Bellechester City Council Meeting Minutes
September 18, 2024 @ 6:00 PM
Meeting is recorded, and the recordings belong to the City of Bellechester.
Pledge to the flag.
Roll call was taken: The council in attendance: Mayor Jody Gordon, Council people Mark Gerken, Kyle Blattner, and Rich Majerus as well as City Clerk Lisa Redepenning, Treasurer Kyle McKeown and City Engineer Matt Mohs. Council member Jered Buxengard was absent. Goodhue County Sheriff Deputy Sullivan was also present.
Minutes of August 21, 2024 regular meeting minutes were reviewed and motion was made by Kyle Blattner with a second by Mark Gerken to approve the minutes. Motion carried.
Bills were reviewed with a motion by Mark Gerken with a second by Rich Majerus to approve and pay the bills as presented. Motion carried.
Old Business:
• Update – Sewer Lining Project – 6 pipe repairs will need to be done. This will involve excavating. Subcontract met with Nolan regarding this. One manhole cover will need to be fixed. Excavating will hopefully to start the beginning of October. Several meetings have been taking place to come up with a plan to address these pipes that need repairing. No work is being done on personal property for this sewer project. Any work in residence homes is part of the water meter project. A change order will be done for the Church issues as well as a few individual properties that have been identified.
• Update – Water Meter Project – Calls have begun to residents to get appoints made for installs.
• RESOLUTION 2024.3 - Approve 2025 Preliminary Levy & 2025 Budget. Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Mark Gerken to Approve Resolution 2024.3 to set the 2025 preliminary levy at $70,000.
• Approve Goodhue County Police Contract – Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Mark Gerken to approve the GCSO as presented. Motion carried.
New business:
• 2024 Special Assessments – approve list for letters of consideration – 4 accounts were identified. Motion was made by Rich with a 2nd by Kyle Blattner to approve sending of warning letters. Motion carried.
• Water line going to the playground area – An estimate of $4000 was received to replace the current flushing hydrant and to add an additional yard hydrant by the playground shelter. Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a 2nd by Kyle Blattner to approve the purchase of this. Motion carried.
Engineer Report – See above.
Clerk Report – September, 2024
Police Contract – Please note that the Sheriff’s office changed it to year-around coverage.
The Sheriffs Office will no longer be offering the May to September policing contract that had been done in the past. The Sheriff wishes to have Bellechester and Dennison treated the same when it comes to policing contracts. Thank you for meeting with us after the board meeting today. After further discussion the Sheriff’s Office would be prepared to set a minimum of 3.5 hour per week, 182 hours per year. Dennison and Bellechester would both be given the same level of 3.5 hours per week. As discussed in our meeting the policing would not have set times the policing would be done, but our goal at the minimum would be to get a squad through town every day.
New Coverage increased to year around, 3.5 hours/week with rates decreasing to:
2025 - $71.03 per hour = $12,927
2026 - $79.80 per hour = $14,524
2027 - $89.61 per hour = $16,309
Original = 11 hours/week, May – September
2025: $87.70 per hour = $17,368
2026: $90.63 per hour = $17,950
2027: $93.68 per hour = $18,558
Anyone wishing for a ride along with our Patrol can contact Major Johnson mychal.johnson@goodhuecountymn.gov or 651-267-2655
Pool ordinances – I have an example enclosed to review. It will be on the October agenda.
October Meeting – I will not be at the meeting - FYI.
Grant Money – Response from Laurie @ RD when asked when we need to spend the funds was:
I wouldn't say we have a drop-dead date necessarily because we do try to allow some leeway. However, that being said, the National Office wants to see the funds spent within three years from the date of obligation and generally, we try to get the funds spent within 90 days, or so from the final payment on the last contract. Three years from the date of obligation would be 3/24/2025.
Payoff of Interim Loan – FYI instead of paying off the interim loan now, versus end of the project, I have notified RD that we will do so at the end of the project. We may need those interim loan funds (now $161,000) to pay for invoices as to not draw more funds from RD and go over the $750,000 in government funding in 1 year to trigger a mandatory $20,000 audit. The interest we are paying will be reimbursed and since we are within 6 months, we should wait to see if we need this money. If not, we will pay it back before the end of the year.
4th Quarter Utility Bills – will be mailed out September 23rd.
MMS check – FYI – it is 3 months total. A few invoices did not get to me.
Treasurer Report – See above
Water/Wastewater/Facility Report – Quarterly samples are done. Discharge will occur end of October. One well will have a new chemical to address occasional water color issues that have occurred in the past. Pumps are on order.
Mayor Concerns: None
Council Concerns:
Adjourn
Motion was made by Rich Majerus with a second by Jered Buxengard to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 7:21. Motion carried.
Submitted by Lisa Redepenning – City Clerk
