The Becker City Council met Tuesday and discussed CUP revocations, unpaid utilities, the library, a police contract and a special recognition of a long-standing employee.

 

Marie Pflipsen presented five resolutions filed to dissolve CUPs that are no longer meeting specified conditions or never commenced work on the projects.

 

Pflipsen said the five resolutions and revocations were approved by the planning commission.

 

The first resolution was to revoke the CUP for a landscaping business near the Structural Building site back in 1999.

 

The second resolution was for a CUP in 1999 for the proposed two restaurants and three second floor apartments at the Becker Inn site.

 

The third resolution was to revoke the 2006 CUP for a drive-thru coffee shop at the site currently occupied by StarCor Credit Union.

 

The fourth resolution was for the revocation of a CUP  in 2012 for an open-air produce stand to operate at the SuperAmerica site on Rolling Ridge.

 

The fifth resolution of revocation was for a CUP in 2016 to allow for a restaurant/cafe and residential property on second floor at the old Peddler’s Antiques spot.

 

Connie Robinson asked council to consider scheduling a public hearing for Nov. 21 to consider certification to the county of unpaid utility bills.

 

The list of properties in violation was not available Tuesday, but Robinson said she has mailed notices to the violators detailing the time and place of the public hearing.

 

Greg Pruszinske presented council with a tentative agreement covering the licensed police officers bargaining unit. These negotiations were  undertaken to replace the prior collective bargaining agreement that will expire Dec.31, 2017.

 

The major substantive changes to the prior contract are as follows: 

 

• Duration. This is a three year agreement from Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2020 and is meant to provide labor stability and cost certainty as can be entered into under the MN public sector labor law;

 

• Wages. Recruitment and retention of police officers in Minnesota (and nationally) has become an extraordinarily difficult task as the available number of new graduates has dropped considerably;

 

• General Adjustment. The general adjustment will be three percent (3%) each year effective in January of the applicable year. This is consistent with cost of living adjustments in other jurisdictions;

 

• Training Wage. The existing training wage will be discontinued. This training wage is only 76% of the average start rate of l 1 similarly sized jurisdictions with their own police department;

 

• Uniforms. The existing $675 uniform reimbursement allowance will be increased by $25 per year;

 

• Safety Vests. The parties agreed to the following language changes as more accurately reflecting existing practice and industry standards.

 

Troy Malo presented a certificate of appreciation to Kim Konerza, who will make the 2018 golf season her last after serving the city since 1996.

 

Malo said Konerza “has been a great employee and is very dedicated to her job.”

 

Konerza addressed council briefly, saying “it’s been a pleasure working at Pebble Creek.”

 

Jeanette Burkhardt gave an update on the Becker Public Library, saying that between the time of Jan., 2017 and Oct. 2017, 102 events were held at the library with a total attendance of 2,856.

 

She also thanked the city for the new carpet installation last January.

 

Some of the events Burkhart identified were make-and-take craft days, colored paper airplane challenge, Lego club, story time, Tiny Tots and various presentations including, classical guitarist Jeff Bianchi, Anna Renna, Magician Bob and James Wedgwood.

 

She thanked the Eagle Scout who built two new computer desks for the library that are divided to allow for some privacy from neighboring computers.

 

She also said, looking ahead, she would like to change out the Young Adult shelves — eliminating  the old Teal-colored circulation desk. She would then install taller shelving units, allowing for growth in the Young Adult area.

 

She finished by saying she’d also like to replace the existing Community Center road sign to give the library more visibility.

 

Robinson presented council with the third quarter financials and said, “we are tracking very well, close to the 75% mark for revenues and expenditures.”

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is Nov. 21 at 6 p.m.