05-21-2018

Groton City

May 21, 2018

General Meeting

May 21, 2018

The Groton City Council met on the above date at 7:00pm at the Community Center for their second monthly meeting with the following members present: Peterson, McGannon, Babcock, Glover, Blackmun and Mayor Hanlon presiding.  Also present were: Attorney Drew Johnson, Finance Officer Hope Block, Kathy Sundermeyer, Paul Kosel, Mike Nehls, Eddy Nehls, and Topper Tastad.

Moved by Peterson and seconded by Glover to approve the Retail (on-off sale) Malt Beverage License for Dollar General Store # 17565. All members present voted aye. 

Topper Tastad requested the Council rescind the motion to demolish the City Jail.  He would like to maintain and repair the Jail for the Groton Community, and the Groton Community Historical Society would pay for the repairs.  Several emails were presented in favor of saving the Jail, and Eddy Nehls explained that the Jail is like a part of his family.  Mike Nehls added that he would like to save the Jail because of the historical significance it has for the Groton Community.  Several concerns were voiced.  

Moved by Babcock and seconded by Peterson to rescind the previous motion to demolish the City Jail under the conditions that it is repaired by September 30, 2018.  McGannon voted aye, and Blackmun and Glover voted nay.  Motion was carried.

Karla Pasteur, Kami Lipp and Brenda Madsen entered the meeting at 7:34pm.

Topper also explained that the City Park needs power for food vendors for events.  Between the Lions Club and the Legion there is about $3000 that can be donated for new electrical equipment in the Park if the City employees would install it.

Moved by Glover and seconded by Babcock to approve the new electrical equipment in the City Park by donation from the Lions Club and the Legion.  All members present voted aye.

The Lions Club is also willing to help fund a new handicapped bathroom in the City Park. 

Topper voiced concerns regarding striping parking spots on Main Street. City employees will be striping Main Street this year.

At 7:51pm Topper, Eddy and Mike left the meeting.

Moved by Glover and seconded by Babcock to adjourn into executive session for personnel and legal items 1-25-2 (1) & (3) at 7:52 pm. All members present voted aye. Council reconvened into regular session at 8:35pm.

Moved by Glover and seconded by Babcock to accept the Pool Manager notes with swimming pool open dates and prices. All members present voted aye.

McGannon presented a proposed Swimming Pool Shelter with prices from contractors.  Moved by Glover and seconded by Blackmun to table the Pool Shelter proposal. All members present voted aye.

At 8:44 Babcock, Lipp, Madsen and Pasteur left the meeting.

Moved by McGannon and seconded by Blackmun to approve Summer Fest in the City Park July 22, 2018.  All members present voted aye.

Moved by Peterson and seconded by Glover to table the approval for Pumpkin Fest.  All members present voted aye.

The minutes were approved as read on a motion by Glover and seconded by McGannon.  All members present voted aye.

Moved by McGannon and seconded by Peterson to authorize the following bills for payment.  All members present voted aye.

Payroll, $19,600.51, Employee salaries; Administrative, $2,977.71; Public Safety, $6,258.01; Public Works, $10,364.79; First State Bank, $6,711.52, SS and WH; First State Bank, $250.38, HSA contributions; Dakotaland FCU, $950.00, Employee savings; April Abeln, $191.59, Dep & med flex; Branden Abeln, $82.00, Personal phone use, travel meals; Hope Block, $27.40, Nefog mtg mileage, travel meal; Chris Campbell, $159.56, Utility deposit refund; Chase Visa, $2,738.94, CC vacuum, cleaning supplies, chemicals, 4 benches (reimbursed by donation), postage, library books, bucket truck welding, ear plugs, hearing protectors; City of Groton, $542.81, Transit utilities, deposit refunds, postage; Emblem Enterprises, $284.35, Patches for PD; Graham Tire, $266.04, Tires for patrol vehicle; Groton Ford, $244.35, Replace patrol vehicle battery; Terry Herron, $521.98, Travel meals, med flex; Paul Kosel, $60.00, Person phone use - 3/18, 4/18, 5/18; Doug Kriech, $119.12, Utility deposit refund; Shawn Lambertz, $303.46, Mileage 2 Heartland meetings, travel meal; SD Govt Finance Assn, $140.00, FO School Registration fee Drew Johnson, 2018 dues; SD Govt HR Assn, $25.00, 2018 dues; SD Supp Retirement, $530.00, Employee retirement; Dan Sunne, $60.00, Personal phone use - 3/18, 4/18, 5/18; USPS, $197.05, Utility bill postage; SD State Treasurer, $10,296.53, Taxes 4/18; Heartland Waste, $6,776.79, Garbage hauling; Ameripride, $36.46, Rug rent; Blue Valley Public Safety, $621.69, Park siren battery charger; Bierschbach, $5,768.00, One week crack seal rental and sealant; James Valley, $510.44, Phones and internet; WAPA, $17,468.94, Power  4/18; Heartland,  $72,296.91, Power  4/18; SD Dept of Health, $218.00, Water testing; Wellmark, $14,041.62, Employee health insurance; Associated Supply, $8,218.43, Pool chemicals.

 Moved by Peterson and seconded by Glover to approve the finance report for April. All members present voted aye.

Moved by Blackmun and seconded by Glover to approve the following committee appointments:

All members present voted aye.

NECOG Representative: Peterson.

Planning and Zoning Representative: Blackmun

Committees:

Electric, Transit, Insect & Weed Control, Airport: Chairman McGannon, Co-Chairman Blackmun.

Water, Swimming Pool, Skating, Economic Development: Chairman Babcock, Co-Chairman Glover.

Streets, Baseball, Storm Drainage, Other Rec (Tennis, Basketball, Golf): Chairman Blackmun, Co-Chairman McGannon.

Wastewater, Cemetery, Civil Defense: Chairman McGannon, Co-Chairman Peterson.

Finance Office, Legal, Library, Insurance, General Admin, Elections, Code Enforcement: Chairman Peterson, Co-Chairman Babcock.

Solid Waste, Rubble Site, Parks, Forestry, Liquor: Chairman Glover, Co-Chairman Peterson.

Police: Chairman Blackmun, Co-Chairman Glover.

Jay Peterson will fill in as the co-chairman of solid waste, rubble site, parks, forestry and liquor with Burt Glover being the chairman. David McGannon will fill in as chairman of wastewater, cemetery, civil defense and community center with Peterson being the co-chairman. Burt Glover will fill in as co-chairman of police as David Blackmun is the chairman.  In the other departments, McGannon is chairman and Blackmun is co-chairman of electric, transit, insect and weed control and airport. Blackmun is chairman and McGannon is co-chairman of streets, baseball, storm drainage and other recreation. Peterson is chairman and Kayrn Babcock is co-chairman of finance office, legal, library, insurance, general administration, elections and code enforcement. Peterson is the council’s representative for the Northeast Council of Government and Blackmun is the representative for the planning and zoning commission.

Public comments:

Kosel asked the Council why the pool managers were in executive session.  Mayor Hanlon replied that the managers were in executive session for personnel reasons.

Moved by Glover and seconded by Blackmun to adjourn into executive session for personnel and legal items 1-25-2 (1) & (3) at 8:58 pm. All members present voted aye. Council reconvened into regular session at 9:18pm.

Moved by Glover and seconded by Blackmun to hire Dalton Locke for the Jr. Legion Baseball Coach.  All members present voted aye.

Moved by McGannon and seconded by Babcock to adjourn the meeting at 9:20pm.  All members present voted aye.

Scott Hanlon, Mayor

Hope Block, Finance Officer

Published once at the total approximate cost of $40.31. 15933