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SHERBURN -- The Sherburn City Council met Monday evening. During the public comment portion of the meeting several residents questioned why their water bill was so high. The council explained how the rates were connected to the loans for the water plant and water usage and the cost for the city to produce 1,000 gallons. The water and sewer are enterprise funds and must be paid by the user not loans, bonds or taxes. The council asked the residents how much water usage they had and if that was a lot more than they used to use. Most of the residents said they had larger usage and the council suggested having a water audit for leakage. There were addresses given and appointments made for some of the residents. The council reminded the residents that a water audit is available.
The meeting continued and Derek Behrens, an engineer from Bolton and Menk, reported on the water main replacement that the council asked him about at a previous meeting. The council
again reminded Behrens that it would like to get the water main replaced before the Hwy. 4 project scheduled for this summer so that they would not have to dig up new pavement. Behrens reported that the estimate was about $162,000 and MnDOT would have to replace the pavement for about $43,000 and the engineers fee would be about 10 percent. He also mentioned that there is to be a pre-construction meeting on Thursday, Feb. 8, and he would know more after that. The council tabled the decision until the next meeting on Feb. 20 to get information from that pre-construction meeting.
The meeting continued with approval for signers at the bank for the City of Sherburn to include the Assistant Clerk, Andrea Ballard. This is done annually. The council also approved the gambling permit for the Ducks Unlimited Green Wing event on May 4 in the
Sherburn Community Building. It also approved the after-prom fundraiser of a raffle from the end of March to April with the drawing done in the liquor store. The after-prom is a 501 3c non-profit and the liquor store can have charitable gambling on the premises.
The Administrator, Leslie Heffele, reported that she had asked the liquor store, the City Works, and Temperance Lake Ridge to give a report quarterly to the council. The EDA and City of Sherburn may help with demolition of property with $2,500 each.
Council reports included the need for a rehab company at the Temperance Lake Ridge facility. The other company said it had too few employees to make it a profitable venue. The TLR needs a rehab professional. One of the townships has not given their share of the proposed new fire truck and they should be urged to fulfill their obligation as the others have. The city and townships share in the expense since the fire department also serves township residents. There is a need for a software company to process purchases made with
a credit card. The proposed company would charge $45 a month but would be less expensive than what they do now. This was tabled until next month for more information. There is a possibility of an extra audit, that was tabled as well.
The overtime situation for city employees was discussed. The employees are paid half from the street fund and one quarter from each of the sewer and water funds. The job description may have a uniform start and stop time. Some early starts and late working times may be emergencies and on call work. Discussion will continue. The lot on Main Street on the corner of Main and First Street has a prospective buyer. More information is needed.
The council recessed and then went into a budget workshop.
The next meeting of the Sherburn City Council will be on Feb. 20, which is a Tuesday since the usual Monday is a holiday, President's Day.