Two public hearings, a supplemental letter of agreement, tort liability limits, polling designations and a premise permit were all on Tuesday’s agenda in Becker.

Lori Keller was recognized for her years of service to the city as she attended her final city council meeting Tuesday.

 

 

CA Greg Pruszinske asked council to authorize staff to enter into an supplemental agreement with SEH for the 2019 industrial park expansion study phase services.

 

The letter, which Pruszinske provided to council, allows for SEH to investigate and prepare a feasibility report for new municipal utility (trunk sanitary sewer and trunk water main) improvements to serve industrial land use for a triangular-shaped area west of Energy Park and generally bounded by  Hwy. 10 to the north, the Xcel Energy Sherco plant to the south, and 115th Ave. SE to the west.

 

The feasibility report will contain SEH’s recommendations for the improvements, an opinion of probable project cost, and preliminary trunk utility charge rates. 

 

 

The Becker Lions put in an application for a Premise Permit (gambling permit for bingo, raffles, paddle wheels, pull tabs and electronic pull-tabs) at Beck's Pub, 13934 1'' Street SE. Clerk Julie Blesi indicated this will be the first  premise permit the Becker Lions will hold in the City.

 

Blesi said Chief Brent Baloun conducted a background check of their CEO and gambling manager and has found no concerns. There are no fees for this permit as it is  processed by the state; however, the city must approve the application. 

 

Blesi said the Clear Lake Lions currently hold the premise permit at this location but have submitted a letter  stating they will be releasing their premise permit effective Dec. 31. 

 

 

Blesi said new legislation was recently passed amending a state statute in 2017 requiring cities to designate by Dec. 31 of each year, the polling place for elections to be held in the following year. 

 

Blesi told council, in  emergency situations, the polling place can be  changed if need be. The resolution she asked council to approve identified Becker City Hall as the polling place for 2019 elections. 

 

 

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. Finance Director Connie Robinson said cities 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 Minnesota Cities, approximately 13% make the election to waive the coverage limits. 

 

Robinson again requested the city not waive the statutory tort liability limits for the City of Becker. Council approved.

 

 

Blesi asked council to open a public hearing prior to considering action on and approval of the amended 2019 city fee schedule.

 

Blesi said changes made to the fee schedule included addressing escrows, miscellaneous fees, administration citation and fees, property related fees, utility related fees, charges for services fees and fees associated with the community center, golf course and parks.

 

 

Blesi requested another public hearing In conjunction with the fee schedule update which lists offenses and associated penalties. 

 

Chief Baloun made some recommendations including:

 

• Parking in the yard should be raised to $25 instead of $10 to better mirror other parking violations;

 

• "Parking when snow in street" should reference Ordinance 9.03 (s5) instead of 7.06 (s5A);

 

• Illegal dumping will be changed to $100 instead of $50;

 

• Eliminating the column of penalty if not paid in seven days. If they don't pay, then a state ticket is issued at that point rather than a penalty being charged.

 

Blesi said these same changes are reflected in the 2019 fee schedule.

 

 

Councilmember Lori Keller was honored for her service for the city with a short speech from Rick Hendrickson, who presented Keller with a memento.

 

“This is an experience I’ll never forget,” said Keller. “ I will always treasure the relationships I’ve developed with council, staff and management here at the city.”

 

Keller decided to not run in November’s election and her seat was won by Troy Cox, who will begin his tenure next month.

 

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is Jan. 8 at 6 p.m.