The meeting was called to order by Mayor Daniel Imdieke on Monday, December 6, 2021 at 5:00 pm. Upon roll call, the following council members were present: Shelly Hauge, Randall Meidinger, Wayne Ehley, Travis Dockter. Absent: Jon Ptacek, Dennis Morris. Also present: City Attorney Joe Hanson, City Administrator Sharon Jangula, Director of Public Works Virgil Hulm, Deputy City Auditor Joy Bosch.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Teresa McCormick addressed the council regarding phone calls and complaints that she has received about a barking dog.
At this time, Dennis Morris arrived at the meeting and Jon Ptacek joined the meeting via conference call.
Discussion was held on the sidewalk variance request from Troy & Shari Scherr which had been denied during the October 4, 2021 meeting by a 4-2 vote. After further discussion, a motion was made by Randall Meidinger, second by Wayne Ehley to grant the variance with the stipulation that a sidewalk must be built if the property owner to the north builds a sidewalk in the future. Voting aye: Randall Meidinger, Wayne Ehley, Travis Dockter, Dennis Morris. Voting nay: Jon Ptacek, Shelly Hauge. Motion carried 4-2.
The proposed City of Linton Renaissance Zone (RZ) Development Plan was presented by Sharon Jangula who also serves as the LIDC Development Coordinator. She said The LIDC has been working on the plan since the council approved the development of a RZ plan at the August 2, 2021 City Council meeting. She said some of the goals of the plan are downtown revitalization, commercial development and housing rehab. A summary of the project types and incentives was also presented. After questions, comments and discussion, a motion to approve a Resolution for the Establishment of a Renaissance Zone in the City of Linton was made by Wayne Ehley, second by Jon Ptacek. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
Discussion was held on the boundaries of the three wards within the city. Based on the 2020 Census, the current population in each ward is as follows: Ward I–430, Ward II–376, Ward III–265. Options to change the boundaries based on more even distribution of population were discussed at the November 1, 2021. These options included keeping three wards or reducing the number of wards to two. Maps with the different ward boundary options had also been presented to the council. After discussion, a motion to retain three wards with the boundaries being as outlined on the map presented at the meeting was made by Wayne Ehley, second by Shelly Hauge. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried. Population by proposed wards will be as follows: Ward I – 353, Ward II – 363, Ward 3 – 355.
Discussion was also held on voting at-large or voting within your respective ward only. Currently, residents vote only for the candidates seeking election within their ward. Voting at large would enable residents to vote for all candidate seeking election within the city. After discussion, a motion that each ward be represented by two council members and each council member must reside in the ward they represent, but those council members shall be elected at-large was made by Jon Ptacek, second by Randall Meidinger. Voting aye: Shelly Hauge, Randall Meidinger, Jon Ptacek, Wayne Ehley, Travis Dockter. Voting nay: Dennis Morris.
Jon Ptacek left the meeting at this time.
A motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 21-12-1 Establishing and Describing the Boundaries of the Wards of the City of Linton and to published the proposed ordinance in the Emmons County Record for four weeks was made by Randall Meidinger, second by Travis Dockter, Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
A motion to approve Building Permit Application 21-762 Al & Pam Hulm–remodel basement bathroom was made by Travis Dockter, second by Shelly Hauge. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
A motion to approve the November 1, 2021 City Council Meeting Minutes was made by Randall Meidinger, second by Shelly Hauge. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
A motion to approve the November 2021 Monthly Financial Reports was made by Wayne Ehley, second by Dennis Morris. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
A motion to approve the payments was made by Shelly Hauge, second by Travis Dockter. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried. Ameritas $566.72; Auto Value Parts Store $36.99; Banyon Data Systems $1,590.00; BEK Communications $194.75; BEK Communications $96.49; BCBS $9,967.40; Cardmember Service $84.52; Core & Main LP $350.00; City of Bismarck $3,395.24; Dakota Sound Systems Inc $13,368.00; Dockter’s Welding & Machine $12.00; Emmons Co Record $233.60; Emmons Co Record $2.68; Emmons Co Record $48.00; Emmons Co Record $173.66; Emmons Co Sheriff’s Dept. $3,333.33; Fireside Office Solutions $35.65; IRS $6,724.99; Jack’s Electric & Trenching $362.90; Joseph Hanson $750.00; KEM Electric Cooperative $156.62; KEM Electric Cooperative $204.39; Linton Auto Parts $7.36; Linton Chamber of Commerce $70.00; Linton Concrete $173.00; Marilyn Lawler $35.00; Magrum Excavating $3,865.00; MDU $2,742.76; ND Health-Microbiology $32.00; ND Dept of Transportation-Motor Vehicle Div. $20.00; Nodak True Value $517.44; Nodak True Value $77.62; ND PERS $4,721.59; Northern Veterinary Service $203.00; Patriot Fuels $327.82; Payroll $25,648.44; Prairie Winds Construction $8,100.00; Riteway Business Forms $580.61; R&K Equipment Inc $90.44; Roll-On Tire Center $194.00; Sanitation Products Inc $8,233.98; Sayler Implement Inc $65.64; Sayler Implement Inc $146.63; South Central Regional Water $6,140.00; USPS $213.60; Verizon Wireless $24.87; Verizon Wireless $24.87; Wasteco Supply $980.00.
Discussion was held on the sewer rates. At the October 4, 2021 meeting, Randall Meidinger said the Water/Sewer Committee (Meidinger & Morris) had met and will be recommending a $2.00 sewer rate increase to cover the increased costs in expenses. He asked the council to consider it and he would bring the recommendation to a future meeting. After discussion, a motion to approve a $2.00 increase from $3.00 to $5.00 on the sewer system improvements rate effective on the January 2022 billing was made by Randall Meidinger, second by Dennis Morris. Voting aye: Randall Meidinger, Dennis Morris. Voting nay: Shelly Hauge, Wayne Ehley, Travis Dockter.
Sharon Jangula reported that there was an inquiry on the purchase price of two city-owned lots along 6th and 7th Streets. She said in 2018, the council had established a selling price for each lot at $1.00 plus remaining specials assessments with the stipulation a house must be built within a year. There was general consensus from the council that the offer to sell with those conditions is still valid.
Sharon Jangula informed the council that the current equipment being used for reading water meters is considered obsolete and will no longer be supported by Ferguson Waterworks. The cost to upgrade the equipment is $5,500 if purchased by the end of this year. The cost will increase to $7,500 on January 1, 2022. A motion to upgrade the equipment at a cost of $5,500 was made by Dennis Morris, second by Wayne Ehley. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
The council was provided with 2022 election information and the LIDC October & November meeting minutes and November balance sheet.
The next regular meeting will be held on January 3, 2022 at 5:00 pm.
A motion to adjourn was made by Shelly Hauge, second by Wayne Ehley. Meeting adjourned.
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