MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
MOOSE LAKE CITY COUNCIL
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
City Hall
6:30 PM Regular Meeting
Including Closed Session
Call to Order: Mayor Ted Shaw called the meeting of the Moose Lake City Council to Order. In addition to Mayor Ted
Shaw, the following City Councilors were in attendance: Curt Yort, Kris Huso, and Michael Peterson. Absent: Councilor
Jim Michalski.
Also in attendance: City Administrator; Mark Vahlsing, Chief of Police; Bryce Bogenholm, Tom Paull, Eddie Palkie, Joe
Rhein, Marci Moreland, Pat Oman.
CALL TO ORDER
Motion made by Councilor Huso to accept agenda seconded by Councilor Peterson. Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion made by Councilor Peterson to accept consent agenda, seconded by Councilor Yort. Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Shaw publically thanked Carlton County Commissioner Ted Pihlman for his service of 24 years to the County
and especially to the City of Moose Lake – Councilor Yort requested that a day be designated Ted Pihlman Day in the
City of Moose Lake. Mayor Shaw stated that he will make a declaration for this day.
PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED BUSINESS
Flood Update
Overall status – Tom Paull
Tom Paull stated that he met with FEMA today. 51 sites still need permanent repairs out of the 65 that were assessed.
Things should be wrapped up within the next two weeks.
Public Works – City Engineer, Joe Rhein
Since the last Council meeting, he stated that he had been working hard to get the estimates done which were completed
last Friday. Met with FEMA and they will go through estimates and follow up. All systems seem to be working just fine.
Marci Moreland – Goodhue County Assessor – Provided an update on the assessment process for flood-damaged
structures. She stated that the Assessors office is going to every city where flood damage occurred to provide further
information on property tax rebates, and tax credits. Her office submitted a finalized report to Department of Revenue last
Wednesday. Any homeowner with damage of 50% or greater will be getting an abatement for the 2013 property taxes.
Abatement checks can be expected sometime in early January 2013 for those who qualify. In Moose Lake, the assessor’s
office estimated $4.2 million in total residential loss.
DNR Mitigation
Administrator Vahlsing stated that the application was submitted to Minnesota Homeland Security/Emergency
Management and expects to hear back within 90 days. Four homeowners have expressed interest in this program.
Park Board
Administrator Vahlsing stated that bids would be advertised in Mid-January. Hopefully the project could begin in late
August.
Motion made to put out advertisement for bids for the campgrounds with the addition of number of working days in the
project and a penalty imposed if job not completed within that time period by Councilor Peterson, seconded by Councilor
Huso. Motion carried.
Northeast Service Cooperative Internet Services Agreement
No new information.
Closed Session – Discuss options for acquisition of commercial development of a portion of School District
property along Minnesota Highway 73.
Mayor stated that this item would be moved to end of the meeting.
Local Option Sales Tax – Next steps
Administrator Vahlsing stated that the local option sales tax was passed on November 6. The next step will be review
and hopefully passage by the state legislature and Governor. If approved by the State the sales tax would need to be
passed by Council before it is implemented. If all approvals occur the sales tax would most likely begin in 2014.
Administrator Vahlsing will have an update at the next Council meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Approve purchase of light pole Christmas decorations.
Motion to purchase the lights that the committee approved for $21,032 made by Councilor Peterson, seconded by
Councilor Huso. Motion carried.
Set special meeting to review proposed 2013 budget.
Mayor Shaw stated that a special meeting to review the draft 2013 budget would be held November 27, 2012, 5:00 p.m. –
Moose Lake City Council/Town Board Chambers.
Canvass results of November 6, 2012 general election.
Motions to approve the results of the November 6, 2012 general election and local option sales tax referendum question,
made by Councilor Yort, seconded by Councilor Huso. Motion carried.
Resolution 12-11-01 – Charitable Gambling Raffle to be held at Riverside Arena – December 7, 2012 by Moose
Lake Hockey Association.
Mayor Shaw stated that the Moose Lake Hockey Association was requesting approval to hold a charitable gambling raffle
in conjunction with Bethel University Hockey Game to be held on December 7.
Motion by Councilor Huso to accept Resolution 12-11-01 Charitable Gambling Raffle, seconded by Councilor Peterson.
Motion carried.
2013 Approval of Cigarette License
Motion by Councilor Peterson to renew the 2013 cigarette licenses, seconded by Councilor Yort. Motion carried.
Review final draft of Mediacom Cable Franchise Agreement
Administrator Vahlsing recommended holding off final approval of the draft franchise agreement. There were still some
issues in the agreement that needed clarification of one issue in the agreement. Mediacom has agreed to most of the
conditions requested by the City. Councilor Yort asked for a break down of the current and estimated fees that would be
generated through the draft agreement. He also requested that the network TV affiliates in Duluth be contacted to request
that a Twin Cities network affiliate station be included in Moose Lake.
Pilot (Payment in lieu of taxes) – Moose Lake Hospital District
Administrator Vahlsing stated he and Chief Bogenholm had met with Mercy Hospital about a possible payment in lieu of
taxes. With the hospital expansion, her will be a need for larger police presence. If the PILOT payment is made it could
be may be able to help us provide Pilot if it was used for law enforcement issues i.e. hiring another officer. This issue will
need to go to the Mercy Hospital Board.
Final Engineering Report – Riverside Arena
Mayor Shaw stated that Nelson Rudie & Associates performed a structural evaluation. The building did not appear to
forego any major settlement or deterioration from the flood waters and the building is structurally sound.
Appoint Star Gazette as Official City Newspaper
Administrator Vahlsing read a letter received from Arrowhead Leader stating they have ceased production of its weekly
publication.
Motion made to appoint the Star Gazette as Official City Newspaper by Councilor Yort, seconded by Councilor Peterson.
Motion carried.
2013 Friends of Animals Contract
Administrator Vahlsing requested this item be tabled at this time.
$40,000 Minnesota Small Cities Development Grant – Riverside Arena – Moose Lake Hockey Association.
Administrator Vahlsing stated that a small cities development grant had been approved for HVAC improvement to
Riverside Arena. The City must consent to the award as the building owner. This is a pro-rated forgivable loan program.
Motion to support Hockey Association for the $40,000 Minnesota Small Cities Development Grant made by Councilor
Peterson, seconded by Councilor Yort. Motion carried.
REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE
Police Department Report – October – Chief Bogenholm
Chief Bogenholm updated the Council. He stated that the emergency s would to be upgraded to be compliant with the
new County emergency frequencies. He felt that the upgrade cost should be minimal.
Joe Rhein – City Engineer -Bolton and Menk
 Status of Kenwood Avenue, 8th Street repairs
Approve final payment of Kenwood Avenue, 6th and 8th Street Repairs. Pay requests have been prepared
and have been submitted to Council for approval. Joe recommending accepting the work completed and
approval of the payment.
 Motion made to approve the payment of street repairs by Councilor Huso, seconded by Councilor
Peterson. Motion carried.

Review quotes for sale of cast iron and PVC pipe from Wastewater Expansion project
No new information

Update on GIS
No new information

Discuss process to preserve Wetland Credits from wastewater expansion project
No new information

Sewer line televising completed.
Joe is about halfway through the videos at this point.
MCF-Moose Lake and MSOP Citizens Advisory Update
Mayor Shaw stated staff and offenders from Willow River CIP provided significant assistance during June floods. Total
of 1786 hours worked by offenders during flood relief. Administrator Vahlsing sends a big thank you.
Councilor Yort recommends inviting the new Warden for MSOP to one of our Council meetings, and also inviting new
appointees from both facilities, MCF and MSOP.
ADJOURN – Motion to close to go into closed session by Councilor Yort, seconded by Councilor Huso. Motion
carried.
**Closed under Minn. Stat. Section 13D.05, Subd. 3(c) (3). A public body may close a meeting to develop or consider
offers or counteroffers for the purchase or sale of real or personal property.
Motion by Michalski to adjourn Council meeting, Second by Peterson, Motion Carried
Submitted by:
Paula Danelski, Recorder
Revised by
Mark R. Vahlsing
City Administrator