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HAWLEY CITY COUNCIL MINUTESDECEMBER 7, 2020The regularly scheduled semi-monthly meeting of the Hawley City Council was held on Monday, December 7, 2020 in the City Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Mayor Joy with the following members present: James Joy, Sean Mork, Ben Gunkelman, Brad Eldred and David Asleson. Also present were Clerk Treasurer Lisa Jetvig, Attorney Zenas Baer, Police Chief Joe Backlund and Public Works Director Kevin Berg.A motion was made by Mork, seconded by Eldred to approve the agenda as presented. Ayes: All. Joy gave an update on the Council Committee of the Whole meeting held with Hammers Construction, Inc. and Nile, Inc. regarding the Fire Hall project. Due to poor soils, 48 helical piers are going to be installed in the ground to support the structure. The Council will be approving change orders for this additional/changed work.A motion was made by Gunkelman, seconded by Eldred to approve Change Order # 3 (helical pier installation) in the amount of $52,032.75 with Hammers Construction, Inc. for the Hawley Fire Demo and Addition project. Ayes: All. A motion was made by Mork, seconded by Asleson to approve Change Order #4 (revised site excavation) in the amount of $2,075.85 with Hammers Construction, Inc. for the Hawley Fire Demo and Addition project. Ayes: All. A motion was made by Gunkelman, seconded by Eldred to approve Change Order #5 (winter condition concrete labor/equipment) in the estimated amount of $2,730.00 with Hammers Construction, Inc. for the Hawley Fire Demo and Addition project. Ayes: All. A motion was made by Asleson, seconded by Eldred to approve Change Order #6 (concrete addition for foundation re-design) in the amount of $20,113.80 with Hammers Construction, Inc. for the Hawley Fire Demo and Addition project. Ayes: All. A motion was made by Asleson, seconded by Eldred to approve Change Order #7 (deduct-original over excavation) in the amount of -$5,148.00 with Hammers Construction, Inc. for the Hawley Fire Demo and Addition project. Ayes: All. A motion was made by Joy, seconded by Mork to hire Alex Ames as Utility Worker & Safety Officer on Grade 14, Step 6 at $33.78/hour (2021 wage) with 40 hours of vacation time available upon hire, as recommended by the Personnel Committee. Ayes: All. Police Chief Backlund presented the Council with a list of old police department equipment that he is requesting to dispose of. Backlund stated that there is no monetary value to any of the equipment.A motion was made by Mork, seconded by Gunkelman to dispose of old police department equipment as requested by Police Chief Backlund. Ayes: All.Eldred stated that Board of Appeal and Equalization Training is available on-line until February 1, 2021, for Councilmembers. This training is needed to hold these public hearings locally.The Council reviewed the City of Hawley, Minnesota Continuing Disclosure Report for year ending December 31, 2019. Jetvig stated that the report is a snapshot of the city and we are required to file the report annually due to bonds requirements.A motion was made by Asleson, seconded by Mork to approve City of Hawley RESOLUTION 20-70 Approving 2021 Budgets for Other City Funds. Ayes: All. A motion was made by Asleson, seconded by Mork to approve $200 advertising funds (four $50 Liquor Store gift cards) for the Hawley Holiday Lighting Contest. Ayes: All. A motion was made by Asleson, seconded by Mork to refund 6 months (totaling $6,336.00) of liquor license fees to City of Hawley liquor license holders. Ayes: All. The refund is a continuing effort by the Council to assist our small business owners during the on-going COVID-19 shutdowns. The Council has now refunded 10 months’ worth of liquor license fees.A motion was made by Gunkelman, seconded by Mork to approve RESOLUTION 20-67 Resolution Requesting Coverage for a Non-Profit Corporation, as requested by HERT, Inc. Ayes: All. A motion was made by Gunkelman, seconded by Eldred to approve City of Hawley RESOLUTION 20-68 Resolution Setting 2021 Polling Place. Ayes: All. A motion was made by Gunkelman, seconded by Eldred to approve RESOLUTION 20-69 Appointing Election Judges City of Hawley. Ayes: All. A motion was made by Gunkelman, seconded by Eldred to approve the following consent items: -11/23/20 minutes -Committee of the Whole Notes 11-23-20 -LMC Elected Leaders Training Jan 19 -SBDC Dec Newsletter -Dec & proposed 2021 Meeting CalendarsThe motion carried by a vote of Ayes: All. A motion was made by Eldred, seconded by Asleson to approve the following accounts payable:77578The EquitableWithholding$720.9477620Artisan Beer CompanyMdse Held for Resale$321.4077621Bellboy CorporationMdse Held for Resale$1,343.0077622Bemidji BrewingMdse Held for Resale$127.6077623Bergseth BroMdse Held for Resale$4,016.1077624Beverage WholesalersMdse Held for Resale$1,685.2077625Breakthru BeverageMdse Held for Resale$2,221.0077626Buffalo Creek EnterprisesMdse Held for Resale$87.7277627Clay County AttorneyProsecution Services$1,083.3377628Coca Cola BottlingMdse Held for Resale$61.7577629D-S BeveragesMdse Held for Resale$8,646.4577630Inbound BrewcoMdse Held for Resale$422.4077631Jim Hirt TruckingFreight$196.6077632Johnson Brothers LiquorMdse Held for Resale$2,783.2077633M. Amundson LLPMdse Held for Resale$1,009.5477634Mid-Central Ice LLCMdse Held for Resale$53.5577635Newman Signs Inc.Advertising$818.0077636Paustis Wine CompanyMdse Held for Resale$901.3377637Phillips Wine & SpiritsMdse Held for Resale$1,572.7577638Southern Glazers of MnMdse Held for Resale$2,694.4877639Wine MerchantsMdse Held for Resale$535.6677640MedicaHealth Insurance$10,701.7477641Mutual of OmahaLife Insurance$46.8177642Petty CashPetty Cash Reimb$20.0077643Arco Business SolutionsFuel$408.8277644Artic WolfPartial Liquor License Refund$1,014.0077645Banyon Data SystemsComputer Support$690.0077646Business EssentialsOffice Supplies$478.3977647City of HawleyAirport Snow Removal$2,000.0077648Clay County Sheriffs OfficeTranscription$25.0077649Cullens Cleaning ServiceCity Hall Cleaning$75.0077650David Drown Assoc.Financial Consulting$2,250.0077651Express LaneFuel Purchases$1,102.8377652Fuchs SanitationGarbage & Recycling$23,592.1877653Grand Forks Fire EquipFire Equipment$1,524.5677654Gullard ConstructionCommunity Center Roof$8,600.0077655GVK, Inc.Partial Liquor License Refund$1,128.0077656HERT, Inc.Professional Services$13,750.0077657Hammers ConstructionFire Hall Project$125,148.9977658Hawley First Inc.Partial Liquor License Refund$450.0077659Hawley Golf ClubPartial Liquor License Refund$1,098.0077660Hawley Hotel PartnersPartial Liquor License Refund$1,098.0077661Hawley LanesPartial Liquor License Refund$1,098.0077662Heiman Fire EquipmentFire Equipment$5,051.0077663JB's CustomUniform$22.0077664Jess StoutFire Dept Supplies Reimbursed$265.4177665Med CompassHearing Testing$247.5077666Muscatell BurnsVehicle Maintenance$237.1077667Northern TechnologiesFire Hall Project$2,000.0077668Premium Waters Inc.Contract Maint$115.0477669Public Utilities CommissionUtilities$4,073.4977670Rick Halvorson ConstructionPolice/City Hall Work$6,458.0677671SturdevantsPolice Vehicle Parts$2.4077672Team LabsStreet Patch$625.0077673Teamsters Local 120Union Dues$277.0077674Watch Guard VideoBody Cameras$2,533.0077675Whistle StopPartial Liquor License Refund$450.0077676Wild Rice ElectricAirport Utilities$420.4677677Zenas Baer Law OfficeLegal Fees$2,381.0277678AFLACWithholding$222.4377679City of HawleyAdv Liquor-Holiday Lights Contest$200.0077680NCPERSWithholding$48.0077681Reliance StandardWithholding$71.9277682Verizon WirelessCell Phones$125.1377683Watch Guard VideoPD Body Cameras$17,620.00Dir PayPayroll11/23/20 Payroll$18,951.37Wire TrsfPERA11/23/20 Payroll$6,023.13Wire TrsfState of MN11/23/20 Payroll$1,074.73Wire TrsfIRS11/23/20 Payroll$5,032.84Wire TrsfHealth Savings Account11/23/20 Payroll$818.57Total$302,948.92The motion carried by a vote of Ayes: All. Baer informed the Council that he researched the Minnesota rules regarding the width and dimensions of county highways that are within City limits. He believes that Clay County took over 5th Street (CSAH 33) at the width it was and whatever work is done within the 80 foot right of way should be a cost share.At 6:00 p.m. Mayor Joy called to order the Truth In Taxation Public Hearing.Joy stated that the Hawley City Council has spent numerous hours working with the budget to find ways to provide the services you expect from the City and to keep the cost as low as possible. The services provided directly by the City of Hawley Property Tax Levy through the General Fund are: Police, Fire, Emergency Response, Street Maintenance and Snow Removal, Parks, Library, Elections, Council, City Administration, Assessor, Attorney, General Government, Data Processing, City Hall Building, Animal Control, Vector Control, Community Center, Park Board Projects, Forestry/Boulevard Trees, Economic Development, and many other essential services.The Preliminary 2021 General Fund Expenditures are budgeted at $1,859,454 and General Fund Revenues are budgeted at $1,868,133. The preliminary 2021 City Levy has $560,800 for these General Fund expenditures. This is a 5% increase over the General Fund portion of the Tax Levy from 2020. The COLA increase for City employees and for Police Union employees is 2.5% under this proposal.Abatements have been granted as an Economic Development tool to encourage new housing growth and are estimated at $11,900. A portion of these taxes paid in by these new homes will be refunded to the property owners for a specific period of time. So even though these amounts show up on the City Tax Levy, they do not affect the actual taxes of the other City properties. An abatement is also budgeted to be given to AmericInn and is estimated at $10,100.The remaining $113,200 is Debt Service Levy dedicated to bond payments for construction costs of 2011 Street Rebuilds and 2013 Hwy 10 & CSAH 31/33 project with traffic signal on Hwy 10.This adds up to the Total Proposed City of Hawley Property Tax Levy of $696,000 in 2021. The amount your property tax bill will change is dependent upon many factors including the County, School, and Watershed District Levy amounts.Handouts regarding the proposed City budget and other tax information are available at City Hall and on the City website.Joy called for citizen comments/questions.Joy made a second and third call for citizen comments/questions.Joy announced that the final decision on the City Tax Levy will be made at the December 21st Council meeting.Joy closed the Truth In Taxation Public Hearing at 6:10 p.m.At 6:15 p.m. Mayor Joy called to order the Public Hearing to consider Residential Tax Abatement Extension.Mork stated that the City intends to abate taxes for two years on the first $400,000 of value of each new residential unit to promote the construction of residential homes in the city. The abatements will be effective for construction beginning in years 2021-2022.The City Council finds that the benefits to the City from the abatement will be at least equal to the costs to the City of the abatement. New residential homes will serve to improve the tax base of the City, increase property tax revenue, and expand the labor pool supporting Hawley area businesses. Mork stated that Clay County has approved the abatements and the Hawley School District is holding a public hearing to consider the abatements.Mork called for citizen comments/questions.Mork made a second and third call for citizen comments/questions.The Public Hearing was closed at 6:20 p.m. A motion was made by Mork, seconded by Eldred to approve RESOLUTION 20-66 Resolution Authorizing Tax Abatement on Select Property Within the City of Hawley for the Purpose of Promoting New Residential Homes. Ayes: All. At 6:35 p.m. Mayor Joy closed the Council meeting to discuss with Attorney Baer a confidential personnel issue. At 6:45 the Council meeting was reconvened. Mayor Joy announced the Personnel Committee will be holding a meeting on Monday, December 14, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. and the Council will be holding a Special Meeting on Monday, December 14, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. to consider possible employee discipline. Mork asked the Council to continue to monitor what the City can do to assist our small businesses during the COVID-19 restrictions now and into 2021.A motion was made by Mork, seconded by Gunkelman to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. Ayes: all.Attest:_______________________________________________________James JoyLisa JetvigMayorClerk Treasurer ................
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