The meeting was called to order by Mayor Daniel Imdieke on Monday, April 7, 2025 at 5:00 pm. Upon roll call, the following council members were present: James Gartner, Brian Jacob, Randall Meidinger, Wayne Ehley, Travis Dockter, Eric Schmidt. Also Present: City Attorney Joseph Hanson, Public Works Director Tyler Gross, City Administrator/Auditor Sharon Jangula.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
A motion to approve the March 3, 2025 Meeting Minutes was made by James Gartner, seconded by Travis Dockter. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
AJ Tuck, Moore Engineering, informed the council a pre-construction meeting for the 24-1 Street Project had been held earlier in the day. The project is scheduled to start on May 1st and be completed by September 13th. He said the Special Assessment Committee has started working on the assessment process.
Tana Werner, owner of Linton Liquors, addressed the council regarding the placement of a fence around the outdoor bar area of her business. She said the fence would be a high solid wood fence and she presented a diagram of the location of the fence. During discussion it was noted that she must submit a building permit to build the fence and the fence must be completed before any other activity takes place in the outdoor bar area. A motion to approve building a wooden fence for a cost less than $10,000 was made by Brian Jacob, seconded by James Gartner. Unanimous aye vote.
A motion to approve the Building Permit Applications was made by Travis Dockter, seconded by Wayne Ehley. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried. Building Permit Applications: 25-10 Shelly Hauge-kitchen remodel; 25-11 Bona Schmelzer-bathroom remodel; 25-12 Gerit & Twila Van Boven-replace window; 25-13 Jerome Grossman-change siding, repair steps; 25-14 Debbie Weber-deck repair; extend existing fence; 25-15 Steve Schmidt-place Conex box on north side of business.
A motion to approve Gaming Permit Applications was made by Brian Jacob, seconded by Wayne Ehley. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried. Gaming Permit Applications: 25-04 American Legion Dan R. Richardson Post #54 – raffle 5/31/2025; 25-05 Emmons County 4-H Council – raffle 7/8/25.
A motion to approve Special Event Permits allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages was made by James Gartner, seconded by Brian Jacob. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried. Special Event Permits: Happy Hour Bar at the Linton Civic Center on May 3, 2025 for a wedding reception; Happy Hour Bar at the Linton Civic Center on May 10, 2025 for the VFLO Annual Banquet.
A motion to approve the March 2025 Monthly Financial Report was made by Wayne Ehley, seconded by Travis Dockter. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
A motion to approve the payment of bills was made by James Gartner, seconded by Wayne Ehley. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried. Ameritas-dental insurance $501.64; Auto Value-supplies $99.70; Banyon Data Systems-software support $195.00; BEK Communications-telephone, internet $373.12; City of Bismarck-landfill fees $3,195.40; Craig Kitzan-maintenance $910.00; Cole Paper Inc.-supplies $634.07; Curtis Rud Oil-propane $273.78; Elan Financial Services-credit card payment $37.81; Emmons County Record-publishing & receipt books $460.41; Ferguson Waterworks-supplies $241.55; Fireside Office Solutions-office supplies $43.60; IRS-payroll taxes $9,054.34; Joseph Hanson-attorney fees $1,380.00; KEM– electricity $289.27 & $269.68; Linton Auto Parts-supplies $812.03; Linton Floral N More-funeral arrangement $50.00; Martin Oil- #2 clear diesel $1,735.22; Magrum Excavating-labor & mileage $350.00; MDU-power bill $4,591.24; ND PERS-Mar pension $6,306.59; NDPHIT-employee insurance-$6,541.52; ND Health Lab-Chemistry-water testing $183.52; ND Health Lab-Microbiology-water testing $54.00 & $54.00; Nodak True Value-supplies $427.77; Patriot Fuels-unleaded $323.20; Petty cash reimbursement- $117.91; Payroll $37,274.20; Riteway Business Forms-utility postcards $644.93; Sanitation Products-parts $93.59 & $1,402.13; Sayler Implement-repairs $2,434.39; SCWD-water $5,733.00; USDA Rural Development-13-1 water project loan 91-01 payment $32,624.73; USDA Rural Development-13-1 water project loan 91-03 payment $49,502.38; USDA Rural Development-13-1 water project loan 91-05 payment $17,539.16; USPS-postage utility postcards $248.08; Verizon Wireless-cellphone & I-pad plan $70.37 & $70.37; Wald, Tobie-labor $540.00; Workforce Safety & Insurance-workers compensation tax $2,249.06.
Tax Equalization was held at 5:30 pm. Christina Seppanen, Emmons County Tax Equalization Director presented the council with information relevant to the tax equalization process.
The commercial and residential sales for 2024 were reviewed. Tax Director Seppanen noted current valuations are low based on the sales.
Tax Director Seppanen provided a listing of all properties within the city. The listing contained the prior year and current year valuation for each property. Valuations presented showed an increase of $4,384,300 bringing the total valuation for all property within the city to $62,793,200. No one in attendance requested a correction to the valuation or assessment of their property. After discussion, a motion to approve the valuations as presented was made by Randall Meidinger, seconded by Eric Schmidt. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
Tax Director Seppanen informed the council the Sunrise Mobile Home and RV Park is valued for more lots than is currently licensed by the state. Seppanen recommended a vacancy obsolescence be applied to the mobile home portion of the property. After discussion, a motion to approve a 30% vacancy obsolesce was made by Brian Jacob, seconded by Wayne Ehley. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried. The Tax Equalization portion of the meeting was concluded at this time.
Discussion was held on purchasing a 10-yard dumpster for the grass-pit site at an approximate cost of $2,000. Tyler Gross said the dumpster would be for residents of the city to have a place to put occasional excess garbage that does not fit in their totes. A motion to approve the purchase of the dumpster was made by James Gartner, seconded by Brian Jacob. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
Discussion was held on installing a storm water inlet on the west side of Broadway Street between Hickory and Sampson Avenue at an estimated cost of $30,000. A motion to approve the installation of the inlet was made by Randall Meidinger, seconded by Brian Jacob. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
Craig Kitzan addressed the council regarding maintenance needs at the Linton Civic Center. He said a water leak had been detected in the men’s bathroom and it was determined the water line was leaking underground. A proposal was received from Magrum Excavating and Plumbing to disconnect the existing waterline and install a new waterline overhead, reconnect fixtures, and repipe waterlines to the kitchen and water heater. The proposal for $10,950.00 includes labor and materials. A motion to accept the proposal was made by Wayne Ehley, seconded by James Gartner. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
Kitzan also informed the council that there is no finish left on areas of the civic center floor. He presented quotes to refinish the floor. After discussion, a motion to accept a quote from Cole Papers Inc. in the amount of $3,843.96 to clean and abrade the floor and apply two finish coats was made by James Gartner, seconded by Brian Jacob. Unanimous aye vote.
There was also discussion on allowing service animals in the hall. There was general consensus that only documented service animals will be allowed in the Linton Civic Center.
Sharon Jangula informed the council that two non-profits have inquired if the Civic Center will be rented at a discount to non-profits. After discussion, a motion to approve hall rental at a 50% discount for non-profits with no discount allowed for kitchen rental was made by Brian Jacob, seconded by Eric Schmidt. Unanimous aye vote; motion carried.
The council was informed the Chamber of Commerce Emmons County AG Day Celebration will be held on June 13, 2025. The Chamber has requested the following street closures with barricades: Broadway from Sampson Ave. to Walnut Ave; Hickory Ave. from the alley west of Broadway to the alley east of Broadway; reduce the barricaded area after the cornhole tournament to Broadway from Hickory Ave. to Walnut Ave. and Hickory Ave. from the alley west of Broadway to the alley east of Broadway. There was general consensus to allow the street closures as requested.
The Chamber of Commerce also requested a variance allowing consumption of alcoholic beverages in the barricaded areas during the event. A motion to allow the variance was made by Randall Meidinger, seconded by James Gartner. Unanimous aye vote.
The council was provided copies of the LIDC Balance Sheet as of 02/28/2025 and minutes of the 02/12/2025 LIDC Board of Directors Meeting.
The next regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 5:00 pm.
City-wide Spring Cleanup will be held Monday & Tuesday, May 5th & 6th.
A motion to adjourn was made by James Gartner. Meeting adjourned.
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