The City Council met in regular session on August 18, 2014 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Walker presided:
Councilmembers present:
Scott Winkler
Mike Peterson
Beryl Grant
Shelley Dumas
Wes Lester
Brian Lorentz
Pete Lane
City employees present were Chief Drew, Attorney Green, Public Works Director McFrederick and Clerk Kennedy.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the minutes of August 4th were approved as corrected on the banner request by Councilman Peterson, second by Councilwoman Grant. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Travis and Jennifer Randall, 417 N Junction would like to place a fence in the right of way on the back side of both sidewalks. On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Peterson to allow Travis and Jennifer Randall to place 4’ chain link fence within 50’ of the corner and in the right of way at 417 N Junction. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
WWTP PHASE II UPDATE: Public Works Director McFrederick stated the City is releasing half the retainage for Shannon Industrial. There are a couple SCADA programming issues that need to be resolved. McFrederick had a conversation with JUB last week. There is still air in the sludge line which causes problems with the SCADA system for the screw press. McFrederick feels it is a design issue.
On motion by Councilman Peterson , second by Councilwoman Grant to authorize Pay Request #11 to Shannon Industrial for $30,596.72. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The department had 45 cases written, 19 citations, 4 written warning and 164 calls for service for July 2014. The Police and Animal Control Report for July 2014 was accepted on motion by Councilman Lester second by Councilman Peterson. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Clerk Kennedy reported the committee recently met to discuss health insurance. Amy Manning with III-A visited the City and met with employees to answer insurance questions. The other insurance reimbursement was brought up during the meeting and it was stated that all City employees were required to be on the City health plan. Clerk Kennedy had a conference call with III-A the following week to visit about the other insurance program and it was explained that when the City joined III-A, the City was brought in “as is”. All existing programs/policies were grandfathered in. Any employees hired after the City joined III-A were required to be on the City policy. The committee made the recommendation to the Council that the four people originally grandfathered in should stay on the other insurance program and the three new hires would need to move to the City plan as per III-A requirements. This recommended policy change occurred later in the meeting with the Personnel Handbook change.
At the same time to stay in compliance with the Affordable Care Act, it was recommended by III-A to adopt the ACA Plan and offer it to non-fulltime employees at their cost. The City would not pay for any costs with the ACA Plan. (The adoption of this plan occurred later in the meeting with Resolution #241.)
BILLS: The bills in the amount of $251,566.22 were approved and ordered paid out of their respective funds, on motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Peterson. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
CANCER AWARENESS PROCLAMATION: Mayor Walker proclaimed September 2014 Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
OUT OF CITY WATER AND SEWER REQUEST: Rick Ross recently purchased an airport hangar at 228 Airport Lane, and requested out of City water and sewer. Mr. Ross has agreed to pay the equity buy in fees and out of City rates. On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Lorentz to allow Rick Ross 228 Airport Lane to hook up to water and sewer and pay the current rates and buy in fees. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
PINE STREET PAVING: Public Works Director McFrederick hired Allwest Testing to test Pine Street Paving. Allwest is saying the blame is on both the City and Knife River. The pavement is too thin and there was not enough oil in the mix; however the compaction is not as good as it should have been. Attorney Green reviewed the Pavement Distress Evaluation for Pine Street does not recommend suing because there are problems on both parties. It was suggested the City could ask from some compensation and comprise. The Council directed Attorney Green to send a letter to Knife River with a copy of the report, stating the City would like to compromise and see what type of response the City gets back.
J-U-B CONTRACT: On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Peterson to have the Mayor sign the renewed agreement with J-U-B for Biosolids Management ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Dumas, Winkler, Lester, Lorentz, Grant, Peterson. NO: none. The motion passed.
RESOLUTION #241:
(Resolution No. 241 in its entirety on file in the City’s Resolution File)
The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Lorentz who moved for its adoption. Second by Councilman Peterson.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE ESTABLISHING A MEASUREMENT PERIOD FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY AS MANDATED BY THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND ADOPTING THE ACA PLAN FOR NON FULLTIME EMPLOYEES.
ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Dumas, Winkler, Lester, Lorentz, Grant, Peterson. NO: none. The motion passed. Mayor Walker then declared Resolution No. 241 duly approved and adopted.
PERSONNEL HANDBOOK REVISION: Clerk Kennedy read the proposed handbook change below:
A. Health Insurance
1. Group medical insurance shall be provided to full-time employees.
2. Medical insurance (ACA Plan) will be offered to non-fulltime employees. Employees will cover 100% of the cost and are not eligible for the City buy down program.
3. The City may choose on a yearly basis to refund a portion of the deductible to the employees when the deductible has been met (buy down program).
4. The City may choose on a yearly basis to pay the actual costs (premium and/or a portion of the deductible) for an employee to have his/her family on a non-City policy. The employee can be paid up to a maximum of 70% of the City’s cost to have the employee and his/her family on the City policy.
Councilwoman Dumas felt all City employees needed to be on the City policy and not grandfathered in. No motion to change the grandfather status was made. On motion by Councilman Lorentz, second by Councilman Winkler to adopt the handbook revision due to III-A requirements as presented. Motion carried, Councilwoman Dumas voting no.
APPOINTMENT OF PETE LANE: Mayor Walker appointed Pete Lane to serve the remainder of Brian’s term. On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Peterson to approve Mayor Walker’s appointment of Pete Lane to fill the vacancy of Brian Lorentz. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
OATH OF OFFICE: At this time Councilmember Lane was sworn into office by Clerk Kennedy and the official oath was duly executed and filed. Lane was then presented with a Certificate of Appointment.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
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Bruce Walker – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk