Call Meeting to Order

The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m.

Members Present

Mayor Paul Skrede, Owen Fuglseth, Police Chief Virgil Gustafson, John Menzel, Administrator Dana Young

Members Absent

Public Works Supervisor Jerry Hudlow, Teresa Pendleton, Jon Monson

Manhole Removal Devise & Loss Control Recommendations

The Committee reviewed a letter from Mary Vintimilla, Loss Control Consultant with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, recommending that the City obtain certificates of insurance from contractors, maintain annual driver records and purchase a manhole removal devise.

Dana Young stated that he would try to gather some information on manhole removal devises for the public works crew to review and provide comments back to the Safety Committee at their May meeting.

Motion by Dana Young to recommend the modification of the City’s Personnel Policy Ordinance to allow the Police Department to conduct background checks prior to an offer of employment and to conduct a review of employee driver records. Seconded by Virgil Gustafson. Motion carried 5-0.

Sale of Police Property

Virgil Gustafson stated that his department has acquired a number of weapons over the years that he would like to dispose of. He stated that state law mandates that several of the weapons must be destroyed and the others he would recommend selling to a federally licensed dealer.

Motion by Paul Skrede to recommend the disposal of the surplus weapons as outlined by Police Chief Gustafson. Seconded by Dana Young. Motion carried 5-0.

The Safety Committee adjourned on a motion by Dana Young, seconded by Paul Skrede. Motion carried 5-0.

Amesbury Storm Sewer Improvements

City Engineer Dennis Saari was in attendance to participate in the discussion on the proposed installation of a gate valve in Amesbury.

Paul Skrede provided a summary on the proposal to install a gate valve in the storm water manhole in Amesbury. He stated that prior to the installation of the gate valve, an Amesbury resident complained that the gate valve would flood his basement if the valve were closed thereby causing the pond to rise above the bank. He stated that he and Councilmember Steve Adams met with the residents in that area to explain how the gate valve was intended to be used. He stated that the gate valve was to be used only during those periods when the pond was sufficiently low to enable the water in the cul-de-sac to be removed or to flush out the storm sewer line. However, he stated that the resident was still not convinced that the gate valve would not eventually cause a problem.

Further discussion was held on whether the cul-de-sac could still be periodically pumped dry and the storm sewer line flushed out without installing the gate valve. It was generally felt that it could but not with the same frequency.

John Menzel also noted that kids could potentially gain access to the gate valve, who could open or shut the valve if they would be able to open the grate.

The Committee recommended that the gate valve should not be installed in Amesbury at this time due to the additional public safety concerns over not having total control over the operation of the valve.

Purchase of New Holland Skidsteer

Dana Young stated that the Supervisor Jerry Hudlow has recommended the purchase of a New Holland Skidsteer in the amount of $22,925.02, which included a $5,000.00 reduction for the trade in of the City’s old Skidsteer. The bids were as follows:

Bidder Item Price

Carlson Tractor & Equip, Co. New Holland L175 Skidsteer $22,925.02

Scharber & Sons, Inc. John Deer 325 Skidsteer $26,581.76

He stated that the Public Works crew preferred the New Holland Skidsteer to the John Deere Skidsteer because it was smaller, more versatile and offered two speeds, which would enable the New Holland Skidsteer to be driven on the roads without a trailer.

Motion by Paul Skrede to recommend the purchase of a New Holland Skidsteer from Carlson Tractor & Equipment, Co. in the amount of $22,925.02, including the trade in of the City’s old Skidsteer. Seconded by Dana Young. Motion carried 4-0.

Honeysuckle Lane / Fairhomes Lane Storm Sewer Improvements

Dana Young stated that he has received recent complaints from property owners on Honeysuckle Lane and Fairhomes Lane regarding the condition of the storm sewer running from Honeysuckle to Fairhomes. He stated that Steve Ferrall, 3840 Fairhomes Lane, requested a meeting with the City Engineer and City staff to discuss his concern that the storm sewer line, which is not connected in several areas, should be rebuilt and extended all the way to 3865 Fairhomes, the outlet for the storm water. He stated that Mr. Ferrall is concerned that the water is flowing underneath the pipe and causing a depression in his lawn raising his concern about water potentially entering into his basement.

The Committee decided to review this storm sewer line within the next few weeks and obtain quotes on the installation of additional storm sewer line and to repair the existing line.

Highcrest Drive Drainage Concerns

Dana Young stated that there is a natural drainage pond in the backyard of 4865 Highcrest Drive that holds all the runoff from nearby properties. He stated that several weeks ago, during the melting of the snow, the water in the drainage pond came within several feet of the homeowner’s house. He stated that the City assisted the homeowner by pumping the water across Highcrest into Hooper Lake. He stated that the drainage pond is in a low lying area to where it would be impossible to gravity flow the excess water to another drainage area.

The Committee generally felt that this flooding situation was unlikely to occur very often since it was unusual event to have so much snow melting over frozen ground as was the case last week. The Committee decided to review the site later this month.

Other

Paul Skrede stated that the Council was interested in the public work crew’s opinion on whether the breakwater structure at the Main Beach was working properly.

John Menzel stated that he thought it was working well but felt that the breakwater structure would be even more effective if it were extended all the way to the shore.

Paul Skrede outlined a plan that included the installation of a dock across the breakwater structure for a viewing area into the lake, moving the sun arbor over to this area to expand the beach area and relocating the boardwalk to the bituminous pathway.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Dana Young, seconded by John Menzel. Motion carried 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m. The next meeting of the Public Works & Safety Committee will be held on Wednesday, May 2, 2007.