HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-11 Council MinutesCITY OF CORCORAN
City Council Minutes
January 11, 2024 — 7:00 pm
The Corcoran City Council met on January 11, 2024, in Corcoran, Minnesota. The City Council meeting was
held in person and the public was present in person and remotely through electronic means using the audio and
video conferencing platform Zoom.
Mayor McKee, Councilor Nichols, Councilor Schultz, and Councilor Vehrenkamp were present. Councilor
Bottema was excused.
City Administrator Tobin, City Clerk Friedrich, Director of Public Safety Gottschalk, Public Works Director
Mattson, and Administrative Services Director Hughes were present.
1. Call to Order/Roll Call
iviayor ivicKee caiied the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor McKee invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Agenda Approval
City Administrator Tobin noted revisions to items 7d Resolution 2024-001 Annual Appointments, 71 2023-24
CIP Equipment Order Cost Over, 7j Minnesota Clean Energy Bill Communication (HERO), 9a Draft Update
2022 Audit, 10b North Pioneer Society Request for Assistance — Burschville School, and 10c 2023 Year in
Review.
Council requested New Business item 10b North Pioneer Society Request for Assistance — Burschville
School, be moved to Unfinished Business as item 9a., and moving the item Draft Update 2022 Audit to item
9b.
MOTION: made by Vehrenkamp, seconded by Schultz to approve the agenda as amended.
Voting Aye. McKee, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 4:0)
IN
Commission Representatives
Mayor McKee noted Planning Commissioner Brummond and Parks and Trails Commissioner Friedrich were
present.
5. Open Forum (Public CommentOpportunity)
Mayor McKee invited residents to communicate in -person during Open Forum for items not included on the
agenda. City Administrator Tobin explained the instructions to participate in the public comment
opportunity.
Dean Vehrenkamp, 9310 Bechtold Road, Corcoran, reviewed the organic waste fee residents are being
charged for a service provided from a solid waste hauler in Corcoran. Mr. Vehrenkamp noted the organics
waste fee is approximately $22.50 plus tax and other fees totaling approximately $30.00 every three
months.
Administrative Services Director Hughes noted staff is reviewing the organic waste fee with the hauler and
will bring information back to Council at a future meeting.
S. Presentations/Recognitions
7. Consent Agenda
a. January 3, 2024 Goal Setting Session Minutes
b. Financial Claims December 29, 2023
c. Financial Claims January 11, 2024
d. Revised: Resolution 2024-001 Annual Appointments
e. Water Treatment Plant — Pay Request 8
1
f. City Center Drive and 7911 Place Utility and Street Improvements —Pay
Request 2
g. Resolution 2024-002 Approving Election Judges for 2024
h. Resolution 2024-003 Establishing Absentee Ballot Board for 2024
i. Revised: 2023-24 CIP Equipment Order Cost Over
j. Revised: Minnesota Clean Energy Bill Communication (HERC)
Council requested item 7d be pulled for discussion.
MOTION: made by Schultz, seconded by Vehrenkamp to
approve
Council Schultz noted abstaining from vote on item 7d, due to conflict of interest with one of the annual
appointments.
MOTION: made by Nichols, seconded by Vehrenkamp, to approve agenda items 7d as amended.
Voting Aye: McKee, Nichols, and Vehrenkamp Nay:
omment
Abstain
Mayor McKee invited residents to communicate in -person during public comment opportunity for items ga-
b. City Administrator Tobin explained the instructions to participate in the public comment opportunity. No
persons participated in the public comment opportunity.
a. Moved from 10b, Revised: North Hennepin Pioneer Society Request for Assistance — Burschville
School
City Clerk Friedrich noted Bonnie Maue, President of the North Hennepin Pioneer Society is present for
Council questions, and City Clerk Friedrich outlined the current request for repair assistance to the
Burschville School in 2024. City Clerk Friedrich noted a correction to the staff report regarding monetary
assistance from the City in 2016 and clarified the assistance was for building repairs and repainting, not for
reroofing. City Clerk noted funding from the Lawful Gambling Fund was utilized to support the 2016
building repair and repainting. City Clerk Friedrich noted an additional forthcoming request for assistance in
2025 for reroofing the school facility. City Clerk Friedrich noted State Statute allows local governments to
allocate General Funds, based on a percentage of property value and other criteria, for historical buildings
within the City and approved by the Historical Society of Minnesota, to assist with necessary repairs and
maintenance.
North Hennepin Pioneer Society President Bonnie Maue noted the Burschville School became an historic
site in 2018 and is now a national site registered with the Minnesota Historical Society. Ms. Maue noted the
North Hennepin Pioneer Society has owned and operated the facility since the school closed in 1967 and
noted the annual SummerFest fundraiser raises most of the funds for the school's annual expenses. Ms.
Maue outlined the need for assistance and noted the project includes stabilizing and steel bracing an old
foundation of the school and adding a cement walkway. Ms. Maue noted the local St. John's school has
been participating in field trips to the Burschville School for about 25 years. Ms. Maue noted the school
was built in 1894, with resident Danny Lang petitioning in 1986 to keep the school in its present location
and allowing the school to be included on the Minnesota Historical Society's list of registered, historical
properties. Ms. Maue noted any repairs to the structure need to comply with code and Minnesota Historical
Society requirements.
Council discussed budget expenditures of the school. North Hennepin Pioneer Society President Maue
noted expenses for electricity, mowing, and insurance are approximately $5,000 per year and funds are
raised for the expenditures through the annual SummerFest event at the school each August. Council
noted the value the Burschville School brings to the community and support of the school repairs. Council
and staff discussed previous use examples funded by the Lawful Gambling Fund, and other possible viable
uses of lawful gambling monies proceeds. City Administrator Tobin noted the addition to the packet item of
the City ordinance established in 2016 and amended in 2018 clarifying the intended uses and eligibility
requirements to utilize gambling funds. City Clerk Friedrich clarified the last expenditure from the Lawful
Gambling Fund were tables and chairs purchased for city events.
MOTION: made by McKee, seconded by Nichols directing staff to draft a document necessary to commit
funds in the amount not to ex
c
Voting Aye: McKee, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 4:0)
Jan Stieg, 19320 Stieg Road, Corcoran, thanked Council for their support of the Burschville School.
Council noted scheduling a future work session to review how Gambling Funds can be utilized.
b. Moved from 9a, Draft Update: 2022 Audit
City Administrator Tobin reviewed the status of 2022 Audit, and noted the audit delay challenges due to
personnel changes in the City Administrator and Finance Manager roles. City Administrator Tobin noted
three material weaknesses in the audit results, and noted staff recognized the areas and has been working
to resolve the result findings. City Administrator Tobin noted the final audit presentation will be presented
to Council at the January 25 Council meeting by Abdo.
MOTION: made by Schultz, seconded by Vehrenkamp to accept, and submit the Draft 2022 Audit as
presented and released to Moody's by January 12, and receive the final 2022 audit results at the January
25, 2024, Council meeting.
Voting Aye: McKee, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 4:0)
10. New Business (Public Comment Opportunity)
Mayor McKee invited residents to communicate in -person during public comment opportunity for items
10a-c. City Administrator Tobin explained the instructions to participate in the public comment opportunity.
No persons participated in the public comment opportunity.
a. City Park Ice Rink Direction
City Administrator Tobin reviewed the change in current weather conditions related to making ice for the
ice rinks, the options regarding the operation of the ice rinks and warming house for the remainder of the
winter season and noted dependence on weather conditions in keeping the ice rinks open. City
Administration Tobin noted lack of sufficient staffing, utilizing the warming house with a consideration to
lock the bathrooms and use an outdoor portable bathroom. Council and staff discussed opening the
warming house, utilizing timers on outside lighting, and providing access to an outdoor portable bathroom.
Council and staff discussed the potential closing date for the ice rinks as the third week in February or
depending upon the weather.
MOTION: made by Nichols, seconded by Vehrenkamp to utilize option D and J as presented, and include
modifications as discussed.
Voting Aye: McKee, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 4:0)
b. Revised: North Pioneer Society Request for Assistance — Burschville School (Moved to 9a.)
c. Revised: 2023 Year in Review
City Administrator Tobin reviewed the 2023 Year in Review and staff accomplishments. City Administrator
Tobin noted consideration by Council of format changes for the 2024 Year in Review and include an
opportunity for each of divisions to complete a brief, behind -the -scenes presentation for Council. City
Administrator Tobin noted the Council presentation is a professional development opportunity for staff.
Council noted requests for future changes and provided staff with direction.
d. 2024 Core Strategies, Goals, and Measurables
City Administrator Tobin reviewed the strategic objectives, short-term goals and measurables established
at the work session on January 3, 2024. City Administrator Tobin noted paring the Deputy Director of
Public Safety with Councilor Bottema in the research and review discussions of fire services.
MOTION: made by Nichols, seconded by Vehrenkamp, to approve the 2024 core strategies, short-term
goals and measurables as amended and to include recommendation stated by City Administrator Tobin,
Voting Aye: McKee, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 4:0)
11. Staff Reports
12.2024 City Council Schedule
Council received schedule.
13. Adjournment
MU I ION: made by Nichols, seconded by Schultz to adjourn.
Voting Aye: McKee, Nichols, Schultz, and Vehrenkamp
(Motion carried 4:0)
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm on January 11, 2024.
Michelle Friedrich —City Clerk