CITY OF CLAREMONT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2024
7:00 P.M.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Claremont, Minnesota was held on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at Claremont City Hall.
Members present: Mayor Tasha Dahl, City Council Members: Jacob Klejeski, Krystal Sultze, Deb Ellis, and Ryan Hedberg. Council Members absent: None.
City staff and others present: Administrator Elizabeth Sorg, Maintenance Director Casey Dahl, City Attorney Mark Rahrick, City Engineer Derek Olinger, City Auditor Layne Kockelman, Ethan Reed, Donna Gregory, and SEMMCHRA Representative’s Sara Fuher and Patrick Michener.
AGENDA
Motion by Ellis to approve the agenda, second by Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC INPUT
Ethan Reed asked if the city council would entertain the idea of letting him use some city land for a food forest. A food forest is planted in a way that maximizes the yield of food while reducing maintenance needs and increases environmental benefits such as increased water retention, biodiversity and reducing soil erosion. Examples of the forest would consist of mushrooms, fruit trees, herbs, Jerusalem artichoke, which he had samples of, and other foods. He would help grow the food if the city had some land he could use such as along or around the walking trail or one of the housing lots that is currently not being used. The council said they want to research it a little more and think about where it would be best to put it. The council will discuss it again at the May meeting.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda consisted of: Minutes of the March 11, 2024 City Council Meeting and approve the automatic renewal of a CD. Motion by Sultze to approve the Consent Agenda, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Nothing at this time.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Motion by Ellis to approve the financial reports, second by Hedberg. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Klejeski to approve the amended list of bills to be paid, second by Hedberg. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE
Timothy Wolf applied to be a member of the fire department. Motion by Sultze to approve Timothy Wolf to the fire department, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
Since the fire department recently bought a newer truck, they will be selling the 1990 Spartan. Fire Chief Dahl reached out to the DNR and they mentioned Federal Dam is looking for a fire truck. The fire department discussed the value of it and recommended $3000. Federal Dam is a small town with a vast area to cover fires and they said they would buy it for $3000. A member of the fire department will drive it there and show them how to run it. Motion by Ellis to approve the sell of the truck to Federal Dam for $3000, second by Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE
Nothing at this time.
EDA
Nothing at this time.
MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT
Nothing at this time.
PARKS COMMITTEE
Dahl contacted Quaale Masonry to fix the existing basketball area and make a full-size court. Quaale Masonry quoted $4958 to fix the small basketball area in Henning Park and enlarge it to a full size court. Council would like to get 1 more quote. The park committee will set up a meeting to review the quotes before the next meeting.
Two quotes were received for dug outs at Claremont Field. The council had questions on the quotes and would like to get prices on the wood and roof part of the dug outs. The park committee will clear up the quotes when they have their meeting. They will also discuss some signs for the parks.
PEOPLESERVICE
Their monthly reports were in the packet.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
The lights in the hallway and front office were changed to LED. The total cost of the project was $437.50. A grant from Xcel will pay for approximately 60% of the cost.
Just a reminder to the council that the Local Board of Appeal is Monday, April 22 at 2 p.m.
CITY ATTORNEY
He drafted the extension agreement for Arden Homes. The council will review it for discussion or approval at the May meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
The City of Dodge Center sent an engagement letter terms and conditions for the Dodge County Ambulance Special Taxing District. It states that they hired Taft Stettinius & Hollister to represent the anticipated to be established DCA EMS special taxing district. Dodge Center will pay the fees which will be taken from the district levy to pay for the attorney, but in the event that the district is not established Dodge Center will pay the fees and may ask each city to contribute. Motion by Klejeski to approve the engagement letter, second by Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
Layne Kockelman with Abdo presented the 2023 audit. He did suggest that the water rates be reviewed as the water fund is in a deficit.
Motion by Ellis to open the public hearing for the SEMMCHRA Small Cities Development Program, second by Sultze. The program was scheduled to be closed in December, but they will be asking for an extension. Both Claremont and West Concord have 11 grants that they are working on. Hearing no other questions or comments, motion by Sultze to close the public hearing, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
Triton summer recreation requested financial support and use of Henning Park ballfield on Monday evenings for part of June and all of July. Should Claremont Field be ready for use by then, Sorg will notify them. Motion by Klejeski to contribute $500 to the program and the use of Henning Park ballfield, second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Sultze to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m., second by Ellis. Motion carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
________________________________ ____________________________________
Elizabeth Sorg, Administrator Tasha Dahl, Mayor
