CITY OF CLAREMONT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022
7:00 P.M.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Claremont, Minnesota was held on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at Claremont City Hall.
Members present: Mayor Tasha Dahl, City Council Members Jacob Klejeski, Hunter McGovern, and Deb Ellis. Council Members absent: None. There is 1 vacant city council seat.
City staff and others present: City Administrator Evan Brown, City Clerk/Treasurer Elizabeth Sorg, City Attorney Mark Rahrick, City Engineer Derek Olinger, and Buffy Beranek and Sara Fuher with SEMMCHRA.
Klejeski requested to add Solar Garden to the agenda under the Public Health and Safety Committee. Motion by McGovern to approve the amended agenda, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC INPUT
None
CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda consisted of: Minutes of the July 7, 2022, City Council Meeting, Minutes of the July 7, 2022, Special City Council Meeting, and Automatic Renewal of CD. Motion by Klejeski to approve the Consent Agenda, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Nothing at this time.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Motion by McGovern to approve the financial reports, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Ellis to approve the amended list of bills to be paid, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE
Council asked staff to call the contact at Aries Solar Garden and talk to them about mowing the property, especially the outside.
PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE
Nothing at this time.
EDA
Gatorbak and Dean Schuette turned in invoices requesting reimbursement from the business façade grant. It is a matching grant up to $2500 per building/per year and both grant applications requested $2500. Motion by Ellis to approve reimbursing Dean Schuette $2275 for ½ of his façade grant improvement, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by McGovern to approve reimbursing Gatorbak $1200 for ½ of his façade grant improvement, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
PARKS COMMITTEE
Nothing at this time.
PEOPLESERVICE
Their reports were in the packet.
CITY ATTORNEY
Nothing at this time.
CITY ENGINEER
City Engineer Derek Olinger asked the council if they would like to move forward with the water tower rehab project which includes: complete coating removal and replacement of the inside bowl and exterior, partial coating system removal and replacement on the inside riser, and new lettering on the water tower. The current cost estimate is $375,000 - $425,000. Funding would come through a low interest loan through Minnesota Public Facilities Authority. The project would be bid this year with completion next year. The council will discuss funding at the next council meeting.
The 2022 street improvements are scheduled to be done this month.
Olinger briefly explained street maintenance ratings, budgeting and the updated street condition ratings in town. He recommended a minimum of a $13,000 a year budget for street maintenance, a $70,000 yearly budget if they would like to do crack sealing or a mill and overlay, and a $150,000 year budget if planning on reconstruction of streets. In 2023, the street improvement plan will be sealcoating only.
The railroad is in the process of approving the permit for the wastewater outfall project and the project will be let for bids soon.
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Buffy Beranek and Sara Fuher with SEMMCHRA discussed the Small Cities Development Program Grant partnership with the City of West Concord. The policies and procedures are complete and ready to be approved by the council. The policy and procedures are part of the grant award process and must occur for the funds to be released. Motion by McGovern to approve Resolution No. 22-21: Civil Rights Policy, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Ellis to approve Resolution No. 22-22: Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistant Plan, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Ellis to approve the Certification for a Drug-Free Workplace, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
The council agreed to a proposed overall levy increase of 10%. The 2023 proposed budget and levy will be discussed at the September city council meeting.
Motion by Ellis to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m., second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
Elizabeth Sorg, City Clerk/Treasurer
Tasha Dahl, Mayor
