EKALAKA TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES (NOVEMBER 6, 2024)

1) Call Regular Meeting to Order

a) Roll Call Council: Mayor Buck Kratzer called the meeting to order at 5:01 pm. Present were Melissa Lovec (phone) and Rex McCord.

b) Employees' Present: Calvin Jensen

c) Appointed Officials Present: Carol Spencer & Kamely Harkins

2) Pledge of Allegiance

3) Public Comment/ Complaints: The public present were Toni Kratzer & Carol Carey

Written complaints and comments were received by DP & Monte Lou Munro on how dusty their streets are and the amount of traffic they get. They asked if the town could get some chloride and add it to Speelmon St. next spring.

Scott Lafollette complained about how loud the garbage truck was and how it ran at some late-night hours and asked the owner to put a muffler on it or run it during the day, following ordinance hours.

4) Presentation of Petitions and Communications: Roberta Huether deck addition - Carol moved to approve the building permit for adding a ramp to an existing deck; Rex seconded no discussion. Motion carried three ayes 0 nays

5) Unfinished Business * Action Item

a) Bridge replacement by Phil Cook - Culverts were ordered for $3,423.45. The mayor talked to Road and Bridge Foreman Carl Knapp as the county will replace the bridge and not charge the town for labor, and the town will purchase a new culvert and bedding gravel.

b) Water project: It's at the final phase, and the company hopes to be out of town by Friday; Mayor Kratzer has a few concerns over some sidewalks that were replaced and should be higher than they are. The mayor will do a final walk-through with the engineering company and the construction people.

c) * Mason's concerning water rates: Melissa asked if any representatives of the Masonic Lodge were present. None were present; Melissa moved to remove Mason's concern about water rates from the agenda, and Carol seconded, no discussion. Motion carried three ayes 0 nays

6) New Business * Action items

a) * Add Carol Spencer to Summit National Bank accounts to sign checks: Melissa moved to add Carol Spencer to all Summit National Bank accounts to sign checks when the Mayor or Kamely aren't present. Rex seconded, no discussion. Motion carried three ayes 0 nays

b) * Quit Claim Deed approval of boundaries of the survey: Calvin Jensen is buying a property, and any time a property is touching a town property, which in this case is an alley, the town is signing the quit deed stating that the survey is correct, and the town has no disclaimer against the survey. Carol moved to approve the study's boundary lines and the quit deed. Rex seconded, no discussion. Motion carried three ayes, 0 nays

c) * Reserve Parking for the Veterans Tribute Park: Carole Carey, representing the Veterans Tribute Memorial on Perso Park, updated the council that the memorial is coming along well and will be finished by next spring. Carol asked the council to add reserve parking for the monument to keep it open for people to come and see it and have parking, including wheelchair access and overnight parking. Carol Spencer moved to get reserved parking, but no overnight parking signs. Rex seconded, no discussion. Motion carried three ayes 0 nays

d) * Closing the street for Christmas Stroll (Main St. by the Veterans Park): The Chamber of Commerce will host the Christmas stroll this year and will do a stroll from the Town tennis court to the Courthouse. Carol moved to close all Main St. Rex seconded, no discussion. Motion carried with three ayes, 0, nays

7) * Kamely Harkins request for leave for 20 days in January and beginning of February with pay from vacation accrual: Rex moved to approve Kamely's 20 days leave. Carol seconded, no discussion. Motion carried three ayes 0 nays

8) Minutes from the last meeting(s): read, correct (if needed), and approve October 9th minutes. Carol moved to approve the October 9th minutes. Melissa seconded no discussion. Motion carried three ayes 0 nays.

9) Claims Approval - Rex moved to approve claims for $458,897.10, ck # 17182-17198, and electronic checks -99737-99740. Carol seconded, no discussion. Motion carried three ayes 0 nays

10) Reports of Officers:

a) Public Works Director: Calvin reported that well #4 is down and got a quote from Askin well service for $15,000 for the pump and labor, around $20 to 25k. Calvin has been busy cleaning up alleys, trimming trees, and graveling. Calvin got Morgan's water and the new water at the Town shop. Calvin mentioned that street sweeping might end until spring; it's hard to get all vehicles moved around hunting season; he may do some spots of main to make sure big debris is moved out of the street.

b) Mayor: Kratzer informed the council that he is helping with a sewer problem that will be in the middle of Perso Park, and they will be excavating it tomorrow; he affirmed they would not disturb the walls of the Veterans and let everyone know that the cleanout will no longer be on the park side. The mayor also visited Lu about the bridge getting replaced with a culvert, and she was happy with everything.

The garage being built behind A & A Stieg is too close to the property line, and the town needs to ensure people are leaving enough space between property lines. The mayor also brought to the council's attention the sidewalk concern of when Mike Coleman Construction replaced the broken peace with its uneven and not up to snuff. The mayor also mentioned the need to purchase another dumpster for the transfer site.

c) Attorney: Nothing reported.

d) Council: Rex reported a citizen with concern about a sidewalk that was broken during construction and wondered if the town or the owner needed to replace the sidewalk

11) Reports on Standing and Special Committees:

a) Administrative (Clerk/Treasurer): Kamely visited with Dahl on their water samples, and they said they are working on fixing their water problem, and it was not the town's fault; Kamely and Jodi have gotten finances figured out to all but $2,000 of it being off from 2022, are sure the issue lies on payroll, Kamely will be working on getting that figured out soon. The grant the town has been awarded for the sludge removal might not be received if the town can't get an audit company to do the audit in 2023; Kamely is working on finding an audit company but has had no luck so far. The election is over, and we must appoint three people for the study commission within 20 days. We also need a non-voting person added to the commission. November's water samples are good. Kamely asked the council about working from home for a few afternoons when working on Bank Reconciliation since the office is not open to the public in the afternoon.

b) Law Enforcement: Sheriff Kittelmann told the council he was working on a dog issue about noise at 5 a.m. He also visited with the council about getting some of the animal ordinances revised

c) Library: Last month's finances and minutes were received.

d) Fire Department/Committee: None

e) Parks: Rex reminded the council that the town had approved flooding the court for an ice-skating rink. Calvin did investigate putting lights up at the Town Park, and the city must have a licensed electrician do it.

f) Safety: None

12) Announcements: No announcements

13) Next Meeting Date: December 4th, 2024

14) Adjourn: Carol moved to adjourn. Rex seconded, no discussion. Motion carried three ayes 0 nays. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

*Items up for action without discussion at a previous Council meeting may or may not be accepted for action by the Council at the Council's discretion.

/s/ Buck Kratzer, Mayor

Attest:/s/ Kamely Harkins, Clerk/ Treasurer