1981-08-25 Council minutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Special Meeting Held
Tuesday, August 25, 1981
Page 1527
August 25, 1981
) Pursuant to due call and notice thereof the Special meeting of the City Council,
City of Mendota Heights, was held at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room, City Offices,
750 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
Mayor Lockwood called the meeting to order at 7:40 o'clock P.M. The following members
were present: Mayor Lockwood, Councilmembers Losleben, Hartmann, Witt and Mertensotto.
1982 BUDGET City Administrator Johnson explained that the several depart-
REQUESTS • ment requests had been copied as submitted to his office,
therefore the budget requests and the oral presentations were those
of department heads.
Police Chief Rich Thul briefly described his 1982 budget requests.
The Council posed questions on legal costs, overtime use, use of
Reservists and brief discussions on the Divine Redeemer subsidy
and feasibility of street lighting. None of the foregoing
matters impacted directly on the 1982 requests.
There were no further questions on the Police budget requests and
Chief Thul was asked to explain the Animal Control requests.
He noted that complaint calls had reduced and he was suggesting
that the 1982 budget be the,same as 1981.
A brief discussion ensued concerning Capital Expenditures. Chief
Thul's Capital Improvement program concerning Police Expenditures
was discussed briefly. It was noted that this would be more
thoroughly discussed with the entire City Capital Improvement
Program later on in 1981.
Chief Thul also presented a Civil Defense budget that included
a $28,000 request for three warning sirens. It was noted that
this expenditure could be financed via equipment certificates.
It was the concensus of the Council members that Chief Thul
proceed with the planning, plans and specifications for their
consideration.
Fire Chief Siebell, Assistant Chief Dale Peterson, and Fire
Marshal Gene Lange were present to discuss the Fire Department
requests. Lange proceeded to discuss the several more impor-
tant items in the request. Some discussion ensued on the
proposal to provide for physical examinations for selected fire-
men. A brief discussion ensued on the future OSHA requirements.
Lange proceeded to elaborate on the Capital Improvement Program
which included items such as portable radios, tanker truck,
bunker pants and Opticom. It was noted,that these Capital
Expenditures would be further discussed when the entire City
1980 AUDIT
ENGINEERING RECORDS
AND TRANSITION
ADJOURN
Ayes: 5
( ) Nays: 0
Page 1528
August 25, 1981
Capital Improvement Program's expenditures were discussed later
in 1981. Lange also suggested that the City contribution to
the Fire Relief Association be increased.
Public Works Supervisor Richard Ploumen was present to elaborate
on 1982 budget requests for Road and Bridge, Parks and Utilities.
A number of matters were discussed such as the amount of sewer
cleaning performed annually and the feasibility of leasing sewer
cleaning equipment. Ploumen noted that there was over $5 million
of sewer pipe underneath the surface and that more efforts should
be made to clean certain segments of the system. The concensus
of the Council was to increase the cleaning efforts, acknow-
ledging that this would mean an increase in sewer rates. A
considerable amount of discussion followed on the Dutch Elm
disease program. It was notedthat the Dutch Elm disease control
program is not mandated for 1982 therefore the City has an option
whether to pursue such control or not. Various aspects of the
control were discussed, such as cost of disposal, what other
communities are doing and the futility of forcing people to cut
down diseased trees. Ploumen suggested that the formal control
program be abandoned and that $1,000 be provided in the Road
and Bridge budget for boulevard control. The Council members
did not object to such approach.
City Administrator Johnson noted that Peat, Marwick, Mitchell
representatives would be available to meet with the City Council
to discuss the 1980 audit report. After some discussion, it
was tentatively decided to schedule the auditors at the November
17th regular Council meeting.
City Administrator Johnson reported on the concept of integrating
the engineering records and several of the BTSC personnel into
the Mendota Heights organization. It was noted that the
voluminous records generated over 25 years should be made a part
of the City records. It was also noted that the use of such
records and associated engineering services could best be
provided by temporarily hiring Edward Kishel. It was agreed
that engineering services would be performed in-house with a
limited staff. The Council expressed general agreement with the
program and directed Administrator Johnson to pursue the matter
submitting proposals for employment and budget information.
There being no further business to come before the Council,
Councilman Losleben moved that the meeting be adjourned.
Councilman Hartmann seconded the motion.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 11:45 o'clock P.M.
ATTEST:
Robert G. Lockwood, Mayor
anson, City Clerk