Called to Order
President Carlsrud called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM.
Roll Call
Members present: President Carlsrud, Commissioner Bishop, Commissioner Magnuson, Commissioner Gulmon.
Member Absent: Commissioner Erickson
Other present: City Administrator Crawford, City Attorney Martineck, Finance Director Klein, Chief Horner, Administrative Assistant Hintz
Agenda Items
Review Monthly Bills/Reports. Finance Director Klein reviewed the monthly bills and reports.
Discuss Task Order Amendment for Environmental Documentation, Design and Bidding for National Guard Water Tower Demolition Project. City Engineer explained that he had spoken with ND DWR and we can request this as part of a project but there is no guarantee that it will be approved.Discussion was had. Consensus was to move this to the Commission Meeting for a vote.
Discuss Changing our Credit Card Issuer. Finance Director Klein stated that by going local, we would receive a 2% cash back as well as other features. The Commissioners agreed to move forward with the change. Effective 7.1.25 we will start using the new cards. Effective 8.1.25 the previous credit cards will be cancelled.
Discuss Completing an Electric Rate Study for Valley City. City Administrator Crawford explained that MRES will pay 50% of the study. This will help determine if our current rates are at the correct price and solidify any increases in the future. The Commissioners agreed to move forward.
Discuss Estimate for 12th St & 9th Ave NW. City Engineer Peterson discussed the origin of the request for funding on extending 12th St from 9th Ave NW into their development. This was roughly three years ago and nothing has taken place since. The Developers were going to ask for an extension but their time has expired. They are now asking for funds again for this project. The baseline costs have gone from 685K to 835K, this will include the revised alignment adding a curve in the road to stay out of the rail road right-a-way and adding sidewalks. Total cost to make this work, would be 1.65M. This could be done in phases. Currently looking into options for cost share funding, No action at this time. This will be removed from the Commission meeting.
Discuss Keeping of Chickens in City Limits. The materials were reviewed and discussion was had. The preference of the Commissioners was to consider the request, but will make no changes at this time.
Discuss Overpayment of Snow Disaster Funds from the State. Finance Director explained the error made at the State level and we will be paying back the overage.This was just an FYI.
Discuss Sale of Easement on Farm Land near City Lagoon. City Attorney Martineck talked about the new Inter-operable Radio Tower System that the State has been working on for a few years. This location is the best option for the Tower by Valley City. Allo offered 10K for the easement. Allo will also reach out to the Farmer renting and pay for his crop loss. Commission consensus is agreeable to move forward with this process.
Department Reports
Department Spotlight – Street Department – Part 2
Sanitation Department Supervisor Swart reported on the Electronics Clean-Up weeks. The Residents appreciate us for providing that service. Letters were sent out to certain Residents for some of the remaining items on boulevards that are not picked up by the Crew. The 2020 Peterbilt will have the tag axle put on in Fargo at NW Truck & Trailer who had the lowest bid.
Water Department Water Supervisor Hesch updated the Commissioners on the Low-Level Alarm that alerted him. He had some Divers from the Valley City Fire Department clean the intake screen and they moved the sensor out of the silt and the Alarm ended. Due to the rain, the water usage has been down.
Electrical Department Electrical Superintendent Senf talked about the one outage from last month. The Columbia Grain project was completed. He is looking to order the fiber now for the Service Center due to it being on hand and a good price. Keeping an eye on the soft costs for the project. The plan is to be done boring the south side of town this week.
Fire Department Fire Chief Magnuson reported on the calls for service for the past month and on the blighted buildings around town. He gave updates on the listed locations.
Police Department Police Chief Horner went over the Calls for Service for the past month. He shared the Trainings and Community events that He and the Officers have been attending. Received funding with City/County Health & CHI Mercy to supply CISM Training for up to 25 Officers and First Responders and then open it up to Residents.
Street Department Operations Supervisor Klemischtalked about the annual inspection from the Department of Agriculture & we passed. Doing a great job of record keeping but will need to start advertising the spraying by means of social media to inform the Residents.Capped the old water service at the Valley Plains site, the street patching was us. Hot mixing around town, spraying for weeds and one spraying for mosquitoes is done.
Administration
City Administer Crawford reported that the New Service Center Ground Work has begun. Update meetings will be held weekly. They are moving right along, they have however run into quite a bit of cement chunks. We are working to see if the City can haul that out to save on the costs.Cost estimates will be taken care of by Gwen & Brenda.
Finance Director Klein reported that she is working on the current Audit and the 2026 Budget.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 4:29PM.