Warba City Council Meeting

May 12, 2003 

Mayor Dana Marrier called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.  Members present: Ellen Coffel, Becky McCauley, Dana & Amy Marrier, and Lois Holmes.  Absent: Doug Mericle.  The pledge of allegiance was said.  Corrections to April’s minutes were; spelling to name Brian Daigle and the Marble amount of $597,900 for funding they received for renovation of buildings.  Becky McCauley accepted minutes with corrections made and Ellen Coffel seconded it.  Approved 4-0.  The treasurer’s report was read, a motion by Amy Marrier, seconded by Becky McCauley to accept.  Approved 4-0.  Bills to be paid were presented and a motion by Ellen Coffel seconded by Becky McCauley with the acceptation of Jerome Carey’s pay being corrected to $10 an hour.  Approved 4-0.

Community Center:  Dana Marrier said a section of the vinyl siding needed to be replaced because there was a hole in it.  Ken Seibert and Becky McCauley are going to check to see if they can find a match for the siding and Ken Seibert will repair it.  The air conditioner was tabled until the June meeting.  Doors had not been getting locked properly and it was discussed that one door was going to be checked for faultiness.  Floor waxing was brought up and Jerome Carey mentioned that Rodney Lentz from Jacobson waxes floors, Amy Marrier will check for a price on waxing.  Amy Marrier will look into a fireproof filing cabinet for the administrative room. 

Utility:  Dana Marrier asked about the hour meter being repaired.  Becky McCauley is going to check with James Heitela to figure out a repair date.  

Ken Seibert gave an update on storm sewer drain covers and found two faulty covers.  Amy Marrier volunteered to pick up the covers in the Twin Cities towards the end of the month.  Two covers will be purchased and Amy Marrier will pick them up.  

Ken Seibert has picked up the supplies to paint the new Quonset building and it will be painted by the next meeting.   

Ellen Coffel will pick up the paint for the fire hydrants and curbs in Warba. 

Recreation:  The Recreation board is looking at putting up a cement pad for a roller skating rink where the old rink was, and new lighting will be put up as well.  

Dana Marrier mentioned little league baseball and how well everything has been coming together with it.  Shane Krueger at 492-1429 is one of Warba’s local representatives for little league baseball. 

Fire:  Ellen Coffel mentioned that Sago disagreed about having Warba flush out the sewer lines on the last fire contract.  Originally Feeley and Warba agreed to an amendment to allow Warba to flush out the lines.  The next fireboard meeting will be the 23rd of May, which is on a Friday.  Dana Marrier will also be attending the meeting to try to hash out the variance in the contract. 

Cemetery:  Annual dues of $750 were paid in this months bill.

Other:  Amy Marrier attended the first hour and one half of the Itasca County zoning meeting.  Amy Marrier reported that the largest concern at the meeting seemed to be building by lakes and the damage that occurs when structures are built too close to the water frontage.   

Ken and Kris Lindahl came to the meeting and asked to put a garage close to their property line.  The Lindahls’ agreed to move the garage back as to not interfere with right away and neighbors.  The Council gave the go ahead for Ken and Kris Lindahal to construct their garage.  

Ken Seibert said he would probably be putting up a garage with a lean to on his property in the future.

Jerome Carey attended the meeting to discuss property lines.  Jerome Carey stated that the way things used to be in Warba was that the council would hash over property line issues.  Dana Marrier asked the city clerk to draft up an ordinance saying you had to be over 10 feet from the property line for new construction.  Amy Marrier will check with the League of Minnesota Cities to see if there is a draft ordinance with the state checking into a setback of 10 feet from the property line. 

Donna Carey attended the meeting asking to have a key to the office so she could make copies for the food shelf.  Becky McCauley made a motion that Jerome Carey have one key and Ellen Coffel seconded it.  As follows is everyone who holds a key to the administration room: Jerome Carey, Dana Marrier, Amy Marrier, Lois Holmes, Becky McCauley, Ellen Coffel, Gina Saric and Ken Seibert.

Correspondence:  A Gopher State One call map was given to Ken Seibert to update.

Dana Marrier mentioned the approval of the storm shelter by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).  Ellen Coffel made a motion and Becky McCauley seconded it continue to move forward with the storm shelter project.  Approved 2, and 2 Abstained.

The council reviewed the latest water tests. 

Amy Marrier contacted Paul Reveurs regarding the Peterson gate and Paul Reveurs said to be patient that it would most likely eventually come down within the next 6 to 8 weeks.

Amy Marrier reported that she did contact the League regarding if Warba would have to have an individual lawyer or if the city could just use Paul Reveurs as the League provided attorney.  The league said that the city did have to a separate lawyer and that Paul was only in cases that actually went to court or were substantial enough for the league to get involved.

Amy Marrier provided the council with one copy to pass around regarding the latest city real estate database. 

The 2003 highway construction maps were available for viewing.

The city was sent information from USDA regarding possible funding available for water and sewer infrastructure.  Dana Marrier volunteered to look into this funding more closely. 

The council was presented with the latest population per household estimates and it was decided that there had not been any changes. 

Old Business:  Dana Marrier mentioned that he spoke with Kelly McCauley regarding Doug Mericle and his under attendance of his councilman position.  It was decided that Doug Mericle’s councilman position would be declared vacant.  Dana Marrier made a motion to declare a vacancy in the office of council member Doug Mericle and at the next meeting council will appoint a new councilperson for the remainder of the non-expired term or until council member Doug Mericle is again able to resume duties or attend council meetings whichever is sooner.  Ellen Coffel seconded the motion.  Approved 4-0. 

Dana Marrier discussed the Marble grant.  The grant went to the city and then the city loaned it in low interest loans to members of the community.  

Lois Holmes spoke to Claire Wilcox at Grand Rapids State Bank regarding the outstanding water bill for Milton Maki.  Claire Wilcox will be contacting Amy Marrier to further discuss the matter. 

It was mentioned that Amy Marrier should contact Chad Sterle (Dimich Law Office) and invite him to the next council meeting Monday June 9 to further discuss the city needs.

New Business:  Amy Marrier passed out the I9’s and W4’s for all city employees and explained them in detail and how to fill them out.  

Dana Marrier spoke about the Internet connection through Tim Robinson. This will not be an exclusive contract with Mr. Robinson.  This is a 5-year contract to start with a renegotiation period every 2 years and a 5% cap.  Mr. Robinson will also supply the city with a PC to keep and one to distribute possibly to the fire department or discretionary department of the city.  

Ellen Coffel and Terri Krueger are planning the next National night out together slated for August.  

Dana Marrier mentioned putting together a possible festival for the city.  This could raise monies that are very needed by the city. 

A motion by Becky McCauley, seconded by Ellen Coffel to adjourn the meeting.  Approved 4-0

Respectfully submitted, Amy Marrier, City Clerk