SHERBURN — The Sherburn City Council met on Monday evening and discussed several contracts.

The Temperance Lake Ridge management company contract with Embark Consultation would replace the Cornerstone Management company which has been making errors lately. The council wanted to make sure there is a management company in place before the end of the Cornerstone contract. The Embark company would charge $15,000 this year and $10,000 in any subsequent year. The council discussed what provisions would be covered with this new company and specified that TLR only has one building. The council approved a one-year trial contract and will discuss the evaluation for more years.

The council also discussed the permit fees. In the past, the inspector would assess the building and list permit fees. There are codes and lists of permit fees in a handbook for the city and state statutes should be followed. The council also remarked that they do not want to deter residents from building and repairing. The new company to inspect the buildings will assess 80 percent of the permit fees revenue. The investigation fee was explained by Clerk Andrea Ballard. The council also wanted to make sure the building was not started before a permit was obtained. The council mentioned several fees they thought were in question and perhaps should be removed from the list. It asked Ballard to ask the inspection company to remove them and to look at some unnecessary fees. Ballard asked which specific fees she should mention. The action was tabled until the next meeting to give Ballard time to contact the company, ProKore, and change the contract and give the city attorney time to update those changes. They hope to start with ProKore on Dec. 1.

In other business, the Nuvei Citizen Portal, which the City Hall staff use, was explained to the council and it was asked if there should be a discount or something to encourage residents to sign up for the portal. Some residents are already signed in and receive online water and sewer balances, auto pay information, a communication channel to the public works for questions and make payments and get payment history and other information about their account with the city. The City Hall says they could save $300 or more just in postage.

The Police report from Chief Yochim mentioned the Shop with a Cop program will be on Dec. 11 and he is hoping for 20 children to shop for their families. Donations are encouraged from businesses or individuals. They plan to use a school bus and TLR residents to help wrap at the pizza party. If needed, the Dunnell and Ceylon Fire Departments have offered help besides the Welcome and Sherburn Fire Fighters. Donations should be sent to the Welcome Fire Department with Shop with a Cop written in the memo if paying by check.

The Public Works report included that decorations are ready for Christmas. They are doing the second leaf pick up soon and that will be the last pick up this fall. If residents have more leaves after the pick up they should take them to the brush pile and empty the bag. Please do not leave bags there. There is a plan to offer a shred-it day at the Sherburn Theatre. The City of Sherburn was awarded a special evaluation so that they can apply for grants etc. The Library location in the former Senior Center will need to replace some brick and mortar and paint the entrance on the east side. The electricity is done, and now the internet and phone are in the works and some temporary signage too.

The old library building was offered for a very low price ($1) if the roof was temporarily fixed now and the roof was permanently fixed by 2026. The realtor has done a walk-through with City Hall staff and others and would like the city attorney to write up a contract listing the building as an As-Is purchase for liability reasons. The electric fuse box is in the chiropractor’s office, but the water is under the old Library part.

In other action:

— The council approved the Assessment of Unpaid Municipal Utility Charges. Some bills are larger because of a leak, and some are overdue. Some have been charged for quite a long time, although they have kept up with a payment agreement.

— The council approved the contract with the city attorney, Birkholz for next year.

— The Truth in Taxation meeting is scheduled for Dec. 1.

— The cemetery deed was recorded at the County Courthouse.

The Council went into closed session about legal matters with Cornerstone and an annual evaluation of the deputy clerk.

The Sherburn City Council’s next meeting will be at 5 p.m. on Dec. 1 at City Hall.