The call for censureship of Mayor Jerome “Lefty” Kleis was dropped by petitioner Lori Keller after Keller talked with the city attorney and further accuracy of evidence emerged.

 

Last month, Keller motioned for the censure due to the Mayor’s commentary on WJON Radio in St. Cloud May 13. After in-depth discussion by council, the members decided at the time to consult with Attorney Scott Lepak to see what his recommendation was.

 

Keller said Lepak told her that censureship is a method of formal reprimand, the only practical means for council to express discontentment with a member’s actions and a method to police themselves. He also told her political speech cannot be curtailed.

 

Keller turned to Mayor Kleis and offered her apology for her actions at the June 2 city council meeting.

 

Keller went on to say she still wanted to go ahead with the censure due to the fact the mayor lied about who contacted who to set up the interview on the radio station.

 

Kleis had always proclaimed it was the radio producer at the station who initiated the interview in May, but Keller said after her investigation — it was the mayor who initiated the interview.

 

Mayor Kleis disagreed with the findings and produced a hard copy of an email from the producer asking Kleis to come in for the interview. Council reviewed the email and concluded Kleis to be truthful.

 

With that, Keller pulled her censure resolution and the matter was dropped.

 

During open forum, two supporters of Mayor Kleis took to the podium to show their support.

 

Nicole Popplewell told council she was concerned the way the members are presenting themselves during meetings and compared the situation to a form of bullying.

 

She said she has seen nothing but positive things from the mayor and thanked him for being supportive in many things associated with the city — especially the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization which assists veterans like her.

 

Popplewell explained the mayor has a right to speak about the golf course and council should cease the finger-pointing and badgering of the mayor.

 

Dustin Lozinski stepped forward and said he “echoes what Nicole Popplewell just said.” He gave thanks to the mayor and Rick Hendrickson for being frugal with the city’s finances when it comes to Pebble Creek and said he believes the mayor is well supported in the community. He also said he appreciates a mayor that truly listens.

 

City Planner Therese Haffner asked council to approve an agreement with CGI Communications to produce community videos to showcase the cities’ amenities and opportunities in Becker to recruit future residents and businesses.

 

Haffner said the videos would come to the city at no cost and is in partnership with the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. CGI Communications would film different areas of Becker focusing on economic development, recreation and quality of life.

 

Haffner said the videos would be put on the city website and will be updated after three years at no charge.

 

CGI Communications would seek sponsorships from local businesses but Haffner says even if there is no interest in sponsorships, they will produce the videos at no cost to the city.

 

Haffner says CGI Communications has done this kind of video work for other area municipalities including Big Lake, Elk River, Bemidji, Crystal, Fairmont and Oakdale.

Sponsorship packages range from $1,395 to $5,495.

 

Jamie Cassidy asked council to approve the annual request for suspension of city rules during the Freedom Days celebration.

 

The suspension of rules pertain to the parade, golf carts being used by elected officials and staff, private vendor sales on streets, sidewalks and other public property and alcohol consumption within the festival area.

 

Cassidy said though the suspension of rules opens some liberties, it does not mean the general public can conduct themselves unlawfully during the celebrations, including using privately-owned golf carts on city streets and consuming alcohol from coolers or unapproved containers or outside the festival area.

 

Cassidy said the parks and recreation advisory committee has decided to move ahead with completing the turf establishment plan for Pleasant Valley Park.

 

The Pleasant Valley Park turf establishment project has been in the works for several years, first identified in 2011. Some of the discussions from the committee included the option of digging a well or utilizing city water to supply the proposed irrigation system.

 

Cassidy said after further discussion, the committee decided to refine the project and have the system connected to city water instead of a well due to the fact the main city water line runs through a portion of the park already. Plus, this option would save approximately $10,000 over the well.

 

Staff received quotes from irrigation and excavation contractors and determined Aqua Engineering would be ideal for the irrigation work at $29,573 and Wruck Excavating for connection of the water line at $4,000. Cassidy said there will be additional costs of $3,000 for electrical and $3,000 for seed and fertilizer to be installed by staff.

 

Cassidy said the project will be paid for by the capital budget fund not to exceed $40,000.

 

Cassidy informed council of the recent discovery that a compressor for the BCC’s Stage 1 A/C unit is quickly failing. Cassidy said the unit is the one that controls the air conditioning for the entire BCC building.

 

Cassidy said the compressor was identified as needing replacement in the next five years, but after a recent quarterly preventative maintenance check it was discovered the compressor is failing and in need of immediate replacement.

 

Cassidy said he received three quotes from area contractors and McDowall Companies came in with the lowest bid at $14,893. Cassidy said he would prefer to use existing CIP funds delegated for security camera upgrades for the replacement of the compressor.

 

Turnaround time to have the new compressor installed is two weeks.

 

Clerk Julie Blesi presented council with an amendment to the city’s fee schedule reflecting the change of a Minnesota statute decreasing the surcharge fee from $5 to $1.

 

The surcharges would generally affect the building permit fees such as furnace and A/C replacement, re-roofing, re-siding, window and door replacements, water heaters and such.

 

• Council approved a resolution accepting donations for the Freedom Days celebration in the amount of $3,950 from area businesses;

 

• Council approved liquor license renewals for nine local establishments;

 

• Council approved the cost of $6,000 to be used to replace the city clerk’s workstation, shelving, electrical and a divider;

 

• Mayor Kleis read aloud a document proclaiming the week of June 14-21 as Freedom Days in becker;

 

• Kleis announced the monthly safety award winner as Mike Barringer of the water/wastewater treatment facility for wearing proper personal protection equipment, raising safety concerns at meetings, working well with others and operating equipment safely;

 

• Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteers for the summer to help deliver meals to the elderly and incapacitated.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is July 7 at 5 p.m.