LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

PROCEEDINGS OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008, 6:00 PM, CITY HALL

The regular meeting of the Lowden City Council was called to order by Mayor Dan Hamdorf. Council members present on roll call: Conrad, Ryan, Olsen, Decker, Tucker. Visitors: Pat Kroemer, Gene Hamdorf, Cary Solberg, Keith Whitlatch, Dan Sinclair, Kevin Knoche, Rob Hunter and family.

M/S Conrad, Decker to approve the minutes of the 2-4-08 meeting. Ayes: All.

M/S Olsen, Decker to approve payment of the bills as presented. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Decker to close the meeting and open the Public Hearing on the City's proposed FY09 budget. Ayes: All.

There being no written or oral comments on the proposed FY09 budget, M/S Decker, Tucker to close the Public Hearing and open the meeting and pass Resolution #08-01 adopting the budget for FY09. Ayes: All.

Keith Whitlatch was present on behalf of the Lincoln Highway Association. They are interested in placing kiosks, information booths, in the four communities along Old Highway 30 in Cedar County. They are applying for a grant for the project from Community Foundation of Cedar County. At this time, he is asking only for support or approval from the City for the project. M/S Olsen, Ryan to support the efforts of the Lincoln Highway Association to place a kiosk in the Lowden community. Ayes: All.

Cary Solberg, MMS Consultants, presented information to the City Council about doing a study on the City's wastewater plant in anticipation of Lowden replacing its aging facility. The study would indicate viable options for a new facility and address issues of space, cost, maintainability, etc. The study would cost $9600. M/S Ryan, Tucker to have MMS Consultants do a study of the City's wastewater plant and options for the future. Ayes: All. City Clerk will also contact ECIA about applying for CDBG funding for a future wastewater plant project.

Dan Sinclair, Dakota Supply Group, presented information to the council on a new radio read system for reading water meters. There would be more accuracy in recording water usage and would detect water leaks or faulty meters. The cost of the handheld to read the meters is $9867. The cost to upgrade existing meters in town is $131.43 each. There are approximately 400 meters in Lowden. To totally replace a current meter would be $174.29/per household. The time spent reading meters would be greatly reduced and the City could then go to monthly billing. If the City decided to purchase this system, a $3.00/mo. meter fee could be added to monthly bills for 5 years to cover the cost of the meter upgrade. City Council will review the radio read meter proposal and place the issue on the April meeting agenda.

Five bids were received for summer mowing at Lowden Memorial Park. Bids were as follows: Joe Crock-$3900, Tim Drewelow-$3200, Nate Peden/Kelvin Lange-$3200, Jeff Goettsch-$3500, and Brian Boedeker-$3450. Motioned by Conrad to accept the low bid of $3200 from Tim Drewelow. Motion died for lack of a second. M/S Olsen, Decker to accept the $3500 bid from Jeff Goettsch for mowing at Lowden Memorial Park for the 2008 season. Ayes: Ryan, Olsen, Decker, Tucker. Nays: Conrad.

No bids were received for food stand manager at Lowden Memorial Park. Another ad will be run in the Sun-News and the item will be placed on the April 7 meeting agenda.

M/S Decker, Tucker to raise the hourly wage of Lucille Horman, City Hall cleaning person, from $10.50/hr. to $11.00/hr. effective 7/1/08. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Conrad to approve the monthly financial report. Ayes: All.

M/S Conrad, Olsen to approve the following permits: Good Times-Class C liquor license, pending dram certification, Two Friends-Class B Native Wine permit, and Corner Cafe-beer permit, pending dram certification. Ayes: All.

Mayor Hamdorf will speak to Bill Norton about removal of the old day care building before spring.

M/S Ryan, Olsen to adjourn at 8:13 PM. Ayes: All.

Next regular meeting is April 7, 2008, 7:00 PM.

Dan Hamdorf, Mayor
Peggy Kedley, City Clerk

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