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MINUTES
COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL August 8, 2018
ST. CROIX CONFERENCE ROOM
12800 RAVINE PARKWAY SOUTH
SPECIAL MEETING - 6:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a
special meeting on August 8, 2018, at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway.
Myron Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
The following were present: Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Steve Dennis,
Council Member Wayne Johnson, Council Member La Rae Mills, Council Member Dave
Thiede.
Also present were: Charlene Stevens, City Administrator; Rebecca Ahlvin, Management
Assistant, Aaron Sather, Administration Intern; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Cathy
Mohr, Assistant Finance Director; Greg Rinzel, Police Captain; Pete Koerner, Public
Safety Director; Zac Dockter; Parks and Recreation Director, Dennis Neitz; Events and
Operations Manager, Joe Fischbach; HR Manager/City Clerk, Les Burshten; Public
Works Director, Harry Taylor, Adam Moshier, Rick Alt, Eric Johnson, Tammy Anderson,
Quinn Palar, and Gary Orloff.
3. AGENDA ITEM
A. BUDGET WORKSHOP
Parks & Recreation Director Zac Dockter lead off the discussion by thanking the
council for all that they do and allowing all the personnel increases. Dockter stated
one budget addition of$2,000 to print park maps. Discussion on the Ice Arena
regarding the Chiller replacement. Zac stated that the plans are 50% complete, and
to keep in mind that 2019 revenues may decrease during the 6-9-month project, due
to a sheet of ice being out of commission. Dockter also stated there is a $75,000
budget addition for an Ice Re-surfacer. Council Member Thiede and Johnson
discussed the $100,000 budgeted capital outlay funds and both had different
thoughts and ideas regarding this amount budgeted.
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE • 12800 Ravine Parkway • Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016
www.cottage-grove.org • 651-458-2800 • Fax 651-458-2897 • Equal Opportunity Employer
Events and Operations Manager, Dennis Neitz discussed the $15,000 water filtration
system budget addition. Neitz discussed the new Bocce Ball courts installed,
upcoming Scotch and Cigar Event, also stating that events have increased, and that
there are event bookings through October. Neitz discussed the new POS system
"Tee Snap" and how well that is running. Neitz mentioned the Bev Cart expenses
are the lowest in operations but is one of the highest revenue producers. Also,
mentioned was they may have a Food Cart Service offered 10 times a year.
Public Works Foreman Gary Orloff, lead off by saying they used 3,000 tons of
asphalt and that asphalt prices are going up. Orloff had Forester, Quinn Palar,
update council regarding the 2 ash trees in the same location and that they have
been addressed and the situation has been fixed. Palar also mention Warner is
contracted to replace boulevard trees. Quinn also stated he found a new product,
which is water based rather than the oil-based product used in the past to prevent
the infestation. The water-based product works twice as fast and is twice as
effective.
Foreman Orloff discussed Storm Water, stating that sewer repairs went from 40 last
year to 3 this year. He attributed that to better preventative maintenance throughout
the year.
Public Works Director, Les Burshten stated that sealcoating should be completed
every 2 years and we rather not wait 3 years. Mayor Bailey also stated a concern
with helping other cities with their street maintenance. He responded by saying if
the other cities can't provide a better schedule and make planning decisions ahead
of time or be more prepared, that we should consider stopping our shared service.
Charlene Stevens will follow-up with the other cities City Administrators.
Mayor Bailey inquired about Cottage Grove's water, and how is the new water
filtration system working. Foreman Rick Alt responded by saying the MN
Department has come out to inspect and we are waiting for their results. Alt also
stated that normal days running on a new filtration system is an average of 245 days
and we are well over 300 days or more to date.
Foreman Rick Alt mentioned Street Lights and that repairs only take place when
incidents happen. Mayor Bailey stated he wants public works to replace all lights
completely from 80t" to Ideal.
Shop Foremen Eric Johnson, discussed replacement of shelving, a hydraulic press
and would like to eliminate the cities hazardous waste license for $350.00/year. By
installing a parts washer that uses soap instead of solvent. He also stated they will
putting in for a budget addition in 2020 for one more mechanic.
HR Manager/City Clerk, Joe Fischbach, went through all personnel budget addition
items, which included an Engineering Intern, Seasonal Code Enforcement, Police
Captain reclass, and an IT Specialist for 2019 and an additional Public Service
worker in Parks and Facilities and a fourth mechanic for 2020.
Management Analyst, Adam Moshier presented the Equipment Replacement fund
with requests for new and replacement vehicles and equipment from city hall,
streets, snowplowing, parks and public works. Moshier proposed repairs can be
made to the existing tandem dump truck and keep it in the fleet and then would ask
for the 2020 request for a new Tandem Dump Truck in 2019. Council did
recommend purchasing the 2020 tandem dump truck request in 2019.
Captain, Greg Rinzel discussed the Radio replacement request to be stretched out
over a 6-year time frame to ease the cost of replacement to $75,000 per year verses
a lump sum of$450,000 all at once.
Finance Director Roland explained the next step in the process was a Facebook
Live presentation to take place August 22, 2018, and after that, the consideration of
the preliminary 2019 tax levy at the first council meeting in September.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Council Member Dave Thiede, second by Council Member La Rae
Mills, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Minutes prepared by Cathy Mohr.