CITY OF CLAREMONT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2023
7:00 P.M.
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at Claremont City Hall.
Members present: Mayor Tasha Dahl, City Council Members Jacob Klejeski and Krystal Sultze. Members absent: City Council Members Hunter McGovern and Deb Ellis.
City staff and others present: Interim Administrator Clerk Elizabeth Sorg, Maintenance Director Casey Dahl, City Attorney Mark Rahrick, City Engineer Derek Olinger, CEDA Specialist Jennifer Howard, and Russ Mosley.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
AGENDA
No changes were made to the agenda.
PUBLIC INPUT
None
CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda consisted of the Minutes of the May 1, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting, Minutes of the May 23, 2023 Special City Council Meeting, and Resolution No. 23-13: Resolution Expressing Acceptance of and Appreciation of a Donation. Motion by Sultze to approve the Consent Agenda, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Nothing at this time.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Motion by Klejeski to approve the financial reports, second by Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Klejeski to approve the amended list of bills to be paid, second by Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE
Sorg sent Claremont, Ripley and Aurora townships their Fire Service Contract renewals. Ripley Township approved theirs and returned it. Motion by Sultze to approve the Ripley Township Fire Service Agreement, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE
Nothing at this time.
EDA
CEDA Specialist Jennifer Howard presented a couple of options for Henning Park playground equipment along with prices. The council agreed they would like sensory items and single units so that more pieces can be added later. Howard will check out grants for those items.
MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT
Nothing at this time.
PARKS COMMITTEE
Nothing at this time.
PEOPLESERVICE
Their reports were in the packet.
CITY ENGINEER
A draft of the Utility Occupancy License was in the packet regarding the sewer outfall project and the utility line crossing under the railroad tracks. The railroad is currently finalizing the License. In the interest of time and so that the contract can proceed on time motion by Dahl to approve Resolution No. 23-14: Resolution Authorizing Staff to Execute Canadian Pacific Rail Agreement for the WWTP Outfall Sewer Improvement Project, second by Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
The water tower rehab project bids were opened May 31. Six bids were received with the lowest bid at $432,850 from Tanksco Inc. and the highest bid was $837,700. The project should be completed in 70 days. City Engineer Olinger discussed the project funding and cash flows with the City’s financial advisor Mike Bubany. Based on the project cost and projected revenue shortages from the water fund a 28% increase to the water rates will be required to get PFA loan and grant funding. This increase is recommended to be made immediately to cover the shortage for this year. A 28% increase on an average bill of 3,500 gallons is an increase of $12.80. Motion by Klejeski to approve Resolution No. 23-15: Resolution Approving Bid approving the Tanksco bid of $432,850, second by Sultze. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Sultze to approve Resolution No. 23-16: Resolution Committing to Certain Financial Obligations for the Drinking Water System in Conjunction with Federal and State Funding for the Elevated Water Tank Rehabilitation Project with the new rates for the bills printed on June 29, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
Two bids were received for the chip sealing and crack filling project. Pearson Bros. bid $37,083.20 and Fahrner Asphalt Sealers bid $56,731.80. Motion by Sultze to approve Pearson Bros. bid, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR CLERK
Nothing at this time.
CITY ATTORNEY
Nothing at this time.
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Rental property owner Russ Mosley was present requesting late fees on 2 of his water/sewer accounts be waived. The water was shut off for delinquency, but the tenants moved out and new tenants moved in, and he turned the water back on. The council asked if he received copies of the bills, which he did as all property owners get copies of the water bill. The council all agreed that it is not fair to remove late fees for one person and not another and he did receive copies of the bills, so no adjustments were approved.
Motion by Sultze to approve the Hogfest Temporary Liquor License for August 4-6, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
The next council meeting would normally be on July 4th so motion by Sultze to have the regular council meeting on July 11, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Klejeski to adjourn the meeting at 8:06 p.m., second by Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
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Elizabeth Sorg, Interim Administrator Clerk Tasha Dahl, Mayor
