Washburn Life News

Washburn City Commission

Official Special Meeting Minutes

Monday, February 28, 2022

6:30 p.m., City Hall

Members Present: Larry Thomas, Don Simon, Mike Herdt, Timothy Dockter, Kollin Syverson

Absent: None

President Thomas called the Washburn Special City Commission meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

The HR commissioners recommended terminating Lee Larson due to him not moving to Washburn as agreed upon and excessive absenteeism.

Larson was present to defend himself. 2021 was a hard year for him and his family with unexpected occurrences throughout the year. There are times when he was the only one available to take care of his kid and had to be gone from work.

Thomas explained that when he was hired, he agreed to move to Washburn as a requirement of employment. There was a discussion on these issues.

Simon motioned to proceed with termination of Larson. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas motioned to continue health insurance for Larson and his family through the month of March. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas adjourned the meeting at 6:42 PM.

_____________________                                          _________________________

Chelsey Brandt, Auditor                                             Larry Thomas, President

City of Washburn                                                        City of Washburn

Washburn City Commission

Official Meeting Minutes

Monday, February 7, 2022

6:30 p.m., City Hall

Members Present: Larry Thomas, Don Simon, Mike Herdt, Timothy Dockter, Kollin Syverson

Absent: None

President Thomas called the regular commission meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.

Dockter motioned to approve January 10, 2022, commission meeting minutes. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas stated that the special meeting minutes needed a correction. Monday needed to be changed to Thursday. Thomas motioned to approve January 20, 2022, special meeting minutes with the correction. Herdt seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

No financials for the month.

A building permit for Richard Perkerewicz was discussed. He was among the residents that received clean up letters back in September. The commission wanted to remind him that he needs to get that property cleaned up before a building permit will be issued.

Brandt presented the Back Flow Ordinance. This ordinance is currently just for commercial and multi-dwelling buildings. A survey has been sent out to everyone that this pertains too. This will help the city determine who will be affected by this. Thomas motioned to forego the reading and accept it as written. Dockter seconded. Syverson-nay, Dockter-aye, Herdt-aye, Simon-aye, Thomas-aye. Motion carried. Thomas motioned to accept first reading of Ordinance #157 = Backflow Prevention. Doctor seconded. Syverson-nay, Dockter-aye, Herdt-aye, Simon-aye, Thomas-aye. Motion carried.

Brandt presented the pledge of securities report from Tru Community Bank. Dockter motioned to accept the funds. Herdt seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

A resident had called inquiring about vacant lots up in Heritage Heights. Brandt informed him that currently they do not have any utilities ran to them but would look at ideas on how to develop that area. Eric, with AE2S presented a map that he would recommend doing if the city wanted to pursue this project. The project cost would be at least one million dollars and right now there are only ten lots to develop so not cost effective. There could be a possibility of expanding this project so more lots would be available. Thomas will appoint a committee to research this and come up with some ideas.

AE2S Update:

Intake Project-additional funding request is still being reviewed. Need to obtain two permits from the US Corp of Engineer yet.

Service to Blue Flint-prelim design & cost estimates are still being gone through. The Geotech

work should begin this week or next week.

Portfolios:

Syverson – Lining up meeting with McLean Sheridan to discuss water rates.

Dockter – nothing

Herdt – Legion is working on replacing a window and the MH basement kitchen. Brandt asked if there could be communication on the projects being done. The Basement was rented for last weekend and somewhere between checking in on Thursday and Saturday – it was tore apart and left a mess. Brandt showed pictures and asked if the renter could be refunded her fees. Thomas motioned to refund money. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye.

Simon – Windmills are being discussed at next county planning & zoning meeting.

Thomas – nothing

Brandt – Will be gone February 14-16. Taste of Washburn is March 26^th. The city will do lemonade and coffee again. Will figure out what else.

Syverson motioned to pay the bills.

Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Next Meeting March 14, 2022.

Thomas adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m.

_____________________                                          _________________________

Chelsey Brandt, Auditor                                             Larry Thomas, President

City of Washburn                                                        City of Washburn

Washburn City Commission

Official Special Meeting Minutes

Thursday, January 20, 2022

6:00 p.m., City Hall

Members Present: Larry Thomas, Don Simon, Mike Herdt, Kollin Syverson

Absent: Timothy Dockter

Thomas found a tar machine that he went and looked at and was in good condition. They would check the engine to make sure it worked properly before delivering it. The county has already said the city could purchase hot tar from them. Thomas motioned to purchase the tar machine for $10,500. Syverson seconded. Much discussion was had. Syverson-aye, Herdt-nay, Simon-aye, Thomas-aye. Motion carried.

Thomas adjourned the meeting at 6:12 PM.

_____________________                                          _________________________

Chelsey Brandt, Auditor                                             Larry Thomas, President

City of Washburn                                                        City of Washburn

Washburn City Commission

Official Meeting Minutes

Monday, January 10, 2022

6:30 p.m., City Hall

Members Present: Larry Thomas, Don Simon, Mike Herdt, Timothy Dockter, Kollin Syverson

Absent: None

President Thomas called the regular commission meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.

Thomas noted a change to the meeting minutes from December 12^th. Dockter motioned to approve December 12, 2021, commission meeting minutes. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Herdt motioned to approve December 27, 2021, special meeting minutes. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Brandt went through a couple funds with the commissioners about their balances. Syverson motioned to approve December financials. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas brought up commercial dumping during city clean up week. In the past, it has typically only been for residential accounts. Scott’s Hardware asked for permission to utilize the roll-offs during clean up week in May of 2020 to dispose of their appliances. The commission granted permission then, stating they would address it at a later date. In the past, other businesses have been turned away. Dockter motioned to not allow any commercial dumping during clean up week. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye.

Thomas motioned to accept the Municipal Judge Annual Report for 2021. Herdt seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Herdt motioned to waive the MH Rental Fee for Washburn Life to hold their annual Taste of Washburn event there. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas informed the commission that there were three trees that needed to be cut down before final payment would be made to Doug Price for the purchase of his land for the new water intake site. Thomas motioned to authorize final payment, $67,500 for the land and $2,000 for cutting down the trees to Price. Dockter seconded. The construction easement has been signed. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

The state is implementing a new back flow ordinance to protect the public water system from contaminants or pollutants to all commercial buildings. The first step would be to determine the cities legal authority and start working on an ordinance.

Thomas motioned to authorize a single commissioner’s spending limit up to $1,500 for discretionary spending. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Simon motioned to hire Zachary Bredlow for $23 an hour, starting on January 24^th. He will move to Washburn within the year. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas presented a rough draft of a snow ordinance. It will be reviewed and updated.

AE2S Update:

Blue Flint is paying for land purchase and tree removal. McLean-Sheridan is paying for the survey.

FEMA went through a change of leadership so still waiting to hear on the grant extension.

Portfolios:

Syverson – Setting up a meeting with Mclean Sheridan to discuss increasing water rates. Made a reminder to keep the gate heated at the Water Treatment Plant so that it can be secured at all times.

Dockter – Tickets are being issued under the new parking ordinance.

Herdt – The Lions would like to put a TV and sound bar in the basement of the Memorial Hall. Still working on getting the cleaning machine working for the gym floor. Tunnel is blown in and would like it addressed.

Simon – Would like to have a letter of accommodation written up for Adam’s file.

Thomas – reminder for shop employees to be working on their class B license. Found a tar machine in Minot.

Brandt – Asked about snow piles that haven’t been removed. Can’t do much without an ordinance.

A Thomas – There was a sewer backup over the weekend. Reminder not to dump grease down drains.

Syverson motioned to pay the bills.

1100 Farmers Sec. XX0074

Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Next Meeting February 7^th, 2022.

Thomas adjourned the meeting at 7:42 p.m.

_____________________                                          _________________________

Chelsey Brandt, Auditor                                             Larry Thomas, President

City of Washburn                                                        City of Washburn

Washburn City Commission

Official Special Meeting Minutes

Monday, December 27, 2021

6:30 p.m., City Hall

Members Present: Larry Thomas, Don Simon, Mike Herdt, Tim Dockter

Absent: Kollin Syverson

Thomas motioned to approve children under the age of 21 into the Captain’s Cabin and they have to follow NDCC 5-02-06 section two. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas adjourned the meeting at 6:38 PM.

_____________________                                          _________________________

Chelsey Brandt, Auditor                                             Larry Thomas, President

City of Washburn                                                        City of Washburn

Washburn City Commission

Official Meeting Minutes

Monday, December 13, 2021

6:30 p.m., City Hall

Members Present: Larry Thomas, Don Simon, Mike Herdt, Timothy Dockter, Kollin Syverson

Absent: None

President Thomas called the regular commission meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.

Simon motioned to approve November 8th, 2021, commission meeting minutes. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Dockter motioned to approve November 9, 2021, special meeting minutes. Herdt seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Brandt gave an update on financials and corrections that are being made per state auditor’s request. Syverson motioned to approve November financials. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Brandt presented the following alcoholic beverage licenses for renewal:

Washburn American Legion Victor B. Wallin Post #12 – Thomas motioned to approve. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

The Riverboat Saloon. Dockter motioned to approve. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

SuperPumper Licensing, Inc. Thomas motioned to approve. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Brenarlo Enterprises. Dockter motioned to approve. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Enerbase. Dockter motioned to approve. Herdt seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Captain’s Cabin. Doctor motioned to approve. Herdt seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Dockter motioned to approve the Dollars for Scholars local raffle permit. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Planning and zoning recommend approval of a lot merger for Joseph and Aimee Schmidt. Thomas motioned to approve the lot merger. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Dockter caught a spelling error on #9 in updated Ordinance #155. Fix now to snow. Thomas motioned to forego the second reading and accept how written. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried. Thomas motioned to approve the second reading and approve final passage of the ordinance. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

The parking on 4^th Avenue will be changed from diagonal to parallel from 6^th St West to 5^th St. Simon motioned to change the parking from diagonal to parallel. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Spring Cleanup will be May 16^th-21^st. Thomas motioned to allow the staff to just set up dates going forward. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried. Discussion was had on accepting commercial items during cleanup. Tabled until next meeting.

Brandt presented the NRG agreement for 2022. Thomas motioned to accept the 2022 agreement. Herdt seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Syverson brought up how chemicals, parts, etc are all increasing to run the water treatment plant. Discussion was had. Simon motioned to add on a $1.50 membrane maintenance fee to all residential and commercial accounts and increasing the rate over 2,000 gallons to .005/gallon. Syverson seconded. Rates will be effective January 1^st. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried. McLean Sheridan rates will be discussed with them.

The commercial rate for sewer currently has a base rate of $19.15 with an additional $10 for every 6,000 gallons over the base. Thomas motioned to reduce the commercial rate to $16.15, the same as the residential rate. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

The city had donated some land to the park board down by the water treatment plant. That land has never been deeded so Thomas asked to revoke the land transfer for now so that the city can use it for the building of the new treatment plant. Once that is done, it can go back to the park board. Dockter motioned to take back the land for the time being. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Doug Price has land that the city needs for the new intake to be constructed. He wants $75,000 with an additional $2,000 to have all the trees cut down. There will be a permanent access easement and construction easement. Thomas motioned to move forward with a purchase agreement that has all the easements and $7,500 in earnest money. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried. This will be paid out of the general fund as the land purchased funds could be reimbursed to the city.

Brandt presented the personal policy handbook and read through the updated changes that she made. Thomas motioned to add all wording changes into the policy. Herdt seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

2022 Commission meeting dates were discussed. February meeting with be the 1^st Monday of the month – February 7^th. The summer months will go to one meeting a month, the second Monday of the month, and call a special meeting if needed. Dockter motioned to accept these dates. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas presented the following wage changes: Anita – $18.38, Lee – $24.83, Matt – $24.83, Adam – $36.50, Chelsey – $32.50, Erica – $22.50. Adam will remain Public Works Superintendent and Matt will advance to Public Works Foreman. Syverson motioned to accept the wages effective January 1^st, 2022. Doctor seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas stated that he would like to give all office staff and public works personal $100 in Washburn bucks and $50 to our janitor for Christmas. Dockter motioned to accept the Christmas bonus. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

AE2S Update:

Intake project is moving forward with Blue Flint covering majority of the cost. Intake bids will begin in April 2022. A new water treatment plant will be constructed just north of the current one that will service Blue Flint. The city will be supplying them with clarified water.

The city will be placed on a list for possible funding for the drainage improvement project. There is federal funding available for the next 6-7 years.

Docker motioned to allow the Lions Club raffle permit. Herdt seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Portfolios:

Syverson – River levels back up to 16,000 cfs. Temporary pump is out.

Dockter – nothing

Herdt – a cell phone booster in being installed at the Memorial Hall. The Legion would like to update the basement kitchen and replace the lights in the furnace room. Herdt motioned to be the contact person for these projects and approve up to $500 if the legion needs to purchase something. Thomas seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried. Herdt motioned to add a kitchen deposit of $100 on all hall rentals if the kitchen is being used. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Simon – Interviews will be happening in the next couple weeks for the public works position.

Thomas – Public works employees should be working on getting their class b driver’s license with air brakes before February 7^th.

Brandt – office will be closed December 23 and December 24 for Christmas vacation. Open walk will remain closed on holidays.

A Thomas – Unimog has been working. The blade for the loader is not finished yet. Breaker tripped at memorial hall will look at getting it fixed.

Rhonda Johnson thanked the city for all their help with Santa Days.

Thomas motioned to pay the bills and add in the $7,500 earnest payment to Doug Price.

1100 Farmers Sec. XX0074

Dockter Seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Next Meeting January 10th.

Thomas adjourned the meeting at 8:27 p.m.

_____________________                                          _________________________

Chelsey Brandt, Auditor                                             Larry Thomas, President

City of Washburn                                                        City of Washburn

Washburn City Commission

Official Special Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

6:00 p.m., City Hall

Members Present: Larry Thomas, Mike Herdt, Tim Dockter, Kollin Syverson

Absent: Don Simon

Thomas motioned to purchase the dump truck from Badlands Truck Sales for $57,500. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas adjourned the meeting at 6:03 PM.

_____________________                                          _________________________

Chelsey Brandt, Auditor                                             Larry Thomas, President

City of Washburn                                                        City of Washburn

Washburn City Commission

Official Meeting Minutes

Monday, November 8, 2021

6:30 p.m., City Hall

Members Present: Larry Thomas, Don Simon, Mike Herdt, Timothy Dockter, Kollin Syverson

Absent: None

President Thomas called the regular commission meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.

Syverson motioned to approve October 11, 2021, commission meeting minutes. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Dockter motioned to approve October 25, 2021, special meeting minutes. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Herdt motioned to approve October financials. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Thomas motioned to approve the local raffle permit for TAG. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Rhonda Johnson, with Washburn Life, was present to ask for permission to have the imposter reindeer for Santa Days. She would also like to have 6^th St to 8^th St blocked off from 3 PM to roughly 7:30 PM on December 4^th. Herdt motioned to allow. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Johnson also asked if Washburn Life could have their meetings in the conference at the City Hall beginning January of 2022. The group meets the 2^nd Tuesday of every month at noon. The commission has no issue with that.

Dana with K&D was present to discuss a couple different options for heaters that are not working properly. Herdt motioned to replace the unit heater at the Water Treatment Plant for $1,934.04. Simon seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried. One furnace at the Memorial Building has a bad gas valve. Syverson motioned to repair the bad gas valve for $843.36. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried. One of the heaters at the city shop has a bad gas valve as well. Thomas told him to go ahead and just repair that one as well.

Brandt presented a rough draft of changing the personal policy. The commission asked her to get a little more detail and percentage amounts. Will rediscuss at next meeting.

Brandt read the 1^st Reading of the new parking ordinance. Dockter recommended changing the wording of #9 so that it was easier to understand. Thomas motioned to accept the first reading. Dockter seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried. A copy of this ordinance can be found online or by calling the city.

Brandt presented a corrected spreadsheet of the special assessment assistance program showing a total of $4,932.53. Thomas motioned to accept the correction. Syverson seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

AE2S Update:

The Memorandum of Understanding should be signed by all 3 parties at the end of this week.

River levels are a concern, and they are working with the city to have the corps increase the cfs.

Portfolios:

Syverson – concerned about the temp pump sitting out with the low river levels and the temperatures dropping below 20 degrees. Also mentioned the price of chemicals are drastically increasing.

Dockter – nothing

Herdt – nothing

Simon – informed the commission that a vote is coming soon at the county level on wind and solar energy. Yearly evaluations will be done within the next week.

Thomas – have a meeting set up with the corps for Tuesday, the 9^th. Dump truck will be ready this week and he will go to pick it up.

Brandt – asked about Christmas decorations.

A Thomas – Lagoon aerator is in. there was an oil mishap but its being taken care of.

Thomas motioned to pay the bills but pull the K & D bill for $125 for right now.

1100 Farmers Sec. XX0074

Syverson Seconded. Upon roll call, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.

Next Meeting December 13th.

Thomas adjourned the meeting at 7:24 p.m.

_____________________                                          _________________________

Chelsey Brandt, Auditor                                             Larry Thomas, President

City of Washburn                                                        City of Washburn