 20, 2023
- Resolution 2023-37, Step Increase for Jesse Zeitz
- Darin Haslip, 101 Development Resources,Inc.Building Inspector Contract Update
- Resolution 2023-38, Authorization of Temporary Step Increase for Jodell Gilberts
- Resolution 2023-39, Authorization of Fire Department Donation
- Agenda Item Request – Public Works Request Purchase of Fertilizer & Chemicals
DISCUSSION / BUSINESS ITEMS
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Final Design
The Olivia Wastewater Treatment Facility continuously discharges to the East Fork of Beaver Creek. MPCA completed an analysis on the Facility’s discharge and determined it has reasonable potential to cause or contribute to the excursion of water quality standards for chloride. Since our Facility is not designed to meet a required level of treatment, a compliance schedule has been included in the City’s NPDES/SDS Permit issued by MPCA to accommodate the time required to design, fund, and construct a Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant and to conduct chloride source reduction activities necessary to comply.
Justin Black and Richard Parr from SEH gave an update on the Reverse Osmosis Design. They gave us a Chloride Compliance Schedule of when the project needs to be started / completed. They shared some of the background information about the project.
Motion by Ferguson, second by Padrnos: to approve the agreement from SEH to continue the planning portion of project of Reverse Osmosis addition to plant. Motion passed unanimously.
Water/Wastewater Pickup Truck
The 2016 Dodge pickup with 43,000 miles in the department had its transmission rebuilt 2 years ago and provided with a 2-year warranty. Two weeks ago, the transmission started jerking and now the warranty has expired.
Quotes to rebuild the transmission were provided from Olivia Chrysler for $11,700.55 with a 2-year warranty, however, they cannot give any type of timeline which would leave the department short a vehicle for an unknown duration; and from Don’s Transmission and Auto Repair for $9,694.93 where the transmission is sent off to Iowa at a factory for a rebuild with a 3-year warranty or 100,000 miles and the timeline is only 7-10 days completed.
Motion by Baumgartner, second by Ferguson: to approve the quote from Don’s Transmission and Auto Repair for $9,694.93. Motion passed unanimously.
Mayoral Appointment of Michael Berge to Public Utilities Commission
Motion by Baumgartner, second by Ferguson: to approve the Mayoral Appointment of Michael Berge to Public Utilities Commission. Motion passed unanimously.
Resolution 2023-40, Employment Authorization for Damon Coots II as Full-Time Patrol Officer
Motion by Ferguson, second by Padrnos: to approve authorizing employment for Damon Coots II as Full-Time Patrol Officer. Motion passed unanimously.
March Expenditures
Baumgartner had some questions on some of the bills from March expenditures. He inquired what the payments to Viking Beverage, Breakthru Beverage and another beverage company were for and was informed it was for inventory at the liquor store. He also asked about DInges and was informed it was for the Fire Department. Then he questioned why we pay the MN PEIP and was informed it was for employee health insurance.
Additional items
Ferguson stated she would like to have a committee meet monthly to discuss the possible building projects to keep plans moving forward.
REPORTS
Pool Board
They replaced ceiling tile and painting has been completed. Major pieces still on hold waiting for insurance adjusters. They are targeting a July 1st opening. They also looked at the 2023 fiscal year budget and will present it to the School Board.
Other Reports of Council / Staff
City Administrator Search
City Staff met with SCSC on the city administrator position. Hawkinson is very impressed with the amount of staff and community input they are seeking for their search process. Mary Jo shared that we will be planning a tour of our community for potential candidates.
Corn Capital Days committee met and things are moving forward. It was confirmed there will be city wide garage sales and this year they will be having a raffle. The parade route will need to be adjusted to have DePue Avenue taken out of it due to road work. The Kiddie Parade has been taken on by the YMCA this year.
Tour of Renville Community Hall / Police Dept.
Padrnos stated Baumgartner and himself went to tour Renville city hall and fire hall to see what they all got for their budget and explained the sequence of their project.
NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Employment Opportunities Posted Publicly (Patrol Officer & Summer Public Works Worker)
- Schedule work session on April 17th to discuss Liquor Store Operations
- Schedule work session on April 17th after Council meeting to discuss building projects
- Ferguson stated possible quorum at Corncade in Olivia on April 14th
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Ferguson, second by Padrnos: to adjourn the meeting at 7:13 P.M. Motion passed unanimously.