City council reorganizes for 2013 with two new members on board
The Montgomery City Council opened the 2013 year with the required reorganizational meeting Monday, Jan. 7, with two new members at the board table.
Newly-elected councilmembers Jim Mladek and Bob Taraba assumed their positions as city officials, joining Tim Siebsen and Bill Wencl in representing residents of the community, along with Mayor Jean Keogh.
The council table is also frequently occupied by City Administrator Steve Helget and City Attorney Tim Warnemunde.
Helget conducted the swearing-in ceremony for Mladek, Taraba and Mayor Keogh, who were elected in the November voting.
The council, minus Tim Siebsen who was absent, immediately got to work in taking care of various housekeeping duties to start the new year.
— Approved annual appointments and designations, including the Montgomery Messenger as the official newspaper, Councilman Bill Wencl as acting mayor, Warnemunde Law Office as city attorney and Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) the city engineer.
— Designated official depositories for city funds: Frandsen Bank & Trust of Montgomery, CornerStone State Bank of Montgomery, and Northland Securities Inc.
— Approved resolution identifying Mayor Keogh’s recommended council appointments to city boards and committees.
— Reviewed fees that are set by ordinance, and approved Public Utilities Commission recommendation to reduce past due late penalty for water and sewer bills from 10% to 5%. The ordinance also extends the reduced water and sewer connection fees for new homes. Concerning rental properties, rental license fee is $25 per unit, and in 2012 the city incurred $6,550 in building inspector fees and city brought in $8,062 in fees. “Overall, the program has worked well,” commented Administrator Helget.
— Agreed by consensus to continue council and staff articles in the Messenger.
— Appointed Jim Filipek and Eric Schroeder to the Planning & Zoning Commission, June Tupy to the HRA Board, and Gothan Krocak and Diane Dewitt to the public utilities commission.
— Approved the Pay Equity Implementation Report, presented by Clerk-Treasurer Heather Slechta. Report is submitted to the MN Management and Budget Dept.
— Approved contracts for cleaning services at city hall (Tina Kotek) and public library (D&A Soukup Housekeeping).
— Received monthly report from Police Chief John Schmidt and discussed snow removal from sidewalks along Highway 13-21, hoping to avoid students walking on roadway. Mayor Keogh said they will check the situation and determine how the city crew can help.
— Rescheduled January 21 regular meeting to Tuesday, Jan. 22, because of Martin Luther King Day. Also scheduled special meeting of council and department heads for Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m., to discuss 2013 goals and objectives.
