Regular City Council Meeting

City of Russell

Council Meeting

June 5, 2017, 7:00 p.m.

Present:  Chris Feehan, Casey DeHoedt, Corey Paige, Terry Newcomb, and Jay Pierschbacher.   Also in attendance was Jim Larrington. 

Duane Bedford, Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Chris made a motion to approve the minutes from the May Council meeting and the May 10 Special Meeting; Terry seconded it.  Motion carried unanimously.

Chris made a motion to approve the income and expense reports and Terry seconded it.  Motion carried unanimously 5-0.

Police – the police car is getting radar unit inspected; the part for the light bar is being delivered soon.  Chris asked if Jeff Johnson could work without the lights on the City’s junk and debris problems.  Duane will talk to Jeff about it.

The Council discussed property owners’ responsibility for their property maintenance.  The Council discussed abandoned house properties.

Chris reported on the Fire Dept. for Brian Beaty.  Alec Reynolds has started on the fire department.

Jim reported on Water – Jim pumped the old well out a few thousand gallons.

Sewer – a pump is not working.  Jim will check the motor.  The lagoon is running 46 gallon per minute while it has been dry. 

Streets – Jim stated that road safety signs are still on sale until July.  Jim has been working on hole patching after getting a load of cold patch.  The road grater and backhoe are back together.  Repairs have been done to the lawn mower; work needs done to mower tractor.  Jim got pricing on a John Deere offside brush cutter at approx. $7900.

L.L. Pelling will be starting road re-surfacing after the 4^th of July.  Jay asked that this be put on the agenda for the June 20 special meeting so Council could keep up on scheduling of road work.

Council discussed road safety signs and tool purchases and will finish discussing at the special meeting being held June 20 at 6 p.m.

Under old business, the Council discussed the water meter project for FY17-18.  Jay made a motion to use garbage surplus funds of $37,000 and $28,000 from local option sales tax for a total of $65,000 for the project.  Chris seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.  Terry made a motion to order the meters and Jay seconded it.  The Council will prepare resolutions at the June 20 meeting.  There was discussion about adding a meter fee.

Duane and Kris will check into amending the ordinance for rate increases and the process for that before the June 20 meeting.

The Council discussed an additional loan from the USDA Rural Development for the sewer project of lining pipes to the lagoon.  The Council will publish a public notice for the June 20 meeting so the public has a chance to attend and make comments.

Chris made a motion to extend the Council meeting past 9 p.m. and Terry seconded it.  The motion carried unanimously.

New Business - A copy of the unsigned Quit Claim deed was reviewed for the Great Western bank bldg. in Russell.  The Council decided to check on companies available to do commercial building inspections before proceeding.

Casey motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:34 p.m.; Jay seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

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Mayor Duane Bedford                                                            Clerk, Kris Wilkins