Hanska City Council – Regular Meeting
January 8 2024
6pm – Hanska Community Center
Regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Vee at 6:00pm. Members present Vee, Miller, Kjelshus, Geiger and Larson. Members absent: None
City Clerk Moldan, Public Works Tauer.
Citizens, Angela Pick, William Wurtz, Deanna Zea, Darlene Nelson, Annette Larson, Stacy Lunsford (TDS), Jeff Veerkamp County Commissioner, Kim Hensch.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Geiger moved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Larson. Motion passed.
Open Citizens Comments: All under Library
Geiger moved to approve minutes from the December 11th 2023 meeting. Seconded by Miller. Motion passed
Miller moved to approve City claims. Seconded by Larson. Motion passed.
Library – Board members, TDS, county commissioner and Hanska residents were in attendance in support of the library. Amy Byro resigned as the library director; Friday December 29th 2023 was her last day. These supporters would like the library to continue operating. Angela Pick would like to volunteer as the library director until the city can find a replacement. Pick would open up the library Monday – Friday 2:00 – 6:00pm. Pick wants to bring back children’s activities and start new programs in the hope that this will get the community more involved and want to support the library staying open. Geiger asked how long she would do this, Pick said as long as needed. Lunsford (TDS Director) said the city does need to starting looking for a paid library director, TDS is willing to work with the city until a director can be hired. Lunsford noted it can take awhile to find a new director. Annette Larson asked if the library could be moved back to the community center? Vee said no. City records are now stored in the area that the computers were in. Zea asked what last years utility costs were, clerk will send out 2023 P&L for the library. Annette Larson stated she doesn’t think the building fund should have been used to pay for the roof replacement, why can’t it be used for bills. Vee said the library board had okayed the building fund being used for the roof replacement. Clerk said the money was given to the city for the library building. Darlene Nelson talked about the history of the library building. Nelson was the library director at the time the current library building was purchased and didn’t know anything about it until it was already purchased, along with council at that time. Vee said the building could not have been purchased without councils’ approval and feels there is misinformation being said. Nelson said TDS had no say in the building and if it would meet standards. Nelson stated that when the library was in the basement of the community center, the community center wasn’t used that much and wasn’t that big of a deal to move the books around. Wurts asked if there is no money left in the library budget who pays the bills? Clerk said the money would come out of the cities general fund. Geiger asked Pick how she plans on building the library back up? Pick said by getting children’s programs going, safe space for kids. Geiger said that in the past community members didn’t show up in support of the library. Council Member Larson asked Pick if she has any library experience? Pick said she works in the publishing world. Geiger noted that books are becoming the think of the past and need new ways to bring kids and adults to the library. Clerk stated that city attorney recommend Pick resign from the library board and sign paperwork saying she is a volunteer and not a city employee. Council and Pick agreed to this.
Fire Department- Larson gave an update. Checking account balance is $57,712.93. Paid the following bills, NUVERA, REA, C-Store. Fire Dept is looking ahead to a new pumper truck. Plan would be to have the 3 entities keep paying the current payment into a future truck fund, between 2028-2030. Fire Dept is stilling looking for a rescue truck, cost of $30,000 or under. Looking into new SCBA’s not going to use a grant. If a grant is used FD would have to replace the equipment in 10 years.
Public works- Tauer met with Bolton and Menk on the USDA grant.
City Clerk Moldan – Clerk presented Resolutions #2024-1 Annual Designations and #2024-2 Access to City Checking and Savings Accounts.
Larson made a motion to approve Resolution #2024-1 Stating Annual Designations. Seconded by Geiger. Roll call made: Larson Yes, Kjelshus Yes, Miller Yes, Geiger Yes. Motion Passed.
Larson made a motion to approve Resolution #2024-2 Regarding Access to City of Hanska’s Checking and Savings Accounts. Seconded by Miller. Roll call made: Larson Yes, Kjelshus Yes, Miller Yes, Geiger Yes. Motion Passed.
Clerk Moldan- Council should make some kind of decision on the library sooner than later. Moldan noted that having a volunteer as library director, that any duties not done would fall onto the city clerk, Moldan is willing to work with Angela. Council and Moldan discussed what the next steps should be for the library. Geiger made a motion to Approve Angela Pick a Library Director Volunteer. Seconded by Larson. Motion Passed. Council had concerns on how to get the community to attended a public hearing for the library. Clerk said she can put a letter together, council members said they will go door to door handing out the notice of public hearing on the library. Public hearing was set for Tuesday April 2nd at 6:00pm. LaSalle Fire Dept donated $20,000.00 to the city, $10,000 goes to the Hanska Fire Dept. Clerk asked if the city can use some of the donation for hanging flower baskets, council said yes. Miller asked that a thank you card be sent to the LaSalle FD. MN BCA is doing an audit on storage of background checks. City Audit is scheduled for February 22-23. Moldan would like to get a city 4th of July event going. Food, beer garden, music and parade. The Nine One bar for beer, Last Chance for food, Brent Christensen mini donuts, Megan Anderson Sweet Sisters. Old Chrome Band. Council said to go ahead with planning the event. Miller brought up Dain’s Dutchmen clerk will look into them. Moldan found a house that hadn’t set up a utility account, Moldan billed 6 years of usages and set them up on a payment plan.
Council: Vee picked up more Christmas lights for the park. Vee asked what should be done with snow removal on Broadway sidewalks. Geiger said all but one of the properties are private property and should be treated as the rest of the town. Council agreed, clerk will send out letters letting property owners know they need to clean the sidewalk. Geiger asked if there are things the city can do to try and get business to come to town.
Geiger made a motion to adjourn, Kjelshus seconded, meeting was adjourned at 7:35pm
_______________________________ __________________________________
Attest: City Clerk, Cinnamon Moldan Mayor, Daniel Vee
Hanska City Council – EDA Meeting
January 8 2024
6pm – Hanska Community Center
EDA meeting was called to order by Mayor Vee at 7:35pm. Members present Vee, Miller, Kjelshus, Geiger and Larson. Members absent: None
Wayne Nelson EDA tenant #6 wants to know if the city will pay for a walk-in shower. Geiger said the city already said no to a past request. That tenant paid for the cost of a walk-in shower. Larson agreed. All other members saying no to the request.
Geiger made a motion to adjourn, Larson seconded, meeting was adjourned at 7:38pm
