KIESTER CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL LIQUOR STORE MEETING
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, November 12, 2024
THESE ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL
The Kiester City council held a regular meeting on Monday, November 12, 2024, at the Kiester Community Center.
Mayor Hope Bauman called the Liquor Store meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Council Members Present: Larry Dahleen, Kurt Grobe, Brandon Hagenson, Jason Kluender City Maintenance: Gary Skartland; City Clerk: Doris Troll; Members of the public: Kathina Thrond, Al Bauman, Heather Goldman, Tabatha Kuiper, Alan Steinke, Jon Seedorf, Michele Alphs, Jerry Alphs, Ginger Burkhow, Marcia Dahleen, Tim Engebretson, Wayne Johnson, Dan Willaby, Mike Hamson, Ashley Schroader, Evan Anderson.
The Liquor Store meeting: Hope called the meeting to order, the clerk informed the council and quests that this was a hearing for the residents to express their thoughts on the closing of the liquor store, and that the council does not have to answer questions. The council listened to all who spoke.
The Special meeting was then closed, and we moved into the regular meeting.
Agenda: Motion to accept agenda by Jason Kluender seconded by Kurt Grobe vote 5-0 motion carried.
Council minutes: motion to approve 10-14-2024 meeting minutes with corrections by Hope Bauman seconded by Kurt Grobe, vote 5-0. Motion carried.
Claims: Motion to approve claims totaling $1,502,159.15 by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Jason Kluender vote 5-0, motion carried.
Financials: Motion to approve financials by Hope Bauman, seconded by Larry Dahleen. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Past Due Water Billing: Motion to shut off on 11-26-2024 if not paid, by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Kurt Grobe vote 4-0, motion carried.
Building Permits: Presented permits for W Miller. Motion by Brandon Hagenson Seconded by Jason Kluender to approve. Vote 5-0, Motion carried.
Ambulance: The Ambulance squad will have their dinner on Saturday night at the Kiester Legion. Jon Seedorf was present to ask the council permission to work with Jack Volz to help the ambulance get an OSHA safety grant for the cot that the squad would like to purchase. Motion by Kurt Grobe, seconded by Larry Dahleen to work on the grant. Vote 4-0, motion carried with Hope Bauman abstaining.
Fire Department: Jerry was here to inform the council that the Fire department had voted on a new truck that would be delivered in approximately 2 years. The Fire department feels that they will have the funds to pay for the vehicle with the current CDs, gambling monies and fundraisers. They will also ask the townships for help. They need the council for approval to go ahead with the purchase as to start the process for getting any grants that might be out there for them to help offset the cost. Motion to let the Fire department purchase the vehicle by Kurt Grobe Seconded by Larry Dahleen. Vote 5-0, motion carried. Hope also had a conversation with the Burkhardts and they recommend that the Fire Departments be the ones to do the negotiation of all township contracts. Motion to Let the Fire Department negotiate their own contracts by Hope Bauman Seconded by Brandon Hagenson, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Library: October numbers were 109 adults and 67 children. We handed out treats to 47 children at trunk or treat. They will start the candy corn guessing game was awarded to children one with the correct guess of 712 and the seconded one an adult who gave the prize to a child, We will do drawings for turkeys for Thanksgiving and for Christmas having a drawing for a ham.. The adult winter reading program will start in December and run through March. The Library will send letters to Santa for the children. All they need to do is drop their letters off in the red box outside the library or bring them in to the library.
Liquor Store: nothing.
EDA: The facade grants one has been approved the rest are pending due to needing more information. Celia from Ceda is helping the EDA to see if there are any grants to help get the Smithfield lot cleaned up and will be at our next meeting.
Public Comment: Rustic Pines Tree Farm will donate a wreath for the Ambulance pork feed to raffle off.
Budget Talks: Larry Dahleen moved to give 3% raises to the staff. Brandon Hagenson seconded this. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Medical insurance: Motion to keep the policy the same as last year with an H S A option that the city doesn’t contribute to. By Hope Bauman seconded by Jason Klunder, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Gary asked if there would be enough money in the budget to do Kapplinger street for next year. This brought a lengthy discussion as to the road project with Bolton & Menk and the Ulland brothers. The result of the conversation was to have Jason Zinter at our next city council meeting.
Maintenance: the second round of discharge has been done. The tree pile has been burned down with help from the Fire department. Street have been swept. Ulland will blacktop 7th street and getting mailboxes backup, as well as the last minute issues before winter. Empire pipe came and video all the new sewer lines and they were great. Gary asked if everyone was happy with the community center after the work we had done for it.
Gary asked about signage were we going to get a new sign or use the old one. It was determined that the old one looked fine. Gary will put the sign back up.
Clerk Update: The clerk would like permission from the council to pay Braun Interec via ACH as they are requesting all payments starting January 1, 2025 be via ACH. Motion by Larry Dahleen seconded by Hope Bauman to approve the ACH of payments. Vote 5-0, motion carried. The camera policy for the clerks’ office is there for council approval . Motion to accept the camera policy by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Kurt Grobe. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
There is a copy of the new water bill rates with an explanation of when late fees are to be added as well as information on using a credit card to pay your bill. Motion by Hope Bauman seconded Brandon Hagenson. vote, 5-0 motion carried.
The easements: I still have heard no word from dan & Leah Kluender. The certified letter has come back. I sent one uncertified, and it has not come back. I have left messages for Dan, his cell phone from my work phone, and my cell phone. Chris & Danny Olson and Michele Gurung are the other ones that I have heard nothing from. Hope stated the last that she heard from Olson’s was about the trees that were still out in the field and wanted cleaned up. The council had the clerk have the lawyer start legal papers to get the easements that we need.
The Cannabis ordinance: it is in the packets do we want to pass it or just let it go until after the 1st of the year and leave it up to the county to regulate? It was let the county handle it.
Liquor Store: do you want to take a vote tonight? It was held a special meeting for the vote on the liquor store with the canvasing of the elections. On Tuesday, November 9, 2024, at 7 pm at the community center.
Mayor update: The mayor asked the clerk to check the minutes on the website as Septembers are missing and Octobers are up. Hope was going to attend the Region 9 meeting regarding ambulance services and what to do to get new members and keep those on the services. She thanked the residents for having voted her in for another two years.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by Jason Kluender and seconded by Brandon Hagenson. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted by
Doris M Troll
City Clerk/ Treasurer