Most of Tuesday’s Becker City Council meeting consisted of projects, agreements, contracts and bond sales in regards to the city’s wastewater treatment facility and LPI following a special meeting called by Council Member Tracy Bertram for consideration of the mayor’s censure.

 

Bertram and Adam Oliver called for the special meeting Tuesday from 5-5:30 p.m. to vote on a resolution censuring Mayor Lefty Kleis.

 

In the end, the censure was tabled until legal parties for Mayor Kleis and the city meet to further discuss.

 

In the resolution, the censure was delivered for the following reasons: On Dec. 17, Mayor Kleis sent an email to City Administrator Greg Pruszinske asking Pruszinske to send the mayor a copy of his weekly work schedule. This request was contrary to the consensus of council and was perceived as potential bullying of Pruszinske — particularly given council’s prior concern over the significant number of hours Pruszinske was working.

 

The resolution also states council was concerned over the mayor’s communications with Pruszinske and other city employees and the issue was directed to the personnel committee Jan. 5 to be addressed. The PC met Jan. 8 to address the issue and council was told there were credible reports that city employees were continuing to be engaged in aggressive communications that may be contributing to a potential hostile environment if not addressed.

 

The resolution goes on to say the pledges, rules and code of conduct of the mayor have been violated and council resolves to censure the mayor for his recent actions.

 

Council — through the resolution — was looking to prescribe the mayor not personally contact city employees without another council member being present. It also stated the mayor could not telephone city staff except in emergency situations — and that staff person would only be the city administrator.

 

It was also noted the mayor would need to “cc” the mayor pro tem on any electronic communications to city employees and data requests by the mayor shall be submitted in writing or email to the clerk with a “cc” to the mayor pro tem. The mayor would also be instructed to obtain data on questions before public meetings using procedures outlined previously rather than making data requests during council meetings, expecting an immediate response.

 

Finally, the mayor would be expected to follow procedure by raising employee concerns to the personnel committee rather than raising them in a public meeting.

 

Several resolutions were voted on and approved for the planned improvements of the city’s wastewater plant to accommodate an increase in capacity to handle LPI’s expansion of operations.

 

Council voted to authorize the city to enter into a wastewater treatment agreement with Liberty Paper to accept and treat the wastewater discharged from the mill and ensure compliance with all applicable effluent limitations and requirements.

 

“Just to let the citizens know, this has been five-plus years of meetings and workshops, designing and re-designing,” said Pruszinske. “It’s been a challenge but has also been rewarding.”

 

Council heard from Peter Daniels and Jim Miller of Wenck Associates about the modifications to the treatment plant and they asked to have the city award the construction contract to Gridor Construction, who came in with the lowest bid of $5,712,800. The engineer’s estimate was at $6,468,000.

 

Gridor outbid five other firms including Magney Construction, Rice Lake Construction, John T. Jones Construction, Lakehead Constructors and Eagle Construction Company.

 

There was also an alternate bid item — replacement of the domestic sludge press — also included in the contract award in the amount of $508,700.

 

Council voted and approved the construction support services of Wenck Associates to provide submittal reviews, on-site construction observation, engineering coordination, records of drawings, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency documentation and attend city council meetings as necessary.

 

Paul Steinman of Springstead, Inc. asked council to approve the estimates for the project at $8,070,000 for the issuance of bonds. Steinman said he could set the sale date of Feb. 16 for the terms and issuance and return at a future council meeting to get final approval.

 

Oliver noted the payments for the bonds will be made through a “pass-thru” process whereas LPI has issued a letter of credit and will make payments on the bonds as the project progresses.

 

“Just to make everyone aware, this project is not funded by taxpayer revenue,” said Oliver.

 

• The city reminded citizens of the Becker Chamber Business Expo being held today (Saturday) at the Becker Fieldhouse from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.;

 

• There will be another Meet the Mayor event at Ellis’ Bakery on Sat., Jan. 30 from 9 -11 a.m.;

 

• Committee reports were given for the personnel, EDA, public works and Hwy. 10 corridor committees.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is Feb. 2 at 6 p.m.