The Becker City Council Tuesday discussed 2018 committee appointments, statutory tort liabilities, a rail impact and feasibility study and numerous items associated with the community center.

 

BCC Manager Jamie Cassidy brought forth a request to replace the cardio equipment in the fitness room.

 

Cassidy said his staff has been researching options to purchase new cardio equipment for the BCC fitness room since the existing equipment is outdated and in varying stages of disrepair. 

 

“To better serve our customers, BCC staff — working closely with the parks and recreation committee — has discussed this project on numerous occasions,” said Cassidy. “Ultimately, staff, by prioritizing and budgeting through the BCC  CIP, have charted out a course to purchase and install new cardio equipment in 2018, as well as  implementing a more efficient and effective system of replacement as the BCC moves forward.”

 

Cassidy said he received three quotes from reputable companies for the   19 pieces of cardio equipment, including, seven treadmills, five elliptical/stepper arc machines,  four bikes, one row machine, one climb mill-step and one specialty piece.

 

Cassidy said there will also be some installation costs associated with the project, which he estimates to be around $75,000 to $80,000.

 

Cybex furnished the lowest quote at $74,592 for the new equipment, installation and power and technical updates to the room.

 

Cassidy says the BCC has $80,000 budgeted in their CIP for 2018.

 

Cassidy said over the past year, BCC staff has been researching options to purchase and install a gym  divider/curtain to best utilize space for the benefit of their members, visitors and programs. 

 

In the gym’s current set-up, staff do not have flexibility to split the gym to accommodate two or more different activities at the same time. With the plan to divide the gym into 2/3-and-1/3, staff at the BCC will be able to offer additional programs, additional free gym opportunities for members and guests, and additional opportunities to begin event set-up without shutting down the entire gym. 

 

Cassidy said he received three quotes for the material and installation of the gym divider and BMSI came in with the most favorable estimate of $9,577.

 

Cassidy said an additional $3,000 is necessary for building prep work needed to successfully complete the project.  The entire project will be completed at a cost not to exceed $12,500.

 

 The divider will be a key-activated, powered roll-down unit made of vinyl and mesh. 1. Cassidy says the BCC has $16,830 budgeted in their CIP for 2018.

 

Grant Funds for Pool Mural 

At the Oct. 3 city council meeting, Resolution 17-42 was approved which enabled the BCC to seek grant funding from the Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB) for the completion of the mural in the pool area of the building. 

 

Completion of the mural in the pool area and the artist commissioned, Dan Mondloch, were also approved at that time. 

 

The grant application to the CMAB was successful. Cassidy says the CMAB has awarded the BCC $7,000 towards the project. Eighty percent of the funding will be granted 30 days prior to the project start date of Feb. 5 of this year. The remaining 20% will be released within receipt and approval of the final  report, which is due within 60 days of the project's completion. 

 

The CMAB requires recognition as outlined in their contract for providing funds towards the project's completion. The CMAB also expects the project to proceed as described in the grant application. 

 

Otherwise, the CMAB does not have any other input regarding the project's completion. 

 

The overall project will be completed at an estimated cost of $11,000. Matching grant funds have been received from private citizens Chuck Heineman and Bev and Glenn Anderson, totaling $3,000.

 

Additional costs for completion of the project will be covered under BCC operational expenses.

 

Committee Appointments

Mayor Tracy Bertram distributed an outline showing what committee assignments are associated with who for the 2018 year.

 

Mike Doering will be the acting mayor. Rick Hendrickson and Bertram are part of the annexation and joint planning board. Doering is the alternate.

 

Lori Keller and Hendrickson will be part of the budget & finance committee. Scott Lepak is retained as city attorney. Abdo, Eick & Meyers is retained as city auditor and Randy Sabart retained as consultant city engineer.

 

Keller and Hendrickson are on EDA, Todd Hanrahan and Marilyn Danielson are part of the firefighter’s relief association and Bertram and Hanrahan are part of the fire joint powers board.

Keller and Hanrahan are on golf management while Hendrickson, Doering, Greg Pruszinske and Dave Pesola are part of the LPI Advisory team.

 

Sherburne State Bank is retained as official depository and the Citizen-Tribune is the official newspaper.

 

Doering and Keller are on the park and recreation committee, Hanrahan and Bertram on the personnel committee, Hanrahan and Hendrickson on police management and Doering and Hendrickson on planning commission.

 

Bertram and Doering are part of the public works committee and Hendrickson and Doering are part of the Xcel Advisory Board.

 

Finance Director Connie Robinson said each year, the city is required to make an election related to statutory tort limits on their liability  insurance coverage which renews in February. Minnesota statutes limit a city's tort liability to a  maximum per claim of $500,000 and $1,500,000 per occurrence. 

 

Robinson said a city can elect to waive these limits. In that case, a single claimant could receive up to $1,500,000 per claim plus the amount of excess  liability coverage the city carries. 

 

Robinson said the City of Becker has opted to not waive statutory tort limits in the past. The benefit of waiving  these limits goes to the injured party. The city does not benefit from waiving the limits, plus the  insurance cost would be greater by waiving these limits as the potential exposure to the city is  increased per claim. 

 

Of all the entities insured with the League of MN Cities, approximately 13% make the election to waive the coverage limits.

 

Robinson said city staff is recommending again to not waive the statutory tort liability limits for the City of Becker. 

 

Rail Impact and Feasibility Study 

Pruszinske said the Twin Cities metro area’s supply of available rail served vacant properties is nearly dry and staff  from Sherburne County and the City of Becker have been approached by multiple developers  inquiring about rail-served lots. 

 

Pruszinske said the rail impact and feasibility study will help Sherburne County and the City of Becker prepare for future rail development and put Becker in the best position to apply for Federal EDA funds through the CEDS grant process.

 

The total cost of the study is $85,000 with Sherburne County and the Initiative Foundation  funding the majority of the project. 

 

Becker's  participation would be $10,000. 

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.