Lakefield public meetings in 2020
15 substantive meetings from 2020, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved a $3,000 donation from Hussong Manufacturing Inc. and Jim & Tresa Hussong for the ambulance, fire, and police departments. The council also approved several other items, including a CARES funding allocation for October 2020, a pay request for the R.O. Project Mageny in the amount of $75,695.39, an Employee Assistance Plan, a Ducks Unlimited gambling permit, and the purchase of four defibrillator batteries. No action was taken on the Mill Road plans, as the council confirmed a prior decision for a pressurized system.
- Approved $3,000 donation from Hussong Manufacturing Inc. and Jim & Tresa Hussong for emergency service departments (all yes)
- Approved Resolution 20-21 canvassing 2020 election ballots (all yes)
- Approved CARES Funding Allocation for October 2020 (all yes)
- Approved R.O. Project Mageny pay request #8 for $75,695.39 (all yes)
- Approved Employee Assistance Plan (all yes)
- Approved Ducks Unlimited gambling permit (all yes)
- Approved purchase of 4 defibrillator batteries from AED Superstore at $494 each (all yes)
- No action taken on Mill Road plans; council reaffirmed prior decision for pressurized system
Council
The council approved the preliminary Rural Development plan for submission to MnDOT and hired SEH to begin phase one of the Grein Addition, with bids in winter and construction in spring 2021. They also approved early payoff of the SMBS building loan with conditions, lifted the bike ban at North City Park, and set the City Clerk pay range at $27.39-$36.91. A parking complaint at North Griffin and Funk Ave was discussed, but the council decided not to paint the curb, instead directing police to monitor the area.
- Approved preliminary RD plan for MnDOT submission (all yes)
- Hired Brent Kavitz/SEH for Grein Addition phase one (all yes)
- Approved SMBS loan early payoff with interest-loss conditions (all yes)
- Lifted bike ban at North City Park (all yes)
- Set City Clerk pay range at $27.39-$36.91 (4 yes, 1 abstention)
- Approved selling replaced street signs at scrap price (all yes)
- Approved $343,581.15 accounts payable (all yes)
- Scheduled next meeting for Nov 12 after canvassing (all yes)
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved several routine items, including a $110,572.15 pay request for the R.O. Project Mageny, a $13,662 phone system quote from High Point Network, and a $70,911.86 accounts payable payment. The council also approved Resolution 20-19 for general election judges and the September 2020 CARES funding allocation. No items were denied or tabled; all votes were unanimous.
- Approved accounts payable payments and investment/transfer activity totaling $70,911.86 (all yes)
- Approved Resolution 20-19 General Election Judges (voice vote, all yes)
- Approved CARES Funding Allocation for September 2020 (all yes)
- Approved R.O. Project Mageny pay request #7 for $110,572.15 (all yes)
- Approved High Point Network phone system quote for $13,662 (all yes)
- Approved November 12 at 5:30 p.m. as date for canvassing ballots (all yes)
- Appointed Bakalyar and Rossow to Health Insurance Committee (all yes)
- Approved hiring Jan Fransen for background and reference checks for City Clerk position (all yes)
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved several routine items, including accounts payable, a road project pay request, and a fire department sink replacement. The council also accepted a $25,000 offer from Blue Heron Holdings, LLC for property at 332 & 334 Main Street after a closed session. A proposed council pay increase to $75 per meeting failed for lack of a second.
- Approved accounts payable and investment/transfer activity totaling $178,963.92
- Approved R.O. Project Pay Request #5 in the amount of $178,017.65
- Approved benchmark communities for the class and compensation study as recommended by David Drown Associates
- Approved fire department sink replacement, with Fire Relief funds to be used
- Council pay increase to $75 per meeting failed for lack of a second; no action on mayor compensation
- Accepted Kelly Rasche's resignation contingent on Jackson County Commissioner approval
- Named the north/south street in Grein Addition Phase One as Grein Street and extended Funk Avenue to the east
- Approved MESERB membership renewal for $822.60
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved amendments to the business preparedness plan regarding the Executive Order 20-81 masking mandate, with all members voting yes. The council decided not to provide masks in on-counter dispensers but allowed staff to distribute masks as needed. They also agreed not to take an official position on masking, focusing on education rather than enforcement. The police chief position remains vacant after a candidate declined a wage offer, and the council will explore a temporary CLEO agreement with the sheriff.
- Approved agenda with additions (all yes)
- Approved amendments to business preparedness plan for mask mandate (all yes)
- Decided not to provide masks in on-counter dispensers; staff may distribute as needed
- Agreed not to take official position on masking; focus on education
- Noted police chief candidate declined wage offer; position to be revisited after Comp and Class study
- Will ask Sheriff Haken to attend next meeting to discuss CLEO arrangement
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved a pay request of $388,540.51 for the R.O. Project, accepted a PER amendment for the wastewater project, and approved resolutions for election judges and vacation of Plum Street. The council also voted to extend Colonial Ave into Grein Addition and abated a nuisance by removing a tire from a boulevard. No action was taken on hiring a new police chief, as wage discussions continue.
- Approved accounts payable and investment/transfer activity of $75,029.57 (all yes)
- Abated nuisance by removing tire from boulevard, charging resident costs (all yes)
- Accepted and submitted PER amendment to USDA RD (all yes)
- Approved Resolution 20-12 appointing August 11 Primary Election Judges (all yes)
- Approved Resolution 20-13 vacation of Plum Street (all yes)
- Approved Magney Pay Request 4 for $388,540.51 (all yes)
- Extended Colonial Ave easterly into Grein Addition (all yes)
- Tabled police chief hiring; no action taken on wage offer
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved a variance for Lori Kolander to install a fence at 310 Broadway Ave. closer to the property line than code allows, following a Planning and Zoning recommendation. They also approved Change Order 1 for the R.O. Project totaling $15,972.75, and approved the COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. The council directed staff to not pay invoice #w05934 for snowblower clutch adjustment and to get pricing for a new snowblower.
- Approved fence variance for 310 Broadway Ave. (all yes)
- Approved R.O. Project Change Order 1 totaling $15,972.75 (all yes)
- Approved COVID-19 Preparedness Plan (all yes)
- Directed staff not to pay snowblower invoice #w05934 (all yes)
- Directed staff to get price for new snowblower with/without trade-in
- Approved accounts payable and investment/transfer activity of $142,391.45 (all yes)
- Approved agenda with addition (all yes)
- Approved minutes of June 8, 2020 meeting (all yes)
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved several contracts and purchases, including a $58,603 sealcoat project with Pearson Bros Inc. and $73,013.50 for firefighter turnout gear. They also approved a temporary pay increase for Brad Nestegard, an ordinance amendment for outdoor liquor sales, and the sale of two lots to Hussong Mfg for $1. The council tabled a liquor license fee refund request for Bowler's Inn and discussed the police chief search and pool repairs without action.
- Approved $58,603 sealcoat quote from Pearson Bros Inc (all yes)
- Approved $73,013.50 purchase of turnout gear for 23 firemen (all yes)
- Approved temporary pay increase to $24.12/hr for Brad Nestegard (all yes)
- Approved amended ordinance 111.38 for outdoor liquor sales (all yes)
- Approved sale of Brush and Concrete lots to Hussong Mfg for $1 (all yes)
- Approved purchase of electrostatic sprayers for departments as requested (all yes)
- Approved opening multi-purpose center for public use (all yes)
- Approved resuming liquor store hours Mon-Sat 10-9, Sun 11-3 (all yes)
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved Resolution 20-10, which asks the governor to grant local governments authority to decide what is best for Lakefield regarding business reopenings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The vote was 3-2, with Councilors Hall and Bakalyar voting no. A second version of the resolution (20-10b) died for lack of a motion. The council also approved several routine items, including fire department training resumption, outdoor dining expansion for The Shed Chill 'n Grille, and various infrastructure projects.
- Approved Resolution 20-10 urging local authority over business reopenings (3-2)
- Resolution 20-10b died for lack of a motion
- Approved fire department resumption of monthly skills trainings (unanimous)
- Approved outdoor dining expansion with liquor service for The Shed Chill 'n Grille (4-1)
- Approved $5,067 quote from American Engineering Testing for RO project testing (unanimous)
- Approved $3,200 SEH proposal to engineer 2020 sealcoat project (unanimous)
- Approved Welcome to Lakefield signage landscaping project, cost to be determined (unanimous)
- Approved $10,584 pool tile replacement from Floorcoat Midwest (unanimous)
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved several items, including a $36,086.35 pay request for the R.O. project, modified liquor store hours to 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and temporarily suspended the need to renew burn permits and golf cart licenses. The council also approved purchasing forks for the payloader and a contract with the Jackson County Assessor's office. The Grein Addition purchase offer was tabled pending more information.
- Approved Magney Construction Pay Request 1 for $36,086.35 (all yes)
- Approved liquor store hours change to 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (all yes)
- Approved temporary suspension of burn permit and golf cart license renewals (all yes)
- Approved $6,000 purchase of forks for payloader from Road Machinery and Supply (all yes)
- Approved assessor services contract with Jackson County for 2020-2025 (all yes)
- Tabled Hummel purchase offer for Grein Addition (no action)
- Approved accounts payable of $184,254.25 (all yes)
Council
The Lakefield City Council declared a COVID-19 emergency and established an emergency management team, with Police Chief Konechne as director. It approved a temporary leave policy, closed the Multi-Purpose Center for social gatherings, and approved a pay increase for an employee with a new water license. All decisions were unanimous.
- Approved emergency declaration resolution (all yes)
- Established emergency management team: Clerk Rasche, Councilors Hall and Monson, alternate Mayor Rossow; Police Chief Konechne as director (all yes)
- Approved temporary leave policy (all yes)
- Closed Multi-Purpose Center for social gatherings until further notice (all yes)
- Approved $0.50/hour pay increase for Mitchell Macek for Class D water license, wage from $19.68 to $19.93 (all yes)
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved several routine items, including an engineering agreement for platting, pool equipment replacement, and personnel changes. They also accepted a $1,000 offer for a vacant lot at 325 Belmont Street, tabled another lot offer pending sewer information, and discussed COVID-19 preparedness, deciding to keep city operations normal for now.
- Approved $8,900 engineering agreement with S.E.H. for Grein Addition platting (all yes)
- Approved up to $3,000 for chlorine feeder head replacement at pool (all yes)
- Approved Rademacher's attendance at MN Municipal Clerks Institute (all yes)
- Accepted resignation of Jen Hash from Ambulance Service (all yes)
- Approved street foreman's attendance at TYMCO training (all yes)
- Approved $128/week on-call pay for water plant personnel (all yes)
- Approved street foreman wage increase to $25.43/hour (all yes)
- Accepted $1,000 offer for 325 Belmont Street lot (all yes); tabled Hummel's lots offer (all yes)
Council
The council approved routine items including accounts payable, a farm ground use agreement, a liquor/tobacco license, a donation resolution, and declined to waive tort liability. In closed session, they accepted a purchase offer for Lot 1 and made a counteroffer for Lots 2 and 3 in Grein First Addition. The electric relocation project bid was discussed but not formally awarded.
- Approved accounts payable and investment transfers of $139,843.23 (all yes)
- Allowed farm renter Ackermann to grow small grain on city property not needed for lots (all yes)
- Approved liquor and tobacco license for Cooperative Energy Co. dba Jct. 86, pending insurance (all yes)
- Approved Resolution 20-09 accepting donation from Immanuel Lutheran Church (all yes)
- Voted NOT to waive statutory tort liability limit (all yes)
- Accepted purchase agreement of $10,000 plus assessments from Poppe's for Lot 1, Block 1 (all yes)
- Counteroffered Hummel's Lots 2 and 3 at $10,000 per lot plus future assessments (all yes)
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved the 2020 General Engineering Agreement with S.E.H., the Grein Addition covenants, and accounts payable of $79,644.79. All votes were unanimous. No other substantive decisions were made; the meeting was largely routine.
- Approved 2020 General Engineering Agreement with S.E.H. (all yes)
- Approved Grein Addition covenants (all yes)
- Approved accounts payable and investment/transfer activity of $79,644.79 (all yes)
- Approved agenda with addition (all yes)
- Approved minutes of February 3, 2020 (all yes)
Council
The Lakefield City Council approved the Lakefield Liquor Sales Policy, which all liquor store employees will sign and which will be part of new hire orientation. The council also set the Board of Appeal and Equalization hearing for April 6, 2020, and approved Resolution 20-08 for Presidential Primary Election Judge Appointments. A discussion about a potential joint powers agreement with the City of Okabena for street department services was informational only, with no action taken.
- Approved Lakefield Liquor Sales Policy (all yes)
- Set Board of Appeal and Equalization hearing for April 6, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. (all yes)
- Approved Resolution 20-08 for Presidential Primary Election Judge Appointments (voice vote, all yes)
- Approved accounts payable and investment/transfer activity totaling $88,060.91 (all yes)
- Approved agenda with addition (all yes)
- Approved minutes of January 21, 2020 meeting (all yes)