CITY OF CLAREMONT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022
7:00 P.M.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Claremont, Minnesota was held on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at Claremont City Hall.
Members present: Mayor Tasha Dahl, City Council Members Jacob Klejeski, Deb Ellis, and Hunter McGovern. Council Members absent: None. There is 1 vacant city council seat.
City staff and others present: City Clerk/Treasurer Elizabeth Sorg, City Attorney Mark Rahrick, City Engineer Derek Olinger, First Responder Director Casey Dahl, Matt Durand, County Engineer Guy Kohlnhofer, and City Auditor Layne Kockelman.
There were no changes to the agenda.
PUBLIC INPUT
None
VACANCY
Council Member Grey turned in her resignation effective February 13, 2022. Motion by Ellis to approve Resolution No. 22-09: Resolution Accepting Resignation and Declaring a Vacancy, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
The council will take applications to fill the vacant council seat.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda consisted of: Minutes of the February 2, 2022 City Council Meeting, Minutes of the February 2, 2022 Special City Council Meeting, Minutes of the February 15, 2022 Special City Council Meeting, Resolution No. 22-08: Resolution Expressing Acceptance and Appreciation of a Donation, and Automatic Renewal of a Sewer Fund CD. Motion by Klejeski to approve the Consent Agenda, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CITY ENGINEER
City Engineer Olinger showed an improvement plan of the parking area in front of the Fire Hall. That plan estimate is $21,000. Depending on how much of the area the council would like done and the type of improvements it could be more. Council requested a per unit bid be included with the bids of the other street improvement projects.
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
The new City Administrator Evan Brown has signed the Employment Agreement. He will start March 14. Motion by Ellis to accept the Employment Agreement for Evan Brown, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Motion by Klejeski to approve the financial reports, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Ellis to approve payment of the bills, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE
The Hogfest Committee submitted a request to use the Fire Hall Hogfest weekend. The fire department denied the use due to liability concerns, trucks would need to be parked outside for the weekend, a fire department member would need to be on-site to monitor people being around the equipment, along with other concerns. Motion by Ellis to deny the request, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously.
The First Responders need a new monitor as the monitor they currently have doesn’t always turn on and is not reading accurately. A new one costs $3686.78 plus shipping which could be up to $1000. The Chamber donated $1000 earlier this year and they just approved another $1700 donation. Motion by McGovern to purchase the monitor for $3686.98 plus shipping, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
The annual Fire Relief breakfast is this Sunday.
PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE
The committee met and discussed the Land Use Plan last night. They recommended the council approve the Plan with a couple minor edits. The final print of the Land Use Plan will be presented at the next council meeting for approval.
EDA
City Attorney Mark Rahrick went through the Development Agreement with Arden Homes, LLC owned by Matt Durand. Arden Homes proposes to purchase RK&T lots in groups of 3. Each lot would cost $9500. Arden Homes would have the exclusive option to purchase all 9 lots through April 1, 2023. The city would finance the purchases through a loan secured by a mortgage for the amount of the purchase. Then the home will either be sold to an income qualified buyer and the loan would be forgiven and the mortgage released, or sold to a non-income qualified buyer and the loan would be forgiven and the city would release its mortgage, or the lot would revert back to the city and the loan forgiven. During the closing on the lot, they would have 1 year from the date of the closing to get a home on the lot or they would revert back to the city. Motion by McGovern approving the Developers Agreement and giving Arden Homes the exclusive right to purchase the 9 lots at the price of $9500/lot, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Mayor Dahl to sign the Waiver acknowledging that the law firm of Smith, Tollefson, Rahrick & Cass have represented both the City and Matt Durand in the past, but the law firm is representing the City in the sale of these lots and the Developers Agreement, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
PARKS COMMITTEE
Nothing at this time.
PEOPLESERVICE
Nothing at this time.
CITY ATTORNEY
Attorney Rahrick has been in contact with the Harmer’s and is just waiting for them to sign the documents.
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Layne Kockelman with Abdo went over the 2021 audit. There were 3 audit findings, the same as previous years due to size of city staff. They recommended raising the water and sewer rates and the council did approve a rate increase for 2022. Motion by Ellis to approve the 2021 Audit, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously.
County Engineer Guy Kohlnhofer went through the Front Street improvement project that will be done this summer. They are planning for July or August except for Hogfest weekend. It will be mill and overlay of Front Street from East Street to County Road 1. The county’s responsible for the driving area and the city will pay for the parking areas. The engineer’s estimate is $120,418 for the county’s portion and $60,161 for the city’s portion. County Road 3 from new Highway 14 to old Highway 14 is scheduled for 2024. Motion by Ellis to approve Resolution Approving County Project within Municipal Corporate Limits, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by McGovern to approve Resolution Relating to Parking Restrictions, second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
Due to the state redistricting, the boundaries of the voting precinct had to be reestablished. Motion by Klejeski to approve Resolution No. 22-11: Resolution Reestablishing Precinct and Polling Place, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
The council held an annual performance review for City Clerk/Treasurer Elizabeth Sorg earlier tonight. Motion by Ellis to approve a 4% increase for her, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Dahl entertained a motion to close the meeting for an employee evaluation for Glen Hvitved. Motion by Klejeski to close the meeting for an employee evaluation, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Ellis to reopen the meeting, second by McGovern. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by McGovern to terminate Glen Hvitved effective immediately, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Dahl and Council Member Klejeski will talk to Hvitved in the morning.
Klejeski will volunteer his time, unpaid, to plow the streets and do other duties as he can. Casey Dahl also volunteered to help, without pay, if needed.
Motion by McGovern to adjourn the meeting at 10:09 p.m., second by Klejeski. Motion carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
Elizabeth Sorg, City Clerk/Treasurer Tasha Dahl, Mayor
