Bellechester City Council Meeting Minutes
January 17, 2024 @ 6:00PM
Regular City Council Meeting was called to order by Mayor Jody Gordon at 6:00 p.m.
Pledge to the flag.
Roll call was taken: The council in attendance: Mayor Jody Gordon, Council people Rich Majerus, Kyle Blattner, Mark Gerken, Jered Buxengard as well as City Clerk Lisa Redepenning, Treasurer Kyle McKeown and Engineer Matt Mohs.
Minutes of December 20, 2023 regular meeting minutes were reviewed and motion was made by Jered Buxengard with a second by Rich Majerus to approve the minutes. Motion carried.
Bills were reviewed and a motion by Rich Majerus with a second by Mark Gerken to approve and pay the bills as presented. Motion carried.
Old Business:
• Sewer project – update progress- we have the approval to move forward to go out to bid. Wabasha county will be paving this summer. Matt checked with them so we can coordinate with them on our sewer lining project. Sewer laterals and televising will be done. Bids will go out for 3 weeks with selection and approval at February meeting. March hopefully contracts will be in place and if all good, we can start the project. Substantial completion date of mid-December. We have 1 area that needs to wait until fall harvest. Final completion date to be end of February, 2025. The contractor will be asked to have pre-televising work done by 5/10, if problems arise, 5/24.
• Water meter project – draft bid package is done. All reports from Rochester Plumbing were also included in the package. We hope to have to Rural Development next week for review. Extra meters will be included so we have spares. Any places we could not get into, we will ask they can try. The billing software, computer, printer and 1 year subscription will be included in the project that will go out to bid.
New business:
• Lining Project - Review and approve the plans and specifications and set the bid date. Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Kyle Blattner to approve the plans and specifications and authorizing the project be advertised 2/14 @ 10 and bid date as presented. Motion carried.
• Lining Project - Review and sign the Rural Development Guide 5. Motion was made by Jered Buxengard with a 2nd by Mark Gerken to approve and sign the Rural Development Guide. Motion carried.
• Committee Appointments for 2023 – set and approve. Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Mark Gerken to set the committee appointment as 2023 with attorney separation. Motion carried.
• Set Board of Equalization Date and Change April Meeting – approve. Motion was made by Mark Gerken with a 2nd by Jered Buxengard to set the Goodhue County Board of Equalization meeting and move the April council meeting to April 18th. Motion carried.
• 2023 Cash Reporting Final Report – approve. Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Kyle Blattner to approve the 2023 Cash Reporting Final as presented. Motion carried.
Engineer Report – Monthly progress meetings required and will be held during our Sewer Project Lining. Matt sent in a budget to the state on our lead service lines and water services as work orders will start to be sent by State of MN.
Clerk Report – LGA Received - $12478.50, as well as an additional $7702.00 that recipients must use the funds to provide public safety. Savings Account – FYI - 2023 Ending Balance is $42,400.62. We earned $212.78 in interest this year. Street Construction Loan Payment – Final payment this month! Lining Project – FYI - the bid date will be set for Wednesday, February 14, 2024. The bid opening will be at 10 AM at the Bolton & Menk office in Rochester. 2023 Committee Appointments – FYI ~ Acting Mayor: Mark Gerken; Ambulance: Rich Majerus; Bank: First Farmers & Merchants; Attorney: Gorman; Fire Association: Kyle Blattner/Jered Buxengard; Paper: News Record; City Engineer: Matt Mohs ~ Bolton & Menk, Inc. The only addition/change is to designate Goodhue County Attorney’s Office as our prosecuting attorney and Gorman our civil attorney. Goodhue County Board of Equalization Meeting date/April Council Meeting – The county has set our meeting for Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 4:30 pm at the Bellechester Community Center. The council meeting will start at 5:00. Wabasha county meeting with be held open book format, which means they contact the county directly. Quarterly/End of Year Filings – are completed. After approval of the year end report, I will submit items to state auditor.
Treasurer Report – Past due list was distributed.
Water/Wastewater/Facility Report – Weekly checks and quarterly samples are ongoing.
Mayor Concerns: Grants are opening up for Park projects. Lions are working on this.
Council Concerns: None
Adjourn
Motion was made by Kyle Blattner with a second by Jered Buxengard to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 6:51. Motion carried.
Submitted by Lisa Redepenning – City Clerk
Goodhue County Board of Equalization meeting for 2024 will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 4:30 pm at the Bellechester Community Center. The regular monthly city council meeting will be moved to this day also, immediately following.
