Warba City Council Meeting 

July 12, 2004

The Warba City Council meeting was called to order  at 6:30 p.m.  The pledge of allegiance was said.  Members present were Doug Mericle, Ellen Coffel, Becky McCauley, Dana Marrier, Amy Marrier, and Lois Holmes.  No members were absent.  Minutes were reviewed and Ellen Coffel made a motion to accept the minutes and Doug Mericle seconded them.  Approved 5-0.  Lois Holmes reviewed the treasurer’s report and Doug Mericle made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report and Becky McCauley seconded it.  Approved 5-0.  Bills were presented and Doug Mericle made a motion to pay the bills and Ellen Coffel seconded it.  Approved 5-0.

Guests:  Mel Holmquist came to the meeting and discussed the free benches his company provides for a public service.  Mel Holmquist spoke of the purpose of the free benches and all related factors from how they work the insurance liabilities to how he handles the advertising.  Mel Holmquist spoke also of the types of advertising allowed and that it will be user friendly to a family oriented facility like the park.  There is a forty-five day relocation policy if we are unsatisfied with the type of advertising on the bench.  www.h2-ads.com is the website for Infinity Grafix and H2 Ads, Imaginary Technologies.  Council discussed having a bench in front of the Community Center.  Mel Holmquist will deliver a bench to the Community Center and two to the Warba, Feeley, and Sago Park. 

Becky McCauley brought up the sign for the Community Center.  Becky McCauley said that Darlene Adolfs has said that there was a file folder with information called signs at the community center. Amy Marrier will look for a file folder called signs as asked by Becky McCauley.  Mel Holmquist discussed the type of lettering for the building to be adhered directly to the building verses a stand-alone sign.  Mel Holmquist is going to come up with some ideas for the council and present it at a future meeting or send it to Amy Marrier. 

Utility:  Brian Borgman spoke about trying to hire someone to fix the water tower water meter.  The costs were astronomical to hire someone to come out of Minneapolis.  Brian Borgman even discussed the possibility of just purchasing a new meter system instead of the battle of trying to find someone to fix the old hour meter.  Dana Marrier said he would rather try to get the current system working instead of purchasing a new unit. 

Ken Seibert reported that the ponds were mowed and weeds were sprayed around the ponds.  An amp was ordered for the siren as Northern 2-Way thinks that is what the problem is.  Ken Seibert reported that the air conditioner was left on after music night on the 10th of July. 

Jim Heitla came to the meeting and said that the phone modem didn’t work for the special software.  Brian Borgman said the two new meters didn’t run that were ordered and installed.  Brian Borgman asked who had the Allen Bradley software and was told that Jim Heitla said his company had it and Mielke out of Duluth has it too.  Dana Marrier asked Brian Borgman to look into the cost of having Mielke come and look at our hour meter system.  Ellen Coffel made a motion that Brian Borgman follow up with Mielke to see if we can’t repair the current system and Dana Marrier seconded it.  Approved 5-0.      

Zoning:  Ellen Coffel and Doug Mericle discussed that they are moving along nicely through the zoning materials and on the 21 of July there will be another meeting.

Community Center:  Ellen Coffel showed council the National Night Out flyer and explained that she has received some terrific door prizes.  She also said that the people that didn’t get the water bill would be receiving handouts door to door.

Recreation: none

Fire:  Ellen Coffel said the fire contracts were signed and she would be getting copies from Robin Heinle of Feeley Township as soon as Robin Heinle contacts her.  

Cemetery: Becky McCauley reported that there were not many lots left in the old cemetery.  Becky McCauley said if anyone was interested in a cemetery lot in the old cemetery, they need to contact her before the lots run out.  Lots in the new cemetery next to it will be available when the old lots are sold out.

Other:  Dana Marrier mentioned that MNDOT is in town and fixing many of the culverts.  MNDOT found that many of the culverts were rusted out and need to be replaced.  Dana Marrier is trying to get safety grates on the culverts to prevent the snow groomer from ruining them.  Amy Marrier mentioned that her workload was becoming too great to carry on her position for 2005 with her current employment as well.  Amy Marrier explained a portion of her duties and it was discussed with council.  Amy Marrier would like to carry out her four-year term if her workload could be lightened.  Lois Holmes also stated that she would not be running for council for 2005.  Amy Marrier will keep track of her hours from today until the next meeting to get an idea of hours into the position.

Correspondence: The city received a notice of filing for State General Election November 2, 2004.  A notice of unemployment credit was sent in the amount of $6.75.  The city received the LMC law summaries and a 2005 due increase.  Also, the LMC sent a credit in the amount of $49.  Information was sent regarding First call for Help “2-1-1” community resources.  Information was sent regarding the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance.  Another public notice was sent regarding solid waste permit.  There will be a JOBZ meeting August 18, 2004.     

Old Business: Ellen Coffel retyped the revised copy to reflect proper changes on the animal ordinance.  Dana Marrier read the ordinance and it was signed.  Amy Marrier will put ads in the newspaper for both ordinances passed.  Doug Mericle discussed the no trespassing sign on the east end of town and showed proof that the sign was on city property.  Doug Mericle also discussed the community garden program and asked council how much does the city want to spend on that program?  Doug Mericle asked about having the garden tilled and spoke about having a water source for the garden.  The discussion was just for awareness purposes for this next spring.  Doug Mericle said that to update the plot map you would need to go through a lawyer and it could get quite expensive.  Becky McCauley stated that she thought it would be a good idea to have an attorney look at the project for cost estimates.  Doug Mericle also mentioned a commercial type tractor being available for the city to do various tasks.  The tractor idea was tabled.  Ellen Coffel mentioned that she is still having some drainage type ditch issues in front of her home.  Doug Mericle is going to talk to Keith Armstrong about getting a culvert so the rain water flows through his property again as its supposed to.  Dana Marrier asked Ken Seibert to mow by the storm shelter once grass starts to grow.  Dana Marrier made a motion to pay Ellen Coffel mileage for the city meeting she is going to attend and Becky McCauley seconded it.  Approved 5-0.                   

New Business:  Becky McCauley is in the process of writing the next newsletter for the Shallow Lake Association. 

Doug Mericle made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Becky McCauley seconded it. Approved 5-0.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Amy Marrier - City Clerk