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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNov 4, 1971p. 160 OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS Special Meeting November 4, 1971 The meeting was called to order at 7:16 p.m. Roll Call: Land, Heintz, Jeska, Logacz, Nawrocki - present. Resolution Canvassing Municipal General Election Returns. The Resolution was offered by Logacz, seconded by Jeska, WHEREAS, the City of Columbia Heights, did on the 2nd day of ~lovember, 1971 conduct and hold a General Municipal Election for the purpose of electing a Mayor and two Councilmen, and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights at a meeting of said Council held on the 4th day of :~ovember, 1971 did canvass the returns and results of said General Municipal Election; and WHEREAS, the following results were determined by said canvass of said General Municipal Election, to- wit: Valid Ballots Cast and Counted for Mayor Defective Ballots not Counted for Mayor Total Ballots Cast for Mayor Valid Votes Cast and Counted for Council Defective Votes not Counted for Council Total Votes Cast for Council Valid Ballots Cast and Counted for Council Defective Ballots not Counted for Council Total Ballots Cast for Council Votes for Mayor Robert King ........... 1,097 Bruce G. Nawrocki ........ 2,451 3,548 40 3,588 6,789 387 7,176 3,394 194 3,588 Votes For Councilmen William Land ........... 2,085 Walter Logacz .......... 1,815 Gayle Norberg .......... ],863 Lynette Thomson ......... ],026 p. 161 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights, that Bruce G. Nawrocki is hereby elected Mayor, and William Land and Gayle Norberg are hereby elected Councilmen assuming said offices on January 1, 1972 and being officially seated at the first regular meeting of theCity Council in 1972. Roll Call - All Ayes. Consideration of Bids on Punch Card Voting Devices. A representative from Computer Election Systems, and several election judges were present to report the success of the two municipal elections held this fall with the use of punch card voting machines. Several questions were raised on the possibility of bending, chipping or tearing ballots cards, and the effects of humidity. The City Manager requested authorization to ~ll for bids on this type of equipment before the end of the year so it can come under the 1971 budget. He said the specifications would be written So ~e machines used during the election ~ould be bid. The City Attorney recommended two items: 1. That the specs would not be written as to exclude any other competitor of this process. 2. In the specs indicate new or reconditioned machines, but on reconditioned machines indicate age which it was manufactured, amount of use machine has had, location where machine was used, and if any reconditioning has been done. It was recommended the City Attorney be consulted when the specifications are written. Motion by Jeska, seconded by Heintz that the City Manager be authorized to advertise for bids on punch card voting machines, bids to be opened December 13, 1971 at 8:00 p.m. Roll Call - All Ayes. Bids on Pick-up Truck for Park Department. It was reported at the last meeting, two bids were received on a 1/2 ton pick-up with plow for use in the Park Department. The bid from Brooklyn American did not include the required bid security. The City Attorney said it was his opinion it is not proper to accept a bid without a bid bond. Therefore, the bid from Brooklyn America could not be considered. Motion by Land, seconded by Heintz that the bid be awarded to Park Gopher Jeep, Inc., in the amount of $3,649.00 which includes a trade-in of the used 1963 Jeep. Roll Call - All Ayes. p. 162 Resolution Establishing Utility Rates. The City Manager presented a Resolution establishing new rates on sewer service, water and garbage. He said the Resolution is based on bills received from the Metro Sewer Board and the City of Minneapolis for sewer and water service and reflects the increased costs on garbage service as per bids received on a new contract. He also presented data on senior citizen rates as requested at the last meeting. The resolution setting rates on garbage service, sewage disposal and water supply in the City of Columbia Heights was read. Offered by Jeska, seconded by Heintz. BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights, that WHEREAS, in accordance with the rate increases to be paid by the City of Columbia Heights to the Metropolitan Sewer District, the Minneapolis Water Department and Modern Services garbage contractorthe following rates shall be put in effect as of November 15, 1971 on all billings rendered thereafter: 1. Garbage Service: Private residences and each additional dwelling unit in 2 and 3 family building ................... $2.80/mo./un. Vat Service: Standard one yard vat: Picked up once per week ............ 15.00/mo. Picked up twice per week ........... 23.00/mo. Picked up three times per week ........ 31.O0/mo. Picked up five times per week ......... 47.00/mo. Two standard one yard vats: Picked up once per week ............ 24.00/mo. Picked up twice per week ........... 37.00/mo. Picked up three times per week ........ 50.O0/mo. Four Cubic Yard Vats: Picked up once per week ............ 31.O0/mo. Picked up twice per week ........... 48.50/mo. Picked up three times per week ........ 67.25/mo. Picked up four times per week ......... 86.00/mo. For any new service added or an old service discontinued, there will be a $1.00 clerical cost billed to the dwelling. p. 153 2. Sewer Disposal: The sewer disposal charge shall be $2.90 per month per family unit. The rate for commercial - industrial users shall be based on water consumption as follows: 27¢ per 100 cu. ft. first 300,000 cu. ft. 16¢ per 100 cu. ft. next 600,000 cu. ft. 12¢ per 100 cu. ft. over 900,000 cu. ft. Water Supply Rates: Water rates shall be set at $4.50 per quarter minimum bill for the first 600 cubic feet or less and 50¢ per hundred cubic feet additional water used. For water users outside the City of Columbia Heights, the minimum quarterly bill shall be $4.80 for the first 600 cubic feet or less and 55¢ per hundred cubic feet for ~dditional water used. 4. Senior Citizen Rates: For low income residents over 62 years of age and a maximum household income of less than $3,500 per year: Garbage Service: Sewer Disposal Minimum Water use $1 . O0/mo. 2.00/mo. 1 . OO/mo. $3.00/quarter 6.00/quarter 3.00/quarter BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all the foregoing rates are made in order to meet the additional charges levied to the City of Columbia Heights for these respective services. Councilman Land said on the senior citizen rates he originally asked for $4000 as the maximum income and he would like to see the sewer rate for senior citizens lowered to $1.00 per month. He said just because they are over 62 years old does not mean they don't want to drive a car, take a vacation and so forth. Mayor Nawrocki said the rates for garbage service will increase 50¢ per month from $2.25 to $2.80 per month based on the bids we have taken and the extra 5¢ will apply to keeping the senior citizen rates down. The minimum water rate will be $4.50 per quarter, which reflects an increase in cc~t of water which we purchase from the City of Minneapolis, a 20% increase for the coming year. The sewage disposal charge would be $2.90 per month vs. $2.75 presently, or an increase of 15¢ per month. The senior citizens who qualify are getting no increase even though the rates are going up. p. 16~ Councilman Land said it goes back to feel lng sorry for the senior citizen and now we get a chance to help them and we are not taking it. Motion by Land, seconded by Logacz to amend the Resolution to increase the sewage disposal charge from the proposed $2.90 to $2.95 per month for single family unit and reduce the charge for senior citizens from $2.00 to $1.00 per month. Councilman Jeska said he recognizes there are lots of senior citizens having problems making ends meet but we also have people living in our community who are not senior citizens we are having just as hard a time. Mayor Nawrocki said when the Metro Sewer Board was considering their 1972 budget and the question of rate increase, he did not see anyone else from Columbia Heigl]~s there protesting the increase. Roll Call on Amendment: L~and - Aye. Heintz, Jeska, L~)~=z, Nawrocki - Nay. Defeated. Roll Call on Resolution: Ayes. Land - Nay. Adopted. Heintz, Jeska, L-o~j~'z, Nawrocki - Councilman Land said he voted Nay because he doesn't think the Council is doing enough for the senior citizens. Park Construction Blasting Permit. Residents from the Main Street area were present as were representatives from Park Construction, Barton Contracting and Twin City Testing for a d'iscussion on the Park Construction Blasting Permit. The City Manager reported on the effects of reducing the blasting to 1/3 of the amount of charge. He reported on the blasting t.hat was conducted the past week, the amount of explosive used, and seismograph readings which were recorded, tie said he was very upset when he discovered four shots were set off one day this week and they went over the 1200 lbs. limit on shooting each and every day since the last meeting except today. Residents present voiced concern over protection from damages and if their claims for ~mage would be followed through. They also questioned the truck traffic, crushing and use of sc rapers . On inspections, Councilman Jeska said we defined boundaries where inspections were to be made. These inspections should have been made in each and every home. If the inspection p. 165 was made without written comments, it is worthless. Motion by Jeska, seconded by Heintz that the blasting permit of Park ~Construction Company be revoked until further action of the Council and in the meantime individual inspections of all buildings defined within the boundaries of earlier meetings be made inside and outside and that the inspection report be signed by the building owner and the insurance company and a copy of this report shall be filed with the City of Columbia Heights. The City of F~dley shall also be asked to revoke their permit until this has been complied with. At the time the inspection is made the building owner shall report to the inspector the damage that has occurred to the building since the blasting began and that this information be included upon the report. Further, that when any blasting permit is issued appropriate standards be included to protect all building owners. Following are some of the reasons for the revocation: A. All buildings have not been inspected for damage. B o The damage to buildings has occurred and has not been reported nor acted upon. C o That the amount of cha~e included in the blasts has been excessive according to the Council's verbal instructions. Do That the blasts have occurred outside the time limits as specified by the Council . That the number of blasts exceeded those numbers permitted by the Council. That the seismograph readings exceeded the .3 level as authorized by the Council. Roll Call - All Ayes. Mayor Nawrocki said this action is to revoke the permit. If Park Construction re-applies for a new permit, the conditions of the blasting will be discussed and set in the permit if so granted. K-Mart Proposal. The City Manager reported K-Mart submitted an appeal of the Planning Commission denial of their building permit. A lengthy ~tiscussion was held on the Planning Commission and Traffic Commission meetings with K-Mart. A traffic study by Barton- Ashmun was brought forward. It was suggested an informal meeting be held between representatives of K-Mart, the School Board, Traffic Commission and City Council members before the next regular City Council meeting to discuss some of the items of concern. p. 166 Community Project of J~ycees. Mayor Nawrocki reported the Jaycees have $3,000 they would like to use for a community project - something in the line of a lasting improvement. He asked for suggestions the Council might have on such a project. Motion by Jeska, seconded by Logacz to adjourn at 11:47 p.m. Roll Call - All Ayes. Secretary to the Council