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AT THE MOVIES:  (check www.dellstheatre.com for showtimes)Movie-with-now-showing 2.jpg 

“WE BOUGHT A ZOO”: This family comedy-adventure is based on the amazing true story of a young family, a broken down zoo, and the wild animals that changed their lives forever. The movie is based on the true story about a single dad who decides his family needs a fresh start, so he and his two children move to the most unlikely of places: a zoo.  With the help of an eclectic staff, and with many misadventures along the way, the family works to return the dilapidated zoo to its former wonder and glory. “We Bought a Zoo” is held over through Thursday, February 9. 124 minutes. It is rated PG for language and some thematic elements.

 

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 City Council.jpgExerpts from the DELL RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES:   (complete City Council minutes can be seen at the following link: www.cityofdellrapids.org  Look under city government, go to agenda & minutes to view complete minutes of meetings).  The Dell Rapids City Council meets the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30pm at City Hall (302 E. 4th Street), unless otherwise posted. 

Monday, December 19, 2011

  • Mayor Fiegen called the Dell Rapids City Council regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers in City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and roll was taken.
  • Downs moved and Sommerfeld seconded the approval of the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Testerman moved and Downs seconded to approve the minutes of the regular council meeting held on December 5, 2011 with one correction. Agenda and minutes reflected Ordinance #757 and Ordinance #758 to address the terms of office of the mayor and council. They are contained within the city ordinance within one section and can be modified within one ordinance revision. Ordinance #758 will cease to exist and both term considerations will be contained within ordinance #757. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Downs moved and Lauritzen seconded to approve the claims as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Deposit and Investment Policies: Kerzman reported to the council that transfers between invested funds and pooled cash funds had been conducted through a sweep account. Since invested funds transferred to another bank, approvals should be secured for each transfer. Bank statements were presented to the finance committee to review.  Sommerfeld moved and Testerman seconded to approve the transfers. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Second Reading Ordinance #756 – Redistricting of Wards: The council discussed further the comparisons of the different maps that have been created to attempt to evenly split the city population. Wiebenga moved and DeLange seconded to approve map option three which does not displace any sitting council member and maintains the deviation recommendation between wards. Motion carried five to five.
  • Second Reading Ordinance #757 – Mayor & Alderpersons, Terms of Office: Wiebenga moved and Lauritzen seconded to approve the second reading. Motion carried six to six.  The City Council shall consist of the Mayor elected at large, who shall hold office for four years, and eight aldermen, two elected from each ward, who shall hold office for three years.
  • 15th Street Pay Request #7 to Winter Brothers Construction, $79,094.94: Trent Bruce of DGR was present to request the council approve payment # 7 to Winter Brothers in the amount of $79,094.94. Five percent retainage is still maintained for the completion of seeding and erosion control, school sign programming and man-hole clean out. Sommerfeld moved and Downs seconded to approve the pay request as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Statement of Substantial Completion – 15th Street: Trent Bruce requested the council approve the Statement of Substantial Completion for 15th Street project. Wiebenga moved and Testerman seconded to approve. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Fire & Rescue Station – Pay Request #12, Hoogendoorn Construction: Request received for payment of $42,811.03 which drops retainage on the project to two percent or $28,540.65. Items to be completed are adjustment on the overhead door and landscaping. Wiebenga moved and DeLange seconded to approve pay request #12 in the amount of $42,811.03 to Hoogendoorn Construction. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Transit Funding: Weiland presented the council with budget scenarios prepared by ICAP which is contracted by the city to operate the transit bus. Due to federal funding shortfalls and changes made within the local transit operation. The costs supported by the city are expected to increase substantially. Many cost saving ideas were presented to the council to consider. Consensus was for administration to continue as planned and implement measures as easily available.
  • Election: Staff recommendation to approve a joint election to be held with the Dell Rapids School District on April 10, 2012. Downs moved and Testerman seconded approval. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Council Work Session – Comprehensive Plan: Project lists and ranking of relevance and importance to each council member were conducted to be able to provide direction to city staff. The completion of 15th Street from Clarke to Garfield holds the number one priority for the council as a whole. The remaining projects and a timeframe will be incorporated into an update to the Comprehensive Plan.
  • Library expansion costs estimates have been calculated by S.E.H. and have been presented to the library board and council.
  • Internal snow removal policy was distributed and reviewed for any corrections or suggestions. None given.
  • January meeting dates will be Tuesday, January 3 and Tuesday, January 17th due to the Monday holidays.
  • Treasurers Report – A recap of all income and expenses, since the last meeting, were presented to the council for their review.
  • Sommerfeld moved and Downs seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

December 5, 2011

  • Mayor Fiegen called the Dell Rapids City Council regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers in City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and roll was taken.
  • Downs moved and Grovenburg seconded the approval of the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Downs moved and Testerman seconded to approve the minutes of the regular council meeting held on November 21, 2011. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Wiebenga moved and Paul seconded, to approve the minutes of the special meeting held on Wednesday, November 30, 2011. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Lauritzen moved and Grovenburg seconded to approve the claims as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Added or Increased Salaries: Public Works: Decker, Randy increase from $14.62 to $15.06 per hour; Fennicle, Les increase from $20.40 to $20.81 per hour; Fjellanger, Clarence increase from $22.91 to $23.37 per hour; Wildermuth, Paul increase from $16.20 to $16.69 per hour.  Water & Wastewater Billing: LeBrun, Diane increase from $16.66 to $16.99 per hour.  All increases are based upon performance reviews with increases effective as of the employee’s anniversary date.
  • Public Hearing – Liquor License Applications: All conditions have been met for the council to consider the applications of renewal for the following:  LAMB Properties, Dell Rapids Events Center, 309 W 4th Street; Municipal On/Off-Sale d/b/a Norby’s, 319 E 4th Street; Monkey’s, 313 Garfield Ave; Old Dutch Inn, 405 S Garfield Ave; The Grand Opera House, 425/427 E 4th Street. Downs moved and Lauritzen seconded to approve all applicants. Kerzman stated that there has been one violation at the Old Dutch for a sale to a minor. Motion carried unanimously to approve all applications.
  • Dells Bowl Liquor License Application: Application received from Pamela Kramer of RP Kramer LLC d/b/a Dells Bowl & Café for an on-sale liquor license. Kerzman interpreted the availability of another license due to the increase in the census numbers for Dell Rapids. After a conversation with the Department of Revenue, the license may be denied due to a change in the state law in how a grandfathered class Q or bottle club license is considered in the total allowed for the city limits. Upon the advice of attorney Hammer, Downs moved and Paul seconded to approve the application. Motion carried unanimously. The state will make the determination on the availability of another license.
  • First Reading Ordinance #756 – Designation of Wards: The council has been considering different options to redistrict the city. Each ward must not deviate from another in population by more than 8% and should attempt to not displace any existing council members. Weiland was able to produce another option that meets both standards. Lauritzen moved and Weibenga seconded to approve map option three. Motion carried unanimously.
  • First Reading Ordinance #757 – Mayor, Term of Office: Ordinance change will change the length of office for the mayor to go from two to four years after the current mayors term has expired in 2013. Downs moved and Testerman seconded to approve the first reading. Motion carried unanimously.
  • First Reading Ordinance #758 – Aldermen, Terms of Office: Ordinance change will change the length of alderperson term from two to three years to take effect after current terms have been served. Lauritzen moved and Downs seconded to approve. Motion carried unanimously.
  • 2011 Annual Report – Independent Audit Services: Kerzman has been researching for firms to assist in the compilation of the annual report. Benjamin Elliott of Independent Audit Services is located in Madison and has worked with Madison and Faulkton on their annual reports and/or audits. Cost of service is fixed at $3,500.00. Downs moved and Grovenburg seconded approval of the letter of engagement. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Contract Services – Professional Mailing and Marketing: A review was conducted of the costs associated with the city printing and mailing bills or outsourcing to another firm. Quote received from Professional Mailing and Marketing reflects a cost saving compared to the costs the city is currently experiencing. Paul moved and Lauritzen seconded to enter into a one-year contract with Professional Mailing and Marketing. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Ice skating rink is established.
  • Joint meeting with Minnehaha County to be held on January 10, 2012 to discuss height restrictions within the joint jurisdictional area.
  • Personnel – evaluations were conducted for five employees and merit raises were recommended between 2-3% for each.
  • Fire & Rescue Facility – A pump gasket broke and caused a leak of glycol that reached the carpeted flooring of the meeting room. Rick Plumbing is addressing the cleaning and repairing. S.E.H. is also reviewing.
  • Rib Dinner with your Legislators to be held February 7-8 in Pierre at the Kings Inn & Convention Center.
  • Treasurers Report – A recap of all income and expenses, since the last meeting, were presented to the council for their review.
  • Paul moved and Downs seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:28pm.
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