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Cromwell MN City Council Minutes

1272 Hwy. 73

PO Box 74

Cromwell, MN 55726-0074

Ph: 218-644-3570

Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net

Website: cromwell.govoffice.com

City of Cromwell Agenda March 19, 2014

 

Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund

 

ROLL CALL

PUBLIC HEARING 1. Playground Project Update 2. Wellhead Protection Plan

 

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.

 

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL A.  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.

 

3. OLD BUSINESS A. Cromwell Snowmobile club will not be able to donate toward street lights on trail due to high expense this year for trail grooming.  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention.

 

NEW BUSINESS A. Bent Vigness – direct deposit

 

4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior meeting minutes B. Pavilion calendar C. General Ledger for February (listing receipts and disbursements) D. Claims list for approval E. Liquor Store monthly sales total F. Pull tab totals for January $791.40 G. Treasurer’s monthly report  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.

 

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Manager’s Report B. Project Status Report-JPJ Engineering C. Request from property owner to add a water & sewer seasonal rate. D. Request from Rick Aho to waive extra water charge due to running water to keep sewer line open.

 

6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report B. Approve Megan Arnold’s step raise

 

7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION A. Consider hiring an on-call person to clean after events.

 

City of Cromwell

Carlton County, MN
Public Hearing
March 19, 2014
6:00pm

 

Prior public notice was provided and a public hearing was held on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 6:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion to discuss the playground project and the Wellhead Protection Plan.

 

The public hearing was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mayor Samuel A. Clark.

 

Present: Mayor: Samuel Clark
Council Members: Ray Lally, Warren Peters
Absent: Lisa Lund (unexcused), Tom Borglund (excused)

 

Others

Present: Jen Anderson, Amber from Landscape Structures, Mike Strodtman from Minnesota Rural Water Association, Brad Matlack from Carlton County Soil & Water Conservation District.

 

6:00 pm

 

Amber from Flagship Recreation/Landscape Structures gave a PowerPoint presentation on her company’s playground structures. She explained many aspects considered in the process of planning a playground. She explained how they analyze the site, consider the budget, work on the planning and design, the timeframe to consider, warranties, maintenance, paint quality, and overall success for the community.

 

6:30 pm

 

Mike Strodtman from Minnesota Rural Water Association was present to update us on the City of Cromwell’s Wellhead Protection Plan which is required by the State of Minnesota. This has been an on-going process for the past two years. Part 1 covers where our drinking water comes from. Mike had a map of our DWSMA (Drinking Water Supply Management Area). Part 1 includes the management of our drinking water. It is about protecting the water area by locating private wells, unused wells, shallow disposal wells, storage tanks, and underground fuel tanks. Part 2 is about developing and managing strategies to maintain safe drinking water. Part of the Wellhead Protection Plan is public awareness and education about the importance of safe drinking water.

 

Cromwell’s Wellhead Protection Plan includes an emergency plan which contains who to contact, contractors to call, and the use of a generator for water supply.

 

Minnesota Rural Water Association is working with the city of Cromwell to obtain a grant for the city to help with the wiring for a generator at the wellhouse.

 

Motion by Lally, seconded by Peters to adjourn the public hearing at 7 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
____________________ ____________________
LuAnn Freiermuth, Samuel A. Clark, Mayor
City Clerk
 
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN

Regular Council Meeting Minutes

March 19, 2014 - 7:00pm

 

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on March 19, 2014 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:07 pm by Mayor Samuel A. Clark.

 

Present: Mayor: Samuel Clark
Council Members: Ray Lally, Warren Peters
Absent: Lisa Lund (unexcused), Tom Borglund (excused)

Employees: Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), Tom Johnson (Maintenance), Brent Vigness (Custodian)

Others Present: None
 
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA
Under New Business add Brent Vigness with direct deposit concerns.
Motion by Peters to approve the Agenda with additions, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously.

 

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL

 

3. OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

Brent Vigness expressed his opinion and concerns about direct deposit. Discussion followed. Mayor Clark expressed that the auditor recommended direct deposit to alleviate issues and for security reasons. Mayor Clark said he would check into other options before the next city council meeting.

 

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior meeting minutes.

B. Pavilion calendar

C. General Ledger for February (listing receipts and disbursements)

D. Claims list for approval

E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report

F. Pull tab totals for January $791.40

G. Treasurer’s Monthly Report

 

Mayor Clark reported that prior to the audit he went through the General Ledger and had the clerk make some corrections, specifically where money was put into one fund and it should have been a different fund. Deposits were correct, just needed to disburse money differently between funds.

 

Motion by Lally, seconded by Peters to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

 

5. WATER/SEWER/MAINTENANCE

 

A. Maintenance Report

 

a. Tom reported that the new air compressor at the fire hall worked for 5 days and now kicks out the electricity. He has called the technician to take a look at it. The fire department is able to use the small compressor until the new one is running properly again.

b. Tom attended the Rural Water and Wastewater Conference. He has received his 8 hours for water credits and sewer credits.

c. Water Tower Clean & Coat, Inc. was at the conference so Tom received a quote from them for cleaning the water tower. Pressure washing is $2200 with an additional $600 for a diver option. Tom explained the option of purchasing a mixer. This would keep the water continually mixing to prevent the water in the tower from freezing and also keep the water from stratifying.

d. Jim Gassert from the ATV Club was notified of the concern for street lights along the ATV/snowmobile trail on South Point and Riverview Road and was asked about making a contribution toward the cost of installing two street lights. They will discuss this at their next meeting.

e. Jim Gassert is working on ATV/snowmobile trail maps. The ATV Club will pay for them. Once the trails are mapped out correctly signs will be installed.

f. The liquor store has some wiring issues. Joriman Electric has been notified. A light switch for the beer cooler will be installed, an outlet will be added for the pizza machine, and an outlet for the beer cooler.

g. The pavilion floor will be stripped and re-waxed before the May graduation parties. Brent Vigness and Steven Phipps have agreed to help.

h. Phil Lippo has been doing rounds on the weekends.

i. Request from property owner to add a seasonal rate category for water and sewer fees. It was decided to leave the rates as is.

j. The sewer line at the Country Inn froze up so the water needs to be continually running to prevent further freeze-up. Rick Aho has requested from the city to waive the additional cost of running water to prevent freeze-up. Mayor Clark stated that maybe we should have a general policy set for the 2013-2014 winter to charge a monthly fee based on last year’s monthly charge for those who are using water to prevent freeze-ups.

 

Motion made by Lally to use the same monthly water usage as last year for those who need to run water to prevent freeze-ups, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

 

B. Project Status Report from JPJ

 

a. Waiting for information from MnDOT regarding the TH 73 North speed zone.

b. MnDOT indicated that the No Passing Zone striping will take place in the 2014 construction season.

 

6. LIQUOR STORE

 

A. Manager’s Report by Paul Lampi.

a. March 29-30 – Alumni Basketball Tournament. There have been 20-22 teams signed up. Bartenders have been told to be diligent about checking ID’s.

b. April 12 – Checking with Leif Productions to DJ.

c. April 26 – Stranded

d. Discussion at bartender’s meeting included inventory, rotating stock, stocking.

e. Ad was placed in the local papers for a part-time bartender.

f. Promo’s were discussed to include:

 

Tuesday Night Drawing. Start with $50 bar bucks and add $25 each week up to a maximum of $200. Will empty the box and start over after a $200 winner is picked.
Sign up on Sunday and Mondays. First drawing will be on April 1.

Mexican Mondays – Chips and Salsa will be served. Specials of 50 cents off on Mexican beers and a special price for Margaritas.

“Tea’d” up Tuesdays – Golfing theme. Specials on Long Island Teas.

g. If the electrician can get the extra outlet before the basketball tournament weekend an additional pizza oven will be available.

 

B. Employee Evaluations/Step Raises.

 

a. It was decided to hold a special meeting to discuss all employee evaluations. Mayor Clark will contact all council members to set a date.

 

7. PARKS AND RECREATION/PAVILION

 

A. Discussion on hiring an on-call person for cleaning the pavilion after events. Leaving the clean -up to the group renting the pavilion has not always worked out well. Clerk will check on details and contact Stan and Judy Davis.

 

8. GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY

 

A. Discussion on the accounting software used in the city office. City Auditor recommended switching to CTAS. Our current Quickbooks is expiring and in need of purchasing updates by May 31. Cost was discussed and it was approved by the council that the clerk should get CTAS set up.

 

B. Mayor Clark requested approval from the city council to attend the Minnesota Mayor’s Association on April 25-26 in Fergus Falls.

 

Motion made by Peters to approve the Mayor to attend the Minnesota Mayor’s Association Conference, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously.

 

C. Discussion on health insurance for city employees. MnSure and other options were discussed. It was decided to continue with what the city offers for now and will discuss this further in the months’ ahead.

 

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT/AMBULANCE

 

10. CLERK/TREASURER

 

A. Clerk called several natural gas pipeline companies to inquire about the city getting natural gas hook-up. It would cost approximately $20-25 million to get the pipeline to the outskirts of the city to a distribution center.

 

B. City Auditor will be present at the April and May city council meetings.

 

C. Clerk is getting quotes for a new city office copier.

 

D. Staff member from Congressman Nolan’s office will be at the Cromwell Pavilion on March 25th from 10 am to noon for anyone interested.

 

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

 

Ray Lally -
Warren Peters - Council member Peters is checking on options and prices to update the bar computer. Mayor Clark recently purchased a new laser printer for the bar.
Lisa Lund -
Tom Borglund –

 

12. Mayor’s Notes

 

Discussion on the budget for 2014. It will stay the same as 2013.

Motion made by Lally to approve the budget for 2014, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

 

ADJOURN

Motion made by Peters, seconded by Lally to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
_______________________________
Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
_____________________
LuAnn Freiermuth, City Clerk-Treasurer 

1272 Hwy. 73,

PO Box 74

Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570

Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net

Website: cromwell.govoffice.com

 

City of Cromwell Agenda February 19, 2014
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund

 

ROLL CALL

 

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.

 

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL A. Bill Zelazny- request for street lights on Riverview and Southpoint Roads  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.

 

3. OLD BUSINESS A. Update on the playground project. Presentation by Amber from Landscape Structures. B. Approve resolution of sponsorship of outdoor grant application C. Approval of Cromwell/Wright Joint Powers Agreement and appoint members to the joint powers fire district board D. Approve purchase of new air compressor for the fire hall E. Harvest Fest Expenditures letter from Atty Yetka and Resolution to accept donation from Harvest Fest F. Approve bank deposit of Flattum memorial  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior meeting minutes B. Pavilion calendar C. General Ledger for January (listing receipts and disbursements) D. Claims list for approval E. Liquor Store monthly sales total F. Pull tab totals for Dec $367.40 G. Treasurer’s monthly report  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.

 

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Manager’s Report B. Project Status Report-JPJ Engineering C. Open sealed bids for city truck

 

6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report B. Lawful Gambling Ordinance


City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2014 - 7:00pm

 

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on February 19, 2014 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm by Mayor Samuel A. Clark.

Present: Mayor: Samuel Clark
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Ray Lally, Warren Peters
Absent: Tom Borglund (excused)

Employees: Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), LuAnn Freiermuth (City Clerk-Treasurer), Tom Johnson (Maintenance), Steve Bridge (Fire Chief)

Others Present: John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering

Public: Commissioner Gary Peterson, Bill Zelazny, Rodney Lund, Deb Switzer, Rob Switzer

 

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

Postpone employee evaluation until March city council meeting.

Motion by Lally to approve the Agenda with changes, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

 

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL

Bill Zelazny addressed the issue of the need for a street light at the intersection of Riverview and South Point Road for better visibility and safety. The snowmobile and ATV trails cross at this intersection. Cost was discussed. Clerk will check with the local snowmobile club and Tom will check with the local ATV club to see if they could contribute to the expense.

 

3. OLD BUSINESS

A. Steve Bridge gave an up-date on the playground project. A representative from Landscape Structures will be at a special city council meeting on March 19, at 6 pm, to give a presentation.

Mayor Clark requested to be taken off the playground committee and Lisa Lund volunteered to be put on the committee.

 

Motion by Lally to accept the Resolution of Sponsorship of the Outdoor Grant Application, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

 

B. Discussion of the Joint Powers Fire District board. Jeri Haugen and Donavon Ranta have been appointed from the Wright city council and Lisa Lund and Ray Lally have been appointed from the Cromwell city council.

 

Motion made by Peters to appoint Ray Lally and Lisa Lund to the Joint Powers District Board, seconded by Mayor Clark, Motion carried unanimously.

Carl Brandt, Town & Country Insurance, is checking on insurance.

League of Minnesota Cities will do a review of the Joint Powers Agreement.

 

C. The Cromwell Fire Department is in need of a new air compressor. Information from Applied Technologies was discussed. Cost is $1802 which includes delivery, installation, and warranty.

Motion made by Lally to approve the purchase of an air compressor from Applied Technologies for $1802.00, seconded by Lund. Motion carried unanimously.

 

D. A discussion was held on how to proceed with the Harvest Fest organization. City attorney Yetka sent a letter explaining the advantages and disadvantages of operating as an independent entity. He also explained the criteria the city must meet to disburse current funds. Commissioner Gary Peterson was present to explain how Barnum operates their Spring Fever Days as a separate entity and also had information pertaining to a “Contribution Fund”.

 

Rob Switzer asked about start-up funding. The Economic Development Corporation could give a loan of up to $2000 under the Historic Celebration criteria. Discussion was held on ideas to obtain funds through a steak fry, raffle tickets, or through the 10% Lawful Gambling Contribution Fund.

 

Motion made by Lally to approve the resolution to accept $2864.61 from the Cromwell Economic Development Corporation for the purpose of purchasing and installing playground equipment for the Cromwell Park Pavilion, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

 

E. Bank rates were discussed pertaining to depositing the Flattum memorial money.

 

Motion made by Lally to approve depositing Flattum memorial money at Lake State Credit Union in Moose Lake, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

 

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior meeting minutes.

B. Pavilion calendar

C. General Ledger for January (listing receipts and disbursements)

D. Claims list for approval

E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report

F. Pull tab totals for December $367.40

G. Treasurer’s Monthly Report

Correction to the January 15, 2014 minutes: Under Public Inquiries correct to: Heather Cunningham

 

Motion by Lund to approve the consent agenda with noted changes, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

 

5. WATER/SEWER/MAINTENANCE

 

A. Maintenance Report

a. Two lift stations will be serviced per year. Dakota Pump was contacted and quoted a price of $175.

b. Joriman Electric has repaired the electrical outlets at the clinic.

c. A new water heater was purchased for the clinic.

d. Tom inquired about pricing for a trailer at Widdes. He will keep checking for comparisons. He will also check on a price for a dump trailer.

e. ABS Auto Solutions would charge $475 for a spray-on bed liner for the new truck.

 

Motion made by Peters to approve the purchase of a bed liner from ABS Auto Solutions for $475, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously.

 

f. Discussion on snow removal by the fire hall.

g. Sealed bids for the 1998 Ford Pickup truck were opened. Twelve bids were received. Rodney Lund had the high bid of $3251.00.

 

Motion made by Lally to accept the high bid of $3251.00 from Rodney Lund. Seconded by Peters. Yeas: Lally, Peters, Clark. Nays: None. Abstain: Lund. Motion carried.

 

B. Project Status Report from John Mattonen.

 

a. Working with Mn DOT on the speed zone on north Hwy 73 by the Villa.

b. There seems to be no better option than the exterior water tower drain valve for the water tower. Discussion on extending the standpipe inside the tower from 18 inches to 2-3 feet.

 

6. LIQUOR STORE

 

A. Manager’s Report by Paul Lampi.

 

a. February 22 – Save A Boob Fishing Contest and Kyle Simms Memorial Snowmobile Run. Expecting good off-sale business.

b. March 15 – Simpson Road. St. Patrick’s Day Weekend - Will have a drawing with prizes.

c. March 1 - 15: Irish drink specials.

d. Three more weeks of Dash for Cash. Snowmobiling business has been good.

e. Will start up the Tuesday Night Drawings again.

f. End of March/first of April there will be an Alumni Basketball Tournament in town.

g. Joriman Electric has been contacted to put in additional outlets to separate the popcorn machine and the ATM, and the 2nd TV and the cameras. This was an OSHA requirement.

h. Issues yet to rectify: The outlet in the backroom so that the beer lights can be turned off at night and a leak in the roof in the liquor room.

i. Bartender Meeting: Discussion on ideas for new promotions, restocking and rotation of inventory.

j. Pool League has been successful.

k. There is an interest to get a dart league started.

B. Discussion on Lawful Gambling Ordinance.

 

Motion made by Lally to approve the ordinance regulating the conduct of Lawful Gambling with the City of Cromwell, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

 

7. PARKS AND RECREATION/PAVILION

 

8. GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY

 

A. City Clerk requested approval from the council for Sam, Tom, and herself to attend the 2014 Safety & Loss Control Workshop in Duluth on April 9. Cost is $20 each.

 

Motion made by Peters to approve sending LuAnn, Sam, and Tom to this workshop, seconded by Lund. Motion carried unanimously.

 

B. Discussion on the revolving loan fund from USDA for a Rural Business Enterprise Grant.

C. Discussion on the Request for Proposals for city auditor. Mayor Clark suggested hiring Hoffman, Dale, and Swenson from Thief River Falls.

 

Motion made by Clark to hire Hoffman, Dale, and Swenson for city auditor for the year 2013 with option of years 2014 and 2015. Yeas: Clark, Peters. Nays: Lally, Lund. Motion failed.

 

Further discussion continued.

 

Motion made by Peters, seconded by Clark to hire Hoffman, Dale, and Swenson for city auditor for the year 2013 with options of years 2014 and 2015. Motion carried unanimously.D. Discussion on the Request for Proposals for city attorney.

 

Motion made by Lally to approve hiring Frank Yetka from Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, Pritchett, & Helwig Law Office for city attorney, seconded by Lund. Yeas: Peters, Lally, Lund. Nays: Clark. Motion carried.

 

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT/AMBULANCE

 

Discussion on options of purchasing a new copier or continuing with our current lease. The Fire Hall and the City Hall have currently been sharing the expense of the copier at the Fire Hall. Steve Bridge sent an e-mail suggesting that we continue with our 50/50 split agreement and that we should consider a new lease with a new copier. Clark suggested that with the Joint Powers Agreement going into effect that the city should consider their own copier. Clark asked the clerk to check around to see what other businesses are doing for their copier needs.

10. Clerk/Treasurer

Congressman Nolan will be at the Cromwell Pavilion on February 26 from 10 am to noon. Clark asked the clerk put up signs in the community.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Ray Lally – The Ambulance District has purchased 2 tablets for $3600.00.
Warren Peters – Would like to see a natural gas line come to the Cromwell area. Clark asked the clerk to check around to see which pipelines would cover this area.
Lisa Lund – Would like to hire a backup for the clerk during times she is not available. Discussion on borrowing a deputy clerk from one of the surrounding communities.

12. Mayor’s Notes

Clark asked the clerk to check to see how other cities conduct their employee evaluations.

ADJOURN
Motion made by Lally, seconded by Peters to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
_______________________________
Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
_____________________
LuAnn Freiermuth, City Clerk-Treasurer 
1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74
Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net
Website: cromwell.govoffice.com

City of Cromwell
Agenda
January 15, 2014
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark
Council Members: Raymond Lally, Tom Borglund, Warren Peters, Lisa Lund

ROLL CALL

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A.
B.
C.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL

Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.

3. OLD BUSINESS

A.
B.

Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention.

NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior meeting minutes
B. Pavilion calendar
C. General Ledger for December (listing receipts and disbursements)
D. Claims list for approval
E. Liquor Store monthly sales total
F. Pull tab totals for Nov $1137.20
G. Treasurer’s monthly report

Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE

A. Manager’s Report
B. Project Status Report-JPJ Engineering

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s Report
B. Employment compensation for Karen Johnson

7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION

A. Jen Anderson/Steve Bridge-update on playground
B. Resolution to accept donations for bathroom tile.
C. Deb Switzer – Harvest Fest funds
D. Resolution to accept donation from Harvest Fest

8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY

A. Approve sending clerk to Minnesota Municipal Clerks Institute in Plymouth on April 28 –
May 2.
B. Approve time off for clerk from Jan 27-Feb 12
C. Approve renewal of annual pavilion contacts at no charge
D. Approve annual appointments
E. Annual review of council wages
F. Review of fee schedule
G. Review RFP’s
H.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE

A. Review and Approve Joint Powers Agreement
B. Resolution to accept the bequest from
Flattum estate

10. CLERK / TREASURER

A. Jan 23 Congressman Nolan at Cloquet City Hall from noon – 1:30
B.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Lisa Lund:
Ray Lally:
Warren Peters:
Tom Borglund:

12. MAYOR’S NOTES

A.

ADJOURN
 

City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
January 15, 2014 - 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on January 15, 2014 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm by Mayor Samuel A. Clark.

Present: Mayor: Samuel Clark
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Ray Lally, Warren Peters, Tom Borglund
Absent: None

Employees: Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), LuAnn Freiermuth (City Clerk-Treasurer), Tom Johnson (Maintenance)
Others
Present: John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering
Public: Steve Bridge, Mike Peterson, Scott Lehti, Jen Anderson, Deb Switzer, Rob Switzer, County Commissioner Gary Peterson

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA
Under Fire and Ambulance add B – Resolution to accept the bequest from Frances V. Flattum estate.
Motion by Lally to approve the Agenda with additions, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL
County Commissioner Gary Peterson was present to inform us of various county projects and issues:
The State of Minnesota has approved the Limited Use Permit for a culvert on North Highway 73 for the ATV trail.

Moose Lake Airport has received a special award for its improvements at the airport. The Moose Lake Star Gazette ran an article on this.

Text for Life Program, a suicide prevention program, has been organized in the Moose Lake High School. It has been so successful that it looks like it will be going state-wide and possibly nation-wide.
A land exchange, based from a treaty from 1854, has taken place between the Fond du Lac reservation and the county. The reservation will gain land for housing and the county will gain timber land.
The County Transfer Station has had financial issues and Heather Cunningham is working on solutions. The court system is also working to recoup taxpayer’s money.

Sappi has had a $50 million remodeling project and is now producing cellulose. Cellulose is used in textile products and consumer goods and is being shipped world-wide.

Locally Laid Egg Company is a local business out of Wrenshall that has received national recognition on Facebook and is a finalist for a commercial during the Super Bowl.

Commissioner Peterson mentioned the county has finished their budget. There are many budget needs and the county is continually looking at how to stay within the budget. One example was there were requests to hire 10 new employees but they had to cut it down to 2 new hires. One jailer and a Human Resource person.

Questions were asked pertaining to the maintenance on Swede Lake Road, which is in the 5-year plan, and the East Four Corners Road. Commissioner Peterson explained that our country’s infrastructure is in great need of repair and that finding a solution in the budget is difficult. Options include levying for road work which would increase taxes, the county could add a wheelage tax on vehicles when licenses/tabs are due, or another solution would be to add a half-a-cent sales tax in the county.

Enbridge is in the process of bringing the oil pipeline through the county.

There is a mining company buying up land in the Tamarack area.

3. OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of prior meeting minutes.
B. Pavilion calendar
C. General Ledger for December (listing receipts and disbursements)
D. Claims list for approval
E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report
F. Pull tab totals for November $1137.20
G. Treasurer’s Monthly Report
Correction to the December 18, 2013 minutes: Under Parks and Recreation, letter B, delete “Motion made by Borglund to approve purchasing playground equipment from Landscape Structures and keeping $12,500 in the city general fund earmarked for playground equipment, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.” It should be corrected to state, “Discussion on purchasing playground equipment from Landscape Structures and $12,500 from Cromwell Economic Development Corp would remain earmarked for playground equipment.”
Corrections to the Special Meeting held on January 9, 2014: Delete: “Either city may back out at any time but there would be a substantial penalty after the 2 year trial period.” It should be corrected to state, “Either city may back out at any time and there would be no penalty for leaving the Joint Powers Agreement.”
Delete: “Attorney Yetka will write up the final draft of the Joint Powers Agreement and present it at the next meeting.” It should be corrected to state, “Attorney Yetka will write up the final draft of the Joint Powers Agreement for consideration at the next regular city council meeting.”
Motion by Lally, seconded by Peters to approve the consent agenda with noted changes. Motion carried unanimously.

5. WATER/SEWER/MAINTENANCE
A. Maintenance Report
a. Replaced transducer in water tower. It is now working well.
b. All lift stations are in good working condition and all paperwork is complete.
c. Four electrical outlets in the clinic need to be replaced.
d. Maintenance is needed on the pavilion water heater, a curb stop needs repair, and a water line in the clinic needs repair to eliminate dripping.
e. OSHA showed up for an inspection. The city received a good report. No citations, just recommendations for minor details.
f. The city now has a new truck. Tom requested getting a “City of Cromwell” sign for the doors.
g. Tom put in a request that the city purchase a trailer and a skidster sometime in the future. The council agreed that a trailer could be purchased and that Tom could begin checking on prices.
h. Tom put in a request for a spray-on bed liner for the new truck. The council agreed and told Tom he should look into pricing.

B. Project Status Report from John Mattonen.

a. Looking into exterior water tower drain valve options.
b. No recent reconstruction activity.

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s Report by Paul Lampi.

a. January 18 – Free juke box night – Vintage Run
b. February 8 – Live Bait (tentatively)
c. February 22 – Save A Boob Fishing Contest – should be good for business
d. March 15 – Simpson Road
e. Pool League on Thursday nights. 10 teams. Pool money and juke box business are good on these nights.
f. Dash for Cash is into its 3rd week. Snowmobiling business has been good.
g. Discussed ideas for new promotions at employee meetings: Possible Casino Night. Need to check on the legalities and details.
h. March 15 - St. Patrick’s Day Promo. Starting in March possibly having a ticket drawing for each Irish drink purchased.
i. Miller Beer is having a Retro Can Promo in February. There will be a special on the Miller Retro cans of beer at $2.50.
j. Other promo ideas: Get Kinky in February, Mexican Monday, Bloody Mary Bar, pajama party.
k. Inventory is done. Paperwork is being completed.
l. Re-addressed Brent Vigness’s hourly wage. Manager Lampi recommended that step increases be more than 20 cents for this position.  The clerk will check with the State and the council will look at updating the wage scale.
m. The felt has been replaced on the pool table.
n. Discussion on Karen Johnson’s position. She was hired on a temporary basis until interviews could be conducted per the June 19, 2013 meeting. The probationary period does not apply to temporary positions. Due to the lapse between the resignation of the city clerk and the hiring of a new clerk, interviews were delayed until into October. Karen’s status was not changed from temporary, therefore her hourly wage remained the same. No action taken to make changes in wage.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION/PAVILION

A. Steve Bridge and Jennifer Anderson were present to give an update on the playground project. Money has been raised from several events, donations, and grants totaling $62,000. Application for a DNR matching funds grant will be submitted by the March 31 deadline. With the current funds, a down payment, and an estimated $10,000 from the 2014 Kaleb Anderson Memorial Fun Run/Walk the plan is to purchase and install playground equipment this year.

B. Resolution to accept money donated to the pavilion for replacing the floors in the restrooms.
Motion made by Peters to accept $200 from the YOT Club for the purpose of replacing the flooring in the pavilion restrooms, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion made by Peters to accept $200 from the Cardinal Quilters for the purpose of replacing the flooring in the pavilion restrooms, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Deb and Rob Switzer were present to request that the Harvest Fest checking account funds be moved back from the city playground fund to the Harvest Fest account.

Mayor Clark called a recess to the regular council city meeting to discuss Cromwell Economic Development Corp business.

Motion made to recess by Borglund, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting recessed at 8:33 pm.

Motion to reconvene the regular city council meeting at 8:49 pm. Motion made by Peters, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously.

Resolution to accept Harvest Fest funds will be postponed until the next regular city council meeting.

8. GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY

A. City Clerk requested approval from the council to attend the 2014 Municipal Clerks & Finance Officers Association Conference in St. Cloud to be held March 18 – 21. Cost of the conference is $200 and motel accommodations at $85 plus tax per night for two nights.

Motion made by Lund to approve sending LuAnn Freiermuth to this conference, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously.

B. City clerk requested approval from the city council for time off from work from Jan 27 – Feb 12.

Motion made by Peters to approve clerk’s time off from work, seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.

C.Renewal of annual Pavilion Contract at no charge. Clerk will get updated information from the Minnesota Department of Health regarding the sale of food.

D. Renewal of Annual Appointments. Lund will replace Lally on Civil Defense, and Lally will
replace Lund on the Program Liaison/Census Bureau. Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, & Pritchett will be deleted and the new appointment will be inserted after February’s meeting with approval of city attorney for 2014.

Motion made by Borglund to approve Annual Appointments with noted changes, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

E. Annual review of council wages. No action taken.

F. Annual review of Fee Schedule. No action taken.

G. Review of RFP’s. Request for Proposals for city attorney and city auditor were opened, reviewed and discussed. Decision tabled until the next regular city council meeting.

9.FIRE DEPARTMENT/AMBULANCE

A. Discussion on Joint Powers Agreement with the Cromwell and Wright Fire Departments. Mayor Clark had some concern with the wording in section 10.1, “Notice of intent to withdraw from participation in the Joint Powers District may be given at any time but will only be given effect on a calendar year basis with a minimum of twelve months’ notice of intent to withdraw.” Clark recommend changing the wording to state, “Notice of intent to withdraw from participation in the Joint Powers District may be given at any time but will not take effect until the end of the current fiscal year.

1/3 Haugen township was omitted from section 1.1 General Purpose. Attorney Yetka will be notified to include 1/3 Haugen township.

Discussion concerning tax implications and who will ultimately be making those decisions. Mike Peterson, Steve Bridge, and Scott Lehti explained the benefits to this joint agreement with combining resources, combining members, and a more efficient department. They also explained that this would be a two year trial period and if either city is not satisfied they may back out.

Motion by Lally to approve the Joint Powers Agreement with noted changes, seconded by Lund. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Resolution to approve accepting donation of $126,826.28 from the estate of Frances V. Flattum with limitations to be used for capital expenditures for the Cromwell Fire Department.

Motion by Peters to approve accepting donation of $126,826.28 to be used exclusively for capital expenditures, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously.

10. Clerk/Treasurer

A. Congressman Nolan will be at the Cloquet City Hall on January 23 from noon until 1:30 pm for anyone interested.

B. Sales and Use Tax audit went well.

C. Sealed bids will be accepted for the old city truck. Clerk will place an ad in the paper. Sealed bids will be opened at the regular February city council meeting.

D. Request approval for monthly meeting dates for the Cromwell City Council on each 3rd Wednesday of the month for 2014.

Motion by Lally to approve monthly meeting dates on each 3rd Wednesday of the month, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Ray Lally
Warren Peters
Lisa Lund
Tom Borglund – Requested that when a city trailer is purchased that it be large enough to haul a skidster and/or several lawnmowers

12. Mayor’s Notes

ADJOURN

Motion made by Borglund, seconded by Peters to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
_______________________________
Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
_____________________
LuAnn Freiermuth, City Clerk-Treasurer 

1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74 Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net Website: cromwell.govoffice.com
City of Cromwell Agenda December 18, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund

 ROLL CALL
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.
3. OLD BUSINESS A. B.  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention.
NEW BUSINESS Following Dec 18 Regular Council Meeting the Cromwell Economic Development Corporation committee will hold a meeting.
4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior meeting minutes B. Pavilion calendar C. General Ledger for November (listing receipts and disbursements) D. Claims list for approval E. Liquor Store monthly sales total F. Pull tab totals for October $752.40 G. Treasurer’s monthly report  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Manager’s Report B. Project Status Report – JPJ Engineering MnDOT proposes to stripe a No Passing Zone on 210.
6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report a. Raenese Jokimaki earned her 1040 hours as of Oct 21. b. Brent Vigness earned his 1040 hours as of Nov 8. c. Karen Johnson, hired as a temporary on June 17, 2013. Change of status and wage rate.
7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION A. Request from Jessica Collman, Save a Boob Fishing dinner and dance on Feb 22, that the city pay the insurance for this fundraiser. B. Playground



City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
December 18, 2013 - 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on December 18, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm by Mayor Samuel A. Clark.

Present: Mayor: Samuel Clark
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Ray Lally, Warren Peters. Tom Borglund
Absent: None
Employees: Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), LuAnn Freiermuth (City Clerk-Treasurer)
Others Present: John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering
Public: Steve Bridge

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

Under General add D – Transfer $80,000 from liquor fund to general fund.
Under Parks add B – Playground

Motion by Lally to approve the Agenda with additions, seconded by Lund. Motion carried unanimously.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL

3. OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

Following the December 18 regular council meeting the Cromwell Economic Development Corporation committee will hold a meeting.

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior meeting minutes.
B. Pavilion calendar
C. General Ledger for October (listing receipts and disbursements)
D. Claims list for approval
E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report
F. Pull tab totals for September $1419.40
G. Treasurer’s Monthly Report

Motion by Peters, seconded by Lally to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

5. WATER/SEWER/MAINTENANCE

A. Maintenance Report
a. New truck to arrive December 23.
b. Transducer has arrived. Will be installed shortly as weather permits.

B. Project Status Report from John Mattonen.
a. Looking into exterior water tower drain valve options.
b. MnDOT proposes to stripe a No Passing Zone on TH 210 east of TH 73 during the next striping project

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s Report by Paul Lampi.
a. Shop and Wine on December 14 had a decent turnout with 7 vendors participating. Have some new ideas for next year to promote a larger turnout.
b. December 24, Christmas Eve, close at 6 pm
c. December 25, Christmas Day, closed
d. New Year’s Eve, DJ Dean Nyberg, 8-12 pm
e. Bar is decorated for Christmas.
f. Dash for Cash has started with 24 bars participating. Every Sunday night for the next 10 weeks a drawing will be held for a $25 Bar Bucks gift certificate at each participating bar.
g. New Year’s Day, open at noon.
h. Inventory to be conducted on January 2. Bar will open at noon.
i. Brent Vigness and Raenese Jokimaki have earned their 1040 hours of employment. Manager Lampi recommended the next step raise for each of them.

Motion made by Borglund to approve the next step increase in wages for Vigness and Jokimaki, seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously.

j. Discussion on bartenders. Melissa Johnson and Courtney Kruse both have completed their liquor training.
k. Brandi Peterson has been hired as part-time custodian.
l. Employee Meeting: Discussed upcoming events, scheduling and training. Working on details for a “Casino Night” with proceeds going toward a charity. Will schedule this in January or February.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION/PAVILION

A. Request by Jessica Collman for the Save a Boob fishing contest dinner and dance on
February 22, that the city provide the insurance needed for this event. City clerk will check with the City’s insurance carrier to see if our standard coverage will be enough. If a separate rider is necessary it will be up to the event organizers to provide additional insurance.

B. Steve Bridge and Jennifer Anderson toured Landscape Structures in Delano, MN, a company that makes playground equipment. They would like to purchase playground equipment from this company rather than Miracle Recreation as stated at the October council meeting. This is a Minnesota based company, employee owned, with high quality playground equipment at a lower price. Installation will be done by volunteers with a supervisor from Landscape Structures in the spring.

Rescind the motion made on October 23, 2013 by Borglund and seconded by Peters to approve the purchase of Option 2 with Miracle Recreation with the city earmarking the remaining balance needed until further funds can be raised.

Discussion on purchasing playground equipment from Landscape Structures and keeping $12,500 from Cromwell Economic Development Corp earmarked for playground equipment.

8. GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY
A. The Welcome to Cromwell sign installation has been postponed until spring. An extension has been given for the grant to cover this project.

B. Discussion on zoning permit for Regge Vigness.

Motion made by Peters to approve the zoning permit, seconded by Lund. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Discussion on Background Review Group for criminal checks.

Motion made by Lally to approve contracting with Background Review Group, seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Discussion on transferring money from liquor fund to general fund. Mayor Clark recommended transferring $80,000. Each year $50,000 is transferred, with an additional $30,000 this year to cover the new maintenance/city truck.

Motion made by Lally to approve transferring $80,000 from the liquor fund to the general fund, seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT/AMBULANCE
A. Fire Department will be receiving memorial money to be earmarked for equipment only. A separate account will be opened.
B. Discussion on Joint Powers Agreement with the Cromwell and Wright Fire Departments. Steve Bridge explained the benefits of combining the two departments. Discussion on the tax impact, forming a board, managing funds, insurance, the pros and cons. Steve explained this would be a 2-year trial and then could be decided if this is beneficial or not. Mayor Clark will contact Frank Yetka, city attorney, for his recommendation on this. A special meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at 7 pm at the Cromwell pavilion provided Attorney Yetka is able to attend.
Motion by Peters to set a special meeting of the city council to discuss the Joint Powers Agreement and Fire District, seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
C. Resolution to approve Steve Bridge as Fire Chief for 2014.
Motion by Lally to approve Steve Bridge as Fire Chief for 2014, seconded by Lund. Motion carried unanimously.

10. Clerk/Treasurer

A. Discussion on pavilion rental.
B. Request for Proposal sent to 8 auditors ad 8 attorneys.
C. $740 received for easement from Great River Energy and $5518.00 received as a League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust dividend. ’84 Bonds Debt paid in full as of January 1, 2014.
D. ATV culvert Limited Use Permit paperwork in process.
E. It has been suggested that rather than a “minimum maintenance road” sign for Lake Street a weight limit sign should be set in place.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Ray Lally- Inquired about the striping to be done on 210 through town.

Would like JPJ to revisit the 30 mph zone on north 73, and inquiring about extending it north beyond the Villa Vista.

Discussion on transferring money from liquor fund to general fund. Mayor Clark recommended transferring $80,000. Each year $50,000 is transferred, with an additional $30,000 this year to cover the new maintenance/city truck.

Motion made by Lally to approve transferring $80,000 from the liquor fund to the general fund, seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.

12. Mayor’s Notes

Request approval from the council to attend a Leadership Conference on Jan 31 – Feb 1 in Brooklyn Center.

Motion by Lally to approve Mayor Clark to attend Leadership Conference, seconded by Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURN

Motion was made by Lally, seconded by Lund, to adjourn the meeting at 8:23 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
_______________________________
Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
_____________________
LuAnn Freiermuth, City Clerk-Treasurer 

1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74 Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net; Website: cromwell.govoffice.com

City of Cromwell Agenda November 20, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund

 ROLL CALL
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.
3. OLD BUSINESS A. B.  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention.
NEW BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior meeting minutes B. Pavilion calendar C. General Ledger for October (listing receipts and disbursements) D. Claims list for approval E. Liquor Store monthly sales total F. Pull tab totals for September $1419.40 G. Treasurer’s monthly report  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. See attached.
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Manager’s Report B. Project Status Report – JPJ Engineering C. 2013 Water & Sewer Assessments D. Approve Tom Johnson to attend MRWA Water & Wastewater Technical Conference - $402.00 E. Wage rate-Phil Lippo F. Jeff Berg – water issue  p. 20 p. 21-22
6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report B. ATM Express Co-increase revenue with pizza sales C. Presentation of PointOS computer system  p.23
7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION A. B. C.



City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
November 20, 2013 - 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on November 20, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:06 pm by Mayor Samuel A. Clark.

Present: Mayor: Samuel Clark
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Ray Lally, Warren Peters
Absent: Tom Borglund - excused
Employees: Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), Tom Johnson (Maintenance), LuAnn Freiermuth (City Clerk-Treasurer), Phil Lippo (Maintenance)
Others Present: John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering
Public: Ron Moen, Rodney Lund, Mike Peterson, Steve Bridge, Travis and Jeff Berg

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA
Add F under 5 (Jeff Berg-water issue).

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL

3. OLD BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior meeting minutes.
B. Pavilion calendar
C. General Ledger for October (listing receipts and disbursements)
D. Claims list for approval
E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report
F. Pull tab totals for September $1419.40
G. Treasurer’s Monthly Report

Motion by Lally, seconded by Peters to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

5. WATER/SEWER/MAINTENANCE

A. Maintenance Manager’s Report

a. New truck scheduled to arrive before December 25.
b. Septic tanks around the lakes have been pumped and all waste transferred to the ponds. Reports to the MPCA complete.
c. Swenson mound system is working good.
d. City Hall well pump has been replaced and water conditioner serviced.
e. Waiting for transducer for water tower.
f. MN Rural Water and Wastewater Technical Conference to be held in St. Cloud on March 4-6. Conference fee is $200.00 and lodging $202.00.

Motion by Peters, seconded by Lund to approve Tom Johnson to attend conference on March 4-6 in St. Cloud. Motion carried unanimously.

g. Skating rink has been prepared and is ready for flooding.
h. New laws from the Department of Health on lead-free valves.
i. Current city truck and snowplow is ready for use until new truck arrives.

B. Project Status Report from John Mattonen.
a. Continuing research on water tower drain valve.
b. Nothing new to report on the No Passing Zone on Hwy 210.
c. If any new grant money becomes available for the water main loop, JPJ will notify the city to apply.

C. Past Due Water and Sewer Assessments.
Motion by Lally, seconded by Clark to approve past due water and sewer utility accounts to be certified as special assessments to the 2014 property tax. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Wage Rate for Phil Lippo.
Discussion on wage rate for Phil Lippo as a temporary water and sewer maintenance employee. This position will be posted in the spring. Starting wage for Phil as fill-in temporary water and sewer maintenance employee is $10.00/hour.

E. Jeff Berg – Water Issues
Discussion with Jeff Berg on water issues. Discussed base charges for water hookup. Discussed water issues from last October through the winter concerning broken water pipes. City will take responsibility for water line repair from the floor to the service entrance to meter. It is the owner’s responsibility for damage inside building.

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s Report by Paul Lampi.
a. Upcoming Events:
November 28, Thanksgiving Day - closed
December 7, Jake’s Storm –Tracy Harvilla, comedy show
December 14, Shop & Wine, 2 – 6 pm, over 10 vendors to shop from.
December 24, Christmas Eve, close at 6 pm
December 25, Christmas Day, closed
New Year’s Eve- more information later
b. Bartender meeting: Discussed upcoming events, stocking, training, decorating.
c. Interviews were conducted for bartender and custodian positions. Signs posted around town for these positions and ads placed in the local papers.
d. Resignation of custodian.
e. Bar manager asked for a raise for Brent Vigness. Council will get more information on the Step Structure and then make a decision at the next meeting. Melissa Johnson is now employed as a bartender and working 2-3 days a week. Payroll was discussed for temporary employee, Leslie Wilson. She will be paid the starting wage.

B. Discussion about the total number of hours worked by bartenders. Discussion of complaints from various employees and customers.

C. ATM Express Co. – No action taken.

D. Presentation by Warren Peters for a PointOS computer software program.
More information will be gathered before a decision is made.

E. Discussion on weight restrictions on Lake Street, a minimum maintenance road.

F. Discussion on 911 signs for city residences.

G. Discussion on Welcome to Cromwell sign.

H. Approval from council to sell old shelving in old Fire Hall for scrap.

I. Request approval from the council for the city to be the sponsor to apply for a culvert permit
for the ATV trail on Hwy 73.

Motion by Peters, seconded by Lally to approve the city as sponsor and apply for a permit.

Motion carried unanimously.

J. Request by clerk for time off on Dec 23 – Jan 1.

Motion by Peters, seconded by Lund to approve time off. Motion carried unanimously.

K. Discussion on lowering the tax levy by $10,000.

Clark make a motion to approve lowering the tax levy. Seconded by Lally. Motion carried
unanimously.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT/AMBULANCE

A. Discussion on Joint-Powers Agreement with Cromwell and Wright Fire Departments. Deadline of Jan 1, 2014 to draft a joint powers agreement. Approval received from the city of Cromwell.

10. CLERK/TREASURER

A. Nuisance Ordinance was posted at 1350 Hwy 73. Clerk received a phone call from the realty company asking for an extension on the cleanup of debris as the property has just been sold. New owner is to contact the city for an extension and also set up water/sewer account.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

12. MAYOR’S NOTES

A. Clerk will get a quote from Glen’s Signs for the Welcome to Cromwell sign.

ADJOURN

Motion was made by Lally, seconded by Peters, to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
_______________________________
Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
_____________________
LuAnn Freiermuth, City Clerk-Treasurer 

1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74 Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net; Website: cromwell.govoffice.com
City of Cromwell Agenda October 23, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund

 ROLL CALL
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.
3. OLD BUSINESS A. B.  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention.
NEW BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior meeting minutes B. Pavilion calendar C. General Ledger for September (listing receipts and disbursements) D. Claims list for approval E. Liquor Store monthly sales total F. Pull tab totals for August: $650.20 G. Treasurer’s monthly report H. Approval of LuAnn Freiermuth to apply for Notary  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. See attached.
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Manager’s Report B. Approval to purchase Public Works truck C. Culvert by Bob Perkerwicz property D. Project Status Report – JPJ Engineering  p. 25-26
6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report B. Video Review Policy
7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION A. Approval to look at loan options for completing the playground project. B. Approval for Christie Eliason to hold Zumba classes at pavilion.
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Special Council Meeting Minutes
October 23, 2013 - 7:00pm

A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on October 23, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion to conduct the regular business of the city council since there was not a quorum for the October 16, 2013 Regular Council Meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Samuel A. Clark.

Present: Council Members: Lisa Lund, Tom Borglund, Warren Peters, Ray Lally
Absent: None
Employees: Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), Tom Johnson (Maintenance), LuAnn Freiermuth (City Clerk-Treasurer)
Public: Steve Bridge

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A. Additions to the agenda

Parks and Recreation:
a. Approval to look at loan options for completing the playground.
b. Christie Eliason requesting use of the pavilion 1 night per week (Monday) to hold a Zumba class from 5:30-6:30 at a cost of $10.

Motion by Peters, seconded by Lally to approve the agenda with noted changes. Motion carried unanimously.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL

3. OLD BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior meeting minutes.
B. Pavilion calendar
C. General Ledger for September (listing receipts and disbursements)
D. Claims list for approval
E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report
F. Pull tab totals for August: $650.20
G. Treasurer’s monthly report
H. Approval of Jenny Clark payroll
I. Approval of LuAnn Freiermuth to apply for Notary
Move H under Consent Agenda (Approval of Jenny Clark payroll) to a separate discussion.
Motion made by Lally, seconded by Peters to approve the Consent Agenda with noted changes. Motion carried unanimously.

Letter H- Approval of Jenny Clark Payroll for July City clerk e-mailed attorney Frank Yetka in regard to paying Jenny Clark for services rendered after her resignation date of July 12. On July 8 Jenny sent out an e-mail to all council members and Mayor Clark informing them that she would be willing to come in to do payroll on July 16. She was also willing to come in to do the reporting of sales tax, 941’s, MN withholding, and PERA. Attorney Yetka responded, “Please indicate to the Council that I recommend that Jenny be paid for the work she did for the city.” Motion made by Peters, seconded by Lally to approve paying Jenny Clark’s wage of $130.22. Yeas: Peters, Lally, Borglund Nays: Lund

Motion carried.

5. WATER/SEWER/MAINTENANCE

A. Manager’s Report by Tom Johnson.
a. Ponds are drained for the season and in good condition.
b. All septics being pumped.
c. Beach and ballfield closed for the winter.
d. Pavilion bathrooms are complete. Thank you to Ken Koivisto, Larry Debele, and Tom Johnson for their labor. Thank you also to the YOT Club and the Cardinal Quilters for their money donations toward this project.
e. Council approved purchasing new heaters for the pavilion bathrooms.
f. All hydrants have been flushed and winterized.
g. A new battery was purchased for the city generator and it is now in operating condition.
h. Keith Clark will replace culvert on Lake Street this week.
i. Council approved Keith Clark to deliver gravel on Linda Smith’s city street.
j. Tom requested approval to attend a MN Rural Water conference on March 4-6. Tom will check on price.
k. Council approved the city to provide an ice skating rink this winter.
l. A new well pump is needed at City Hall. Tom received quotes from A & R from Sawyer and Brian Lind with McGregor Plumbing and Heating.
Motion made by Lally to hire McGregor Plumbing and Heating, seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
m. Tom commented on the Swenson mound system not working efficiently. He contacted Frank Stuemke from MN Rural Water who suggested buying bacteria to help the system break down the waste. Tom will monitor the system for a month and then re-evaluate. The council will be notified if there is no change and the problem persists.
n. The water tower has been cleaned. A new calibrated transducer needs to be purchased. Tom received quotes and the council approved this purchase.
o. Tom received a quote from Tenvoorde Ford through MN Rural Water for a new city truck with snowplow.
Motion by Borglund, seconded by Lally to purchase a 2014 F-250 with snowplow. Motion carried unanimously.
p. Discussion on culvert on Bob Perkerwicz property not draining properly. This is the homeowner’s responsibility, however, due to the increase in the amount of water that flows through the culvert he could contact the Tamarack Watershed or Big Sandy Lake Association or the DNR to get ideas on how to restore and remedy this.
q. Project Status Report – JPJ Engineering. No new information.

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s Report by Paul Lampi.
a. The band, “Stranded” on October 19 was a success.
b. Upcoming Events:
Halloween-Free Jukebox Night, Thursday, Oct. 31.
Halloween Weekend – Trying to get a DJ – not finalized
November 9 -Dean Nyberg
November 16 – not finalized
c. One bartender left employment so Leslie Wilson was called to fill in temporarily.
Melissa Johnson has been hired as part-time bartender and Taire Shabiash has been hired as part-time custodian.
d. Only 1 proposal for a new door was received. No action taken.
e. Discussion on the Potato Run. Unlikely as the season is over.
f. Tuesday Night Give-Away has been a success however interest has been dwindling so Paul is looking for something new or to re-start this after the first of the year.
g. Liquor Store Promotion: If customer shows a membership card from any snowmobile club they can receive a $1.00 discount on a pizza.
h. Upcoming Dash for Cash by Carl Rippie.
i. Discussion on when payroll checks can be picked up
j. Discussion on stolen bucket from inside new cigarette receptacle.
k. Employee meeting was held with discussion on cleaning, signs, restocking.
l. LED bulbs to be installed in lights in cooler.
m. Discussion on hiring bartenders. Bar manager was asked to interview those applicants who submitted their applications before the deadline and also those who submitted applications after the deadline. Attorney Yetka advised that we should hire 1 person from the applications that were on time, and then hire 1 more from the whole pool. Will advertise again for the bartender position with a deadline of November 3.

Motion made by Peters, seconded by Lally to post bartender position with November 3 deadline. Motion carried unanimously.

n. Discussion on hiring temporary bartender. Discussion on closing procedure. Bar manager was asked to have someone close with the temporary person.
o. Melissa Johnson has completed her Alcohol Training.
p. Video Review Policy.
Motion made by Clark, seconded by Peters to approve the Security Camera Policy.
Yeas: Borglund, Peters, Lally, Clark
Nays: Lund
Motion carried.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION/PAVILION

A. Steve Bridge presented information on playground equipment and pricing from Miracle Recreation. Two options were presented. Option 1 would require the city to obtain a loan to complete the project. Option 2 could be paid with cash. ($65,000 cash from money already donated with the city funding the balance needed until further funds can be raised.)
Motion made by Borglund, seconded by Peters, to approve purchase of Option 2 with the city earmarking the remaining balance needed until further funds can be raised. Motion carried unanimously.
B. Discussion on FEMA badges. Steve Bridge will look into this.
C. Request from Christie Eliason to hold Zumba classes 1 night per week (Monday) from 5:30-6:30 at the pavilion for $10. Council approved.

8. GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY

A. Interim Ordinance/Moratorium on Businesses Dealing with Synthetic Drugs. A letter was received from city attorney, Frank Yetka, to consider an ordinance to temporarily prohibit such a business from moving into the city limits while the city considers adoption of a permanent zoning ordinance restricting such businesses. Issue tabled.
B. Resolution 13.7.17 Contract With A Councilmember for purchase of a 3-door cooler from Peters Home and Hardware.

Motion from Clark to amend the motion to purchase cooler from Warren Peters at the September 26, 2012 meeting to follow Resolution 13.7.17. Seconded by Lally. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Discussion on Referral for Proposals for city auditor and city attorney.
Motion by Peters, seconded by Borglund to obtain quotes for city auditor. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Clark, seconded by Borglund to obtain quotes for city attorney. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Discussion on direct deposit.

Motion by Lally, seconded by Borglund to approve direct deposit for all employees.
Yeas: Peters, Lally, Borglund, Clark
Nays: Lund
Motion carried.

E. Discussion on Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. No action taken. Carlton County will continue to act as governing body of the city to serve as the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT/AMBULANCE

A. Volunteer Fire Assistance matching grant award between the State of Minnesota and Cromwell Fire Department.

Motion by Lally, seconded by Lund to approve the grant contract. Motion carried unanimously.

10. CLERK/TREASURER

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Lisa Lund: Who takes the notes from our meetings? Mayor Clark or LuAnn? The response was LuAnn.
Ray Lally:
Tom Borglund:
Warren Peters: Question on getting fire numbers for city residences. City clerk will look into details and prices.

12. MAYOR’S NOTES

Thank you to the YOT Club and the Cardinal Quilters for their donation toward the bathroom tile in the pavilion.

ADJOURN

Motion made by Lally, seconded by Peters to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
_______________________________
Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
_____________________
LuAnn Freiermuth, City-Treaurer/Secretary

1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74 Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.netl Website: cromwell.govoffice.com

City of Cromwell Agenda September 18, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund Regular City Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

 This agenda has been prepared to provide information regarding an upcoming meeting of the Cromwell City Council. This document does not claim to be complete and is subject to change at any time.

 ROLL CALL
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Comments should be directed to the Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or City staff member. Complaints about personnel or individuals are not allowed. The Mayor requires that speakers be respectful and considerate. Anyone not adhering to this requirement may be asked to leave. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.
3. OLD BUSINESS A.  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention.
NEW BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior special and regular meeting minutes B. General Ledger for July and August (listing receipts and disbursements) C. Claims list for approval D. Treasurer’s monthly report E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report F. Pavilion calendar  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering B. Manager’s Report
6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report B. Liquor Store Policy Discussion C. Bartender position(s) setup interviews w/New Clerk D. Video review policy
7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION



City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
September 18, 2013 - 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on August 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:14 pm by Mayor Samuel A. Clark.
Present: Council Members: Lisa Lund, Tom Borglund
Absent: Ray Lally–excused, Warren Peters-unexcused
Employees: Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), Tom Johnson (Maintenance), LuAnn Freiermuth (City Clerk-Treasurer)
Others Present: John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering
Public: Jen Anderson, Jeanne Weimer

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA
A. Move C under 8 (Approve resignation from Jenny Clark) and D under 8 (Approve LuAnn Freiermuth as Secretary-Treasurer for Economic Development) to the Consent Agenda.

Motion by Borglund, seconded by Lund to approve the agenda with noted changes. Motion carried unanimously.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL

3. OLD BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior regular and special meeting minutes.
B. General Ledger for July and August (listing receipts and disbursements)
C. Claims list for approval
D. Treasurer’s monthly report
E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report
F. Pavilion calendar
G. Approve resignation of Jenny Clark as City Clerk-Treasurer
H. Approve LuAnn Freiermuth appointment to Secretary-Treasurer for Cromwell Economic Development

Council member Lund stated that in the August 21 minutes, under public it should have been Rodney Lund and Tony Aho, not Mark Huhta.

Motion made by Lund to approve the minutes with noted changes. Seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.

Lund also stated that in the July 24 minutes, under Liquor Store, it states that Lampi was asked why he did not turn in the paperwork that should be in the personnel files in the clerk’s office, and it states that he made excuses. Lund stated that the word “excuses” should be deleted or worded instead that Lampi stated that the former clerk did not pick up the paperwork. Mayor Clark stated the wording could be that Lampi gave reasons. In the August 21 minutes it states that Tom Borglund will contact Ryan Olesiak about installation of the door at the bar. This should state Tom Johnson, not Tom Borglund.

Lund made a motion to make these changes, seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.

Lund also questioned why the employee’s names and wages were blocked out of the General Ledger and that she could not approve it as such as the information could not be verified. Mayor Clark stated that the reason for this was that this is not public information. The requested information was viewed on the computer screen and verified. Lund questioned Jenny Clark receiving wages past her resignation date and that this was not approved by the council. Mayor Clark stated that someone had to come in to do the tax reporting and she did the absolute bare minimum. Lund stated that she thought Angela Anderson was going to be coming in to do that. Clark stated that Angela did the payroll but could not do some of the other paperwork. Lund made a motion to approve the general ledger for August except for Jenny Clark’s wages of $130.22. Seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion made by Borglund to approve Jenny Clark’s wage of $130.22. Motion failed for lack of second.

5. WATER/SEWER/MAINTENANCE

A. Project Status Report by JPJ Engineering. John Mattonen stated that he has been researching
new options for the water tower exterior drain valve. He has not found anything economical. He will continue to do research on this.

B. Engineer Mattonen has been researching the No Passing zone on highway 210. He did confer with MNDot. Generally they do not stripe unless it is a site issue.

C. Manager’s Report by Tom Johnson.
a. Cleaning of the water tower is scheduled for Monday, September 23,2013.
b. Will begin flushing all hydrants throughout the city.
c. Discussion on water samples. Phosphorus is high in the sewage ponds. Corrections have been implemented to correct this beginning Friday. Will discharge sewage ponds on Monday.
d. Ken Koivisto will begin tiling the bathrooms in the pavilion. The YOT Club and the Cardinal Quilters have donated money toward this project.
e. The city will use Aardvark to pump septic tanks. The cost last year was $1650.
f. A new well pump is needed at City Hall. Discussed the cost of a new pump versus hooking up to city water and sewer. It was decided to get quotes for a new pump. Will check with Kent Well Drilling, A & R from Sawyer, Brian Lind with McGregor Plumbing and Heating, John Foley with Eagle Lake Plumbing, Jim Hanni from Tamarack.
g. Tom Borglund will talk to Ryan Olesiak again about installation of a new door at the liquor store.
h. The city is in need of replacing the city truck. Tom Johnson has talked to Minnesota Rural Water about a Fleet Service Option. Tom was instructed to also check into a V-plow.
i. The city needs a new basketball net.
j. The city needs a new battery for the generator.

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s Report by Paul Lampi.
a. Harvest Fest was a great success.
b. Upcoming Events:
Halloween-Free Jukebox Night, Thursday, Oct. 31.
Halloween Weekend – Trying to get a DJ – not finalized yet
1st weekend of hunting – Dean Nyberg
2nd weekend of hunting – Simpson Road
c: Christmas gifts – pocket calendars. If under $500 Lampi can make a decision.
d. Beer prices anticipated to be going up.
e: Bartender interviews- Will set up interview schedule this week.
f: Donation of 1 box of popcorn for Chilloween.
g: Lampi expressed his thanks to the Harvest Fest committee for doing a great job!

B. Liquor Store employee meeting notes:
a. Would like to have 2 security personnel for events such as Harvest Fest and would like to
have a bar back for busy events.
b. Meagan will decorate for Halloween
c. Would like to have a New Year’s promotion. Possibly a black/white attire event.
d. Beer prices
e. Cigarette and pizza counts – make sure they are properly rung into the cash register.
f. Cleaning daily
g. Stocking and rotating stock, keeping freezer closed
h. Letter from MMBA reminding us to inform all customers, not just the guests, about
promotions.

C. Security Guard – Fond du Lac Law Enforcement students do security for free. It was originally thought they would provide students for security for Harvest Fest. The college informed us that their students can do things like direct traffic, but not security. Therefore Jason was contacted. He did not have anyone available but referred someone who used to work for him. Mayor Clark asked if Lampi authorized paying him cash out of the cash register. When affirmed, Clark stated that temporary employees or bands cannot be paid out of the cash register, that this is a state law violation. This is stated on the state auditor’s internal control information sheet that was given to Lampi in February. In the future, payment must be made by check either in advance or mailed.

D. Interviews – Clark talked to Attorney Yetka about being fair to those who applied by the deadline. Yetka advised that we should hire 1 person from the applications that were in on time, and then hire 1 more from the whole pool. Also one applicant qualifies for Veteran’s preference. Discussion regarding the need to hire more bartenders.

E. Snacks – Discussion on ringing up free snacks as a tradeoff for foregoing breaks. Clark stated that employees do take breaks for smoking. Lampi was informed if he wanted to change this policy to allow for free snacks that he would need to write up a new policy, put it on the agenda
and present it to the council.

F. Fraudulent Checks – Lampi to set a dollar limit on accepting out of town checks. Lampi did discuss this with the employees. It is against policy to accept 2nd party checks.

G. Video review – Tabled until next meeting.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION/PAVILION

A. Kaleb Anderson Walk/Run. Approval of Tourism Grant Reimbursement for advertising expense. Thanks from Mayor Clark to Jen for the successful event. Grant money stays with the city earmarked for playground.

B. Request from Jen Anderson for funding assistance to purchase playground equipment. She stated that she is just short of $50,000. She is applying for a grant that would match her $50,000. Clark stated that the Economic Development fund has $12,500 in unreserved funds. Clark stated that the city funds need to be reserved for the purchase of a city truck. Clark recommended ear-marking $12,500 from the Economic Development for playground equipment provided this is kept within the city. Jen agreed but stated that she would like it to be a Kaleb Anderson Memorial playground.

Motion from Borglund, seconded by Lund to earmark $12,500 from the Economic Development fund for playground equipment. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Request donation for Chilloween on October 25. This is classified as Crime Prevention so it is a legitimate cause. Last year the city donated $100.

Motion by Lund to donate $100 again this year, seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.

8. GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY

A. Interim Ordinance/Moratorium on synthetic drugs. A letter was sent to the city from our city attorney, Frank Yetka, due to what has been going on in Duluth, to protect our city. Any action was tabled until the next meeting.

B. Jeanne Weimer – Stated that she never demanded nor requested a refund from the city for the Food Manager’s Safety License that she claims she was told she had to have. Discussion of miscommunication of what was required and what was said

C. Calcium Chloride – This may be purchased from the Carlton County Transportation Department at resident’s expense. Contact Transportation Department at 384-9150 if interested for next year. Must get on a mailing list.

D. Roy Tami’s property has recently sold. Will wait one more month before sending out a property cleanup letter.

E. Building Permit Application for Ron Tondryk approved by the county. JPJ Engineering reviewed the application and found it in compliance with the zoning ordinance. Recommended that the plans for the connection to city sewer be reviewed and construction observed. Motion by Borglund, seconded by Lund to approve Building Permit Number 113179. Motion carried unanimously.

F. Discussion on direct deposit for employee’s paychecks. Tabled until next meeting.

G. Great Energy requesting easement in the same corridor as the current single pole structures for new transmission line structures. Statement of Compensation offering the city of Cromwell $740 for easement. Motion by Borglund to sign paperwork for Great Energy Easement. Seconded by Lund. Motion carried unanimously.

H. Resolution 13.7.17 Contract With A Councilmember for purchase of a 3-door cooler from Peters Home and Hardware tabled until the next meeting.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT/AMBULANCE

10. CLERK/TREASURER

A. Proposed Levy. No changes from last year. Clark stated that the city finances are in good shape so he sees no reason to raise the levy. Final Levy due in December.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Lisa Lund: In the August 21 minutes a motion was made to add Ray Lally and LuAnn Freiermuth to the City of Cromwell bank account, so why were paychecks signed by LuAnn and Sam Clark. Mayor Clark stated that his name has always been on the account and Lally’s was to replace Warren Peters. Two signatures are required so this leaves us one backup in case one of the signees is unavailable.
Tom Borglund: Affirmed the urgent need for replacing the city’s current truck.

12. MAYOR’S NOTES

Would like to thank the Harvest Fest committee members for all their hard work for a successful weekend.

Would like to thank LuAnn Freiermuth for her good attitude and diligence in her new position as city clerk.

ADJOURN

Motion was made by Borglund, seconded by Lund to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
_______________________________
Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
_____________________
LuAnn Freiermuth, City Clerk-Treasurer 

1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74 Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net; Website: cromwell.govoffice.com
City of Cromwell Agenda – August 21, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund Regular City Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

 This agenda has been prepared to provide information regarding an upcoming meeting of the Cromwell City Council. This document does not claim to be complete and is subject to change at any time.

 ROLL CALL
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Comments should be directed to the Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or City staff member. Complaints about personnel or individuals are not allowed. The Mayor requires that speakers be respectful and considerate. Anyone not adhering to this requirement may be asked to leave. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.
3. OLD BUSINESS A. Quotes for door installation at bar B. Jeanne Weimer requested that city pay for food manager license C. Cromwell Economic Development Corp is now acting as fiscal agent for Harvest Fest. D. Mayor Clark and Teri Osterman fixed and filed forms with the IRS  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention. a. –p. 1 b. –p. 2
NEW BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior regular meeting minutes B. Claims list for approval C. Liquor Store monthly sales total report  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. a-f. See attached. Pg.3-
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering B. Manager’s Report  a. See attached. Pg. b. - c.
6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report B. Liquor Store Policy-General Personnel Guidelines #8 Employee Meals violation report  a. - b. - c. - d.



City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Regular Council Meeting Minutes August 21, 2013 - 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on August 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Council Member Ray Lally.
Present: Council Members: Lisa Lund, Tom Borglund, Ray Lally
Absent: Mayor Samuel A. Clark (excused), Warren Peters (excused)
Employees: Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), LuAnn Freiermuth (City Clerk)
Public: Rodney Lund, Tony Aho

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A. Jeanne Weimer requested, not demanded, that the city reimburse her for her Food Manager’s License.

Motion by Lund, seconded by Borglund to approve the agenda with noted changes. Motion carried unanimously.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL

3. OLD BUSINESS

A. Quotes for door installation at bar. Lampi had updated information. He received one quote from Lipe Brothers for $3250.00. This includes cutting an opening in the brick wall and installing a door provided by the city. Also includes associated finish, labor, and materials. Borglund contacted 4-5 contractors. All said, “maybe, when things slow down”. Tom Johnson will contact Ryan Olesiak again. Further discussion tabled until next meeting.

B. Jeanne Weimer. Topic of reimbursement for her Food Manager’s License. Further discussion tabled until next meeting.

C. Cromwell Economic Development Corporation is now acting as fiscal agent for Harvest Fest.

D. Mayor Clark and Teri Osterman fixed and filed forms with the IRS.

4. NEW BUSINESS

A. Tabled approval of prior regular meeting minutes.

B. Motion made by Lund to accept unpaid bills and liquor store receipts with the exception that city clerk check on Lake Country Power bill. Seconded by Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Read JPJ Engineer’s report. No new options or alternatives that are economical have been found for the water tower exterior drain valve. Will continue research. Assisted with miscellaneous items during the past month including zoning items and utility billing. No current activity or urban reconstruction. Researching no passing zone.

D. Read Maintenance Report. Ponds are in great shape and will be drained in September. The toilet house at the beach is questionable. The ball field is in great shape. The water tower is still waiting to be cleaned. On-third of the sewer gets cleaned every year and is in good shape. Will be pumping septic tanks around lakeshore this fall. Trying to get bids or quotes for door in bar. All local contractors are busy: Chevy Borglund, Dan Heikkila, Jeff Anderson, Ryan Olesiak. All “maybe’s, when things slow down”. Still waiting for a bid from Lipe Brothers Construction and Door of Duluth. He did come and measure and look at project. Said it should be no problem. He will send a quote via e-mail. Request from maintenance department for Brent and Steven to help when needed for set-up and clean-up for the Harvest Fest and parade. Approved. Water softener inspection and cleaning on August 26, 2013.

E. Liquor Store Manager’s Report. The Golf Tourney was a great success. Manager mentioned that the Dish receiver has not been working. He sent for a new receiver for $15.00 and it works fine now. Will get quotes from Sunny Hill Distributors for liquor supply. Council will approve depending on prices. Liquor Store Manager will check into this. Music for the Harvest Fest will be Dean Nyberg in the afternoon and The Jacks in the evening. Cost for The Jacks will be around $550 for playing inside and $700 if they play outside. Approximate cost for The Jacks and Nyberg will be around $1000.00. Will check on 2-3 students in the Fond du Lac Law Enforcement program to help with security at the bar for the Harvest Fest. This is part of their training and will be no charge to the city. Discussion on offering Football Specials during football season. Discussion on ringing up food, snacks, pizza at no charge by employees. Lampi explained that the employees do not get an official 15-minutes break or lunch break as there is no one in the bar for backup, therefore, by allowing employees on a 4-hour shift to ring up small amounts of snacks in lieu of a break and employees on a full shift to ring up a pizza, the bar is still saving money. Borglund and Lally said they did not have a problem with this but Lally suggested just keeping an eye on the situation so it does not get out of hand. The bartender position was discussed. Lampi and Freiermuth will schedule a time for interviews.

F. Security Camera/Video review of the Cromwell Municipal Liquor Store was tabled for further discussion at the next meeting.

G. Discussion of the 3-door cooler purchased from Peters Home and Hardware for use at the Cromwell Municipal Liquor Store was tabled until the next meeting.

H. The Fire Protection Levy for Eagle Township for 2013 has been approved in the amount of $18,400.00.

I. Motion made by Borglund to add LuAnn Freiermuth with Ray Lally to the City of Cromwell bank accounts at Lakes States and Northview Bank. Seconded by Lund. Motion carried unanimously.

J. Motion made by Lund, seconded by Borglund to approve adding LuAnn Freiermuth to the Cromwell Economic Development bank account at Northview Bank.

K. Looked over the proposed Debt Levy for the City of Cromwell.

L. Trustee’s Notes:

Lisa: Complaints on Roy Tammi’s property. Clerk was authorized to send out a letter of clean-up from the city.

Tom: Would like chloride for dust control on some gravel roads. Homeowners are responsible for this cost. Clerk will check on price for next year.

ADJORN

Motion was made by Lund, seconded by Borglund to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
_______________________________
LuAnn Freiermuth, City Clerk 

City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Regular Council Meeting Minutes July 24, 2013 - 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on July 24, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Lisa Lund
Absent: Tom Borglund-unexcused, Ray Lally-excused
Employees: Paul Lampi (Bar Manager)
Others Present: John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering, Frank Yetka City Attorney
Public: Dick Huhta, Elaine Huhta, Bill Weimer, Jeanne Weimer, Danny Karpinen, Lori Shelton, Butch Levinski, Bud Lund, Mark Huhta, Deb Huhta, Lynn Swatek, Jeff Swatek

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A. Jeanne Weimer under Pavilion Kitchen (7A)
B. Gravel on Smith Road (8D)
C. Permit application from Ted Lammi and Home improvement co. (5C)
D. Country Inn Loan disbursement approval added to Consent Agenda(G)
E. Approve Roxann Romanoski Access to bank account info (8E)
F. Harvest Fest discussion (7B)

Motion by Peters, seconded by Lund to approve the agenda with noted changes. Motion carried unanimously.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL

Council was questioned on these issues:
Why no city representative going to BSALWMP meetings?
Why Koivisto’s didn’t know about YOT Donation to Playground Project?
Why did the city council do an RFP for and outside bar management company?
How would a management company be paid for?
Why there are security cameras in the bar?
Why are there extra charges for days before and after weddings at the pavilion?
Statement was made that John Grones recorded the meeting and promised that he would do a story on it. He did not publish a story on the last meeting because he has not seen a more dysfunctional city council than this one and that if he printed the true story no one would no one would believe it.
Why was the meeting postponed?
Complaint about council’s management of the bar manager.
Why is there no flag in the meeting room? Why is there no pledge said at the meetings?
City Attorney stated that Ray contacted him and let him know that there would not be a quorum. He advised him to post a sign on the door saying that the meeting was cancelled for lack of a quorum.
Council Member Lund questioned whether there was a motion to advertise an RFP.
Mayor Clark read the motion from the June Meeting minutes: Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to advertise for proposals for hiring an independent management company to manage the bar. Three yea votes (Lally, Peters, Clark) One Nay vote Lund. Motion carries.

3. OLD BUSINESS
A. Update on potential indoor skate park
B. Quotes for door installation at bar. None received.
C. Legality of board member serving at the bar.

Frank Yetka City Attorney looked into it and determined that it was not illegal. Bar manager Paul Lampi questioned why elected officials are not subject to discipline the same as employees are? Lampi asked why elected officials are not held responsible for serving to go cups when he as the manager was? Frank explained that as an employee you are responsible to the city council and the council may discipline it’s employees. He also explained that Paul wasn’t disciplined for serving in to go cups but for failing to enforce city policy.

Lampi asked if the purpose of the bar was to make money for the city?
Yetka explained that making money is only one of the purposes of a municipal liquor store.

NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior regular and special meeting minutes
B. General Ledger for June (listing receipts and disbursements)
C. Claims list for approval
D. Treasurer’s monthly report
E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report
F. Pavilion calendar & use spreadsheet
G. Approval of Loan Disbursement to Rick and Elizabeth Aho (Cromwell Country Inn).

Council member Lund stated that she would not vote to approve special meeting minutes since she left early. Lund also questioned the Dish Network bill?

Motion was made by Clark to approve July 3rd Special Meeting Minutes, seconded by Peters, two yea votes (Peters, Clark),Lund abstains. Motion carried.

Motion to approve June 19th Regular Meeting Minutes by Peters, seconded by Clark, two yea votes (Peters, Clark), one nay (Lund) motion carried.

Motion was made by Lund, seconded by Peters to approve the above consent agenda with noted exceptions. Motion carried unanimously.

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE

A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering
B. Manager’s Report

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Managers Report : Saturday July 27th Golf Tourney, free Jukebox night, Harvest Fest dance will be at the bar checking on bands, Karen Johnson has been training. Discussion on PERA and scheduling. Discussion on pay check disbursement. Employees should refer to Employee Handbook regarding disbursements of pay checks. Manager asked why he did not receive back pay to his anniversary date? Mayor Clark explained that his raise was held back because of performance issues as outlined in the Step Plan and that the raise was effective as of the date of approval. Lampi questioned the email he received from the City Clerk on July 6th stating the council’s decision to have him complete bartender interviews with the city clerk at the city office the week of July 8th. He stated that he disagreed with the decision since the city clerk didn’t have a vested interest since she would be leaving soon. Mayor Clark stated that this is what the council wanted done and he should have done it. Discussion on complaint to Lampi about council member comments and yelling across street.

Employee meeting July 14th
 1 Upcoming events
 2. Inventory should not be off
 3. Pouring, Proper Glassware on busy weekends making sure that if you run out of glassware and    use plastic cups use proper ones
 4. Keep products stocked, Liquor room beer to cooler
 5. Make sure drinks are rung in properly, till shouldn’t be over/short
 6. Make sure to clean
 7. No excuse for poor service.

Mayor Clark commented on running short of glasses and pointed out that he had asked Lampi to put more glasses out so they wouldn’t run short and have to use plastic glasses and recommended that Lampi come up with a solution to get more glasses out. Lampi was asked why he has not turned in schedule as requested at June 14th meeting? Lampi gave reasons. Lampi was asked why he has not turned in paperwork that should be in personnel files in the clerks office? Lampi gave reasons. Discussion on why Lampi chose to hire Karen Johnson and not Kima Taylor when Kima had scored higher in the interview. Mayor Clark asked Yetka what the council should do when an employee refuses to follow a direct council motion? The council can discipline him for lack of performance, the council would need to agree that discipline was warranted and then decide on discipline. Lampi asked why the Mayor is trying to get rid of him? Clark stated that he is not trying to get rid of him but trying to get him to do his job. Discussion on interviewing bartenders. Lampi stated that a bar cleaner was interested in bartending. Interviewing will be left until new clerk can sit in on the interviews.

B. Bartender position discussed in above.

C. Compensation review for Megan Arnold: Motion to approve step increase by Lund, seconded by Peters, 3 yea votes motion carried.

D. Compensation Review for Carol Anderson: Motion to approve step increase by Peters, seconded by Lund, 3 yea votes motion carried.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION

A. Discussion on Pavilion Kitchen and MN Dept. of Health requirements: Jeanne Weimer claims that she was told when she gave notice that she would be selling food at the Horse Shows she would need a Food Manager’s Certificate which costs $175. She said that she was not given due process she was called by the city and a message was left on May 9th at 4;40 pm that she needs to contact the Mn Dept of Health because she may need a food license. It was explained that there is no due process since there was no enforcement action. Jeanne claims that James Backstrom said that no Foodsafe Certification is required since the pavilion is not a licensed kitchen. Motion by Lund that if Jeanne Weimer was told that she needed a Food Managers license that the city should pay her back, no second, more information needed. Peters will get more info.

B. Discussion on Harvest Fest: Deb Switzer asked about any leftover money from Harvest Fest. All Harvest Fest proceeds were donated to the city for the Playground Project. Discussion on bank account for Harvest Fest. Clark suggested using the CEDC non-profit as fiscal agent for Harvest Fest. Clark will look into this. Kaleb Anderson family will be selling hamburgers, etc., Debele will pay for supplies and organize this and will be reimbursed for their cost. Switzer made a request for a donation from the city. Clark stated that it is not legal for the city to donate to this but there may be a way to donate pulltab proceeds. Clark will check with City Auditor. Discussion on what city insurance would cover. Discussion on a DJ at the bar Friday Sept. 6th. Motion by Peters to approve use of pavilion for Harvest Fest activities and meetings/preparation, seconded by Lund, three yea votes (Lund, Peters, Clark).

8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY

A. Probationary/starting wage for Full Time positions: Motion by Peters to remove probationary wage and start full time employees at starting wage, seconded by Lund, three yea votes, motion carried.

B. Citizen Complaint re: Lawn Mowing of Riverview Meadows properties. Discussion on whether or not ordinance applies. Owner should be contacted and asked to mow it when new clerk is in position.

C. Resolution #13.7.17 and Affidavit Approval discussion postponed til next meeting

D. Smith Road gravel: Motion by Lund to spend up to $1500 for gravel on Smith Rd., second by Peters, three yea votes (Lund, Peters, Clark) motion carried

E. Give Roxann Romanoski access to City Checking account: Motion by Peters to add Roxann Romanoski to the city checking account at Northview Bank limited to accessing account information in person, over the phone or online, seconded by Lund, three yea votes (Lund, Peters, Clark) motion carried.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE

A. Peters asked about Fire District. Yetka has heard nothing.

10. CLERK / TREASURER

A. Update on interim duties and interviews/training for new hire. Frank and Bernadine will be doing interview Aug. 6th, Position is open until July 29th. Bernadine will review applications to decide who qualifies for an interview.

Angela Anderson will be doing necessary accounting work(payroll, bill paying) Clark has talked to several people with clerk experience about coming in to help but hasn’t found anybody. The workload is small at this period so unless there is more work to do we can get by. Lampi asked about when pay checks would be available? They will be mailed on payday.

Teri Osterman from MWRA will be available to do some training of the new clerk.

B. City received notice of 2010 payroll forms 941, W-2 and W-3’s not matching up. Teri Osterman will be coming in to assist the Mayor in correcting these forms.
 

1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74 Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net;
Website: cromwell.govoffice.com
City of Cromwell Agenda – July 24, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund

Regular City Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

 This agenda has been prepared to provide information regarding an upcoming meeting of the Cromwell City Council. This document does not claim to be complete and is subject to change at any time.

 ROLL CALL
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Comments should be directed to the Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or City staff member. Complaints about personnel or individuals are not allowed. The Mayor requires that speakers be respectful and considerate. Anyone not adhering to this requirement may be asked to leave. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.
3. OLD BUSINESS A. Update on potential indoor skate park B. Quotes for door installation at bar C. Legality of board member serving at bar D.  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention. a. See attached. Pg. 1 b. - c. -
NEW BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior regular and special meeting minutes B. General Ledger for June (listing receipts and disbursements) C. Claims list for approval D. Treasurer’s monthly report E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report F. Pavilion calendar & use spreadsheet G.  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. a-f. See attached. Pg. 2-22
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering B. Manager’s Report C.  a. See attached. Pg. 23 b. - c.
6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report B. Bartender position(s) C. Compensation review for Megan Arnold (currently at step 1)  a. - b. - c. See attached. Pg. 24
 

 City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Regular Council Meeting Minutes June 19, 2013 - 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on June 19, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent: Tom Borglund
Employees: Jenny Clark (Clerk-Treasurer), Tom Johnson (Water/Sewer/Maintenance Supervisor), Paul Lampi (Bar Manager); Steve Bridge (Fire Chief)
Others Present: John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering ; Dora Potts and John Grones, Voyageur Press
Public: Dick and Elaine Huhta, Dan Karppinen, Butch Levinski, Dale Heikkala, Mark and Deb Huhta, Jeff and Lynn Swatek, Michael Heaser, Lori Shelton

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A. Motion by Lisa Lund to remove information from the public inquiries section. Without a second, motion failed.

B. Lund would like to add Internal Controls to Liquor Store.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to approve the agenda with noted changes. Three yea votes (Lally, Peters, Clark), one nay vote (Lund). Motion carries.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL

A. Dan Karppinen- Submitted the following to the council- meeting minutes from February 20, 2013, a signed statement from Wanda Karppinen, and a complaint form, which was read aloud by Clerk Clark.

B. Lori Shelton- Submitted a complaint form and questioned policies and procedures. She asked why someone who is not an employee of the bar was bartending and if this is illegal. Frank stated that an elected official is not subject to the same repercussions or discipline as an employee. He further stated if someone is unsatisfied with any elected officials, to vote for a new candidate at the next election; Public officials serve at the behest of the voters. Lisa Lund asked Frank to look into the legality of a board member serving behind the bar and he said he would. Frank again stated you cannot compare the discipline given to an employee to that of a board member. Lori also asked why the flag is not in the building and the pledge of allegiance was not said.

C. Dale Heikkala- Stated that if a board member is going to be acting as a bartender, they need to have proper training. He also stated that all of this is creating a hostile work environment and is not right.

D. Michael Heaser- Whoever is working behind the bar should be reporting to someone and have supervision.

E. Jeff Swatek- Asked who spends money in the bar and who the customers are. Multiple people stated they should have a voice whether they are voters or not.

F. Dick Huhta- Stated he does not have and has never had a key for the Municipal Liquor Store. He has never had a key and has not ever entered the bar without the manager there. Dick also stated that when Paul Lampi was hired he was told to come to the Mayor’s office to work things out if there were ever any issues.

3. OLD BUSINESS

A. Fire / Address numbers
i. Steve Bridge spoke about the importance of having a posted fire number for emergency personnel to be able to find addresses; dispatch no longer uses names, only address numbers. The city will be seeking quotes. The city may enforce the ordinance and do a special assessment to property taxes.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to get bids for signs and do necessary work for a special assessment to property taxes of sign cost. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Harvest Fest
i. There has been no interest from anyone to volunteer to organize Harvest Fest. Discussion on downsizing Harvest Fest. The date will be the first weekend in September. Groups who want to run activities such as the parade, volleyball tournament, etc. are welcome to do this and can talk to the city about using the Pavilion if necessary.

NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. General Ledger for May (listing receipts and disbursements)
B. Disbursements paid June 1st-Current (EFT’s and bills due prior to June meeting date)
C. Claims list for approval
D. Treasurer’s monthly report
E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report
F. Pavilion calendar & use spreadsheet

Motion was made by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to approve the above consent agenda items as submitted, with the exception of approval of meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.

A. Approval of prior regular and closed meeting minutes.

Under public inquiries, Jeff Swatek, Lund would like to have the word “threatened” changed to “stated” or “in his opinion.”

Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Ray Lally to change the wording of Jeff Swatek from “threatened” to “in his opinion”. Motion carried unanimously.

On page 2, Lund would like to have the wording “discipline or supervise” changed to “supervise or investigate”.

Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Ray Lally to change the wording of Lisa Lund from “discipline or supervise” to “supervise or investigate”. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the regular meeting minutes with approved changes and the closed meeting minutes with no changes. Motion carried unanimously.

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE

A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering
i. Discussion on McGuire Iron’s bid for water tower drain. John is not recommending the city take any action at this time. Discussion on the need for it.

B. Manager’s Report
i. Tom Johnson said the water tower is scheduled to be cleaned this summer, no date set.
ii. Ponds did not have to be drained this year, which saves money.
iii. Ritter and Ritter cleaned the city sewer pipes this spring.
iv. Lamott’s Automotive repaired the city truck for $234.15 and will be picked up tomorrow.
v. Keith Clark Sand and Gravel will be hauling in gravel for the ball field.
vi. Smith Rd. may need a few loads of gravel; this will have to be a shared cost with Eagle Lake.
vii. Lake St. ditch will be repaired/cleaned out in the next few weeks.
viii. Outhouse at the beach needs to be repaired, it is caving in.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to have Tom Johnson seek bids for portable toilets at the beach as well as repairing the existing building. Motion carried unanimously.

ix. Ball field bleachers have been painted but may need to replace the wood.
x. Three hydrants in town need to be repaired. One may be capped and two can be repaired. Johnson has been in contact with Tim Gobel to repair.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to have Tim Gobel repair the clinic and school hydrants. Motion carried unanimously.

xi. Swings at the beach need attention and Johnson will look into this.
xii. Discussion on the ATV club and the new approved ATV trail in town.
xiii. Johnson was approached by a citizen to use the garage at the Pavilion for a skate/bike park for the public to use. Ray Lally was also approached. Discussion on if the city would allow. The city’s insurance agent Carl Brandt is looking into this for insurance purposes. This is in the preliminary stages and will be looked at again at a future meeting.

C. Seasonal summer employees and wages discussed. Johnson had three applicants and conducted interviews with all of them. Steven Phipps and Brent Vigness were hired for the position. The starting wage will be $7.25 per hour ; Being that Brent is already a city employee working as a custodian for the liquor store, he will receive the same wage he is earning in that position and hours he works in either position will count towards each step in the pay scale.

Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Warren Peters to hire Steven Phipps and Brent Vigness as seasonal summer maintenance workers. Steven will start at $7.25 and Brent will receive the same pay he is currently getting as a custodian at the bar, with all hours worked counting towards hours earned in the pay schedule. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Annual compensation review for Tom Johnson

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to approve step raise for Tom Johnson to step 8, $17.67 per hour. Motion carried unanimously.

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s Report
i. Diabetes Run on June 15th was very successful- only there approximately 45 min. and created approximately $700.00 in revenue.
ii. The band Rage-n-Country will be performing June 29th ; Ben Larson and the Mustangs July 13th- both bands will perform 8:30 – 12:30 ; Annual golf tournament July 27th
iii. Lampi asked about the smoking door and the west side entrance door.

Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Ray Lally to have Clerk Clark advertise for bids and review at next meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Part-time bartender position

i. Lampi has hired someone for the position who was interviewed in January and has had her complete the online server training. Lampi did contact references/past employers and received favorable comments. Interviews were not conducted for this position. Discussion on whether a position should be advertised for and interviews conducted. The council has the final decision regarding hiring and firing. Members of the public voiced their opinion in regard to Lampi being the one to manage the bar. Frank stated that a bartender could be hired on a temporary basis but should advertise the job and conduct interviews. Karen Johnson will be hired on a temporary basis until interviews are conducted. Clerk Clark will contact the newspaper to advertise for the job.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to advertise for the part time bartender position and conduct interviews. Application deadline date will be June 30th. Three yea votes (Mayor Clark, Peters, and Lally). One nay vote (Lund). Motion carries.

C. Lampi asked if a council member can e-mail him asking him a question in regards to a complaint if the complaint form was not submitted to him and the name of the person making the complaint was not given to him. He also mentioned an email he received in regard to the motorcycle run and felt it was harassment. Lampi asked Frank if a councilmember should be allowed to ask him these questions. Frank said he should respond and if he feels he uncomfortable answering he should tell the councilmember this and or to go to another councilmember.

D. Lampi asked again about getting his raise; he stated that he feels it is unfair he has not received it. Discussion on the evaluation items and what has been and has not been completed. Lampi submitted bartender evaluations to the council for them to review. Discussion on the title of the bar manager/overseer position and title. The ordinance states the position is titled “operator”.

Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Ray Lally to call Paul Lampi the Bar Manager and not Bar Overseer. Three yea votes (Lund, Lally, and Peters) and one nay vote (Clark). Motion carries.
Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Ray Lally to approve step raise for Paul Lampi to Step 3, $15.62. Two yea votes (Lund and Lally), one nay vote (Clark), and one abstention (Peters). Motion carries.

E. Materials concerning any personnel issues should be turned into the Clerk and stored in the personnel files at city hall.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to have the Bar Manager provide a copy of the monthly schedule to the Clerk once complete. Motion carried unanimously.

F. Over-serving of bar patron mentioned and Lampi was asked to talk to the bartenders regarding this.

G. Discussion on theft of a computer cable from the bar. MN Statute 609.88 Computer Damage was handed out to the council for review.

H. Compensation review for Megan Arnold. Evaluation submitted by Lampi and will be reviewed by council. No action taken at this time.

I. Compensation review for Carol Anderson. Evaluation submitted by Lampi and will be reviewed by council. No action taken at this time.

J. Official acceptance of resignations of Jake Ramberg, Leslie Wilson, and Sharlena Ranta.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to accept resignations of Jake Ramberg, Leslie Wilson, and Sharlena Ranta. Motion carried unanimously.

K. Video review policy reviewed. Frank has had an opportunity to review this and stated it looks good and would be a good idea to implement. Discussion on access to the video as well as connection of the cable to a wi-fi capable box. Even though the cable was not hooked to wi-fi, the wi-fi has since been removed from the bar to alleviate any concern from the customers. Extensive discussion regarding recent issues at the liquor store. The video policy will be reviewed at next meeting. A sign should be put up at the bar alerting bar patrons to the presence of video cameras and will state that the premise is under 24 hour surveillance for public safety and security.

L. Lund pointed out that there was never a motion to create the internal controls committee. Clerk Clark pointed out that the committee has since been dissolved.

M. Lisa Lund stated, in her opinion, that the only person who should have keys to the bar be the bar manager, bartenders, and cleaning people. Discussion on someone from the city having a key. No action taken.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION

A. Ag lime for ball field discussed. Mayor Clark was contacted by the ball players to have this done and was provided with a verbal quote. Total cost would be $1,150.00 for the city.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to purchase ag lime for the ball fields at a cost of $1,150.00. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Review of Pavilion rental fee schedule and insurance requirements. Class 4 will stay the same for insurance requirements. Class 2 rate will be changed to say 50 people or less or less than 4 hours. So if a group meets one of the criteria, and not necessarily both, they get the class 2 rate.

C. Kaleb Anderson tourism grant awarded for the playground fund in the amount of $1,000.00.

8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY

A. Discussion on department heads being required to attend meetings as well as pay for their attendance. The council did agree that it is a good idea for department heads to attend but the meeting attendance should not generally cause an employee to go into overtime. If a department head cannot attend, a written report should be submitted for the council to review. Lampi stated he would like to be there for any discussions regarding the liquor store.

Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Warren Peters to request department heads to attend and present report at regular monthly council meetings and will receive a minimum of one hour pay for their time. Pay for additional time will be at the council’s discretion if it is needed. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Background check requirements discussed. Frank stated it is a good policy to do a BCA check on all new employees. Conditional offer is made and then a background check will be conducted.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Lisa Lund to perform a BCA background check on all new hires. Motion carried unanimously.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE

A. May 20th meeting notes provided to council for review

B. Compensation review for Roxann Romanoski. Steve Bridge submitted a written statement/review of her performance.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to approve step raise for Roxann Romanoski to the final Step 10 $17.50 per hour. Motion carried unanimously.

10. CLERK / TREASURER

A. Direct deposit and pay periods. Discussion on this as well as going to bi-weekly paydays.

No action at this time on direct deposit, Clerk Clark will look into this more.
Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to go to bi-weekly pay schedule. Motion carried unanimously.

This will begin in September and Clerk Clark will give notices in paychecks.

B. City Clerk office hours discussed. In an effort to save money, Clerk Clark feels it is possible to do the job in a 4-day work week.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to change City Clerk office hours to Monday – Thursday from 8:00-4:30 pm, closed on Fridays. Motion carried unanimously, with the exception of Mayor Clark who abstained.

C. Annual review for Jenny Clark scheduled for July 17th following the regular council meeting. Clerk Clark will post meeting notice.

D. Google Analytics (website data) report provided to council to review.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Lisa Lund: -Lund asked Clerk Clark if she has worked any overtime on a Friday. Clark stated no.
-Lund handed out and discussed information regarding individual council authority and stated that there is a law regarding this. Discussion on the motion that was made at the meeting February 20, 2013.
-Lund would like for Warren Peters and Jenny Clark to be the ones to sign checks. This is the way it will be done going forward.

Ray Lally: -Ray would like to look into putting out an RFP for an independent management company to come in and manage the bar. Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to advertise for proposals for hiring an independent management company to manage the bar. Three yea votes (Lally, Peters, and Clark). One nay vote (Lund). Motion carries.

Warren Peters: -Discussion on the issues at the bar and how they have been handled.
Tom Borglund: -Absent

12. MAYOR’S NOTES

A. Mayor Clark stated he will leave his bar key at the city office and will have a sign-out sheet. Someone besides bar employees should have a key to the building.

B. Mayor Clark also stated that the city cannot allow bar patrons to dictate how the bar is managed. The city has a responsibility to the citizens to run a safe and profitable business. The mission of a municipal liquor store is for liquor control. He has not heard any complaints from any citizens regarding the bar.

C. If a council member has an issue with the way another member of the council is handling something, they should contact the city attorney first and not make accusations at a meeting. Frank spoke on the communication issues. Frank will plan to attend the next meeting.

Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Ray Lally to have Frank Yetka attend the July 17, 2013 council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURN

Motion was made by Warren Peters, seconded by Lisa Lund to adjourn the meeting at 11:05 pm. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk-Treasurer

1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74 Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net; Website: cromwell.govoffice.com
City of Cromwell Agenda – June 19, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund Regular City Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

 This agenda has been prepared to provide information regarding an upcoming meeting of the Cromwell City Council. This document does not claim to be complete and is subject to change at any time.

 ROLL CALL
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Comments should be directed to the Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or City staff member. Complaints about personnel or individuals are not allowed. The Mayor requires that speakers be respectful and considerate. Anyone not adhering to this requirement may be asked to leave. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.
3. OLD BUSINESS A. Fire / Address numbers B. Harvest Fest  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention. a. - b. -
NEW BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior regular and closed meeting minutes B. General Ledger for May (listing receipts and disbursements) C. Disbursements paid June 1st-Current (EFT’s and bills due prior to June meeting date) D. Claims list for approval E. Treasurer’s monthly report F. Liquor Store monthly sales total report G. Pavilion calendar & use spreadsheet H.  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. a-f. See attached. Pg. 1-21
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering B. Manager’s Report C. Seasonal summer employees and wage D. Annual compensation review for Tom Johnson E.  a. See attached. Pg. 22-24 b. - c. See attached. Pg. 25-40 d. - e.
 

City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Closed Council Meeting Minutes May 15, 2013 - 7:00pm

A closed meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on May 15, 2013 at the Cromwell Park Pavilion. The purpose of the closed meeting was for annual review of Water, Sewer, and Maintenance Supervisor Tom Johnson.

The meeting was called to order at 8:55 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Employees: Jenny Clark (Clerk-Treasurer)

Tom Johnson’s annual performance review was conducted. The Council used the City’s Employee Evaluation Form to rate Tom’s performance. Tom was given the option to have the meeting open but he chose not to.

ADJOURN

Motion was made by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to re-open closed session and adjourn the meeting at 9:40 pm. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
City Clerk-Treasurer Jenny Clark 

1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74 Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net; Website: cromwell.govoffice.com
City of Cromwell Agenda – May 15, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund Regular City Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

 This agenda has been prepared to provide information regarding an upcoming meeting of the Cromwell City Council. This document does not claim to be complete and is subject to change at any time.

 ROLL CALL
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Comments should be directed to the Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or City staff member. Complaints about personnel or individuals are not allowed. The Mayor requires that speakers be respectful and considerate. Anyone not adhering to this requirement may be asked to leave. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.
3. OLD BUSINESS A. B.  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention. a. See attached. Pg. b. -
NEW BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior regular and special meeting minutes B. General Ledger for April (listing receipts and disbursements) C. Claims list for approval D. Treasurer’s monthly report E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report F. Pavilion calendar & use spreadsheet G.  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. See attached. Pg.
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering B. Carlton Co. Joint Agency Agreement Unstaffed Recycling Center C.  a. See attached. Pg. b. See attached. Pg. c.
6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report B. Compensation review for upcoming step increases for Megan Arnold and Carol Anderson C.  a. - b. - c. -
 

City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Regular Council Meeting Minutes May 15, 2013 - 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on May 15, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Employees: Jenny Clark (Clerk-Treasurer), Paul Lampi (Bar Manager)
Others Present: John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering ; Dora Potts, Voyageur Press
Public: Rodney Lund, Ann Corcoranann, Les Augerstrom, Butch Levinski, Dan Karppinen, Jill Dahl, Michael Heaser, Mark Huhta, Debbie Huhta, Ken Anderson, Jeff Swatek, Lynn Swatek

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A. Lisa Lund would like to add Lake Street to Water/Sewer/Maintenance- 5c

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL

Those present came to express their personal opinions of events at the liquor store.

A. Dan Karppinen- Asked about someone being in the bar at 3:00 am and if anyone served customers and let them take out a plastic cup. Mayor Clark stated he did serve customers on the morning of the snow storm when no bar employees could make it to the bar to open and that he did serve drinks in plastic cups but is unaware if they left with them. Dan felt it unfair that the bar manager is being blamed for things the bartenders are doing. Multiple people present as well as councilperson Lund accused Mayor Clark of slandering or badgering Lampi for months.

B. Michael Heaser- Asked the following questions regarding the video cameras in the bar: What is the cost, what is the purpose, when are they reviewed, why are there so many, why are there no signs up regarding the cameras, is there any internet access? Mayor Clark addressed each of his questions.

C. Butch Levinski- Asked why the council is “harassing” the bar manager. Mayor Clark stated the Council is responsible to the citizens of Cromwell to ensure the bar is run properly. He further stated the bar manager’s job description states they will take direction from the Mayor and the Council. It was reaffirmed by unanimous motion in a previous meeting that the Mayor does indeed have power to direct the bar manager. Lund stated this was not how she understood it.

D. Ann Corcoranann- Asked why the bar has plastic cups, if these are eliminated this may solve the problem of “to go” cups. She suggested the city initiate the policy of not having plastic cups available.

E. Ken Anderson- Stated he feels Lampi has a lot of integrity and is very honest. Lampi spoke about the discipline he has received and that it was unfair.

F. Jeff Swatek- Asked if the council likes the Municipal and the money it brings in. He stated that, in his opinion, there will no longer be a Cromwell Muni if they don’t stop messing with Paul Lampi.

G. Debbie Huhta- Accused the council of watching them and harassing them. Multiple people commented on a member or members of the council watching when they come and go.

3. OLD BUSINESS - NONE

A. None

NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior regular and special meeting minutes
B. General Ledger for April (listing receipts and disbursements)
C. Claims list for approval
D. Treasurer’s monthly report
E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report
F. Pavilion calendar & use spreadsheet

Motion was made by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to approve the above consent agenda items as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE

A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering

B. Carlton Co. Joint Agency Agreement Unstaffed Recycling Center

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Tom Borglund to approve the Carlton Co. Joint Agency Agreement Unstaffed Recycling Center. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Lake Street- Lund stated that a culvert is missing which has been an issue and should be installed again. John Mattonen stated this could be done to alleviate any drainage issues.

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s Report
i. One application was submitted by Vedra Peterson for the cleaning position. Lampi has interviewed her and plans to hire her.
ii. Lampi questioned if the request for sponsorship from the girl’s softball team was approved. Lampi was informed this was up to him as this falls under the advertising budget.
iii. May 17th Simpson Road Band $300.00 ; May 18th Pajama Party ; June 29th- The Jacks
iv. Lampi stated he appreciated the public who came and that he has not “stirred the pot”. He feels his paycheck comes from the customers. He stated he questions some items that were said tonight. He said has addressed the items in his evaluation and questions why he has not received his annual step increase. Mayor Clark pointed out that he has not addressed all the items in his evaluation.
v. Lampi submitted bartender discipline documentation to the council.

B. Compensation review for upcoming step increases for Megan Arnold and Carol Anderson. Due to recent discipline items, no motion to approve step increases at this time but will be reviewed at future meeting.

C. Lisa Lund would like to add the item internal controls to the agenda. Mayor Clark reminded her that items should be added at the beginning of the meeting.

Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Warren Peters to add internal controls to the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

Lund presented a document to the Council from the Mayor’s Association website and stated that there is a law that mayors have no authority to supervise or investigate city staff. Lund accused Mayor Clark of violating this law and that he has taken action without council approval. Lund stated that only the council as a whole should be supervising city staff, that it is not a good idea to have just one member doing this. Warren Peters questioned how city staff would handle questions or issues throughout the month if they are unable to go to the Mayor for guidance and stated we would need to have weekly meetings if this were the case. Lund further stated she would like Mayor Clark be removed from the internal controls committee. Mayor Clark stated that what Lund presented was not a law but something from the Mayor’s handbook. He stated that he has not done anything or given discipline that had not been discussed with the council first. Discussion on what internal controls are- inventory, cash controls, and data integrity; it has nothing to do with security cameras. No motion to remove Mayor Clark from internal controls. Lund asked that Paul Lampi be the one to review video footage and everyone agreed; this will be discussed with the city attorney. Ray Lally would like a meeting with the city attorney and city auditor. Lund asked Mayor Clark to apologize to Paul Lampi. Members of the public made derogatory comments towards Mayor Clark. Further discussion on video cameras in the bar and supervision of city staff.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION

A. Community garden update- there has been enough public interest and progress is being made. The location is at the park to the East of Northview Bank and will contain mostly flowers.

8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY

A. Zoning permit application from Rodney Lund submitted for approval. Lisa Lund stated the structure would be movable and placed on railroad ties. Discussion on if a permit is required for this type of structure. John Mattonen will look into what the ordinance states but the council could approve the application and if it is found that a permit is not needed, one will not be issued.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to approve the zoning permit application as submitted by Rodney Lund. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Camp Noah donation request reviewed. This involves safety and educating children on safety issues and will be open to all elementary aged children.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to donate $100.00 to Camp Noah. Motion carried unanimously.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE

A. April 15th meeting notes reviewed by the council

10. CLERK / TREASURER

A. Google Analytics (website data) report reviewed for the month of April

B. MMCI training summary reviewed

C. Private data at meetings- Discussion on payroll information in agenda packets. Gross pay is the only form of pay that is public information. However, the council does have a legitimate business reason to review all checks paid out. The General Ledger will be given back to the Clerk at the end of each meeting and paycheck amounts will be redacted from the public packet.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Lisa Lund: -Lund asked if the new safe for the bar been installed. Mayor Clark stated Tom will be installing this soon.
Ray Lally: -Lally stated a new culvert has been installed since the Lally Rd. sign was knocked down.

Warren Peters: -Peters asked about address/fire numbers.
-Peters addressed a statement made by Lampi in an email regarding the POS system at the bar as well as statements made by bar patrons- he stated that he does not “mess” with the POS system and would never mess with data accuracy or integrity. Lampi stated that he simply meant that the computer has been messed with and doesn’t know why the reports are not adding up. Peters said he has only worked on the bar computer when there have been questions or issues with the POS system. Lampi stated he does not have a lot of computer knowledge and has appreciated the help with the POS system but that Peters does not have the right to go behind the bar. He further stated he does not have the answer why the daily reports are not correct but will try to figure out the problem.
-Peters addressed earlier comments made and stated that he does not watch the bar or the patrons.
-Peters and Borglund are no longer on the Harvest Fest committee. Will advertise in the bus bulletin to see if there is an interest from the community otherwise Harvest Fest may not be happening this year.
Tom Borglund: -

12. MAYOR’S NOTES

A. Mayor Clark made a statement in regards to the liquor store.
i. Lampi stated he has addressed the items he was asked to complete and feels his character is being harassed. He investigated the situations he was asked to, plans to schedule himself a night shift when he does the next schedule for June, and will work with Hugh Heinecke when he comes.

13. CLOSED SESSION

Motion was made by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to close the meeting at 8:55 pm for an annual employee review of Water/Sewer/Maintenance supervisor Tom Johnson. Motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURN

Motion was made by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to re-open closed session and adjourn the meeting at 9:40 pm. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
City Clerk-Treasurer Jenny Clark 

City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Special Council Meeting Minutes May 6, 2013 – 12:00pm

A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on May 6, 2013 at 12:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss dram shop insurance for the Cromwell Municipal Liquor Store as well as preliminary employee allegations.
The meeting was called to order at 12:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Employees: Jenny Clark (Clerk-Treasurer)
Others Present: Carl Brandt, Town and Country Insurance Agency
Public: None

1. Dram Shop Insurance

A. Carl Brandt presented two options and quotes he has received for the city’s Dram Shop (Liquor Liability) Insurance. Due to the recent claim, he was only able to obtain two quotes, one with Northfield Insurance Company and one with the League of MN Cities. Carl presented the pros and cons of each. Although the LMC quote is more expensive, Carl stated the biggest advantage with the LMC is that they will not cancel or drop us if there are any future claims, where as other insurance companies may and more than likely would. He also stated the LMC is more lenient with what they consider the “premise” and would allow for a smoking area outside of the bar where the other company considers the premise “within the four walls” of the building.

B. The LMC also offers the option of purchasing Excess Liability coverage to increase the amount of coverage the liquor store would have, whereas the other insurance company does not offer this.

C. Discussion by council on pros and cons of each.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Tom Borglund to go with the League of MN Cities for Liquor Liability coverage as well as purchase the Excess Liability coverage, effective 5/6/13. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion was made by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to recess the meeting until 6:00 pm May 6, 2013 at the Cromwell Park Pavilion. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Tom Borglund to reconvene the meeting at 6:00 pm that was recessed May 6, 2013, at the Cromwell Park Pavilion. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to close the meeting for preliminary consideration of allegations against an employee. Motion carried unanimously.

Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Employees: Jenny Clark (Clerk-Treasurer) ; Paul Lampi (Bar Manager)
Others Present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney ; Hugh Heinecke, City Auditor

City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Special Council Meeting Minutes May 6, 2013 – 12:00pm
Discussion during the closed session was regarding an internal investigation.
ADJOURN
Motion was made by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
City Clerk-Treasurer Jenny Clark 

1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74 Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net; Website: cromwell.govoffice.com
City of Cromwell Agenda – April 17, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund Regular City Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

 This agenda has been prepared to provide information regarding an upcoming meeting of the Cromwell City Council. This document does not claim to be complete and is subject to change at any time.

 ROLL CALL
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.
3. OLD BUSINESS A. Paving of fire hall parking lot B.  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention. a. See attached b. -
NEW BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior meeting minutes B. General Ledger for March (listing receipts and disbursements) C. Claims list for approval D. Treasurer’s monthly report E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report F. Pavilion calendar & use spreadsheet G.  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. See attached.
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering B.  a. See attached. b. -
6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report B. Approval of Raenese Jokimaki hiring  a. - b. -
7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION A. Community flower garden B. Pavilion rental fee schedule C.  a. See attached. b. See attached. c. -
8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY A. Business Subsidy Policy B. Records Retention Schedule & Data Access Policy C. Signage grant D. Purchasing amount for department heads  a. See attached. b. See attached. c. See attached. d. -

 
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
April 17, 2013 - 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on April 17, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Employees: Jenny Clark (Clerk-Treasurer), Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), Steve Bridge (Fire Chief)
Others Present: John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering
Public: Gary Peterson, Carlton Co. Commissioner, Ken and Sue Koivisto, Jackie Koivisto, Loran Shelton, Charlie Peterson, Carmen Martin

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A. Move 9a Eagle Township fire contract negotiations to the top of the agenda.
Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Tom Borglund to approve the agenda with noted changes. Motion carried unanimously.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL- NONE

3. FIRE DEPT. - Eagle Township fire contract negotiation
-Mayor Clark presented the 2013 fire department expenditure and revenue budget which shows the fire contract amounts needed from each township to reach a balanced budget, based off tax capacity.
-Open discussion regarding the amount Eagle is comfortable raising their taxes this year. Eagle would like to follow the three year plan to reach their share of the tax capacity over a period of time, which is a total of $35,000.00. Eagle would raise their contract with the City this year to $18,400.00 and they would add $8,300 in 2014 to reach $26,700.00. In the event a fire district is formed, the 2015 fire contract amount would be determined by the board.
Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Tom Borglund to approve Eagle Township’s fire contract amount paid to the City in 2013 of $18,400.00 and $26,700.00 in 2014. Motion carried unanimously.

4. OLD BUSINESS

A. Review revised quote for paving and crack repair/sealant of the fire hall parking lot. Steve Bridge presented information regarding the state of the parking lot and the need for the work. Bridge is proposing the ambulance fund cover the costs of the work.

Motion by Mayor Clark, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the amended quote from Rocon to do crack and seal coating in front of the fire hall and re-pave the east side of the fire hall with a 2” overlay for a total of $8,550.00. Motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

5. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior meeting minutes

B. General Ledger for March (listing receipts and disbursements)

C. Claims list for approval

D. Treasurer’s monthly report

E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report

F. Pavilion calendar & use spreadsheet

G. Resolution supporting the Carlton County Mutual Aid Association (Fire Dept.)

Motion was made by Warren Peters, seconded by Tom Borglund to approve the above consent agenda items as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.

6. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE

A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering was reviewed and discussed.
-The State is doing new signage on Hwy. 210 this year.
-Mattonen is still looking at a possible drain solution for the water tower.
-Mattonen brought a map for the water system showing locations of shut-offs.
-A hydrant by the school and by the clinic will need to be repaired due to a leak this winter. Mattonen suggested having Gobel Excavating, who did the water line leak repair, do the work.
-An overlay will be done on Hwy. 73 South of Cromwell to Kettle River and North towards Floodwood this year.

7. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s Report presented by Paul Lampi
-Upcoming events: April 27th- Live Bait (band) for $550 ; May 17th- Simpson Road (band) for $300
-Promo on the 11th- Pajama party w/food and bloody mary’s and other breakfast drinks
-Alcohol Awareness training scheduled for Sunday May 5th. MMBA will be doing the training and the charge is $175.00.
-Jake Ramberg put in his notice that he will be leaving the second week in May.
-The floor will be waxed this weekend.
-Employee meeting: Drink pricing- beers discussed at the last meeting have been raised, alcohol pricing is still being worked on, drink tickets are needed and ideas were discussed at their meeting.
-Our sales are up this month from last month.
Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to require new bartender hires to have Alcohol Awareness Training that meets our Dram Shop insurance requirements before they can begin work. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Approval of Raenese Jokimaki hiring & starting wage approval
-Lampi stated customers love her and she has been doing an excellent job. He is very happy with her.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the hiring of Raenese Jokimaki and starting wage of $8.00. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Discussion on the need for a blender. Discussion on a new or used one from Ebay.
Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Warren Peters to approve the purchase of a new blender for the bar. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Lampi asked for comments and/or a decision on drink tickets. Lampi is suggesting we make our own; will work on with Clerk Clark on a solution.

8. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION

A. Community garden
-A member of the public approached Mayor Clark to build and maintain a community vegetable garden in the city with materials and time donated by the public. Locations were discussed, as well as the need for a water source. The Council suggested the member of the public form a committee to see if there is enough interest.

B. Pavilion rental fee schedule reviewed, specifically graduation party charges. Class 2 will be used for all graduations.

9. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY

A. Business Subsidy Policy
-Public Hearing was held. Gary Peterson was the only member of the public present. No questions were asked.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the Business Subsidy Policy. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Records Retention Schedule & Data Access Policy reviewed.
Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Ray Lally to adopt the State’s Records Retention Schedule and the City’s Data Access Policy. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Signage grant for a second Welcome to Cromwell sign was awarded by the EDA in the amount of $1,000; bids will be sought for this project. Bids will also be sought for a sign on Hwy. 73 advertising the Liquor Store.

D. The amount department heads can spend without prior approval was reviewed. It is currently at $100.00. Discussion on raising the amount, as long as the item and the amount follows that department’s budget.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the new purchasing policy: The Mayor and all Department heads will be allowed to make purchases without prior Council approval up to $500.00, pending the Treasurer’s approval. Motion carried unanimously.

E. Advertising for “Safe and Sober Prom” Safety Awareness. No motion made to approve this.

F. Carlton County Commissioner Gary Peterson discussed issues the County is currently facing and took questions from the Council.

10. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE
A. Eagle Lake fire contract negotiations- moved to top of agenda.

11. CLERK / TREASURER

A. Municipal Clerk’s Institute reminder

B. Google Analytics (website data) report presented

C. Insurance renewal discussion
-The City currently has a $1.5 million policy and a $1 million umbrella currently. A $2 million umbrella would be an additional $600-800 annually. No change in the umbrella amount at this time.
-The Council would like Carl Brandt to give a quote for “no fault sewer back-up coverage”.
-The Council elected to purchase “Accident Coverage for City Volunteers” for $160.00 annually. This would cover any volunteer who is working under the direction of the City, including medical costs.
-Dram shop insurance discussion. The Council would like Carl Brandt to attend the Alcohol Awareness Training to discuss the importance of enforcing policies regarding not brining alcohol outside.

D. MCFOA Region II Meeting on May 17th.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters for Clerk Clark to attend the Region II meeting on Friday, May 17th. Motion carried unanimously.

12. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Lisa Lund: -
Ray Lally: -Tom Johnson replaced the Lally Rd. sign on Hwy. 210.
-Ray inquired about renting the Pavilion for a funeral memorial.
Warren Peters: -UMD may have a truck available for the City.
Tom Borglund: -

13. MAYOR’S NOTES

A. Discussion on the status of action items and evaluation items given to Paul Lampi.

Motion by Mayor Clark, seconded by Tom Borglund to give Bar Manager Paul Lampi a one day unpaid suspension for not completing tasks as directed by the Council and Mayor in a timely manner. Motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURN
Motion was made by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 pm. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
City Clerk-Treasurer Jenny Clark

1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74 Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net; Website: cromwell.govoffice.com
City of Cromwell Agenda March 27, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark Council Members: Raymond Lally Tom Borglund Warren Peters Lisa Lund Regular City Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

 ROLL CALL
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA A. B. C.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL  Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council. We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.
3. OLD BUSINESS A. Carlton Co. Hazard Mitigation Plan B. Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting on May 6th C. Bulk sewage dumping D.  Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous meetings that require follow-up or additional attention. No attachments.
NEW BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of prior meeting minutes B. Pavilion calendar C. General Ledger for February (listing receipts and disbursements) D. Claims list for approval E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report F. Treasurer’s monthly report G. Bid for roadside mowing for 2013 from Bob Peterson Service  Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member, city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. See attached.
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering B. Citizen complaint C.  a. See attached. b. See attached. c.
6. LIQUOR STORE A. Manager’s Report B. POS System / DVR / Shelving from EDA C. Dram shop insurance D. Internal Controls E. Pricing F.  a. - b. - c. - d. Attachment to follow. e. Attachment to follow. f.
 

City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Regular Council Meeting Minutes March 27, 2013 - 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on March 27, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.

Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund
Absent: Ray Lally
Employees: Jenny Clark (Clerk-Treasurer), Paul Lampi (Bar Manager), Tom Johnson (Water/Sewer)
Others Present: John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A. Insurance Liability Waiver (General City 8g)

B. Fire contracts (Fire 9d)

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the agenda with additions. Motion carried unanimously.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL

3. OLD BUSINESS

A. Carlton Co. Hazard Mitigation Plan

-Brian Belich contacted Cromwell asking for our interest in this and stated that by signing the letter it does not commit us to anything, only indicates our interest in being part of the process. Mayor Clark signed the letter to indicate our interest. They will be in contact about future meeting dates.

B. Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting on May 6th

-This will be at the Court House, not in Cromwell as previously thought

C. Bulk sewage dumping

-Tom Johnson and Mayor Clark spoke with Frank Stuemke of MRWA who is concerned about the state of our ponds if we continue to allow bulk sewage dumping. He stated our ponds are too small to handle this amount of waste. Discussion was had on the effects this will have on the state of and the life expectancy of the ponds.

-John Mattonen spoke about this as well and cautioned us on doing this. He stated we don’t know the source of the waste and have no real control over what is being dumped.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Tom Borglund for a moratorium on dumping septic and holding tank water until we can test the ponds and see what the results are. Motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior meeting minutes
B. Pavilion calendar
C. General Ledger for February (listing receipts and disbursements)
D. Claims list for approval
E. Liquor Store monthly sales total report
F. Treasurer’s monthly report
G. Bid for roadside mowing for 2013 from Bob Peterson Service

Motion was made by Tom Borglund, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the above consent agenda items as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE

A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering was reviewed and discussed.

-Mattonen is working on a water system map
-Pedestrian crossing sign on West Hwy. 210 is missing
-No word back from MnDOT yet on Safe Routes to School Grant

B. Citizen complaint

-Citizen Wendy Clark Tillman complained about yellow water that is undrinkable and has ruined clothing.
-Mattonen will look into a way to drain the sediment out of the bottom of the tank, from the outside.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Tom Borglund to credit the March water bill for Wendy Clark Tillman. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Hiring of a part-time maintenance helper will be needed in the spring.

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s Report

-All bartenders signed the new policy manual; discussed inventory issues; new glassware; overfilling of cooler sleeves; upcoming events; promos rung up properly;
-Simpson Road, Alumni basketball tournament, Live Bait April 27th
-Alcohol Awareness Training- Paul Lampi has been trying to get in contact with the State to do the training but has been unable to do so. The MMBA also does this training.

Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Warren Peters to have the MMBA do the Alcohol Awareness Training. Motion carried unanimously.

-Tuesday night giveaway had another winner on Tuesday the 19th and the 26th
-New daily and weekly cleaning lists have been implemented. There is a checklist for bartenders to initial.
-Lampi discussed/addressed his written warning (32 min.).
-Mayor Clark and Tom Johnson have installed/built pallets for the beer to be stored on in the beer cooler.
-Water at the bar has been very yellow/brown, especially hot water. Hot water heater should be flushed regularly.
B. POS System / DVR / Shelving from EDA

-The Carlton County EDA had equipment available for bid- POS system, security system, 3 computers, 2 touch screen monitors, and shelving. Mayor Clark put in a bid of $350.00 and won the bid.

C. Dram shop insurance will not be renewed by current company. Carl Brandt of Town and Country Insurance has been contacted and will seek quotes from a new company for dram shop insurance.

D. Internal Controls

-Lampi stated that he has discussed with the bartenders about cashing in tips as stated in the new policy manual as well as the importance of keeping accurate inventory.

-Mayor Clark presented internal control ideas. A committee will be formed to determine internal controls and present this at a future meeting. Committee members will be Lampi, Peters, Mayor Clark, and Clerk Clark.

-A new drop safe was discussed.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Lisa Lund to purchase a drop safe up to $1,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.

E. Pricing

-Lampi has changed most items to end in .49 and .99
-Lampi discussed pricing on various items and has raised pricing on some items.
-Market research and pricing comparisons presented by Mayor Clark and discussed.
-Busch, Busch Light, Keystone, Miller Highlife, and Old Milwaukee bottles will be raised from $2.75 to $3.00
-Ingredients of shots should be assessed

7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION

A. Playground grant through LCP. Mayor Clark will discuss this with Jen Anderson.

B. Pavilion use spreadsheet reviewed.

8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY

A. TIF Policy which was presented by Pat Oman of the Carlton Co. EDA at the March meeting was reviewed.

Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the TIF Policy. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Business Subsidy Policy. Public hearing is required to adopt the resolution and will be held at the next regular council meeting.

C. Discussion on the condition of the city truck and the need for a new one this year.

D. Harvest Fest discussion. A committee needs to be formed. Peters and Borglund will be the executive committee.

E. LMC Annual Conference. No one will attend this year.

F. Tri-community Food Shelf letter of support request

Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Warren Peters to approve a donation of $100.00 to the Tri-community Food Shelf. Motion carried unanimously.

G. Insurance Liability Waiver from Carl Brandt was submitted.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the insurance form to not waive the statutory tort limits. Motion carried unanimously.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE

A. Summary notes from District meetings on March 4th and 11th

B. Fire Dept. Meeting Notes March 18th

C. Eagle Township board to attend April meeting to discuss the fire contract/tax levy.
 a. Mayor Clark presented a proposed balanced budget for the fire dept.
 b. Fire contracts need to be reviewed and adjusted as necessary.

D. Paving of Fire Hall parking lot was discussed. A bid was approved in 2012 to repave the parking lot.

Motion by Sam Clark, seconded by Warren Peters to cancel the blacktopping contract and have the parking lot seal coated/patched. Motion carried unanimously.

E. Fire / Address numbers. Discussion on the City’s ordinance which requires homeowners to display their fire numbers. Bids will be sought and will potentially have a special assessment for this.

10. CLERK / TREASURER

A. MCFOA Conference summary

B. Municipal Clerk’s Institute Grant of $300.00 was awarded to Cromwell

C. Vacation reminder. The Clerk and the Mayor will be gone April 2nd-April 8th.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Lisa Lund: -
Ray Lally: Absent
Warren Peters: Should we raise the purchasing amount the department heads can spend without approval? This will be on the next meeting agenda.
-Peters asked if the ‘Church Lady Law’ is in the Pavilion contracts. There was discussion on what should be included in the contract in regards to selling of food and requirements of the Food Safe Certificate.
Tom Borglund: -

12. MAYOR’S NOTES

A. Mayor Clark applied for a $1,000 signage grant from the EDA to install a second welcome sign.

B. Pavilion sign by City hall may need to be moved as it is on a homeowner’s property.

C. Water/Sewer bill for a customer is not being paid and may need to send a shut-off notice.

D. Meetings with Lampi have been held on Tuesdays to discuss items to be worked on. Some of the items from the evaluation and these meetings have been addressed but not all of them.

ADJOURN

Motion was made by Warren Peters, seconded by Lisa Lund to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 pm. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
City Clerk-Treasurer Jenny Clark 

City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Closed Council Meeting Minutes (Approved) February 20, 2013

A closed meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on February 20, 2013 at 9:15 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion for discussion and follow-up of the annual employee review of Liquor Store Manager Paul Lampi.

The meeting was called to order at 9:15pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent: -
Employees: Jenny Clark (Clerk-Treasurer), Paul Lampi (Liquor Store Manager)
Others Present: -
-Lampi was given the opportunity to have the meeting open but he chose not to.
-Lampi had the opportunity to address the Council in regards to the evaluation.
-There was further evaluation and job performance discussion.
ADJOURN
The closed portion of the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 pm. 

City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Regular Council Meeting Minutes (Approved) February 20, 2013 – 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on February 20, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Employees Present: Jenny Clark (Clerk-Treasurer), Paul Lampi (Liquor Store Manager)
Others Present: Pat Oman, Carlton Co. EDA ; Calvin Jacobson, Riverview Meadows ; Richard Aho, Cromwell Country Inn business owner

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A. TIF Program presented by Pat Oman and Cal Jacobson for Riverview Meadows Dev.

B.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL

3. OLD BUSINESS

A. Approval of City’s legal newspaper

Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Warren Peters to appoint the Star Gazette as the City's designated paper for legal advertising. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Terms of Ann Markusen Yoga classes contract

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Tom Borglund to approve amendment to contract of yoga classes to allow one attendee to clean after classes and not have to pay a fee. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Discussion on installation of door to smoking area at the liquor store. Tyson Warner Construction bid was accepted in October but the work is still not done. City will seek new bids.

NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of prior meeting minutes
B. Pavilion calendar
C. Receipts list for prior month- totaling $68,398.78
D. Disbursements list for prior month- totaling $50,838.90
E. Claims list for approval- totaling $25,030.87
F. Liquor Store monthly sales total report
G. Pull tab totals for November 2012 $1,131.00
H. Treasurer’s monthly report
I. Resolution 13.2.20 to accept playground donation from the YOT
J. Meeting date from Carlton Co. for the Board of Appeal and Equalization
K. Approval of order list from Tom Johnson

Motion was made by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the above consent agenda items as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.

City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN Regular Council Meeting Minutes (Approved) February 20, 2013 – 7:00pm

5. TIF Program presented by Pat Oman and Cal Jacobson for Riverview Meadows Development

-Mr. Oman discussed what Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is and the benefits it provides for a City.
-In order to receive the benefit of TIF, the developer has to build houses and adhere to the TIF agreement.
-Discussion on access from Hwy. 210 to River View Trail, located in the development, and what the City will require in regard to this access.
-Mr. Jacobson discussed developing the lots, building entry-level houses, and marketing them.
-Mayor Clark stated the information presented will be reviewed by the Council as well as the City attorney and will revisit at the next regular Council meeting.

6. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE

A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering, review and discussion.

-Safe Routes to School application was submitted by Mayor Clark.
-MnDOT met with John Mattonen and Mayor Clark to discuss Hwy. 210 improvements. There is currently no money in the State's budget for full repairs. There may be a possibility to go after it from a maintenance standpoint rather than a full construction project.
-Discussion on the plan for school zones on Hwy. 210 and 73. Mr. Mattonen will check into this.
-Aardvark has paid their bill for bulk septic dumping as well as the annual permit fee for a total payment of $1,514.00.
-Discussion on access from Hwy. 73 to Riverview Meadows development; the City will require this.
-Lally Rd. may benefit from ground-up asphalt, will look into this during construction season.

B. Wellhead Protection Plan

-The Council reviewed the new map illustrating the protection area as well as the new plan.
Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the proposed Wellhead Protection Plan. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Brief update on accounts & payments

-Discussion on payment due dates. They are currently due on the 25th but our ordinance states the 10th.

Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Warren Peters to change the ordinance to state the due date is the 25th of every month. Motion carried unanimously.

7. LIQUOR STORE

A. Manager’s report given by Lampi.

-Tuesday night giveaway is up to $175.00
-Dash for Cash will be ending this week.
-Interviews were held and Raenese Jokimaki was hired as part-time bartender.
-Shuttle “party” bus idea was presented. Lampi will seek more information and details.
-Snowmobiler business has been good with the snow.
-Entertainment- Nothing scheduled yet but is in contact with two different bands; may have Live Bait play later in March.
-Karaoke night went well.
-Employee meetings- Lampi told the Council what he covered at the last employee meeting- over-serving was discussed, “to-go” cups cannot be given out, cleaning schedule is being worked on, pizzas must be rung up/deducted from inventory, restocking every day, upcoming events.
B. Review of proposed Liquor Store Standard Operating Procedure Manual

-Mr. Oman discussed the City of Barnum's policy, why it was developed, the importance of it, and how it is working. The proposed policy is based off of Barnum's policy.
-Discussion on having the Municipal Liquor Store serve alcohol exclusively at the Pavilion events.
-Lund stated we should require new hires to attend alcohol server awareness training before they start. -The question was asked if the Liquor Store should be serving someone who got a DUI and no longer has their license; liability concerns discussed.
-Lampi has had a chance to review the manual and is ok with it as is.
-Discussion on customers behind the bar or in the back room and holding bartenders accountable.
-Discussion on adding free birthday drinks and no “power hour” for people turning 21.
-Discussion on payment of drinks at the time of order. Lampi stated he feels that at times a customer shouldn't have to wait and a bartender can fill more than one drink order before collecting payment; people don't like to wait and customer service is important. Mayor Clark stated it is an internal control issue and should be required- this is a very common expectation in the bar business.
-Lampi stated that he was told when he started that the pour amount is 1-1/2 oz. per drink
-Discussion on bartenders converting tips into larger denomination bills out of the cash register.
-Lampi stated sometimes the bar is in need of smaller change so this is necessary and they should be trusted to do this as they are in the cash register all the time anyway.
-Mayor Clark stated this is another internal control item.
-The suggestion was made to allow this if a second bartender is available to witness it / when the next shift comes on.
-Eliminate #19 on page 8 as this no longer applies with the new POS system.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the proposed Standard Operating Procedure for the Municipal Liquor Store with noted changes. Motion carried unanimously.

-Lampi will present this and get signatures at the next bartender meeting the first week in March.

C. Sharlena Ranta- Probationary period ends 3/5-hiring and starting wage approval

-Lampi feels she does a good job and is continuing to make improvements. She is friendly and gives good customer service and usually arrives early for her shift.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Sam Clark to approve the hiring and starting wage of $8.00 per hour for Sharlena Ranta. Motion carried unanimously.
The meeting was closed at 9:15 pm for follow up of an employee evaluation.
The regular meeting re-opened at 10:15 pm.
 
D. Annual review of Paul Lampi’s compensation

-No motion was made for a raise at this time until evaluation items have been addressed.
-Brief discussion on Food Safety training. Several deficiencies were noted in the cleanliness of the bar.

E. Alcohol Awareness Training was discussed. Lund feels it would be important to require all new employees to go through this before starting. Lampi should be responsible for getting this done.

F. Bar glass sizes reviewed and new glass pricing presented. Currently the bar has many different sized glasses so customers are not getting a consistent drink.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Tom Borglund to purchase new, consistently sized glasses for the bar. Motion carried unanimously.

8. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION

A. New keypad deadbolts installed. Council members will be given the master code and will not give this out to anyone; anyone with a key should turn theirs in. Renters of the building will need to call the City office to get the code before they use it.

9. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY

A. Review of Cromwell Country Inn’s full loan application -Mr. Oman presented and explained the Loan Summary and proposed project to the Council.
-The City attorney will have an opportunity to review the loan summary as well
-Council had the opportunity to ask Mr. Oman questions in regards to the loan
-Lund inquired about a defaulted loan through the EDA and Pat explained the details
-Peters asked if the other loans have been approved (MCCU and NE Entrepreneur Fund)
-Mayor Clark asked how increasing the interest rate by 1% would affect the monthly payment. Mr. Oman stated he could look into this if needed, but would raise it a little, maybe by $20.00. He also stated that by leaving the money in the account doesn't make any interest, but loaning it out at 3% is a big increase.

Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the Loan Summary for the Cromwell Country Inn with the terms and conditions as stated in the summary. Motion carried unanimously.

The next step will be making sure the other loans are approved and then the closing. Mr. Oman can handle the closing here at the City. The file will then be turned over to the City.

B. Health insurance costs discussed; premiums have increased. No action taken at this time to change the amount the City pays.

C. Carlton Co. Hazard Mitigation Plan update

-The Council would like to see more information before deciding if Cromwell will participate.

D. Safety & Loss Control Workshops will be in Duluth on Wednesday April 10th.

-Mayor Clark stated this is very good training at a small fee of $20.00
-Mayor Clark would like to attend and feels this would be good training for the Clerk as well. Lund may attend as well if available.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve Mayor Clark and Jenny Clark attend the workshops. Motion carried unanimously.

10. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE

A. Fire District meeting at the Fire Hall Monday March 4th at 6:00pm. Brief discussion on forming of the Fire District.

11. CLERK / TREASURER NOTES

A. -

12. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Lisa Lund: -
Ray Lally: -
Warren Peters: Peters asked if we are doing Harvest Fest again this year. A board should be formed since cities should not be the ones to manage a town festival.

Tom Borglund: Borglund would like to make sure we do require access off of Hwy. 73 to Riverview Meadows.

13. MAYOR’S NOTES

A. Discussion on Lampi not following direction to check an applicant’s references as well as failing to speak to all the bartenders in a timely manner in regard to the incident of February 1st.

B. Discussion on the job description for the bar manager stating that a person in this position must take
orders from the Council or the Mayor. Some form of supervision is needed throughout the month.

C. Discussion on performing inventory checks. The Council agrees that quarterly audits/inventory checks should be performed and agreed Mayor Clark should be the one to do them.

Motion by Sam Clark, seconded by Warren Peters to give Paul Lampi a written warning for not checking an applicant’s references as directed as well as failing to speak to all the bartenders regarding the stated incident. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Tom Borglund to reaffirm Mayor Clark’s authority to direct Lampi to follow Council directives and established policies. Motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURN

Motion was made by Lisa Lund, seconded by Warren Peters to adjourn the meeting at 11:10pm. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Samuel A. Clark
ATTEST:
City Clerk-Treasurer Jenny Clark 
1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74
Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net
Website: cromwell.govoffice.com

City of Cromwell
Agenda

February 20, 2013

Mayor: Samuel A. Clark
Council Members: Raymond Lally, Tom Borglund, Warren Peters, Lisa Lund

Regular City Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

This agenda has been prepared to provide information regarding an upcoming meeting of the Cromwell City Council. This document does not claim to be complete and is subject to change at any time.

ROLL CALL

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A.
B.
C.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In addressing the Council, please state your name for the record, and a brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council.  We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes.

Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the meeting start.

3. OLD BUSINESS

A. Approval of City’s legal newspaper
B. Terms of Ann Markusen Yoga classes contract
C. Installation of door to smoking area

Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous
meetings that require follow-up or additional attention.
 a. See attached.
 b. See attached.
 c. –

NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior meeting minutes
B. Pavilion calendar
C. Receipts list for prior month
D. Disbursements list for prior month
E. Claims list for approval
F. Liquor Store monthly sales total
G. Pull tab totals for November 2012 $1,131.00
H. Treasurer’s monthly report
I. Resolution 13.2.20 to accept playground donation from the YOT
J. Meeting date from Carlton Co. for the Board of Appeal and Equalization
K. Approval of order list from Tom Johnson

Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member,
city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.  See attached.

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE

A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering
B. Wellhead Protection Plan
C. Brief update on accounts & payments
D. W&S Billing ordinance review
E.
a. See attached.
b. See attached.
c. –
d. See attached.
6. LIQUOR STORE
A. Manager’s report
B. Review of proposed Liquor Store Standard Operating Procedure Manual
C. Sharlena Ranta- Probationary period ends 3/5- hiring and starting wage approval
D. Annual review of Paul’s compensation
E. Alcohol Awareness Training
F. Bar glass sizing
 a. Attachment to follow.
 b. See attached.
 c. See attached.
 d. See attached.
 e. See attached.
 f. See attached.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION

A. New keypad deadbolts installed
B.
a. –
b.

8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY

A. Review of Cromwell Country Inn’s loan application
B. Health insurance costs
C. Carlton Co. Hazard Mitigation Plan update
D. Safety & Loss Control Workshops
E.
a. Will be available at the meeting.
b. Not public data.
c. See attached.
d. See attached.
e.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE

A. Fire District meeting at the Fire Hall Monday March 4th at 6:00pm
B.
 a. –
 b.

10. CLERK / TREASURER

A.
B.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Lisa Lund:
Ray Lally:
Warren Peters:
Tom Borglund:

12. MAYOR’S NOTES

ADJOURN
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Closed Council Meeting
January 23, 2013

A closed meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on January 23, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion for the annual employee review of Bar Manager Paul Lampi.

The meeting was called to order at 10:10 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Others Present:
-Paul Lampi’s annual performance review was conducted. The Council used the City’s Employee Evaluation

Form to rate Paul’s performance.
-Mayor Clark will meet with Paul individually to discuss the performance review and the Council’s comments.

ADJOURN

Motion was made by Tom Borglund, seconded by Warren Peters to adjourn the meeting at
11:05 pm. Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,
Jenny Clark
Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
January 23, 2013 – 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on January 23, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Others Present: Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager ; John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering Steve Bridge, Cromwell Fire Chief ; Lucas Goodin, Cromwell Fire Dept.

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A. Parks & Rec letter E- Auction

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Tom Borglund to approve the agenda with above addition.
Motion carried unanimously.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL

3. OLD BUSINESS

A.

NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior meeting minutes
B. Pavilion calendar
C. Receipts list for prior month
D. Disbursements list for prior month
E. Claims list for approval
F. Liquor Store monthly sales total
G. Pull tab totals for November 2012 $1,131.00
H. Treasurer’s monthly report

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the consent agenda items as
detailed above. Motion carried unanimously.

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE

A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering

-Meeting with MnDot and John Mattonen to discuss the Hwy. 210 repairs through town will be held
Wednesday the 30th at 8:30 am at the city office. Council members and businesses in town can submit
a list of concerns prior to the meeting.

B. Water quality

-Tom Johnson has requested that we clean the water tower to help with quality due to a number of
citizen complaints of yellow water. John Mattonen states it is a maintenance item and should be done
on a regular basis. This will be hired out as needed, no contract will be signed at this time.

C. Sewage dumping- applications, permits, fees

-Discussion on pros and cons of allowing bulk dumping. John Mattonen cautioned on the type of
material that we are accepting but does feel our system can handle this. We may want to only accept
material from holding tanks and not from other municipalities.
-The decision was made to allow companies to dump bulk sewage but will limit to septic and
holding tank materials only. Companies will be asked to stop at the city office and fill out a form
detailing the load they are dumping prior to dumping.
-An annual permit will also be implemented with a permit fee of $20.00.
-Cromwell charges will be as follows, effective February 1:
-Septic tanks- $30.00 per 1,000 gallons
-Holding tanks- $10.00 per 1,000 gallons
-Charges for previous dumping done by Aardvark will be $20.00 per 1,000 gallons

Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Warren Peters to approve bulk sewage dumping
from septic tanks and holding tanks only. An annual permit will be required with a permit fee
of $20.00. Rates will be effective February 1, 2013 and will be $30.00 per 1,000 gallons for septic
tanks and $10.00 per 1,000 gallons for holding tanks. Previous dumping done by Aardvark will
be billed at $20.00 per 1,000 gallons. Motion carried unanimously.

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Entertainment/Promos
-Feb. Entertainment: Fri. the 1st- Ben’s Karaoke $250 ; Sat. the 16th- Leif Productions DJ $200
-Discussion on promos. Tuesday Night Giveaway has had one winner so far, still working on
promoting this. There have been a couple free jukebox nights but due to weather issues and lack of
people knowing about it, it has not been very busy. The cost is minimal, approx. $60.00 for the entire
night. Another one is set up for Sunday the 27th.
B. Popcorn machine is in need of repair. Paul is working on getting estimates.
C. New jukebox has been working well. Hazelwood had to replace one speaker that was blown out.
D. New bartender Lena is improving and becoming more comfortable with customers.
E. Bartender position opening- Diane Hansen's last day will be January 27th. Paul currently has two
applications that he plans to interview so there will not be a posting for this position.
-Discussion on how the hiring/selection process works. The city is still following the 100 point hiring
system that was adopted in July of 2012.
-The current head bartender is Leslie but works very limited hours
F. Lisa mentioned a new health care program that is now available through MN Care that could be an
option for our bartenders.
G. Paul is working on getting pallets from a beer distributor for stacking beer on in the back room.
H. Paul was informed that his evaluation will be held at the close of the regular meeting and will be held
as a closed session unless Paul would like it to be open. Paul did not choose to have it open.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION

A. Discussion on renewing of annual contracts with groups who use the Pavilion at no charge
-We will renew contracts every January as well as collect new deposit checks. Jenny will send out
new contracts and collect the checks.

B. ATV training- Pavilion use request

Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Tom Borglund to approve Evergreen PAC to hold an ATV
training class at the Pavilion on Saturday May 4th at no charge. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Volleyball court bill

Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Ray Lally to approve payment of Craig Harp's bill for
for $450.00 for volleyball court sand which he delivered in 2011. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Review yoga classes.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve continued yoga classes offered by
AnnMarkusen on Tuesdays at the Pavilion. Ann will need to charge a small fee (determined/set
by Ann) per person and pay half of the total proceeds collected to the City to cover costs of
operating the Pavilion. Motion carried unanimously.

E. Consignment auction idea presented by Lisa Lund. Date to be determined but will be in April or May.
Lisa plans to have a live auction to be held at the Pavilion and would pay the rental and deposit fee
according to the rate schedule.

F. Discussion on free use allowance of the Pavilion and the parameters:
-If a paying renter requests to use the Pavilion the day a group who uses it for free is schedule, 30 days
or more in advance, the free use group will be asked to reschedule their event

8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY

A. Annual meeting dates
-A few conflict dates with the 4th Wednesday of each month so meetings will be moved back to the 3rd
Wednesday of each month. One exception- March meeting will be held the 4th Wednesday on the 27th
due to the Clerk's conference conflict.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to approve Council meeting dates for 2013 as
noted above. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Annual appointments

 1. Health Official Dr. Shawn Bode
 2. Health Inspector Ray Lally, Tom Borglund
 3. Weed Inspector Sam Clark
 4. Civil Defense Ray Lally, Jenny Clark, Sam Clark
 5. Register Control Jenny Clark, Warren Peters, Sam Clark
 6. Depository Northview Bank, Lake States Federal Credit Union
 7. Legal Newspaper To be determined
 8. Law Firm Rudy, Gassert, Yetka & Pritchett
 9. Program Liaison/Census Bureau Lisa Lund, Jenny Clark
 10. IT Manager Sam Clark
 11. Acting Mayor Ray Lally
 12. Engineer JPJ Engineering, John Mattonen
 13. Cromwell Area Development Chair Lisa Lund
 14. Employee Liaison Jenny Clark

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve annual appointments as outlined
above, with the exception of the Legal Newspaper which will be determined at future meeting.
Motion carried unanimously.

C. Annual review of Council wages. Wages will remain the same.

D. Review of fee schedule. Discussion on current fees.
-Addition of portable generator fee should be added to the schedule according to what other companies
are charging. Jenny will look into this and add the appropriate rental fee to the schedule.
-Labor rate per hour to be increased from $25.00 to $40.00.
-Water and sewer fees should be reviewed by MN Rural Water to make sure we are competitive.
-Zoning permit fee to be increased from $30.00 to $50.00.

Motion by Lisa Lund, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the fee schedule with the following
changes: addition of portable generator fee; increase of labor rate to $40.00 per hour; increase
of zoning permit fee to $50.00. Motion carried unanimously.

E. Calcium Chloride estimate reviewed. Decision was made to have Tom Johnson pick up the amount of
bags he needs for now, not order a full pallet.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE

A. Fire District review and discussion
-Eagle Township has discussed the district with Steve- they are not opposed to the district and
understand their fire contract rate will need to increase, but are concerned that the increase will come
all at once. Steve stated that they are looking at doing a 2-year plan so this would be an adjustment
that would come over time, not all in one shot.
-Projected tax levy numbers reviewed and discussed.
-Discussion on how the ambulance revenue would be used under the district. Steve stated the revenue
from the ambulance district goes to pay for the ambulance itself. Under the district, the revenue would
pay the ambulance dept. expenses and the cost for having someone on call 24 hours a day.
-Fire trucks need to be replaced every 30 years, they are no longer approved/certified. First line trucks
are recommended to be replaced every 10 years but could then be a second line truck.
-Warren asked what it means in the agreement where it states that starting January 1, 2014 the
volunteer members would become employees. Steve stated that members are considered employees
for worker’s comp insurance and for getting paid the year end reimbursement money.
-Section 7- Funding of the District was discussed and the importance of equalizing the tax levy as it is
disbursed over all the townships prior to 2015 when the Board will be in charge of the budget.
-Ray expressed concern regarding the Relief Assoc. Cromwell's association is much better than
Wright's is currently.
-Steve stated in order to proceed with this, the city needs to approve a resolution of support of the
district. This would be the starting point to continue towards forming of the district. The townships
would then need to get involved and agree to the district.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Tom Borglund to approve resolution of support of the Fire
District. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Mutual Aid Contract with Cloquet Fire Dist. was reviewed. Steve stated that the agreement is
virtually the same as the prior agreement Cromwell had with them.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the Mutual Aid Contract with the
Cloquet Area Fire Department. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Pager request from Steve Bridge.
-The department is in need of 3 new pagers. Steve can get them through Sheriff Kelly Lake for
$430.10 each. The Fire Dept. needs to ask for an increase in Eagle Townships fire contract for 2013 to
cover this cost.

Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the purchase of three new pagers
at a cost of $430.10 each, which will be recovered through an increase in Eagle Townships fire
contract with the City. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Review/establish pay rate for disaster situations. FEMA recommends cities set a rate for when a
disaster situation occurs.

Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to set the Fire Chief pay rate at $27.50 per
hour with an overtime rate of $41.25 per hour in the event of a disaster situation. Motion
carried unanimously.

E. Steve stated that Lucas Goodin has offered to train the council in NIMS-100.

10. CLERK / TREASURER

A. Request for approval to attend the Annual MCFOA Conference in March

B. Request for approval to attend the Municipal Clerk’s Institute Training in April

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve sending Jenny Clark to the annual
MCFOA Conference inMarch and the Municipal Clerk's Institute in April. Motion carried
unanimously.

C. Computer purchase
-Current computer is over 10 years old. $1,000 Was budgeted for new computer. Options discussed.

Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Warren Peters to purchase new computer for City
Office up to $1,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES

Lisa Lund: -Lisa attended the annual LMC conference in Nisswa.
Ray Lally: -
Warren Peters: -
Tom Borglund: -Send Water/Sewer bill to new occupants at 1235 Northstar Lane
-Check references/previous employers of bar applicant

12. MAYOR’S NOTES

A. Wellhead Protection Plan meeting with MN Dept. of Health and MN Rural Water Thursday meeting.
B. Clinic furnace acted up and Sam was able to repair.
C. Water leaking out of furnace exhaust at the bar- Sam was able to fix.
D. Bar improvements- Sam asked each member of the Council to think about possibilities for this for
future meeting topics (new bar, bar layout, etc.).

ADJOURN

Motion was made by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 pm.
Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,
Jenny Clark
Clerk/Treasurer
1272 Hwy. 73, PO Box 74
Cromwell, MN 55726
Ph: 218-644-3570
Email: cityofcromwell@frontiernet.net
Website: cromwell.govoffice.com
 
City of Cromwell
Agenda
January 23, 2013
Mayor: Samuel A. Clark
Council Members: Raymond Lally
Tom Borglund
Warren Peters
Lisa Lund
Regular City Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.
This agenda has been prepared to provide information regarding an upcoming meeting of the Cromwell City Council. This document does
not claim to be complete and is subject to change at any time.
ROLL CALL

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA
A.
B.

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL Public inquiries/informational is an opportunity for citizens to bring
to the Council’s attention any items not currently on the agenda. In
addressing the Council, please state your name for the record and a
brief summary of the specific item being addressed to the Council.
We ask that each individual limit their comments to three minutes.
Documents may be distributed to the Council prior to meeting start.

3. OLD BUSINESS
A.
B.
Old Business will address any unfinished items from previous
meetings that require follow-up or additional attention.
NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of prior meeting minutes
B. Pavilion calendar
C. Receipts list for prior month
D. Disbursements list for prior month
E. Claims list for approval
F. Liquor Store monthly sales total
G. Pull tab totals for November 2012 $1,131.00
H. Treasurer’s monthly report
Consent agenda items are considered routine or non-controversial
by the Council and will be approved with one motion. There will
be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member,
city staff or citizen so requests, in which case the item (s) will be
removed from the consent agenda and be considered in its normal
sequence on the agenda.
a-f. See attached.

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE
A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering
B. Water quality
C. Sewage dumping- applications, permits, fees
D.
a. See attached.
b. See attached.
c. See attached.

6. LIQUOR STORE
A. Entertainment for February: Friday the 1st-
Ben’s Karaoke $250.00. (Other TBD).
B. Bartender position opening
C.
a. See attached.
b. See attached.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION
A. Renewing of annual contracts
B. ATV training- Pavilion use request
C. Volleyball court bill
D. Review yoga classes
E.
a. –
b. See attached.
c. See attached.
d. See attached.

8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY
A. Annual meeting dates
B. Annual appointments
C. Annual review of Council wages
D. Review of fee schedule
E. Calcium Chloride estimate
F.
a. See attached.
b. See attached.
c. See attached.
d. See attached
e. See attached.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE
A. Fire District review
B. Mutual Aid Contract with Cloquet Fire Dist.
C. Pager request from Steve Bridge
D. Review/establish pay rate for disaster situations
E.
a. See attached.
b. See attached.
c. See attached.
d. See attached.

10. CLERK / TREASURER
A. Annual MCFOA Conference approval
B. Municipal Clerk’s Institute Training approval
C. Computer purchase
D.
a. See attached.
b. See attached.
c. –

11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES
Lisa Lund:
Ray Lally:
Warren Peters:
Tom Borglund:

12. MAYOR’S NOTES
ADJOURN
CLOSED SESSION FOR EMPLOYEE
EVALUATION. See attached.
ADJOURNMENT OF CLOSED SESSION
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
December 26, 2012 7:00pm

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on December 26, 2012 at 7:00 pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally,
Absent: Tom Borglund
Others Present: Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager ; John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering ; Steve Bridge
Pat Oman, Carlton County EDA ; Gary Peterson, County Commissioner elect

1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA

A. 5b- Outstanding water/sewer bill from grocery in town

2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL

3. OLD BUSINESS

A. Replacement of side door at bar
-Warren stated it sounds like Superior Glass will accept our proposal as discussed at Nov. meeting.

B. LMC meeting agenda and cost
-Reviewed total cost to attend as well as topics covered on agenda and information available on
LMC’s website. Lisa would like to attend and will be the only one to attend.

NEW BUSINESS

4. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of prior regular and special meeting minutes

B. Pavilion calendar

C. Receipts list for prior month

D. Disbursements list for prior month

E. Claims list (accounts payable) for approval

Motion was made by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the above consent
agenda items as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.

5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE

A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering was reviewed and discussed.
-MnDOT will be contacting Sam to set up meeting regarding Hwy. 210 project

B. Outstanding water/sewer bill from grocery in town
-Bill was not paid at time of sale. Issue discussed and a bill will be sent to the bank who owned it at
the time of sale.

C. Butch Clark sewer gas issue discussed. John Mattonen will look into this.

6. LIQUOR STORE

A. Prior month sales total: November $52,599.28
B. Pull tab totals: October $850.40
C. December Entertainment:
Saturday Jan. 5th: Ben's Karaoke- $250.00
Saturday Jan. 19th: Undecided at this time
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
December 26, 2012 7:00pm
2
D. Discussion on current promos (Dash for Cash and Tuesday Night Giveaway).
E. Snowmobile run on January 12th- expecting 80 machines.
F. Discussion on hiring of new bartender Sharlena Ranta and her progress.
G. New jukebox and speakers have been installed by Hazelwood at their expense.
-One free jukebox night has been had but due to snowstorm it was not busy. Will try again in January.
H. Food Safe Certification classes discussed. Paul will attend some time this winter.

7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION

A. Pavilion pricing and use discussed
-Discussion on current class/fee schedule. A lot of requests come in for benefits. Groups using the
building for free need to be held accountable for cleaning.
-Add a Benefit class (class 6)- Rental $75, Deposit $100
-Class 1 rental fee of $25 for small group meetings was discussed but will not be raised at this time.
-Discussion on having the Cromwell Municipal be the exclusive alcohol provider at Pavilion events to
generate more revenue.
-Class 5: Change Rental to $300 and alcohol must be purchased at the Municipal
Motion by Sam Clark, seconded by Warren Peters to add Class 6 Benefit with rental of $75,
deposit of $100 and change Class 5 rental to $300 with requirement to purchase alcohol
through the Cromwell Municipal. Motion carried unanimously.
B. Yoga classes offered by Ann Markusen. Ann’s request letter was reviewed by the Council. Ann has
suggested a minimal use per person ($5.00) to help cover costs to use the Pavilion.
Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to allow AnnMarkusen to use the Pavilion for
yoga classes once per week as outlined in her request letter for no charge during the month of
January 2013, with the expectation that she will charge a small fee ($5.00) per person in the
future to go towards the costs to use the Pavilion. Motion carried unanimously.
8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY
A. Economic Development: review and approval of loan guidelines and application
-The City currently has a revolving loan fund of $25,000 available to create a loan program that would
be available for use for businesses within the city limits of Cromwell.
-CCEDA would manage the loans (paperwork, applications, etc)
-Applicant must meet at least one of the three criteria as detailed in the loan guidelines.
Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to approve the City of Cromwell loan
guidelines and application as presented by Pat Oman of the Carlton County EDA. Motion
carried unanimously.

B. Review loan pre-application from Country Inn.
-Review of and discussion on the project and the loan application as submitted. Total project cost is
$37,000 and the loan amount requested from the City is $25,000 with the balance coming from the
Northeast Entrepreneur Fund. The City can choose to loan any amount. Pat Oman stated that the preapplication meets the requirements to move ahead to a full application.

Motion by Warren Peters, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the pre-application from the
Country Inn for a total loan amount from Cromwell of $12,500. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Pat also discussed the grant money that is available and recommends we consider applying for grants
to help market the Pavilion (signage and advertising) as well as park improvements.

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE

A. Total November Receipts: $19,386.81

B. Total November Disbursements: $2,845.18

C. Approval of Steve Bridge as 2013 Fire Chief
-Steve has been on the fire department for 35 years, with 15 years as the Chief.
Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Lisa Lund to approve resolution to appoint Steve Bridge as
the 2013 Fire Chief. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Steve is currently working on updating the Mutual Aid agreements.

E. Fire District meeting on January 16th.

10. CLERK / TREASURER
A. Bank account balances as of November 30, 2012:
-General checking: $71,705.58
-Liquor Store savings: $90,042.28
-Fire Dept. – Ambulance Fund savings: $27,078.52
B. 2013 Budget review and discussion.
C. Final Levy for 2013 taxes reviewed.
Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Sam Clark to approve resolution to set final levy amount at
$102,150. Motion carried unanimously.
D. Time off request from Jenny for April 1-8.
Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to approve Jenny's vacation request for April
1-8, 2013. Motion carried unanimously.
11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES
Lisa Lund: Lisa asked if the fridge, ice machine, etc are left on all winter at the Pavilion.
Ray Lally: -
Warren Peters: Warren was asked again about the street light on Middle Rd.
Tom Borglund: -
12. MAYOR’S NOTES
A. -
ADJOURN
Motion was made by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 pm.
Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Jenny Clark
Clerk/Treasurer
 

Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Public Hearing
November 28, 2012 6:00pm
1
A public hearing of the City of Cromwell was held on November 28, 2012 at 6:00 pm at the Cromwell Park
Pavilion. The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the proposed Fire District of the Cromwell and Wright
Fire Departments.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Others Present: Steve Bridge, Fire Chief ; Mike Peterson ; 17 members of the public
 Mike Peterson presented tax income and levy amount information per capita for the County, State, and
the Nation. Documents were passed out to everyone for review.
 Steve Bridge presented the Cromwell/Wright Fire District Strategic Planning Assessment. Copies of
the plan were passed out to everyone for review.
o Training increases when you have a District. Ex. Cloquet Fire District has increased their
training by 200%
o Same tax rate would be paid by each township
o Both Fire Depts. are shrinking- Cromwell only has about 21 members and 3 are retiring.
Wright has about half that and may lose their Fire Dept. if they don’t make a district.
o Fire Dept. is underfunded- FEMA has helped but can’t always be counted on
o ISO Rating is a concern. The better your ISO is the better your insurance rates will be. It is
costly to maintain a high rating. (Cromwell is currently at a 5.) Considerable discussion on
ISO ratings and what they mean.
 Public discussion – Q & A
o Discussion on location and number of fire hydrants within the city and dry hydrants out of the
city limits
o Discussion on how taxes will be affected and spread out over the townships
o Discussion on the board that will be formed for the District- one member from each township
or city will represent that area. Unknown at this time who the board will be, the decisions
they will make, and how those decisions will affect taxes.
o Annual Ambulance District meeting is in March- Information should be put together for that
meeting to present about the proposed District.
o Question was asked if it is important to keep maintaining a high ISO rating since it is so costly
to maintain. Discussion followed.
 Additional meetings will be held in the near future where more information will be available from the
City Attorney and/or City Auditor.
Respectfully submitted,
Jenny Clark
Clerk/Treasurer

Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Special Council Meeting
November 15, 2012
6:00pm
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on November 15, 2012 at 6:00 pm
at the Cromwell Park Pavilion. The purpose of the meeting was to canvass the November 6, 2012
election results, review meeting agenda format, and reorganization of the Cromwell Economic
Development Corporation.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Lisa Lund, Tom Borglund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Others Present:
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
1. Canvassing of election results: Mayor- Samuel Clark, 2 year term ; Council Members- Warren
Peters, 4 year term ; Tom Borglund, 4 year term ; Raymond Lally, 2 year term. Motion by Ray
Lally to accept resolution number 12.11.01 certifying results of the November 6, 2012
election, seconded by Warren Peters. Motion carried unanimously.
2. Regular meeting agenda format discussed. Discussion was had regarding meeting efficiency.
Consent agenda examples presented and reviewed. Beginning at the regular meeting in November,
the consent agenda will be used as well as “old business” and “new business”. Public forum portion
of the meeting will be limited to three minutes per person and will not typically result in any
decisions made at that night’s meeting. Any complaints should first be submitted via the complaint
form. This form should go directly to the department head in which the complaint is regarding and
the department head is responsible to attempt resolving the complaint. If resolution of the
complaint is not able to be made by the department head, the complaint will be forwarded to the
Council to address.
3. Cromwell Economic Development Corporation was discussed and new directors and officers
appointed.
Directors: Officers:
Ray Lally Chair: Lisa Lund
Tom Borglund Vice Chair: Warren Peters
Lisa Lund President: Sam Clark
Warren Peters Secretary: Jenny Clark
Sam Clark Treasurer: Jenny Clark
Motion by Ray Lally to approve appointment of new directors and officers to the
Cromwell Economic Development Corporation as noted above, seconded by Tom
Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
Adjourn: Motion by Ray Lally to adjourn, seconded by Lisa Lund. Meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm.

 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
November 28, 2012 7:00pm
1
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on November 28, 2012 at 7:00 pm at
the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm by Mayor Clark.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Others Present: Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager ; John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering
1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA
A. 8b: Street light on Middle Rd.
Motion was made by Lisa Lund, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the agenda with above
change. Motion carried unanimously.
2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES / INFORMATIONAL
3. OLD BUSINESS
A. Update on bar improvements and status of cooler
-New TV installed
-Cooler moved to back of bar, has not sold yet.
-New bathroom faucets installed
-Door to smoking area to be installed in a few weeks, fence installation will be complete once the door
is installed
-Drains have not been addressed yet
-Paul asked for something to set the beer cases on in the back room to protect from getting wet
B. Liquor Store incident report from 10/20/12
-Paul, Sam, and Lisa reviewed the video from the stated date. The bar manager does have the authority to take action on excluding someone from the bar. No action was taken in regards to the incident dated 10/20/12. The definition of what constitutes an incident was discussed by all. Going forward it will be a policy for the bartenders to write a report in the incident book if something occurs that requires them to take action such as asking someone to leave the bar or any other item that is out of the ordinary.
C. Update on deadbolts for Pavilion- to be installed soon.
D. Replacement of pumps at NW lift station- new pumps delivered and to be installed soon.
NEW BUSINESS
4. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of prior regular and special meeting minutes
B. Pavilion calendar
C. Receipts list for prior month
D. Disbursements list for prior month
E. Claims list (accounts payable) for approval
F. Approval of Diane Hansen’s raise to Step 3
G. MN Snowmobilers Assoc. membership renewal fee of $100
Motion was made by Warren Peters, seconded by Ray Lally to approve the above consent
agenda items as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
November 28, 2012 7:00pm
2
5. WATER / SEWER / MAINTENANCE
A. Project Status Report- JPJ Engineering was reviewed and discussed.
-Discussion on Hwy. 210 improvements
-Discussion on trucks engine braking when entering town and the potential need for an ordinance
against this
B. Sewage ponds drained
-Phosphorous numbers have been good since the drainage and spreading of elm. This should also
mean we will only have one discharge necessary next year.
6. LIQUOR STORE
A. Prior month sales total: October $37,925.39 (October 2011 sales- $44,792.14)
B. Pull tab totals: September $818.80
C. December Entertainment:
Saturday Dec. 1st: Dean Nyberg (DJ)- $250.00
Saturday Dec. 15th: PM Entertainment (Karaoke)- $175.00
Monday New Year’s Eve: Dean Nyberg (DJ)- $250.00
D. Promo idea updates
-Free jukebox night will be held on Sunday night
-Tuesday night giveaways will start in December
-Dash for cash starting in December
E. Bar will be closing at 6:00pm Christmas Eve and closed Christmas day
F. Review Superior Glass quote to replaceWest side door
-Trailer owned by Brad Ramberg has been stored at the city office. Discussion was had on charging
Brad Ramberg a storage fee, which would be deducted from the cost of the door installation.
Motion by Tom Borglund, seconded by Warren Peters to accept the quote from Superior Glass
of $1,547.00 to replace the West side door and deduct $500.00 for storage of the trailer at the city
office, which will be taken off the quote, for a total approved amount of $1,047.00. Motion
carried unanimously.
G. Review of applicant’s for part-time bartender position. Paul has hired a new part-time bartender who
will be starting next week. Review and approval of hiring will occur at the December meeting.
7. PARKS AND RECREATION / PAVILION
A. Midwest Forage Assoc. meeting- request to waive deposit fee. Council discussed and approved.
8. GENERAL CITY / HOUSING / HIGHWAY
A. The City of Wright is in need of snow plow service for their fire hall and storage building and has
asked if Cromwell would be interested in providing this service for them. This was discussed and the
Council has decided not to contract with them at this time.
B. The street light at the end of Middle Rd. was eliminated and the Council has received a few
complaints about this. Discussion was had but no decision was made at this time.
C. Discussion on snow removal within the city limits. The City has an ordinance that property owners
are responsible for snow removal from sidewalks in front of their property. The City can charge for
this service if property owner's don't take care of this themselves. A reminder will be sent to property
owners who have sidewalks in front of their property within the city limits that they are responsible for
snow removal and if this is not done the City will charge them for the snow removal.
9. FIRE DEPARTMENT / AMBULANCE
A. Total October Receipts: $5,077.98
B. Total October Disbursements: $3,946.10
C. Discussion on potential Fire District.
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
November 28, 2012 7:00pm
3
10. CLERK / TREASURER
A. Bank account balances as of October 31, 2012:
-General checking: $34,486.47
-Liquor Store savings: $90,042.28
-Fire Dept. – Ambulance Fund savings: $27,078.52
B. Special assessments to 2013 property taxes
Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Tom Borglund to approve certification of delinquent water
and sewer bills to 2013 property taxes. Motion carried unanimously.
C. FYI- Final property tax levy for 2013 due Dec 28th. Budget and final levy to be reviewed at December
meeting.
D. Update on status of 2010 and 2011 W-2’s and 941’s with the SSA and IRS.
11. TRUSTEE’S NOTES
Lisa Lund: LMC meetings/training for newly elected and experienced elected officials on January 11th
and12th in Nisswa. Discussion on agenda items to be covered at the conference.
Motion by Ray Lally, seconded by Warren Peters to send Lisa, Jenny, and Sam to newly elected
and experienced officials training January 11-12, 2013. Motion carried unanimously.
Ray Lally: -
Warren Peters: -
Tom Borglund: -
12. MAYOR’S NOTES
A. Website views reviewed
B. Sam met with Pat Oman of the CCEDA to discuss the Cromwell Economic Dev. Corporation. Pat
plans to attend the next council meeting.
ADJOURN
Motion was made by Tom Borglund, seconded by Lisa Lund to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 pm.
Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Jenny Clark
Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
October 24, 2012 7:00pm
1
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on October 24, 2012 at 7:00 pm
at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Others Present: John Mattonen, Paul Lampi, Jeannie Weimer, Butch Levinski, Art Vigness, Lori Shelton,
Lynn Swatek, Kelly Hill, Diane Bussiere
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Minutes:
 Motion by Ray Lally to approve prior regular and special meeting minutes, seconded
by Tom Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
Additions to Agenda:
 Liquor Store repair list under Liquor Store
 Liquor Store comment box comment review under Liquor Store
 W-2 Issue under Clerk/Treasurer
 Zelazny property under Water and Sewer
 Lift station pump updates under Water and Sewer
Motion by Lisa Lund to approve additions to agenda, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried
unanimously.
Public Agenda Items:
 Use of Pavilion was questioned and how free use is determined.
 Policy is that free use requests must be presented to the council before the event. The
council will consider the request and make a decision. The public would like this information
posted on the city's website.
 Question was asked why the meeting minutes are not up to date on the city’s website. Mayor
Clark stated that they are up to date as of today. The public asked why the minutes couldn’t be
published, similar to the school’s bus bulletin. Mayor Clark stated the minutes are available
online and in the city office.
 Jeannie Weimer stated that youth needs to be a focus for the city.
 Bar concerns
 Over serving
 Incident report dated 10/20/12 was discussed, over-serving questioned. Incident was
not reported until 10/24/12.
 Incidents need to be reported daily.
 The public questioned the removal of the comment box before the council meeting. Mayor
Clark stated the comments were summarized for tonight’s meeting and would be reviewed by
the council. Individual comments are available for the council to review.
 New off-sale cooler purchase was questioned. Main concerns expressed by the public were
safety, energy efficiency, location, and amount of space it takes up.
 The question was asked who makes the determination to stop serving a customer if they
have had too much to drink. Mayor Clark and Paul Lampi stated that it is the job of the
bartenders to make this call and that they need to be trusted to do this.
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
October 24, 2012 7:00pm
2
Liquor Store:
 Entertainment for November: Saturday the 3rd- Dean Nyberg $250 / Saturday the 10th- Leif
Productions (DJ) $200
 Karaoke Halloween weekend- prizes will be given out, snacks available
 Free pizza day on football Sunday idea discussed
 Pull tab totals: August- $619.00
 September total sales $47,340.56. September last yr. total $50,550.97.
 Beer pricing has gone up. Paul recommends we do not raise prices at this time. Revisit in
upcoming months.
 Discussion for Carol Anderson to go to starting wage as her probationary period is over.
 Motion by Warren Peters to approve Carol Anderson to go to starting wage as
determined by compensation structure, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried
unanimously.
 Review and approval of hiring of Jake Ramberg for part-time cleaning.
 Discussion on part-time cleaning wage. Motion by Sam Clark to change part-time
cleaning position probationary wage to starting wage of $8.00, seconded by Ray
Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
 Motion by Warren Peters to approve hiring of Jake Ramberg for part-time
cleaning, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion on hiring of new part-time bartender.
 Outside smoking area discussed.
 Fence options and pricing reviewed. Vinyl material would be preferred, no maintenance .
Motion by Ray Lally to approve purchase of fence for outdoor smoking area on
East side of bar up to $1,000.00, seconded by Warren Peters. Motion carried
unanimously.
 Door to smoking area will need to be installed. Tyson Warner Construction quote of $1,600
for labor to install existing door from City office was reviewed. Motion by Ray Lally to
approve Tyson Warner Construction’s quote of $1,600.00 for labor to install steel
door in the bar, seconded by Warren Peters. Motion carried unanimously.
 Review of current bar policies.
 Discussion on current and potential topics for the policy. This will need to be revised and
officially approved at future council meeting.
 Promo ideas discussed
 Paul was asked to try one free jukebox night and continue doing daily pay-outs for now.
Will review and monitor how this goes over.
 Tuesday night give away idea discussed, Paul will be implementing soon.
 Repair list submitted by Brent Vigness was reviewed.
 Reviewed list and discussed priorities.
 Hire local contractors and have Brent and Tom do some of the repairs.
 Comment box review and discussion. The Council took action on the following items:
 Discussion if the bar should have a comment box or should the complaint form be utilized.
Paul recommended using the complaint form as prior to this no one has ever requested a
comment box. Determination was made to use the complaint form, not a comment box.
 Discussion on replacing TV behind bar and moving existing TV into the back room.
 Motion by Tom Borglund to approve purchase of new TV for bar up to $600.00,
seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
 Cooler discussion. Bar is in need of more off-sale space but cooler is not a popular solution.
 Motion by Tom Borglund to remove the new off-sale cooler from bar, seconded
by Lisa Lund. Motion carried unanimously.
 Incident report from bar dated 10/20/12 was reviewed and discussed. Potential issue of overserving.
Video from this night will be reviewed and Sam and Paul will discuss how to handle.

Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
October 24, 2012 7:00pm
3
 Discussion on purchase of calendars as a give-away promo item.
 Paul talked them down to $1.99 per calendar- total cost would be $346.93 w/set-up.
 Motion by Ray Lally to purchase calendars at a price of $1.99 per calendar,
seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
 Paul questioned the decision to not renew the MMBA Membership.
 Lack of communication between council and bar manager discussed. Lisa suggested that Paul
attend the monthly council meetings to alleviate this problem.
 Discussion on verbal warning regarding enforcement of “No Drinks Outside the Bar” policy. Paul
stated his disagreement with documentation of the warning and is requesting it be removed from
his personnel file or he will sue the city. He feels it is illegal to keep a copy in his file as his copy
is not signed by the City.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance:
 Review and discussion of Project Status Report – JPJ Engineering.
 Reviewed draft letter requesting improvements to Hwy. 210.
 Entrance sign to town delivered today and will be installed tomorrow.
 MRWA Program on Wastewater and Water System improvements. Discussed, decided not to
attend as this falls on same day as next month’s meeting.
 Water billing issues discussed. In the month of April, several accounts were not billed. City
should send bills for this missed month.
 Property in town owned by Zelazny has not been billed for the correct amount of buildable lots.
Discussed if the city should go back and send bill for incorrectly billed months or if we should
correct the billing going forward to start billing for sewer and water for the two lots he has built
on and one buildable lot fee.
 Motion by Ray Lally to bill correctly going forward and not bill for the incorrect
months, seconded by Warren Peters. Four votes yea votes (Ray, Warren, Tom,
and Lisa) and one vote nay (Sam Clark). Motion carried.
 Lift station pump replacement claim has been approved by our insurance company. Motion by
Ray Lally to replace the two pumps, seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion carried
unanimously.
Parks and Rec / Pavilion:
 Pavilion calendar October through December was reviewed. Zumba cancelled til further notice.
 Zumba free use will be renegotiated and may start charging small fee for use.
 Request for free use of Pavilion for Erick Heikkila benefit Nov. 30th reviewed but not approved.
 Reviewed quote for keypad deadbolts from Hagen’s Glass.
 Motion by Tom Borglund to approve Hagen's Glass quote for purchase of two
keypad deadbolts for Pavilion and no charge to the party who lost the key,
seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
 Muni to be exclusive alcohol provider of Pavilion events discussion, no decision was made.
General City / Housing / Highway:
 Reviewed donation request for Chilloween.
 Motion by Tom Borglund to donate $100.00 for Chilloween, seconded by Ray Lally.
Motion carried unanimously.
 Yearbook ad request from school was reviewed. City has advertised the last few years.
Discussion on what to advertise and the Pavilion was suggested.
 Motion by Ray Lally to approve ¼page ad for $85.00 in Cromwell-Wright school
yearbook, seconded by Warren Peters. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion on installation of radar signs. This work should be completed next week.
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Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell, Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
October 24, 2012 7:00pm
4
Fire Department / Ambulance:
 Receipts list for September reviewed: $564,827.61 (includes radio grant).
 Disbursements list for September reviewed: $6,563.74.
 Discussion that the fire dept. should be seeking approval from council on spending.
 Savings account balance: $27,078.52
 Review and approval of lighting bids for Fire Hall.
 Council would like to see a quote for LED lights before making decision.
 Public hearing date regarding fire district. Discussed date of November 28th at 6:00pm, before
the Council meeting, to save having a special meeting.
 Motion by Sam Clark to hold public hearing regarding Fire District on November
28th at 6:00pm, seconded by Lisa Lund. Motion carried unanimously.
 FYI- Car burning scheduled for Monday November 5th at 6:00 pm at Pavilion.
Trustees Notes:
 Lisa:
 Special meeting posting on our website says Council members need to receive a written
notice no later than 24 hrs. before the meeting is to be held. Clerk to be responsible for this.
 Permission cannot be given by anyone other than the current Mayor and Council regarding
City ordinances. Specifically, shooting within city limits.
 Send out mass mailing to all postal customers to remind everyone that there is no
shooting/hunting in city limits.
 Ray: None
 Warren: None
 Tom: None
Clerk/Treasurer:
 Receipts List totaling $623,264.55 was reviewed.
 Disbursements List totaling $71,418.19 was reviewed.
 Claims List for Approval $21,891.90 was reviewed.
 Motion by Lisa Lund to approve unpaid bills, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Total bank account balances as of 9/30/12:
 General account $607,304.18 (includes radio grant money)
 Liquor Store savings $90,042.28
 Review and approval for Jenny Clark to go to starting wage as her probationary period will end
on November 1st.
 Motion by Ray Lally to approve Jenny Clark going from probationary wage to
starting wage, seconded by Warren Peters. Motion carried unanimously, with the
exception of Sam Clark who abstained from the vote.
 W-2 Issue from 2010 discussed. May need additional assistance to resolve.
Mayor’s Notes:
 EDA board has appointed Sam as the new member to represent Cromwell area.
Adjourn: Motion by Ray Lally to adjourn, seconded by Tom Borglund. Meeting adjourned at 11:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jenny Clark
Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Special Council Meeting
September 26, 2012
6:00pm
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on September 26, 2012 at 6:00 pm
at the Cromwell Park Pavilion. This was an informational meeting to discuss the potential merging of the
Cromwell and Wright Fire Departments into a Fire District.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Ray Lally
Absent: Lisa Lund
Others Present: Cromwell Fire: Steve Bridge ; Mike Peterson ; Lucas Goodin
Wright City / Fire: Dave Black ; Scott Lehti ; Gene Lott ; Patti Bradford; Jake Kachinski
Dora Potts, Voyageur Press
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Goal is to save money and provide better protection for the community.
There will be an elected board that would make all decisions for the Fire District.
-The board would be made up of representatives from each township and city
-By-laws would need to be developed and are unknown at this point
The district is asking for a resolution from both cities to donate the fire halls, the land on which the fire
Halls stand, and all fire equipment to the new fire district.
-The Fire District would plan to keep both Fire Halls in Cromwell and Wright and continue to use
both as this would better serve the public
-The City currently owns the Fire Hall
-Wright City Hall would need to be relocated as it is currently in the same building as Fire Hall
-The Fire District would be responsible for all upkeep, etc. of the land, building, and equipment
The district is asking for a resolution that the fire service’s budgeted funds will be received from the cities
until the fire district starts receiving the district taxes from the county. This will be one year plus so
many months? After the district board has been organized and started.
-Fire department would not receive any funding until 2014
-City would levy through 2013 but not again for 2014
-Would not pay cities back
- The goal is to have all townships and areas pay the same amount of taxes for the fire service
available to them. An individual’s taxes may be adjusted depending on what they are currently
paying.
The relief association is asking the cities for a resolution that both cities will be the governing body for
the fire relief association until the relief association is incorporated as a governmental corporation.
-This may not be transferred to the District immediately, to be determined at a later date
Ambulance service would go under the Fire District as an Ambulance District.
-Possible ambulance service added for Wright; would need to be determined by the elected
board.
The District would need to hire someone to pay bills, they would need a treasurer. The elected board will
make this decision.
City sewer and water would be paid for by the District at the Cromwell location.
Mike Peterson will have Frank Yetka draft a proposed resolution for each City to review.
- A special meeting should be held between Cromwell and Wright to discuss the proposed
resolutions as well as give the public an opportunity to attend to ask questions and get
information.
-Tentatively scheduled for a public hearing the first week of November. Mayor Clark and Mayor
Black will be in contact to decide on meeting date and time.
Motion by Tom Borglund to adjourn, seconded by Sam Clark. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
September 26, 2012
7:00pm
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on September 26, 2012 at 7:00 pm at
the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Others Present: John Mattonen of JPJ Engineering, city engineer
The meeting was called to order at 7:15 pm by Mayor Clark.
Minutes:
 Motion by Lisa Lund to accept prior meeting minutes, seconded by Warren Peters. Motion carried
unanimously.
Additions to Agenda:
 Travis Peterson resignation for approval. Motion to approve resignation by Tom Borglund, seconded by
Ray Lally. Send thank you for service.
 Board of Equilization under General City
 CCDAC under General City.
Public Agenda Items:

Liquor Store:
 Entertainment: Sat. Oct. 20th The Jacks $550 ; Sat. Oct. 27th DJ Denno $200
o Cancel DJ for Halloween weekend and have karaoke and costume contest.
 Need to decorate, have candy/food, promote better. Direct Paul to take care of this.
 Motion by Warren Peters to approve The Jacks on 10/20 and karaoke and costume
contest on 10/27, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
 Pull tab totals: June - $658.20 ; July - $894.20
 August total sales $44,499.95. August 2011 sales $41,847.88. See attached.
 Approval of hiring of Carol Anderson for part-time bartender position.
o Motion by Ray Lally to approve hiring of Carol Anderson for part-time bartender, seconded by
Warren Peters. Motion carried unanimously.
 Enforcement of policies.
o Drinks outside bar and over serving continue to be an issue, Paul has not enforced this policy.
 Motion by Warren Peters to give verbal warning to bar manager to enforce the ‘no
drinks outside the bar policy’, seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
o Discussion on a possible solution to this problem and possible outside patio. Jenny will check
what the law states for outdoor smoking areas.
 POS System discrepancies.
o Inventory an issue: items created and not coded correctly and not accounted for
o Off sale items need to be scanned
o Warren, Jenny, Paul, and Sam will meet to discuss and correct
 Purchase of cooler from Peter’s Home and Hardware for $1,975.00
o Will go in the Southeast corner of bar, by front window and will be used for off sale
o Size is 81” H, 6’-6-1/2” W, 28-3/4” D
o Motion by Sam Clark to approve purchase of cooler, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried
unanimously with the exception of Warren Peters who abstained from the vote.
 Compensation reviews / Step structure clarification: Dennis Cieluch (689 hrs) and Megan Arnold (918
hrs). See attached.
o Motion by Ray Lally to include probationary period time worked in calculation of required hours
to meet each step in the step structure, seconded by Warren Peters. Motion carried
unanimously.
o Discussion of raise for Megan Arnold once she has reached her 1,040 hours. Motion by Warren
Peters to approve raise to Step 1, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
o Discussion on employment of Dennis Cieluch. Motion by Lisa Lund to dismiss Dennis Cieluch
due to employee misconduct, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
 Purchase of yearly calendars. Total cost is $2.19/calendar. Last year we bought 150 for a total of
$359.85. Review of other available options. See attached.
o Discussion on what other options there may be. Warren suggested Comda for potential items.
All agreed to continue to look into more options and decide at a later date.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance:
 Project Status Report – JPJ Engineering. See attached.
o Discussion on school drop off zone on Hwy 73 and in parking lot
o Your Speed Is sign permits should be here tomorrow. May put in a second pole to mount the
Your Speed Is signs (needs to be within 100’ downstream of the speed limit sign and bottom of
sign needs to be 7’ off ground to bottom of sign).
o Discussion on location of speed limit signs and moving them further out of town.
o Nothing planned for 210 re-construction. There is a “CIMS” program through MnDOT that this
work may qualify for. Sam has spoken to the Duluth maintenance engineer and he will send
someone out to check on possibly repairing the potholes. As a last resort we may repair the
holes ourselves with the pothole patch the City has.
 MN Rural Water Assoc. annual Water and Wastewater Technical Conference March 5-7, 2013. To be
approved at a later date once we have more details.
Parks and Rec / Pavilion:
 Pavilion Calendar. See attached.
o Discussion if the city should charge anything for Zumba. Sam to discuss with Zumba instructor.
 Lost Pavilion key and policy. Discussion on recent lost key, re-keying of the locks, and charging of
deposit fee to the party who misplaced the key. City may share this cost. Will look into option of
keypads with combinations.
General City / Housing / Highway:
 Discussion on board of equalization. Training date 9/25/12 was wrong so Lisa missed the training.
Discussion on if the city should be doing this and was determined it is not necessary.
 CCEDAC (Carlton County Economic Development Committee) board member needed. Lisa is interested
but would like more information and decide at later date.
 Review proposal and grant information for entrance sign to city. See attached.
o Discussed and sign committee will approve and purchase the sign. Motion by Warren Peters to
approve Welcome to Cromwell sign with any changes as determined by committee, seconded
by Tom Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
 Review proposal for office window signage. See attached.
o Motion by Warren Peters to approve Glen Dezigns window signs and an additional $250 for a
matching sign on Hwy. 73 for the city office, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried
unanimously.
 Citizen Complaints:
o Follow-ups: Hansmeyer complaint. See attached. Complaint issues have been addressed.
o New Complaints:
 Wollak complaint. See attached / pictures. Reviewed and determined the City will not
take any action other than send a reminder letter to maintain their yard.
 Hwy. 73 dog complaint. See attached. Discussed and will keep eye on situation.
 LMC Regional meeting October 10th in Grand Rapids. See attached. Motion by Warren Peters to
approve attendance of the meeting by Sam and Lisa, seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion carried
unanimously.
 Harvest Fest review.
Fire Department / Ambulance:
 Income Jan-Aug: $52,331.88 / Expenses Jan-Aug: $58,532.34
 Savings account balance: $27,064.91
 Review and approval of Laine Electric estimate to replace lighting in fire hall. See attached. Not
approved at this time; Have Mike Peterson seek 2 more bids and look into LED lighting.
Trustees Notes:
 Lisa: -National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) discussed.
 Ray: -Asked about purchasing maintenance truck for snow plowing. Will not be purchasing this year.
-Asked about the dip in Hwy. 73 north out of town and when it will get fixed.
 Warren: -No hunting in city limits, signs should be posted.
-No hunting policy at the city ponds.
 Tom: -
Clerk/Treasurer:
 Receipts List totaling $60,075.71. See attached.
 Disbursements List totaling $75,245.78. See attached.
 Claims List for Approval $22,667.34. See attached.
o Motion by Lisa to approve receipts, disbursements, and claims list for approval, seconded by Ray
Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
 Total bank account balances as of 8/31/12:
o General account $47,515.96
o Liquor Store savings $90,000.00
o Fire/Amb. Savings $27,064.91
 Quickbooks entries and Fund balances discussed.
 Hiring of private contractors. City must obtain the following:
o Contract for work to be done. See attached examples. It was agreed the City Clerk will select
the form to use and make sure this is implemented.
o Certificate of contractor’s liability and/or worker’s comp insurance must be obtained
 Review of mandatory legal holidays and optional holidays. See attached. City will close for the
mandatory holidays, including Friday after Thanksgiving but not Columbus Day.
 Vacation and years of service review/clarification. See attached. Vacation does not start to accrue until
after 1 year of service and only accumulates up to 2 times.
 Jury duty starting September 28th for 9 weeks.
Mayor’s Notes:
 Motion by Tom Borglund to approve Sam’s special pay request, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried
unanimously, with the exception of Sam Clark who abstained from the vote.
 Marriage amendment discussed. City will not do anything in regards to this amendment.
Adjourn: Motion by Ray Lally to adjourn, seconded by Warren Peters. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 pm.
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
August 22, 2012
7:00pm
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on August 22, 2012 at 7:00 pm at the
Cromwell Park Pavilion.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Others Present: John Grones, Voyageur Press ; John Mattonen, city engineer ; Dora Potts, Voyageur Press
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Minutes:
Motion by Warren to accept prior meeting minutes, seconded by Lisa. Motion carried unanimously.
Additions to Agenda:
Office hours for approval under Clerk/Treasurer
Shay Day Pavilion rental charge under Parks & Rec
$240 for Keith Clark bill under Clerk/Treasurer
Voyageur Press/Harvest Fest under General City

Public Agenda Items:

Liquor Store:
Entertainment: DJ Dean Sept. 8th for Harvest Fest
Pull tab totals: March $766.20 ; April $723.40 ; May $881.80
Discussion on purchase of 3-Door cooler from Peters Home and Hardware. Warren will get selling
price; Sam will discuss with Paul.
Discussion on hiring of part time bartender. Reviewed all applications received and agreed to interview
them all. May hire two part time positions. Sam will sit in on all interviews with Paul.
July total sales $50,237.78
Water/Sewer/Maintenance:
Project Status Report – JPJ Engineering
o School zone signage started this week
o Permit for ‘Your Speed Is’ signs will be coming
o Discussion on state of disrepair on Hwy. 210. Sam will call superintendent in Virginia ; John will
talk to district staff to see what can be done.
Status update on water leak repair
o Leak repaired today
o Question on why hose connected to water hydrant: Hose hooked to water hydrant was acting
as bypass for water supply to River’s Edge due to possible water leak by the river.
Steve Colich building permit for approval
o Permit states “no water”
2
o Motion by Warren Peters to approve Colich building permit as submitted, seconded by Tom
Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
FYI: Sanitary Survey Report for public water supply
Parks and Rec / Pavilion:
Pavilion Calendar August - October 2012
o Shay-Day event in memory of Shayla Johnson as well as to raise money for Shale Korpela.
Deposit has been paid and security has been hired. City will charge std. rental fee of $150.00.
o Jokimaki’s River Hill Ranger’s reunion on Sept 29th will donate all proceeds to playground.
Discussion on bill for volleyball courts
o Bill submitted for labor, only the sand was donated
o Volleyball courts are in great shape and have been getting a lot of use
o Motion by Ray Lally to approve payment of bill, seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion carried
unanimously.
Donation of picnic table to the city. City will gladly accept.
General City / Housing / Highway:
Update on Your Speed Is signs and review of revised quote.
o Motion by Ray Lally to approve updated proposal for signs, second by Tom Borglund. Motion
carried unanimously.
Request from Brad Ramberg to get storage van behind city office back
o Brad made an offer of $300.00
o Warren suggested working out a deal for a new side door on the bar because Brad now works
for Superior Glass. Sam will discuss with Brad.
Citizen Complaint form submitted by Eugene Hansmeyer
o Complaints regarding mess in yard and run-down garage are not covered by City’s ordinance
o City does have an ordinance regarding abandoned vehicles
o City does have an ordinance regarding out of control dogs
o Send certified letter to owner’s- request that they respond to the notice with plan of action
within 30 days of receipt of letter
Discussion on City Hall parking lot
o Entrance slab done, need to fill in the parking lot to make level. May get more ground up
asphalt to fill this in or fill in with gravel.
FEMA update
o FEMA report/request is done and our representative sounds confident our claim will be
approved. Would cover 75% of the city’s cost.
o Lally Rd. culvert not approved through FEMA, no proof of flood damage.
o Lift station pump insurance claim may be covered.
Review of compensation plan
o Probationary wage should be changed to 90 days for all positions.
_ Motion by Lisa Lund to change probationary wage period to 3 months or 90 days,
seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried unanimously with the exception of Sam Clark
who abstained from vote.
o PTO hours currently being given out all in one amount. Should we change to accrue 1 PTO day
per month as well as accrue vacation days?
_ Motion by Tom Borglund to accrue vacation and PTO days, failed for second motion.
Clerk will research what other cities are doing and revisit.
Harvest Fest update
o Raffle tickets to be printed by end of the week
o Warren will put together e-mail and send information to other committee members
o Scott is still on committee
o Flyer needs to be printed this week and get information to the papers
o Discussion on food vendors as well as flea marketers
o Beer garden by volleyball area on Saturday. Cans this year.
o Tractor pull has not been paid yet, check never sent.
3
o Hot dogs/hamburger grilling supplies- Warren found vendor who we can get food from prepped
and ready to go.
o Parade Grand Marshalls need to be determined. May be offered to Reggie and Bev Vigness.
o Dance at Pavilion will be run the same as last year.
o Need volunteer to head-up the smorgasbord.
Harvest Fest- John Grones runs 2 full page ads; has done so for 12 yrs and would like to again this yr.
Deadline is Friday to get ad in for the first one, second paper on Sept. 4th.
John Grones encourages Cromwell to contribute to the paper through Mayor or Clerk notes.
John Grones discussion on local business newspaper articles. Ann Markusen would like to do article for
Cromwell and Wright on the Liquor Store and how they contribute to the city.
Preliminary proposed property tax levy
o Add 10% to each item from previous year amount, $8,000 to Fire Relief
o Motion by Ray Lally to approve resolution of proposed tax levy, seconded by Tom Borglund.
Motion carried unanimously.
Fire Department / Ambulance:
None.
Trustees Notes:
Lisa:
o Equalization training September 25th. Lisa will attend.
o Liquor store bathroom locks still not fixed.
o Bathroom faucet was not working, Tom Johnson has since fixed.
Ray:
o Ray pays $9.75 per month for rent on yard light through Lake Country Power. Can this be
converted to a street light and taken over by the city? Topic tabled for now.
o Complaints from people across lake from Ray regarding messy yards. Ray will have them
submit a formal complaint form for review.
Warren:
o None
Tom:
o None
Clerk/Treasurer:
Office hours currently at 8:00-4:30 M-F and 8:00 to 12:00 on Friday.
o Motion by Ray Lally to approve office hours, seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion carried
unanimously.
Receipts List totaling $167,640.01
Disbursements List totaling $95,193.99
Claims List for Approval $28,627.41
o Additional bill from Keith Clark for $240 ground up asphalt for parking lot
o Other bills from Keith Clark will be covered under the FEMA claim
o Motion by Lisa Lund to approve receipts and disbursements list and payment of bills on claims
list, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carries unanimously.
Total bank account balances as of 7/31/12:
o General account $62,152.00
o Liquor Store savings $90,000.00
o Fire/Amb. Savings $27,064.91
Finance and Accounting seminar
o Motion by Ray Lally to approve clerk attendance of Finance and Accounting Seminar, seconded
by Warren Peters. Motion carried unanimously.
Rural Water Training for Clerks on site training.
o Cost is $50 per hour and is done on site as needed.
o Motion by Warren to approve on site clerk training, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried
unanimously.
4
Mayor’s Notes:
New computer and software.
o Discussion on system to go with. Warren suggested “rack mount” system with one server and
3 work stations (Clerk, Maintenance, Mayor). Seek quotes from Data Sales.
o New monitor needed to replace small existing one.
Pay request for doing clerk job.
o Motion by Tom Borglund to approve request for payment to Sam, seconded by Ray Lally.
Motion carried unanimously with the exception of Sam who abstained from the vote.
One hour before September’s meeting there will be a meeting to discuss merging of Wright and
Cromwell’s fire departments.
ARDC Division closed and they gave away all their office furniture for free. Sam got conference table,
desk, chairs, shelves, etc.
Potato give away was a huge success. Ruby’s Pantry donated a semi-truck load and they were all given
away in 2 days.
Adjourn: Motion by Ray Lally to adjourn, seconded by Lisa Lund.
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
July 30, 2012
7:00pm
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Monday July 30, 2012 at 7:00 pm at
the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark
Council Members: Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Lisa Lund, Ray Lally
Absent:
Others Present: Ron McPhail ; Mike Peterson ; Rob and Deb Switzer
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Clark.
Minutes:
Motion by Ray Lally to accept prior meeting minutes, seconded by Warren Peters. Motion carried
unanimously.
Additions to Agenda:
None
Public Agenda Items:
None
Fire Department / Ambulance:
Siren- Fire Dept. obtained a used siren from the City of Duluth. Siren would be used for weather
warnings as well as fires. Requesting funds to help with installation of the siren. Obtain quotes from
electricians for testing the siren, installation of siren, and radio services if needed. Mike Peterson will
seek quotes for this work.
Car Burning- Request for permission to use the Park Pavilion for a car burning training session in Fall of
2012.
Emergency Plan- Needs to be reviewed, updated, and changed on a continuing basis.
Fire district formed between Cromwell and Wright fire depts.- Asking City to donate the land, buildings,
and equipment that the Fire Dept. is currently using. Forming of this district still under review.
Grant money still being sought to build new fire hall.
Proposals for paving parking lot reviewed.
o Motion by Tom Borglund to approve Rocon’s proposal for paving Fire Department parking lot,
seconded by Lisa Lund. Motion carried unanimously.
Liquor Store:
No entertainment this month.
MMBA Membership fee of $395 is due now. Discussion on benefits of membership. Decision made not
to renew membership at this time, may rejoin at later date.
Hiring of part time bartender
o Paul recommending Carol Anderson for position.
o Only 2 other applications received. Decision made to repost ad and conduct interviews at a
later date.
Side door on parking lot side needs to be repaired or replaced. Reviewed proposal and discussed
possible other options to repair door. Will research other options.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance:
Project Status Report discussion
o Water leak repair to begin Monday by Tim Gobel Excavating.
o Work on Hwy. 210 through town will not be done at this time. Discussion on the poor condition
of 210 through town and what can be done.
o Speed sign status? Warren will ask Scott if these have been ordered.
o School zone will not be done until Spring of 2013.
o Zelazny building permit application review
_ Has been approved by the County and work has already begun.
_ Lisa questioned the use of only one permit for multiple structures on the property.
Question on what our ordinance says and if a permit is needed for each structure.
Mayor Clark will research this further.
_ Motion by Ray Lally to approve Zelazny building permit as submitted, seconded by
Warren Peters. Motion carried unanimously.
_ We will need to charge for water and sewer hook-up fees and make sure Tom does not
hook them up until fees are paid.
Ron McPhail questioned if there is an ordinance requiring a person to have a working toilet and running
water if they are living in a building. Discussion on what our zoning ordinance is and if any changes
need to be made regarding this.
Mayor Clark noted that the Water and Sewer billing system needs updating; late charges are turned off.
Parks and Rec / Pavilion:
Review of Pavilion calendar. Horseshow scheduled for first week in August. No other events scheduled
at this time.
Harvest Fest dance at Pavilion discussed. May hire a DJ instead of a band.
Softball field by the beach needs maintenance. Several low spots, the entire field needs lime.
Discussion on importance of maintaining the field. Softball association will spread the lime if the city
will supply it. Bids will be sought for the cost of lime.
Operation Round-Up- Un-deposited check found from May for $1,000 for the playground project.
General City / Housing / Highway:
Harvest Fest
o Rob Switzer questioned the parade and if Harvest Fest is still on. Flyer needs to be updated to
send out for parade as well as traffic control help to be obtained.
FEMA Meeting July 31st. Mayor Clark and Warren Peters are the designated city officials and will attend
the meeting.
Job Application and Hiring Policy review
*Must have a regimented program in place to meet all of the hiring guidelines.
o Change in Veteran’s preference numbers from the League
o New employment application now being used
o Reviewed proposed 100 point hiring system
o Motion by Warren Peters to approve 100 point hiring system, seconded by Ray Lally. Motion
carried unanimously.
Sidewalk in front of city office entrance needs to meet ADA standards. Kirk Anderson doing slab for Fire
Dept. and Northview Bank and has given us a bid for doing a new sidewalk for the city.
o Tom noted to make sure he does a 5” thick slab with rebar 2’ on center, controlled joints, and
sealed.
o Motion by Tom Borglund to approve sidewalk work for city office building, seconded by Lisa
Lund. Motion carried unanimously.
Brass ‘key to the city’ to be used as a recognition award / thank you for people who help the city in
different ways. Harvey has donated a cement mixer, boat for sewer ponds, lumber for horse arena,
green steel fence posts, tools, etc. to the city so will be awarded the ‘key to the city.’
Trustees Notes:
Lisa: None
Ray: None
Warren:
o Should have a larger sign on bar door stating “please do not remove glassware/beverages from
this building”. Patrons should not be on sidewalk with open bottles. This is a liability and
needs to be monitored more closely.
o Patrons being over-served and bartenders continuing to serve them; bar Overseer needs to
enforce the policy of cutting people off when needed.
o Discussion on installing a door from bar to the fenced smoking area. This has been addressed
before but the city attorney has reported that a door cannot be installed in this area.
o Mayor Clark to have discussion with Paul on these issues.
o The bar does not have a Sanitary Serving Food Certificate.
Tom:
o Harvest Fest meeting on Thursday August 2nd. Anyone from the council who wishes to attend
is welcome.
Clerk/Treasurer:
Interviews for Clerk/Treasurer conducted on Friday July 27th by Jess Rich and Frank Yetka, all applicants
interviewed.
o Top two candidates: Jenny Clark scored 89 out of 100 points ; Dave Chambers scored 80.5 out
of 100 points. Jess and Frank agreed Jenny is most qualified.
o Discussion on top two candidates and potential conflicts of interest.
o Motion by Warren Peters to hire Jenny Clark as new Clerk/Treasurer, seconded by Ray Lally.
Motion carried unanimously with the exception of Mayor Clark who abstained from vote.
Notice received from the IRS that the city’s past due penalty from 2009 in the amount of $1,200 still
has not been paid. Sam has paid the bill to avoid any interest.
July disbursements discussed; Sam has paid a number of bills in order to avoid late charges.
Discussion on new policy for regular bill paying
o “Regular” monthly bills should be paid as needed, not necessary to get council approval (i.e.
Liquor Store supplies, beer, pop, and utilities, etc.)
o Approval should be required for any unusual bills before payment is sent
Receipts, disbursement, and unpaid bills reviewed.
Motion by Warren Peters to approve the payment of unpaid bills, seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion
carried unanimously.
Motion by Ray Lally to approve Warren Peters to endorse checks and Jenny Clark to exercise all powers
required by Northview Bank and Lakes States Federal Credit Union, seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion
carried unanimously.
Mayor’s Notes:
Sam has been doing the Clerk job for the past few weeks and is requesting pay for these days.
o Motion by Ray Lally to approve payment to Sam for Clerk’s duties, seconded by Warren Peters.
Motion carried unanimously with the exception of Mayor Clark who abstained from vote.
Tom Anderson volunteered to fix volleyball courts and this work has been completed.
Adjourn: Motion by Tom Borglund to adjourn, seconded by Warren Peters.
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Regular Council Meeting
June 27, 2012
7:00 pm
A regular meeting of the Cromwell City Council was held on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 7:00
pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
Present: Mayor: Samuel Clark
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Ray Lally, Warren Peters
Absent: Tom Borglund - excused
Others present: John Mattonen - City Engineer, Hugh Heinecke – City Auditor
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Clark at 7:00 pm
Minutes:
Change to prior meeting minutes add attendance of Lola Hakala and Paul Lampi.
Motion to accept prior meeting minutes as amended by Warren Peters and
seconded by Lisa Lund. Ray abstains Clark, Lund, Peters vote Yay Motion carries.
Additions to Agenda:
Under Liquor store Paul requests raise for Leslie
Under Liquor store discuss Bar Promotions and Specials
Under Parks/Recreation/Pavilion discuss sand for volleyball courts
Under Water Sewer Maintenance discuss brush at end of Middle Rd.
Public Agenda Items:
None
Liquor Store:
Review Pull tab sales
Entertainment: Denno July 14th, Dean July 28th which is also Golf Tournament
Department of Health Inspector visited to check for Flood damage and did annual
inspection. Inspector noted that cold plate and beverage lines were in contact with
potable ice. He gave a temporary fix but Bernicks will have to change cold plate setup.
Resignation of Kevin Davis as Bar Cleaner. Motion by Ray Lally to accept resignation
seconded by Sam Clark motion carried unanimously.
Hiring of Brent Vigness as Bar Cleaner. Lisa Lund asked about other applicants and
Mayor Clark explained that Paul used applications from when the position was
recently open. Motion to hire Brent Vigness by Samuel Clark seconded by Ray
motion carried unanimously.
Lisa Lund mentioned that the starting pay for the cleaning position was too low.
Mayor Clark agreed and said that Brent was doing an excellent job and was
exceeding the expectations for the job. Lisa Lund mentioned that he fixed the door
locks in the woman’s bathroom. Motion by Sam seconded by Warren to advance
Brent Vigness to step one pay of $8.20 per hour motion carried unanimously.
Paul Lampi Bar Overseer reported that Leslie Wilson has exceeded expectations
lately and should get a raise and promotion to Head Bartender or Assistant
Manager. Her pay rate was discussed and it was decided that the council doesn’t
want to create the designation of head bartender or have an Asst. Manager. Motion
to advance her to the next step (5) in the compensation plan and pay her $10.10/hr
by Mayor Clark seconded by Ray Lally motion carried unanimously.
There was discussion about Paul Lampi’s title and it was clarified that the Council as a whole is the Bar Manager and that Paul’s role is that of Overseer.
Discussion about bar promotions and specials. It was noted that the bartenders
believe some of the specials are ineffective. Hugh noted that the meat raffle should
be on a slower night to bring customers in. Sam mentioned that the MMBA gives
ideas for promotions. Hugh mentioned that specials need to be in place for awhile
so that it sticks in peoples minds. Motion by Mayor Clark seconded by Ray Lally to direct the Overseer to be more proactive in doing promotions and specials motion carried unanimously.
Water/Sewer/Maintenance:
John Mattonen pointed out that the speed signs we decided to order don’t meet
MNDOT specifications. Signs that meet the specifications are more expensive.
Councilmembers Peters and Lund pointed out that there is a great need for
something to slow traffic down. Clerk/Treasure Warner stated that there is money
available in the General Fund to pay for the increased cost. Motion to spend up to
$8580 on signs by Ray Lally seconded by Lisa Lund motion carried unanimously.
Sam reported that MPCA permitted an emergency discharge of the sewer ponds due
to the large amount of water from the flood. Also reported that pumps in the NW
lift station were having problems. Dakota pump guy stopped and checked a
vibrating pump. He found that a bolt had come out of one the pumps impellers and
was sucked up by the other pump and shot out thru the side making a hole in the
side of the pump and damaging the impeller. The pumps ran continuously during
the flood and this could have caused the bolt to work loose.
Update on water main leak at Tamarack River. John Mattonen contacted KGM to
see if they were interested in doing the repair since it may have been due to their
culvert replacement in the area. They were not able to do the work. John contacted
Northland Construction and they were set to do the repair on the day of the flood so
they were unable to do it. Another bid was sought to do a directional drill and
bypass but came in at $80,000. John is still seeking a contractor that can fix the leak
at a reasonable price. The city will have to pay for the repair but may be able to
recover cost from KGM if it is determined to be their fault. John is looking at getting
an above ground.bypass put in so that the leak can be stopped until a repair is made
and so that water service won’t be interrupted while the repair is being made.
Parks/Recreation/Pavilion:
Review Pavilion Calender
Mayor mentioned Caleb Anderson 5k run and pancake breakfast on July 7th and
reported that he had fixed faulty burner on the griddle.
Jokimaki Band is renting pavilion for a dance
Mayor Clark asked about benefit for Shale Korpela and Scott reported that they
were still looking at other options for a location.
Harvest Fest Steak Fry information was reviewed. Attendance was down but those
that came commented very positively about the quality of the meal and the speed of
delivery. Salad bar was good addition. Beer, wine and pop were popular also. Scott
mentioned that it should have been better advertised. Financially we broke even.
Mayor Clark reported that the sand in the volleyball court contained sharp rocks and
people were being injured from it. Keith Clark can get good beach sand for about
$70 a load. Old sand needs to be dug out. Motion by Mayor Clark to have Keith
Clark do whatever work is necessary to repair the courts seconded by Ray Lally
motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Clark reported that we did not get the DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant for the
Pavilion Playground Project.
Warren mentioned that someone has to be certified in food safety to oversee
fundraiser dinners.
General City/Housing/Highway:
Preliminary Flood Damage Assessment was submitted to Carlton County who will be
passing it on to FEMA. Road damage $25,000, $1,200 for sewer and water time and
$12,000 for damaged Lift Station Pumps. Mayor Clark mentioned that Mingus road
was still under water.
Ray Lally mentioned that County Assessor was out doing re-assessment.
Local Board of Equalization training information was reviewed.
Fire Dept./Ambulance:
Fire Dept. will be submitting bids for parking lot pavement at next meeting
Northviewbank may pay for part since they use it daily.
Mayor Clark asked Hugh Heinecke about how fire dept. recognition dinner should be
paid for. League email on issue was reviewed. The fire relief association generally
pays for such things out of general funds but Cromwell’s assoc. does not have a
general fund. They used to pay for it out of money raised at fundraisers. It was
decided that a clear policy should be in place that covers this as employee
compensation. Steve Bridge was asked previously to have a policy but has not done
it. Mayor Clark said that he will get a policy from the LMC. Hugh also pointed out
that the Fire Relief Assoc. could raise money for the general fund to pay for things
like this also and gave examples of other departments that do fundraisers. If a raffle
is done it is necessary to get a temporary license from the state.
Mayor Clark asked about buying flowers for funerals of family members of dept.
members. Hugh stated that the Municipal Liquor Store can make donations to the
Relief Association for this. He also mentioned that the organization that has the pull
tabs in the bar can be asked to donate to the Relief Assoc. also.
Trustee’s Notes:
Lisa Lund asked what the city ordinance on ATV’s is. Mentioned that Jeanne Weimer
wants a key for the Warming Shed for horse show. Also pointed out that water ran
over the road on lake st. where the culvert was removed. Mayor Clark suggested
that the ditch needs to be cleaned so the water can flow and that it was supposed to
be cleaned out when the road was repaired last year. He will talk to Keith about it.
Ray mentioned that Lally Rd. had water running over it at the intersection with S.
Pointe Rd. because there is no culvert. Riverview culvert is ineffective. On lot four
of Watersedge development there is a motorhome hooked to water but it’s not
clear where the sewage is going. There is also a covenant on the land that campers
can’t be parked for more than six months and not for more than 3 years running.
Warren mentioned that the riders on the diabetes run wanted to have food served.
Previously they ate before they came here so they stopped having food at the bar.
Apparently the route and schedule has changed so next year we should check and
see if they need food here. Also the ditches on Clark Ave. were overflowing with the
heavy rain. Ditches need to be cleaned out and maybe a ditch on the south side
would be helpful. Mayor Clark noted that a ditch was supposed to be put in when
they widened the road and put in the new waterline in 2004.
Clerk/Treasurer:
Auditors Report was presented by Hugh Heinecke. Hugh pointed out that the
Revolving Loan fund has not had any activity for over 10 years. If there are no plans
to use it for economic development it should be transferred to the general fund.
The General Fund expenditures exceeded revenues by $53,000. $129,000 came in
from other funds to erase that deficit. Hugh pointed out that Liquor Store revenues
were $476,000 with a profit of $82,000 he indicated that margins could be better
and that we should look for ways to improve the margin. Overall the audit went
well. Motion by Ray Lally seconded by Lisa to accept the Audit motion carried
unanimously.
Resignation of Scott Warner Motion by Ray Lally seconded by Warren Peters motion
carried unanimously
Mayor Clark noted that in the Cromwell City Ordinances the Mayor has the power to
appoint the Clerk/Treasurer but that it’s more common to have the council make the
choice. He submitted a plan to review the applications with another council
member and the qualified ones can be forwarded to Floodwood City Administrator
Jess Rich and City Attorney Frank Yetka who will do the interviews and submit their
recommendations to the council who will then approve one of the candidates.
Mayor Clark felt that this would be the most objective way of choosing among
candidates. Hugh Heinecke brought up the possibility of splitting the
Clerk/Treasurer position but after discussion it was decided to leave the position as
is. Motion by Mayor Clark to have himself and Lisa Lund review applications and
forward the qualified applications to Jess Rich and Frank Yetka who will select
candidates for interviews will conduct interviews and determine the most qualified
candidate seconded by Ray Lally motion carried unanimously. Mayor Clark stated
that Diane Hansen would be willing to put sometime in at the office to help if
needed. Motion by Mayor Clark seconded by Lisa to pay Scott his current wage to
help out during the transition to a new clerk motion carried unanimously.
Receipts totaled $55,345.40
Disbursements totaled $67,083.45
Unpaid bills for approval totaled $66,044.58
Motion by Ray Lally seconded by Warren Peters to approve the payment of unpaid
bills and treasurers report, motion carried unanimously.
Mayor’s Notes: Tom fixed faucet in rental unit and Mayor Clark and Tom repaired washing
machine.
Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally seconded by Warren Peters
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
May 23, 2012
7:00pm
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, May 23,
2012 at 7:00pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark,
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Warren Peters, Tom Borglund
Absent: Ray Lally
Others Present: John Mattonen, city engineer; Dora Potts, Voyageurs Press
The meeting was called to order at 7pm by Mayor Cark
Minutes:
 Motion to accept prior meeting minutes by Warren Peters and seconded by Lisa Lund.
Motion carried Unanimously.
 Motion to accept minutes from April 25 closed meeting by Lisa Lund and seconded by
Warren Peters, motion carried unanimously
Additions to Agenda:
 Harvest fest steak fry info
 Beer wine sales at steak fry by liquor store
Public Agenda Items:
 None
Liquor Store:
 Pull tab sales were reviewed
 Entertainment for month of June is Diabetes run, 16th; Jamorama 9th $500; Karaoke 23rd,
$175.00
 A donation of $100 will be given for the Diabetes run from the pull tabs fund
 Bar will sponsor men’s softball at a cost of $160.00
 Bar will sponsor women’s softball at a cost of $350.00
 Discussion on meat raffle ticket sales and timing of raffle
Water/Sewer/maintenance:
 Discussion on purchase of new city truck
 Consumer confidence report info was reviewed
Parks and Rec / Pavilion
 The pavilion calendar for May through August was reviewed and discussed.
 A request for free use of the pavilion for a benefit was discussed and denied.
 Discussion on a walking trail along the river in pavilion park
 AED update, waiting for it to come in. will put up ASAP.
General City/Housing/Highway:
 Motion by Sam and seconded by Tom B. to purchase two “Your speed is” signs for the city.
 Brush at the end of middle rd was discussed. MNDOT will need to approve removal.
 Entrance sign info was discussed. quotes will be sought.
 NESC info was reviewed
 Veteran’s preference info was reviewed
 Discussion on new house on south point rd, needs zoning permit.
Fire Dept. / Ambulance:
 Use of debit card was discussed, a proposed use policy will be created.
 Discussion on paving fire dept parking lot, council will need to approve
 Discussion on flags. Tom J. will need to get up before Memorial Day.
Trustee’s Notes:
 Lisa asked if semi trailer was sold yet.
 Ray: none
 Warren: none
 Tom discussed incorrect 911 address for Chevvy Borglund’s property, also Jatkola
address needs to be changed from south alley to Clark Ave.
Clerk/Treasurer:
 Vacation request for Scott was discussed and approved
 Receipts totaled $81,151.87
 Disbursements totaled $62,259.04
 Unpaid bills for approval totaled $41,541.41
 Motion by Lisa and seconded by Warren to approve the payment of unpaid bills and
treasurers report, motion carried unanimously
Mayor’s Notes:
 Graham’s grass needs cutting, charge to property
Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Warren and seconded by Sam.
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
April 25, 2012
7:00pm
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, April 25,
2012 at 7:00pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark,
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Warren Peters, Tom Borglund
Absent: Ray Lally
Others Present: John Mattonen, city engineer; Dora Potts, Voyageurs Press; Dick & Elaine Huhta;
Ken Kangas
The meeting was called to order at 7pm by Mayor Cark
Minutes:
 Motion to accept prior meeting minutes by Tom Borglund and seconded by Warren
Peters. Motion carried Unanimously.
 Motion to approve minutes of public hearing on playground plan for city park by Tom
Borglund and seconded by Lisa Lund. Motion carried unanimously.
Additions to Agenda:
 Elaine Huhta asked about the leash law (dogs running at large) ordinance. She has a dog
visiting her back yard on a regular basis. (grayish like a wolf hound)
 Elaine Huhta also asked about getting a current price list for the pavilion rental. (garage sale)
 Dick Huhta asked about the AED for the pavilion
 Review of quote on Chevy truck
 Discussion on work on Pavilion/city hall parking lot (Pavilion Parks and Rec)
Public Agenda Items:
 Discussion on harvest fest raffle tickets being reprinted (Dick Huhta)
 Elaine Huhta asked about the leash law (dogs running at large) ordinance. She has a
dog visiting her back yard on a regular basis. (grayish like a wolf hound)
 Elaine Huhta also asked about getting a current price list for the pavilion rental. (garage
sale)
 Dick Huhta asked about the AED for the pavilion

Liquor Store:
 Entertainment for month of May was discussed
 Liquor store sales were reviewed
Water/Sewer/maintenance:
 Discussion on purchase of new city truck. Sam and Tom Johnson will drive each truck and
check on visibility, and safety. Chevy quote was $5000 more than Ford. The council
questioned warranty, features, tires, plow width/type, ¾ ton vs 1 ton.
 The pavilion calendar for April thru April was reviewed and discussed.
 May YOT meeting will be held at the Villa for the Senior Expo
 Villa asked about borrowing the 8 foot tables from the pavilion.
 Carlton County Invasive species information was reviewed.
 Discussion on parking lot repairs. Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Warren Peters
to have Keith Clark pull stumps, level and fill the parking lot. Motion carried unanimously.
 A request from Ryan Harp for ATV’s to have access to the city was presented to and
discussed by the council
 Discussion of harvest festival. Scott did not receive any responses for committee members.
All funds of the Harvest Fest committee from past festivals were donated to the city for the
playground fund last December, therefore the Harvest Fest does not have any money to fund
the initial steak fry.
 The council discussed the need to have the festival. Scott discussed the city taking over the
harvest festival with the Auditor and the city will need to create a fund to keep the funding
separated and it will need to support itself and the money would be kept separate from
general fund and other tax levy dollars.
 Motion by Warren Peters and seconded by Tom Borglund to appointed Tom Borglund,
Warren Peters and Scott Warner to be the committee and do the planning and bring the
information to the council when needed.
 Motion by Tome Borglund and seconded by Warren Peters to fund the June steak fry and
that the funds would then be repaid by the proceeds of the steak fry and the Harvest Festival
would then be self-funded.
General City/Housing/Highway:
 Carlton County Quarterly newsletter was presented to the council
 The official grant approval for the entrance sign was presented to the council
 Bob Peterson services bid for grass cutting was reviewed and accepted by the council. Scott
was asked to get a new bid that includes the roadside in the Riverview Meadows Addition.
 Flea Market plans for Aardvark were discussed. Scott stated that it is a normal use for a
commercial area. Sam mentioned that he would be concerned if people left there wares
there for long periods of time. Scott said that they were planning to have it cleaned up and
taken down by 4pm on Sunday each week.
 John Mattonen stated that MNDOT has decided to look into the crosswalk more closely and
will likely approve it if the city will lay out the lines and MNDOT will put up the signage. They
understand that Cromwell is not a regular city with blocks and intersections and that there is
a need for a crosswalk to ensure public safety near the hub of businesses.
Fire Dept. / Ambulance:
 A meeting for the Fire fighters in Grand Rapids was discussed.
 Motion by Sam Clark and seconded by Lisa Lund to send Tom and Steve Bridge. Motion
carried unanimously.
 An increase in Monthly pay for Wanda Shifflet from $50 to $100 for cleaning of the fire hall
was discussed. Motion to approve by Tom Borglund and seconded by Sam Clark. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Sam mentioned that the fire dept. held their awards banquet at the Big Lake Golf Club and it
should be paid for by the relief association.
 There was discussion on the creation of a fire district and the impact on the city. The city
would have to agree to donate the building and equipment to the new district in order for it
to be feasible.
 Motion to approve the agreement between the Wright and Cromwell fire departments by
Tom Borglund and seconded by Lisa Lund. Motion carried unanimously.
Trustee’s Notes:
 Lisa: none
 Ray: none
 Warren: none
 Tom: none
Clerk/Treasurer:
 Scott will be attending election training on Thursday May 24th 2012 at the County
Transportation Building.
 Receipts totaled $54,873.66
 Disbursements totaled $37,176.12
 Unpaid bills for approval totaled $29,351.57
 Sam asked about the $200 from last fall from the scrap sales, Scott mentioned that it
was entered the month following when he asked about it before.
 Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Warren Peters to approve the unpaid bills
for payment and to approve the treasurers report. Motion carried
Mayor’s Notes:
 None
Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Tom Borglund and seconded by Warren Peters.
 
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
March 28, 2012
7:00pm
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, March 28,
2012 at 7:00pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark,
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Ray Lally
Absent: None
Others Present: John Mattonen, city engineer; Pam Fistere, Voyageurs Press
The meeting was called to order at 7pm by Mayor Cark
Minutes: Motion to accept prior meeting minutes by Warren Peters and seconded by Lisa Lund.
Motion carried Unanimously.
Additions to Agenda:
 Approval of Dennis Cieluch hire as cleaning person
 Harvest fest discussions
 Harvest fest vendor information and kids tractor pull payment approval
 NE Middle Mile Project Meeting update
 Employee review moved to April meeting in closed session following meeting.

Motion to approve agenda with changes and additions by Warren Peters and seconded by Ray
Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Agenda Items:
 none
Liquor Store:
 Entertainment for month of April.
 Discussion on the MMBA conference.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Warren Peters to send Paul to the MMBA for the
Sunday thru Tuesday sessions. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion on hiring of Dennis Cieluch for bar cleaning.
 Motion by Warren Peters and seconded by Lisa Lund to officially hire Dennis. Motion carried
unanimously.
 Discussion regarding billing for damage to liquor store door by a customer. Scott will send a
bill to the customer.
Water/Sewer/maintenance:
 John Mattonen spoke regarding the school zone project with the DOT.
 John mentioned he had a call from a homeowner on the lake about a building permit.
Parks and Rec / Pavilion
 The pavilion calendar for March thru May was reviewed and discussed.
 Discussion on advertising the pavilion for the wedding season.
 Discussion on requiring pavilion renters to use the municipal liquor store for any alcohol
serving at the events.
 Scott will check on cost to provide security for pavilion events.
 Discussion on resolution for playground grant application.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Lisa Lund to approve resolution #03312012-1
sponsorship of outdoor recreation grant application. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion on Harvest festival and creating a committee for such. Scott was instructed to
advertise for persons to be on the harvest fest committee to be appointed by the council at
April meeting.
 Discussion on grant for the Y.O.T. for advertising for their events.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund to accept the tourism grant of $500 from
the Carlton County Economic Development for on behalf of the Y.O.T. and to forward the
funds to them. Motion carried unanimously.

General City/Housing/Highway:
 Discussion on the middle mile project meeting attended by Lisa Lund and additional
information received from them. Scott was instructed to contact Melissa from the middle
mile project for the contract pricing for the broadband internet service for City offices.
 Grant information from the USDA was reviewed by the council
 Discussion on the “your speed is” signs for the city. John Mattonen cautioned the city to
make sure they meet MNDOT standards when we order them. John also said we should look
into the “safe routes to school” grant funding to help fund the purchase.
 Carlton County recycling information was reviewed by the council
 Motion by Warren Peters and seconded by Tom Borglund to approve a zoning permit for
June Kingsley. Motion carried unanimously.
 LMC state of cities report information was reviewed by the council
 Scott mentioned that 1324 highway 73 has been taken over by the bank and will now have
the W&S charges paid up so they can sell the property.
Fire Dept. / Ambulance:
 Scott mentioned to the council that he has received the non-smoker agreements from the
fire department, which will lower our work comp premium.
 LSFCU grant for fire signs project was reviewed by the council, it was noted that the
population on the request was stated incorrectly and should be changed.
Trustee’s Notes:
 Lisa: Lisa asked if there was a zoning request for the food shelf. Scott
stated that the food shelf is trying to buy the old trolley station building and that it
would mean that there will not be property taxes received on the property if they
succeed in purchasing the building.
Lisa had a request from Jeanne Weimer to put a fridge in the warming
shack so she can use it for cold storage during the horse shows this summer. There
were no objections to the idea.
 Ray:
 Warren: Warren asked John if we heard back from MNDOT regarding a crosswalk
near the Liquor store, post office, and hardware store.
 Tom: Tom asked about getting the new city truck. He said we should get it
before the old one dies and we are stuck without and in need. Scott will be getting
in touch with the State of MN and figuring out how to use the state bid system.
Clerk/Treasurer:
 Deposits, disbursements, and unpaid claims were reviewed by the council.
 Sam asked if he could see the report showing the liquor store sales as compared to
last year, same month.
 Scott mentioned that the W&S person in Scanlon is willing to help us locate some of
our curb stops that we cannot locate. This would allow us to shut off the water on
several houses that have not paid their water bill because they know we can’t shut
them off.
 Motion by Lisa Lund and seconded by Ray Lally approve the unpaid claims for
payment and to approve the treasurer’s report. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor’s Notes:
 Sam attended the legislative conference in St Paul and sat at roundtable discussions
with members from all over the state. He was very impressed by the leaders of
tomorrow and hopes we can help get a similar group here in Cromwell. He learned a
lot about how the funding mechanisms for small cities have changed over the years
and what the state is working on to help repair that mechanism.
 Sam spoke with the offices of Representative Hilty and Senator Lourey.
 He did a lot of networking with the city government officials from around the state.
 Sam got a call from the sheet metal worker’s union about the brake in the shop.
There is also interest in the semi trailer parked behind city hall.
 Sam thought we should talk to the railroad about helping us move the train car into
the park.
Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Tom Borglund and seconded by Ray Lally.
 
Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Public Hearing
Cromwell Playground Proposal
March 28, 2012
7:00pm
A public hearing of the was held on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 6:30pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark,
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Ray Lally
Others Present: Greg & Jen Anderson, Steve Bridge, Shawna Koivisto, Warren Stenson, Ken & Sue Koivisto,
Pam Fistere of the Voyageur Press.
The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm by Mayor Cark
Details of the Playground plans were handed out to the attendees at the meeting.
Mayor Clark discussed the scope and schedule of the playground project:
 The playground committee consists of Mayor Clark, Steve Bridge, and Jen Anderson. The project will bring
people into the Cromwell Pavilion park from all around the area. Having a beautiful, well designed, ADA
compliant playground in a community park attracts people to the community and will help to promote tourism
and use of the park and Pavilion facilities. It will greatly enhance the aesthetic beauty of our park and give
children a safe and exciting place to play while their parents enjoy our many facilities in the park area. It is
another step by our community to attract people to build homes here and make Cromwell their choice for
their future. The extended use of the park will benefit the local businesses and help maintain and grow our
local economy.
 The project will be implemented in late 2012 or early 2013 and will be completed within two years, by the fall
of 2014. The majority of the project is expected to be complete by the fall of 2013.
 The overall cost of the project is $125,000 to $130,000. The total area of the park will be 130 feet by 80
feet. This includes the equipment, landscaping, ground preparation and installation of the playground
equipment. We will be using volunteer labor wherever possible to help keep the cost down.
 The entire cost of the project will be funded through grants and donations. There may be a need for some
short-term public financing for initial implementation and purchase of the equipment. This will be repaid with
continued donations and fund raising efforts. The two main fundraising efforts are the annual Caleb
Anderson Memorial walk/run and the annual Community Harvest Festival. There will be additional fund
raising efforts through the fire department and several local organizations. The City of Cromwell will provide
necessary funding for upkeep and maintenance of the equipment and playground area.
 The system is very low maintenance. Wood fiber base is long-lasting and low cost. $250 annual
maintenance, $50 vandalism repair cost per year, $1000 three year replacement parts estimate, $3000 ten
year maintenance, $500 grounds keeping maintenance.
Steve Bridge added:
 This playground will greatly increase the use of the pavilion park and enhance the experience of the people
using the facility. He is working with Carlton County Economic Development to help provide addition grant
opportunities and information on advertising the park to enhance tourism in our area.
Future upgrades for the project will include updated handicap accessible toilets, addition of benches and additional
walk paths.
Mayor Clark asked for any additional comments or information from the public or the council. Being none, he
adjourned the meeting at 6:52pm.
Created with novaPDF Printer (www.nova
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
February 22, 2012
7:00pm
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at
7:00pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion
Present: Mayor: Samuel A Clark,
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Warren Peters, Tom Borglund, Ray Lally
Absent: None
Others Present: John Mattonen, city engineer
The meeting was called to order at 7pm by Mayor Cark
Minutes: Motion to accept January 2012 regular meeting minutes by Tom Borglund and seconded by Warren
Peters. Motion carried by four yea votes (Clark, Borglund, Lund, Peters) and one abstain (Ray Lally)
Additions to Agenda:
 Legislative Conference with LMC Mayors Association - General
 Donation Request - General
 Paul Lampi Raise – Liquor Store
 Treasurers Report - Clerk
 Discussion regarding incident at the Liquor store on 2/18/2012 – Liquor Store
Motion to approve agenda with changes and additions by and seconded by. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Agenda Items:
 none
Liquor Store:
 Entertainment for month of February/March is Denno on 2/25/12, Karaoke on 3/17/12, and Dean Nyberg on
3/31/12, Alumni Basketball Tourney is on 3/31 & 4/1
 Discussion on Raise for Paul Lampi from 14.80 to 15/21 per hour as per pay equity schedule
 Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Warren Peters to approve Paul’s raise
 An incident involving several patrons at the bar on 2/18/12 was discussed by the council. The video tape of
the incident was reviewed.
 Motion by Ray Lally to ban Jeff Swatek from the bar for a period of 90 days due to his involvement in the
incident, no second on motion, Motion amended by Ray Lally and seconded by Warren Peters to ban Jeff
Swatek from the bar for a period of 30 days to ensure the safety of our bartenders and patrons. Motion
carried unanimously.
 An advertisement at the Floodwood golf course was discussed. The council decided that advertising money
could be better spent elsewhere.
Water/Sewer/maintenance:
 John Mattonen spoke regarding the Dept. of Health revolving fund list. Council decided to leave our name on
the list. John is working with MNDOT with the school zone speed limit. MNDOT is waiting for approval from
the State, but the speed zone is basically approved.
 Discussion on no parking signs along highway 73. John will get approval from MNDOT to put up signs there
for the safety of the students that walk that section of the roadway.
 Discussion on the turn lane for Riverview Road and whether it would be cost-effective, feasible and necessary
for the city to pay for the turn lane and assess the property for the cost of the project. This turn lane is
required by the State of MN before the street access can be completed to highway 73.
 Review of Tom Johnson’s performance was discussed by the council. No negative incidents were reported.
The council mentioned that Tom does a great job of keeping costs down, maintaining the systems and
completing tasks in a timely manner.
Parks and Rec / Pavilion
 The pavilion calendar for February thru April was reviewed and discussed.
 Sam mentioned that the Big Foot information meeting was very successful and attracted a lot of people.
Scott mentioned that the liquor store did very well on that day also.
 Warren mentioned that the floors look very good at the pavilion after Tom and others stripped and waxed it.
Sam mentioned that there are spots where the floor is rippled and the floor doesn’t come as good there.

General City/Housing/Highway:
 A request for financial support from the Tri-community food shelf was discussed.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Lisa Lund to give $100 for support of the food shelf. Motion carried
unanimously
 The council discussed the pay of the Mayor and Council members. The rate has not been changed in twelve
years.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund to change the pay for Mayor to $200 per meeting and
the pay for council members to $100 per meeting, with special meeting pay staying the same. Motion carried
unanimously.
 Discussion on hiring an electrician for the work at the new city hall. We will get a couple more quotes before
we go forward with anything.
 Discussion on attending the MCFOA conference March 21-23. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Warren
Peters to send Scott to the conference. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion on the annual LMC conference in June in Duluth.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Sam Clark to allow Scott, Sam and anyone else on the council who
wishes to attend the conference. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion on the Legislative day and Mayors round table meeting in St. Paul.
 Motion by Warren Peters and seconded by Ray Lally to send Sam to both the legislative day and the Mayors
round table. Motion carried unanimously.
 Motion by Warren Peters and seconded by Ray Lally to send Lisa Lund to the Middle Mile Project Meeting at
the Carlton County Maintenance Building on March 21st. Motion carried unanimously.
Fire Dept. / Ambulance:


Trustee’s Notes:
 Lisa:.
 Ray: .
 Warren: .
 Tom: Tom asked when we hired Dennis Cieluch. Scott said he would check to see if he was
officially approved by the council and if not, bring the information to the council for approval in
March.
Clerk/Treasurer:
 Deposits, disbursements, and unpaid claims were reviewed by the council
 Lisa asked if the rent amount was correct for the renters at the city hall building. She thought it
should have been $650.00. Scott explained that he is simply going by what they claimed when we
created the contract. He had nothing else to go by, since the previous owner did not respond to
his inquiries.
 Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Warren Peters approve the unpaid claims for payment
and to approve the treasurer’s report. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor’s Notes:

Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Lisa Lund.
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
January 25 2012
7:00pm
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, January 25,
2012 at 7:00pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion
Present:Mayor: Samuel A Clark,
Council Members: Lisa Lund, Warren Peters, Tom Borglund
Absent: Ray Lally
Others Present: Pam Fistere, Voyageur Press; Frank Yetka, Rudy Law Office; Lola Hakala,
Confidence Learning Center; Jennifer Backer, Cromwell/Wright School; Paul Lampi, Liquor Store
Manager; Mary Jo Stenson, David Niemi, May-Ann Niemi, Riverside Drifters Saddle Club; Carl Brant,
Town & Country Agency; Pat Oman, Carlton County Economic Development.
The meeting was called to order at 7pm by Mayor Cark
Minutes: Motion to accept December 28 2011 regular meeting minutes and December 28 2011 special
meeting minutes by Tom Borglund and seconded by Warren Peters. Motion carried unanimously
Additions to Agenda:
„h Annual evaluation of Paul Lampi
„h Office in liquor store
„h Pat Oman to talk about County programs
„h Deep cleaning of the pavilion
„h Saddle Club to discuss rental, expectations.
„h Jennifer Backer to talk about the Cromwell/Wright School strategic plan and curriculum changes
for 2012-2013 school year
Motion to approve agenda with changes and additions by Warren Peters and seconded by Lisa Lund.
Motion carried unanimously.
Public Agenda Items:
„h Jennifer Backer, Superintendant for Cromwell/Wright School spoke about the strategic plan
for the district. They are working on college accredited courses within the school, some
curriculum changes to make Cromwell a better school for the district¡¦s children. They are
working on new ways to help the at-risk students to help them graduate and move on to
college and careers. They are working on a better ¡§middle school¡¨ environment for the 6th-8th
graders to help them with the unique needs or that age group. They are adding more
creativity to the elementary curriculum as well. Jennifer invited the council and public to
check out the school and the newly updated website.
„h Pat Oman spoke to the council regarding the Carlton County EDA and the programs designed
to help the small communities within Carlton County. He spoke of several programs designed
to help with tourism, park and trail creation and upgrades, and some DNR tree grants that are
available. Pat also spoke about their below-market loan program designed to help businesses
start and expand in the County. Pat spoke about the EDA¡¦s quarterly newsletter which
details some of the projects that have been funded through the program in the recent past.
He specified that we should apply for the tourism grant to help with building an entrance sign
for the city.
„h Pat talked about several grants they are working on for the city of Cromwell / fire
department. Two of the grants have been denied for equipment and a truck. A grant for
radio equipment upgrade, required by the Federal Government, is still out there and they are
waiting for word on it.
„h Pat noted that if the City wants to apply for any of the available grants, we should give him a
resolution and he will get it filled out for us with the help of the city staff.
„h The Riverside Drifters Saddle club spoke to the council about their use of the park and the
arena area. The club is looking into doing some repairs to the arena and wants to know if
they can, if they need specific permission for each thing or not. The city gave permission for
repairs on the crows nest and a gate in the outer fence. Upkeep of the arena is generally to
be done by the club, but the city will continue to mow the area. The club will need to do
specific weed touchup around the fence. Tom Johnson could use some weed killer around
the fence to help keep the weeds from growing up and cut trimming costs. The lights for the
arena were discussed and the council noted that so the city could work towards replacing
those. There were questions on camping and camping fees, the council will have to discuss
that further and make a decision. The club was concerned that some people would not come
if they had to pay much for camping. Knowing as far in advance what the fees will be is key
for the club to keep attendance up. Lisa Lund asked if there was an issue between the
volleyball teams and the horse club last year. The club said there was one member of the
club who thought there was an issue, but the club did not think so. They had to figure out
some parking arrangements and it was all worked out between the organizer of the volleyball
and the organizers of the horse club. They did not think it was or will be an issue.
Liquor Store:
„h Paul discussed the entertainment coming up in the bar. He has karaoke coming up on January
28th, Dean Nyberg DJ¡¦ing on February 12th, and Denno DJing on February 25th. Sam mentioned
that at the bartender meeting, we had discussed bringing in more bands and asked Paul to try to
get a band in. Sam mentioned that he had sent Paul some info on a band earlier in the day for
him to check on. The band would need to be small enough to fit in the bar.
„h Sales for the month of December of $38,673.05 were reviewed by the council. This is 4.63%
higher than December 2010.
„h Sales for 2011 of $521,030.21 were reviewed by the council, this is 7.28% higher than 2010 sales.
„h Pull tab rent of $626.80 was reviewed. Scott said he was concerned about the shortages in the
games four months in a row. Lola Hakala with the Confidence Learning Center said the money is
counted and verified by her and Paul every time so they both agree on the amount to be
deposited. Paul asked if the shortages included game losses and Lola said it did not.
„h Paul talked about the game discussed last month when a customer was denied a game because it
was closed. He explained that he never closes a game without Lola¡¦s approval. That particular
day, he did not open the game after talking to Lola and being told not to open it. He was not
aware until later that someone had been playing the game the night before and intended to come
in to play more in the morning. When the customer showed up and the game was not open, Paul
explained that Lola had said to leave it closed. He then went into the cooler to call Lola and ask
about the game, whether to open it or not. The customer got upset and left the bar without
allowing Paul to explain further. Lola, after the discussion, apologized for the misunderstanding
and asked if they could go back to having Paul call her to keep her informed on the balance of
boxes so she could avoid coming in every day to check them as she lives quite a ways away.
„h There was discussion on the MMBA boot camp. Sam asked Paul if he thought he should go. Paul
said he would rather go to the summer conference. The council agreed and we will not be
sending anyone to the boot camp.
„h The council did an annual performance review for Paul. Some of the topics of discussion were,
running out of beer/product, lack of communication, and the cleanliness of the facility. Warren
commended Paul on hi work on the new POS system, he told the council that Paul has really
taken the bull by the horns on this and is doing a great job. Paul explained his theory on product
ordering and said he is working with the vendors to avoid shortages of product, but there are
times when someone will make a bigger purchase than expected and the bar runs out of
something. He has improved the communication with the bartenders and will work with the
cleaning people to make sure the pizza area stays clean. The council noted that the sales are
good and profits are good, so he must be doing something right.
„h The council discussed putting an office in the back of the liquor store. This would give paul a
secure place to count out tills and free up some more sales space in the front of the bar by the
window. We have room for a 8 . by 9 foot office. We will need to add a computer there, but
the heat and air are already there, as well as lighting.
„h Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Warren Peters to add an office in the liquor store.
Motion carried unanimously.
„h Warren talked about the new POS system. It is up and running and he is working out some bugs.
It seems to be working well for it purpose.
„h Paul asked about bringing the heavy rubber mats from behind the bar to the carwash or possibly
the bus garage to wash them once a month or so. Scott said he would check with John Peterson
who owns Aardvark about using the old car wash.
„h Paul talked about the cribbage tournaments. He explained that sales to the cribbage players is
fairly minimal. Sales to the players during the last tournament was $49.00.
„h Paul said he had complaints
Water/Sewer/maintenance:
„h Scott talked about the turn lane to Riverview Meadows. John had suggested we look into putting
in the turn lane ourselves and assessing it to the property. This would assure that the lane is
done and that the lots would be buildable and sellable. MNDOT requires the turn lane to be put in
and the City has decided not to allow any more building permits on the lots until it is done. Scott
will talk to John and get more information on the project and the impact on the value of the
property.
„h
Parks and Rec / Pavilion
„h The pavilion calendar for January thru March was reviewed. Sam added that a Bigfoot
information meeting at the pavilion on February 12th.
„h Discussion on two donations for the pavilion AED. The YOT gave the city a donation of $1000 and
the Cromwell Wright Area Lakes Association gave a donation of $500 toward the purchase of an
AED device for the pavilion.
„h Motion by Sam Clark and seconded by Tom Borglund to approve resolution 012512.1 accepting
the donations. Motion carried unanimously.
„h A request from Dick Huhta to add a phone to the pavilion for emergency purposes was discussed.
The council discussed the option of running a line form the new city hall, but decided it was not
necessary to have the phone in the building as most people today have a cell phone.
„h Discussion on cleaning at the pavilion. Judy Kahara had offered her services for the job of
detailed cleaning. We will get some estimates to see what the cost would be to have it cleaned
once in a while. Sam mentioned that the Quilters volunteered to help paint the walls in the
meeting room.
General City/Housing/Highway:
„h Carl Brandt discussed the valuation of city buildings for the purpose of insurance replacement
cost. The insurance company evaluated the cost of replacing all the city buildings last year as
part of a periodic process. Three buildings had significant differences in value compared to
insured value. The fire hall is $95,000 under insured, the well house is $60,000 over insured and
the water tower is $400,000 under insured. We will also have the new city hall building evaluated
for the renewal in May. The council discussed the cost of raising the insured value of the
buildings. Carl thought it would be less than $500 per year on the policy, a very insignificant
amount compared to annual insurance cost for the city and we would recover part of that cost
with our annual dividend.
„h Discussion on Liquor liability insurance. We are seeking quotes from several companies through
Carl Brandt and also through Wells Fargo. Carl explained that there are only a few vendors who
do the dram shop insurance so he will likely come back with the same quote amount as Wells
Fargo. The big difference is that Carl can get a quote from the League of Minnesota Cities.
„h The annual meeting notice was reviewed for approval. The meetings are scheduled for the fourth
Wednesday again this year. The only date that was in question was the day after Christmas.
„h Motion by Warren Peters and seconded by Lisa Lund to approve the fourth Wednesday of each
month, including January 2013, at 7pm at the park pavilion as the meeting date for the regular
monthly council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
„h Discussion on annual appointments:
1. Health Official; Dr. Shawn Bode
2. Health Inspector; Ray Lally, Tom Borglund
3. Weed Inspector; Sam Clark
4. Civil Defense; Ray Lally, Scott Warner, Sam Clark
5. Register Control; Scott Warner, Warren Peters, Sam Clark
6. Depository; Northview Bank, Lake States Federal Credit Union
7. Legal Newspaper; Voyageur Press
8. Law Firm; Rudy, Gassert, Yetka & Pritchett
9. Program Liaison/Census Bureau; Lisa Lund, Scott Warner
10. IT Manager; Sam Clark
11. Acting Mayor; Ray Lally
12. Engineer; JPJ Engineering, John Mattonen
13. Cromwell Area Development Chair; Ray Lally
„h Motion to approve annual appointments as stated above by Tom Borglund and seconded by
Warren Peters. Motion carried unanimously.
„h Discussion on the propane use at the new city hall building. A suggestion to change the propane
tank to Federated propane to assure the city has control over the source of the propane. We
would then meter the propane and charge the tenants for their usage each month. Scott had
talked to the renters about the possible change. They would prefer not to change, as they have a
relationship with FDL propane and would prefer to continue that relationship. Mayor Clark said we
should leave well enough alone for now and if it seems to be an issue later, we will reconsider it.
„h There was a discussion on the office hours for the city office. Scott¡¦s biggest concern in extending
the hours was being able to get the Cloquet by 3pm to pick up his son from school. Sam
mentioned having some evening hours. Scott said Monday or Wednesday was the best day for
him to work evening hours. Scott said we just need to give it a try and see if anyone shows up.
„h Motion by Lisa Lund and seconded by Warren Peters to change the general office hours to 8am
until 2pm Monday through Friday and 5pm until 7pm on Wednesdays. Motion carried
unanimously.
„h Discussion on city council pay raises. The council wage has not changed in many years. Sam
mentioned that a change would have to be voted in before the new election if they want to
change it. Lisa Lund asked if we know what other cities have for council wages. Scott said he
could look that up on the LMC list serve and bring for next meeting.
„h Discussion on garbage collection for the city. We had looked at this last month and went with a
bid from Cloquet Sanitary and switched from Lakes Sanitary to Cloquet. Lakes Sanitary gave us a
new quote to match Cloquet and asked us to reconsider. Both quotes are good for 3 years and
promise a free roll-off dumpster for Harvest Festival, a garbage cart for the city hall office, a 4
yard dumpster at the pavilion and an 8 yard dumpster at the liquor store; all with weekly pickup.
„h Motion by Warren Peters to stick with Cloquet sanitary and save $15 per month. Being no
second, motion died on the floor. Mayor Clark stated that being no second, we would stay with
Lakes Sanitary.
„h Discussion on annual safety and loss workshops put on by the League of Minnesota Cities. Motion
by Lisa Lund and seconded by Warren Peters to send Scott and Sam to the meetings on April 19th
in Biwabik. Motion carried unanimously.
„h An estimate from Laine Electric on some electrical improvements in the new city hall was
reviewed. Sam thought we should get another estimate before we make any decisions. The
quote from Laine was very vague. Black Diamond Electric will come in and check it also.
Fire Dept. / Ambulance:
„h No new business
Trustee¡¦s Notes:
„h Lisa: none
„h Ray: none
„h Warren: none
„h Tom: Tom mentioned we may want to put up no parking signs on south 73
between Deck Huhta¡¦s and the intersection of 210. This area is often blocked by semi
trucks which causes kids from the school to walk on the highway instead of the shoulder.
Scott was instructed to bring that info to John Mattonen and see if the DOT would have
an objection to us doing that.
Clerk/Treasurer:
„h Deposits for December totaled $170,886.68
„h Disbursements for December totaled $100,918.86
„h Claims list for approval totaled $34,543.10
„h Sam questioned the purchase of flowers for Angie Line¡¦s fathers funeral. Those funds
should come from the fire relief association. Scott will have the fire relief assoc.
reimburse us for the transaction.
„h Sam also asked if there were multiple checks for Wanda Shiflett. Scott said it was the
annual Fire and Ambulance checks. The report split the payments between fire and
ambulance and did not carry the names down to the split. We can trace each payment
by the check number, to verify this on the check detail report.
„h Sam questioned the deposit from Jack Huhta. Scott said it is the reimbursement to the
city for a sign purchased by the city for Peura Rd.
„h Motion by Sam Clark and seconded by Tom Borglund approve the December unpaid
claims for payment. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor¡¦s Notes:
„h
Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Lisa Lund and seconded by Warren Peters.
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Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
December 28 2011
7:00pm
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 7:00pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion
Present:  Mayor: Samuel A Clark,
Council Members: Ray Lally, Lisa Lund, Warren Peters, Tom Borglund
Absent: none
Others Present: Pam Fistere, Voyageur Press; John Mattonen, JPJ Engineering; Steve Bridge, Fire Chief; Deb Elmer, Deb Huhta, Lola Hakala, Dot Rick, Kitty Rubey, Jill Dahl
The meeting was called to order at 7pm by Mayor Cark

Minutes: Motion to accept November 22 2011 meeting minutes with stated changes (discussion regarding Paul’s timecard edits) by Ray Lally and seconded by Lisa Lund. Motion carried unanimously

Additions to Agenda:

Discussion on the plowing of Lake Hill Drive under General City/Housing/Highway

Publics comments regarding Liquor store

Motion to approve agenda with changes and additions by Ray Lally and seconded by Lisa Lund.

Motion carried unanimously.

Liquor Store:

Sam opened the floor to the public for comments regarding the liquor store.

Kitty Rubey mentioned that there was a pull tab box closed when someone was still playing the box. Discussion on the process on closing the pull tab boxes. Lola Hakala mentioned that on the morning in question Paul had called her to pull the box. Lola called her boss to get the okay to pull it with so many winners still left. The box was pulled before she got to the bar, and the customer in question was very angry the box was pulled.
Deb Elmer talked about cribbage. They are upset that they do not get advertised and they do not get perks for playing at the bar. Used to get a drink chip and a free pizza. Should get food set out for them. Other bars give better prizes and food and free drinks.  She says there are no pool league, dart league because there is no benefit to the players to come there to play.
Kitty says we have lost people to Wright bar.
Deb Huhta said Paul is lazy and can’t walk. Doesn’t serve customers because of his weight and laziness. Opens the door with his cane. Bottom line is we are losing dot because she can’t work with Paul. Paul sweats and wipes his forehead and throws rag on the bar.
Group complained that the games were not as good during harvest fest.
Dot complained about running out of beer. She has talked to Tom Borglund, Scott and then Sam about running out of beer. 18 packs Busch light cans, 12 Mich Golden Light cans, 18 packs Mich Golden Light cans.
Dot discussed some procedural concerns she had with bar sales. Bloody Mary mix, stocking essentials like celery salt, limes, and such. General customer service.

Dot asked about the process of having an overage in the till. She thinks it should be put in the bank instead of being saved in the cash bag. She thinks that all shortages and all overages should be recorded on the day they occur and either the day is recorded short or over. Scott mentioned that he had talked to Paul about that after Harvest festival.

Entertainment at the bar for January is Denno on New Years Eve, the Keystone on Jan 21.   Liquor store sales for November 2011 were discussed, sales were $54,161.47, 8.58% over November 2010

Lola offered feedback on the meat raffle. She is working on switching to a different store for the meat raffle steaks. She will be switching to TJ’s in Mahtowa beginning January 6th. There had been some complaints when the meat raffle packages were getting to be poor packages and very few steaks. There have been very good comments on the servers walking around to sell the raffle tickets. Lola said someone should be scheduled to sell them each week.

Warren mentioned that we should make sure the meat raffle is in the paper as well as the cribbage. Pam Fistere mentioned that the cribbage can go in community events, but the meat raffle cannot because it is a money making event.

Water/Sewer/maintenance:

John Mattonen spoke about the wellhead protection plan. The MN department of health will do the plan and we won’t need to get a grant for it. We will only have to send out a mailing to try to find more wells in the protection area.

John talked with MNDOT about the school zone and they will add to their highway 210 project scheduled for 2012 pending approval by the St Paul office.

 John provided a preliminary cost estimate for the turn lane into Riverview Meadows. Cal Jacobson
will not be able to build another house in the area until this turn lane is built per MNDOT
specifications. John mentioned that if anyone wants to build in that area, not just Cal, the turn
lane is required. Scott mentioned that he would get a due diligence from the abstract company
and will need to put on there that no building can be erected on the lots without the turn lane
being finished to MNDOT specifications, as decided by the council last year.
 A public notice form Carlton County was reviewed by the council
 A request from Waino Heikkila to eliminate a buildable lot charge on his property. The lot is not
“buildable” and he doesn’t think he should be made to pay for a “buildable” lot. Sam asked if the council has the right to decide if a lot is buildable or not. Or should we get more information from the county. John said that if it is contiguous property the council can decide without prejudice.

Motion by Mayor Clark and seconded by Warren Peters to eliminate the buildable lot charge from  Waino’s bill. Motion carried unanimously.
 The wellhead protection letter sent to officials in the city, county, state was reviewed by the
council. Scott explained that our involvement is minimal and the Dept of Health is doing all the
work. Scott further explained that the current wellhead protection area does include a small
portion of Island Lake and we could have to include the entire lake if the lake water if they find
that the water is entering the wells/aqueduct in a relatively short period of time such as 20-25
years. Our well water is considered “young” due to a test that shows that water less than fifty
years old does exist in the well. This is true for most wells in the area because there is not a
perfect layer of clay. Gaps in the clay layers in the earth allow some younger water to enter the
aqueducts.

Parks and Rec / Pavilion
 The pavilion calendar for December thru February was reviewed.
 Discussion about the New Years Eve dance is going to be put on by the YOT and will determine
their cash balance for the year, which in turn will help determine their donation to the city.
 Zumba was discussed. Sam mentioned that they are maintaining about 18 people per session and
the free session is very popular. The health benefit is a very good thing for our community.
 The city council meeting time and date for January was discussed.
 There was discussion on getting an AED for the pavilion. Steve mentioned that he could get it
through the same vendor the School used. The approximate cost is $1900.00 with a wall mount
case for it. The council said we should put the word out that we are trying to raise money for it
and put the $200 form the scrap we sold and the $40 from the fridge we sold towards it. Scott
mentioned that the YOT could dedicate their donation towards the AED this year and that would
give us a great start. Warren mentioned that there was an Indian reservation that donates them.
Ray said he would check further into that.
 There was discussion on Harvest Fest. The committee has disbanded and the city has all the
paperwork.

Scott needs to know if he can transfer the money in the Harvest Fest account into the Cities bank account and donate the money towards the playground equipment. Sam will talk to
Dick and get the okay to transfer the money. The city can up-front the first steak fry and the
fund will grow with the two steak fries and harvest fest.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Warren Peters to accept the funds into a dedicated fund for
playground equipment. Motion carried unanimously.
General City/Housing/Highway:
 There was discussion on a new city truck. Ray Lally mentioned that we should check into the cost
of a new truck through the State purchase agreement contracts. Steve Bridge mentioned that the
fire department bought the brush rig for $23,000 through the state bid contracts. Tom Borglund
said it would cost under $7,000 to put a v-plow on it.
 There was discussion on the county tourism grant. The grant application is open for any group in
the county. Scott mentioned that the money is used to promote tourism for cities within Carlton
County. The city should apply for money towards the entrance signs. A softball team can apply
to get money to advertise tournaments. The YOT can apply to promote their dances. Anything
that promotes tourism in our community preferably to bring people to our community/county form
outside the area. The advertising must be unique and cannot be applied for year after year for
the same type of promotion.
 Scott discussed the use of the old city clerk office. The Dr’s office would like to use it and Dan
Heikkila also expressed interest in it. The council said the Doctor should have first dibs. The
council also approved an eight year lease for the Cromwell Medical Clinic.

 Discussion on the new city hall building. The council reviewed a list of items for the building.

The council agreed to have the bathroom redone by Chevvy Borglund to make it handicapped accessible and usable and to put up Moulding in the lobby and the Mayor’s office.

Scott was also
given permission to have an electrician go through the building and give us a list of what has to
be done to bring it up to code and make it safe.
 Discussion on cleaning up the floor in the shop and painting/sealing the concrete there so it is a
cleaner area for Tom to work on water samples and such.
 Mayor’s office needs a duct fan to pull more heat into it.
 A walk-through list form the rental unit was reviewed. There is a water leak in the roof that will
need to be taken care of right away. Everything else is just a list in case they move out or are
evicted so they can get their deposit back.
 The renters expressed concern about the gas line upstairs. Tom Borglund said it is set up
correctly.
 There was discussion on employee evaluations. Sam thinks the council needs to make sure we
do them every year for the city managers, with the bar manager doing the bar employees. Scott
explained that the pay equity and the review process are completely separate. The pay equity is
based on equality of pay between men and women for the State of Minnesota.
 Three raises were discussed. Sam wondered if we should determine raises on an individual basis
instead of and exact amount each year. Scott said that you just have to determine a raise for a
female employee the same as a male employee.
 Motion by Warren and seconded by Ray to approve the raise for Scott Warner from $15.62 to
$16.03 per hour. Motion carried unanimously.
 Motion by Lisa and seconded by Ray to approve the raise for Diane Hansen from $8.42 to $8.84
per hour. Motion carried unanimously.
 Motion by Sam and seconded by Ray to approve the raise for Leslie Wilson from $9.26 to $9.68
per hour. Motion carried unanimously.
 Promoting Leslie to lead bartender was discussed with no action taken.

 LMC leadership conference information was reviewed with no action taken.
 Annual landowner meeting notice from Sno Gophers was presented to the council.
Information from adjuster on insurance claim was reviewed. Motion by Warren and seconded by
Tom to accept the 35,000 watt generator to replace the 15,000 watt and to pay the extra $1,500
for it. Motion carried unanimously.
 A quote from Cloquet Sanitary for supplying city dumpsters. The city will save $150.00 per month
if they switch. Council approved to switch to Cloquet Sanitary without the cardboard bin listed in
the quote.
 A request for support from the Shrine Circus was reviewed and denied.
 Discussion on plowing Lake Hill Drive. In the interest of public safety as we have fire dept and
ambulance personnel on the street, the city discussed having the county plow Lake Hill Drive and
charge to the City. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Warren Peters to pay for the county to
plow Lake Hill Drive. Motion carried unanimously.
Fire Dept./Ambulance:
 Discussion on Fire Department personnel.
 Motion by Ray and seconded by Lisa to approve Steve Bridge as Fire Chief. Motion carried
unanimously.

Discussion on the fire district process and plans. The Fire Department is creating a taxing district which will include the Wright fire department and the Cromwell Fire Department.

Taxes are not expected to go up much, but some areas in the district will go up as they currently pay less than their share of the fire protection.

Trustee’s Notes:
 Lisa: none
 Ray: none
 Warren: none
 Tom: none
Clerk/Treasurer:
 November Receipts were reviewed
 November disbursements were reviewed
 Claims list for approval totaled $42,343.78
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund approve the November unpaid claims
for payment. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor’s Notes:

Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Lisa Lund and seconded by Tom Borglund.

Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, MN
Regular Council Meeting
June 22 2011
7:00pm
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, June 22,
2011 at 7:00pm at the Cromwell Park Pavilion
Present: Mayor Clark, Council Members: Ray Lally, Lisa Lund, Warren Peters
Absent: Tom Borglund (unexcused)
Others Present: Craig harp, Christy Eliason, Linda Glisson, Hugh Heinecke, Leah Tiili-Anderson.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Mayor Cark
Additions to Agenda:
 Christy Eliason to talk about Zumba classes at the pavilion
 Discussion on gravel on the Dahl Rd.
 Leah Tiili-Anderson to talk about volleyball at the pavilion park.
 2010 finalized audit discussion – Hugh Heinecke
Minutes: Motion to accept May meeting minutes with stated corrections by Lisa Lund and
seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried unanimously
Liquor Store:
 Music and entertainment for month of July is Dennis Ceiluch on July 2nd, and Dean Nyberg on
July 23rd. Golf Tourney is on July 23rd.
 Discussion on back door of bar. Scott will seek estimates on fixing the bar, Clinic, and
pavilion slabs.
 Sales for May were $40,958.57, 3.6% below May 2010.
 Pull tab rent received was $352.20
 Discussion on yellow page advertising, council decided not to advertise in yellow pages.
 Discussion on Pearl Schulte resignation
Warren mention that he was working on the new POS system.
Water/Sewer/maintenance:
Discussion on the bank picnic. Council decided that Tom should help as it is a benefit to the whole community.
Discussion on sewer ponds. The ponds were being maintained at too high a water level and were drained in June to bring them down to the proper level. The Phosphurous levels were well within prameters.
Discussion on the grant for well sealing. Work cannot be done during the State shutdown or we will not be reimbursed by the Dept. of Health.
Discussion on use of city-owned equipment. The use of city-owned equipment should be controlled by a rental policy and a deposit. The cost of replacing the equipment should not fall solely on the residents of the city when the majority of the use is by non-residents. Scott was instructed to find rental prices from the area and bring to next meeting.
Parks and Rec / Pavilion
 The pavilion calendar was reviewed by all
 Discussion on Zumba classes at the pavilion. Christy Eliason will begin holding Zumba
classes at the pavilion and asked for the use of the building to be free. The city agreed that
community fitness is a good thing and agreed to the free use of the building as long as
Christy offered a free class each month.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Warren Peters to allow the free use of the pavilion for
Zumba classes as long as one free class was offered each month. Motion Carried
unanimously.
 Discussion on a third volleyball court at the pavilion park. Leah Tiili-Anderson asked the
council to build a third volleyball court at the park. She stated that the league is growing and
the two courts are no longer sufficient. Many of there evenings go right up to dark with just
two courts. She also stated that the league give citizens something else to do to stay fit and
it brings business into the community. No action was taken on the request at this time.
General City/Housing/Highway
Discussion on Lally Rd. The council discussed the possibility of taking over Lally Rd and/or paying for the repairs done this spring. The discussion ensued due to the poor condition of the road this spring. The traffic on the road is more than what the private owners originally intended due to the new homes built in the Water’s Edge and Riverview Meadows additions.
The council agreed that the heavy traffic is increased and that the citizens in the additions
would not have access to their property without Lally Road, since Cal Jacobson has not
completed his access road to highway 73. The council agreed to pay $2,065.00 for the
repairs done this spring and will continue the discussions on taking over the road in the
future.
 Discussion on Tom Johnson’s upcoming Raise. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Warren
Peters to approve Tom’s raise from $1644 to $16.85 per hour.
 Discussion on gravel on Dahl Rd. The county will haul and spread the gravel for $4400.00.
The only other estimate we have is $10.00 per yard for the gravel which is higher than the
county price. The County is not willing to bid out for their half of Dahl Rd. Motion by Ray
Lally and seconded by Warren Peters to go with the County for the graveling of the road.
Motion carried unanimously.
Trustee’s Notes:
 Lisa: Lisa asked why the banners were not up yet and asked that they be up before
the all school reunion.
 Ray: none
 Warren: Warren asked permission to put flags (at his own expense) up on the
light poles in town for the month of July. Permission was granted by the council.
 Tom: none
Clerk/Treasurer: (p.19-30)
 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed by the council.
 Receipts totaled $50, 994.00
 Disbursements totaled $70,424.92
 Claims List for Approval totaled $55,953.31
Mayor’s Notes:

Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Warren Peters
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
March 23 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
March 23, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
Present: Mayor Clark, Council Members: Ray Lally, Lisa Lund, Jerry Graham
Excused: Nancy Graham
Others present: Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager; John Mattonen, RLK Engineering; Pat
Oman, Carlton County Economic Development; Charles M. Peterson, Cromwell Fire and
Ambulance.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Clark at 7pm.
Additions to agenda:
 Pat Oman to talk about Carlton County programs to help the cities in the county.

 Paul Lampi’s scheduled raise will be discussed under liquor store business

 Liquor license training for city clerks to be discussed under clerks notes.
 Motion to approve additions to agenda by Ray Lally and seconded by Jerry Graham.
Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes: Motion to accept February minutes by Ray Lally and seconded by Jerry Graham..
Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC AGENDA:
 Pat Oman discussed many programs the Carlton County offers to help small
communities, businesses and individuals throughout the county including economic
assistance, loan programs, grant writing, improvement and infrastructure grants and
loans, tourism assistance and grant programs, and more.
 The city and the Fire department discussed some goals for future growth and
improvements including purchase of vehicles for fire and rescue, building expansion,
ambulance on-call program, safety signage, and school zone creation.

LIQUOR STORE:
Paul Lampi reported for the liquor store. Paul asked for clarification on an advertising budget. There was discussion on the matter and it was decided that Paul would use his best judgment for advertising and run his ideas past the Mayor. The council will review on a monthly basis with the claims and become more involved if needed.  There was discussion on the rust on the barstools and general cleanliness of the liquor store, including dusting the shelves and bottles. Paul said he is working on an accountability checklist for the bartenders regarding duties and expectations. Scott mentioned that he is looking into the warranty on the barstools for the rusted footrests.

Paul and Mayor Clark attended a “boot camp” for municipal liquor stores. The biggest change from the meetings is we will be removing sales tax from the posted pricing and add it in separately at the point of sale. This will show the customer that our pricing similar to other stores in the area who have the same policy.

Paul is working on getting a glass counter for the off-sale area so customers can see the lower shelf items better.

Paul has a new wine distributor he wants to try out and asked the councils permission to apply for the account with them.

Entertainment at the liquor store coming up is Double Dose on 3/26, Dennis Cielich 4/2 for the alumni tourney, and 2 Dug Nite on 4/9. Paul is looking into another nite later in the month.

There was a request for the bar to have a band on July 2nd during the all school reunion. Paul said it was not a good time to have a band at the bar because they would take up too much space during a very busy day. Jerry Graham said the Harvest Fest committee may be willing to put on a dance at the pavilion.

Carol Anderson’s resignation was reviewed by the council. Paul mentioned that he was looking for a cleaner and a bartender. The council agreed that he could hire someone prior to the next meeting and the council would approve or disapprove at the next meeting.

There was discussion on liquor store policy handout. Changes in wording were discussed regarding dress code, cash control and closing. Bar will remain open until the scheduled closing time whether or not customers are present unless there is a safety concerned such as severe weather. Bartenders are allowed to wear shorts and are not allowed to wear open-toed shoes.

There was discussion on a new POS system and a video system for the liquor store.   Motion by Jerry Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to approve purchase of new POS system. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Lisa Lund to purchase a video system for liquor store and have it installed with the assistance of Warren Peters. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Lisa Lund to approve Paul Lampi’s raise from $13.75 to $14.80 per hour in accordance with our pay equity step structure. Motion carried unanimously.

WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 There was discussion on a new requirement for a subsurface permit for the city storm
water runoff.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Lisa Lund to purchase a pallet of pothole patch
and have it delivered at a cost of $656.89. Motion carried unanimously.
 John Mattonen went over the project status report. Items discussed were: Water looping
project, western sewer line replacement, school speed zone, welcome to Cromwell
entrance signs, possible grant funding for other projects.
 There was discussion on water leak in hydrant near city hall.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Lisa Lund to purchase a pallet of pothole patch
and have it delivered from Menards. Motion carried unanimously.
 There was discussion on whether employees can use the pavilion for free. The council
decided to have everyone pay for the use, whether employee or not.
 There was discussion on some projects for the 4H kids to do for community service
hours. Jerry Graham asked if they would like to serve ice cream at the Harvest Festival
and steak fries.
 Jerry Graham asked if we could get some estimates on lawn mowing or possibly buy a
wider lawn mower to save money on mowing.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 Jerry Graham brought in the numbers for the 2010 Harvest Festival. The Festival made a
profit of $3,955.93 including the two steak fries. Current account balance is $5,332.92.
 There was discussion on some projects for the 4H kids to do for community service
hours. Jerry Graham asked if they would like to serve ice cream at the Harvest Festival
and steak fries.
 Pavilion calendar for March-May was reviewed by the council.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 A donation to the Tri-Community Food Shelf for their March food drive was discussed.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Jerry Graham to donate $100 to the Tri
Community Food Shelf. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion on the city seeking a grant for putting up fire number/address signs on all
property within city limits.
Fire Department:
 There was discussion on some of the needs of the fire department and future plans with
assistant fire chief and training officer Mike Peterson.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none.
Lisa: Lisa asked about Bethany Lutheran Church paying for water when it is not available
to them. Scott said he would check into it. Lisa asked about a request for the saddle club to
use the warming shack to serve food during their events. The council thought it was a good
idea and we should clean out the building so it would be usable.
Ray: none.
Jerry: none.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 RFP’s for city Auditor were opened and discussed.
1. Eikill & Schilling $8,750
2. Hugh Heinecke $7,700
3. ABDO,Eick,Meyers $10,973
4. Bonniwell $9,600
 Motion by Jerry Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to use Hugh Heinecke for city audit.
Motion carried unanimously.
 Debt payment schedule for 2011 was reviewed by the council.
Scott asked for permission to attend a Liquor license training put on by the state of Minnesota in Grand Rapids on April 28th.
Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Jerry Graham for Scott to attend the training.
 Receipts for February 2011 totaled $44,871.98.
 Disbursements for February 2011 totaled $53,906.34
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Jerry Graham to approve claims totaling
$25,232.83 for payment. Motion carried unanimously.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Sam said we should get rid of the pop machine in the pavilion as it has not worked right
for a long time. Council agreed. It will be put it on Craig’s List to see if we can sell it.
 Sam asked if Scott get any response from other cities regarding being our backup W&S
licensed person. Scott mention he received 1 negative response and no others.
 Sam mentioned we were having problems with the city cell phone bill due to issues with
the plan and overages. The phone was cancelled due to the issues and there was
discussion on whether or not to get a new plan. Scott said we should offer the $30.00 that
we would pay for the phone to Tom for his personal bill so the city doesn’t have to pay
for a separate plan. The council agreed.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Jerry Graham. Meeting
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
January 19 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
January 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
Present: Mayor Clark, Council Members: Nancy Graham, Lisa Lund, Jerry Graham
Excused: Ray Lally
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager; John
Mattonen, RLK Engineering; Tom Johnson, Maintenance; Dick & Elaine Huhta; John
Grones, Voyageur Press.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Clark at 7pm.
Additions to agenda: John Grones was present to address the council regarding advertising.
Mayor Clark added a discussion on Travis Peterson promotion toW&S/Maintenance
Assistant to the agenda under Water & Sewer section.
Minutes: Motion to approve December minutes by Nancy Graham and seconded by Lisa
Lund. Motion carried with three yea votes (Graham, Lund, Graham) and one Abstain (Clark).
LIQUOR STORE:

John Grones of Voyageur Press spoke about adverting for the year for the liquor store.
He thanked the City for all the support over the past twelve years. He said he put together a summary of the advertising we have done over the past few years and thought we could approve them up front at one meeting instead of needed to approve one at a time over the course of the year. Some options were discussed including regular advertising and an insert flyer. John mentioned that the city could put any type of event they wanted on the ads, it did not have to be only the liquor store advertising. The cost of the package would be $880.00 for the year for a monthly flyer or ad. John mentioned that the paper always does its best to cover our community and is happy to provide news coverage for the area on all our events. He expressed his appreciation for the business he gets from the area. Nancy Graham asked what we do now. Paul Lampi said it is currently hit and miss whether or not we advertise. Mayor Clark said he thought the council should vote on a budgeted advertising amount for the liquor store and let the manager decide how it is spent. Mayor Clark mentioned that he had asked on Facebook what people thought about where to get news and many of them “of Course” said “on Facebook”. Paul mentioned that The Jokimaki Band always post on their own Facebook page where they are playing.

 Paul Lampi reported for the liquor store.

Dennis Cieluch DJ’s on December 18th and Dean Nyberg DJ’d on December 31st. Both went well. January 15th we had Double Dose come in.

Paul had the beer distributor add additional taps to the beer to increase flow volume.

Laine Electric put in an outlet for the cooler fan.

Bernicks put in two new lighted information boards for the bar.

Paul thanked Tom Johnson and the maintenance dept. for the care of the parking lot and sidewalk for the bar.

The back door of the bar sticks when you open it because of heaving in the parking lot.

Paul asked that we try to find a solution before next winter.

The pump for the tap soda is making noise and Paul would like to have it fixed before it goes out. Paul said he would ask Bill (Miller Rep) to find out if they own it or we do.

Paul also mentioned that Mayor Clark offered to DJ once in a while for free to help boost the liquor store sales.

There will be cribbage on Jan 23rd.

 MMBA Boot camp coming up in February.

Paul would like an antenna on the bar so he can get MY9 for the local sports coverage.
Scott mentioned that an real good antennae is about $100.00

Paul mentioned that there has been talk about installing a security camera at the liquor store for security. He is worried that some people will not come in if a camera is on.

Scott said the system in the hardware store was about $600.00 and would work well for us. He also said we would not be viewing every minute of footage, but rather viewing it if there was cause to do so. The system would keep 30 days of video in memory. Scott said it would be a plus for our insurance company also and may reduce our insurance. Mayor Clark said we should have a very clear policy on the use of the footage if we install one and let the customers know that policy.

Mayor Clark asked permission to attend the MMBA boot camp with Paul. He thought it would be a very good opportunity to learn about the liquor operations. The additional cost would be $110 for the hotel room and $75 for the conference fee. Motion by Jerry
Graham and seconded by Nancy Graham to allow Mayor Clark to attend the MMBA conference in addition to Paul Lampi. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Clark asked if there were any questions on the liquor store sales numbers. Mayor
Clark asked about the juke box and pool paid out amounts for the year. When compared
to commissions it shows a negative balance. Scott explained that any “cash paid out”
goes into that category such as when Paul goes toWalmart or Sam’s Club and takes cash
paid out of the register to reimburse himself. Scott said he would change the title of the
account to “cash paid out” instead of “juke box/pool”.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/maintenance dept
 Tom mentioned Bill Scott who owns the “Glass Man“ building (old creamery) had called
him regarding the sewer line freezing. Bill believes that the city is partially responsible
for the line because it travels under the parking lot of the pavilion to the manhole more
than 200 feet from his building. Tom believes the spot that does freeze is very close to
our manhole.
 There was discussion on the subject. Tom has not plowed the snow by that manhole this
year to help prevent the freezing. According to city ordinance, the lateral line is the
responsibility of the property owner. The property owner hired a contractor to install the
line, and therefore it was not the decision of the City to run the line to the manhole
instead of putting in a lift station to run it deeper under ground to a different one. Nancy
Graham said the contractor should have insulated the line when it was installed. The
council said they would allow Bill to dig up what was necessary to insulate the line as
long as he returns the ground/pavement to its original condition when the digging is done.
The city clerk was instructed to send a letter to that effect to the Bill Scott as well as a
copy of the city ordinance.
 Tom had Hawkins out to fix a pump in the well house for the Fluoride.
 The water in the city has been brown on and off for a few weeks. Tom explained that the
tower is kept half full in the winter. The color comes from the water freezing to the side
of the tank and, when the sun hits it, the ice melts and splashes into the tank to stir up the
water. The color is from manganese oxidizing in the ice in the tank.
 Tom mentioned that we have been paid for the hydrant repair at the villa so there is no
reason for us to go to court over it.
 Mayor Clark mentioned that Tom Johnson had come to him about high water readings in
town. Tom had narrowed the leak to three houses in town that were empty. Two were
ruled out and Sam was able to check on the other and found the leak. The water was shut
off to the house and is no longer leaking. The home is in the process of foreclosure.
Scott said he had checked into the mortgage company about the problem and was told
that the marketing company, once they were ready to put it on the market, would clean up
the property, pay all past due charges and clean up the title as part of the sale process.
 Nancy asked about removing the piles of snow along highways 210 and 73. Since we
will get reimbursed by the state, she said it is getting dangerous for people pulling onto
the roadways and for the pedestrians. Tom was instructed to have the snow removed
throughout the city and to bill MNDOT for the cost of everything along the two state
highways.
 John Mattonen, city engineer, spoke regarding current activities on the proposed school
zone and continued work to fund the loop project.
 Jerry Graham about the Lally road project highway 210 access. John explained that the
developer of riverside estates is required to create access to highway 210 as part of the
project. This has not been done and the only access to the area is Lally Road which is a
private road. The city had previously decided that no more building permits could be
given for the area without the access being completed.
 Mayor Clark asked if the loop project was the best project for the city to be working on,
when it does not add any hook-ups for the system. John explained that the idea of the
loop project was to have additional access to water by the city if something were to
happen to the water main. If something happened to the line between the wells and the
tower, it would still provide an alternate route for the water to supply the tower and the
city. With no new customers being added, it is difficult to justify the use of public funds
for the project. The council thought maybe there would be a different route to bring the
line that would add customers to offset the cost. The council thought there may be a
better chance of gaining grant funding for a project along the lakeshore since it would
eliminate some wells along the shore, which is a goal of many state funded programs.
We could further help our funding chances if we ran sewer along with it to eliminate
rivate sewers in the area.
The council discussed the possibility of allowing water and sewer customers paying there
bill at the bank. Jerry Graham asked the clerk if it would be easier for him to process the
payments if this accrued. Scott said it would add a small amount of work for him to track
the individual payments, but not much. He thought it was a way we could provide our
customers with a convenience without it costing the city much of anything. After
discussion on the subject, the council decided would not outweigh the cost to the city and
the extra effort of the bank. If we find out that there is a lot of interest we can revisit it at
a later date.
 There was discussion on promoting Travis Peterson to Assistant W&S/Maintenance
manager. Nancy thought if we are going to have an assistant it should be someone who is
qualified to step up to manager if needed. Jerry Graham thought it should be someone
who is going to be here for a long time and since Travis is going to college, he is likely to
leave soon after he graduates. Nancy questioned the need to have an assistant. Mayor
Clark thought we should have someone who can fill in in case of emergency and to cover
any sick or vacation time of the manager. Sam called for a vote to approve Travis’
promotion to assistant manager. Being no motion, the promotion is therefore denied.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The pavilion calendar was reviewed by the council.
 Jerry Graham asked what the rental price of the pavilion was. Scott briefly explained the
pricing. Mayor Clark said we would be reviewing the pavilion policies at a later time.
 A donation from the Y.O.T. of $1000.00 to the city, $50.00 to the Fire Dept. and $50.00
to the ambulance dept. was discussed. Motion by Jerry Graham and seconded by Nancy
Graham to accept the donation. Motion carried unanimously.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:

An anonymous citizen complaint regarding council makeup (having a married couple on the council) was reviewed. The legality of the subject was discussed and, being it is legal under the State constitution, the city decided not to change anything at this time (Nancy Graham stated that we do not have the authority to change the state constitution).

 Some training opportunities and funding information was reviewed by the council.
 The annual appointments were reviewed by the council with the following results.
1. Health Official = Dr. Shawn Bode
2. Health Inspector = Ray Lally, Nancy Graham
3. Weed Inspector = Mayor Clark (required)
4. Civil Defense = Ray Lally, Scott Warner, Mayor Clark
5. Register Control = Nancy Graham, Scott Warner
6. Depository = Northview Bank and Lake State Federal Credit Union
7. Legal Newspaper = Voyageur Press
8. Law Firm = Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, & Pritchett
9. Program Liaison/Census Bureau = Jerry Graham, Scott Warner
10. IT Manager = Mayor Clark
11. Acting Mayor = Ray Lally
12. Engineer = RLK Kuuisisto
13. Cromwell Area Development Chairperson = Nancy Graham
Motion by Jerry Graham and seconded by Nancy Graham to approve the annual
appointments as discussed. Motion carried unanimously.
The employee handbook was discussed. Previous changes were reviewed and more
discussed. Some wording corrections on the dangerous weapon policy were reviewed.
Fire Department:
 A resolution to approve Steve Bridge as the fire chief was discussed. Motion by Nancy
Graham and seconded by Lisa Lund to approve Steve Bridge as the fire chief. Motion
carried unanimously.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none.
Lisa: none.
Ray: none.
Jerry: none.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Scott passed out a breakdown of the overtime paid out for 2010 totaling gross pay of
$3,417.94.
 Scott requested permission to attend the annual MCFOA (MN Clerks and finance
officers) conference in March and supplied the council with the agenda for review.
 Motion by Jerry Graham and seconded by Lisa Lund to allow the attendance. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Scott asked Frank Yetka what the meeting requirement was for the Economic
development corp. Frank indicated that we should hold one meeting per year and record
the minutes as proof of the meeting.
 2nd half levy receipt was reviewed by the council. Nancy Graham asked if she could get a
copy of the TIF agreement for review. Scott asked her to come to the office and look at
the file so we could only copy what was necessary instead of the whole file. She agreed
that would be fine.
 The meeting schedule for 2011 was reviewed by the council. Lisa Lund asked if the day
could be change because she had a conflicting meeting on the same day each month and
the School Board also meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Motion by Lisa Lund
and seconded by Nancy Graham to move the regular council meeting to the fourth
Wednesday of the month at 7pm with the exception of November meeting which will be
November 9th at 7pm (second Wednesday) 2011. Motion carried unanimously.
 Scott provided the council with a new treasurer’s report with a correction. He also
mentioned that the YTD numbers are un-audited and may change slightly. He also
explained that the fire department showed a loss of 25,121.06 but was still in the black
due to funds carried over from previous years.
 Mayor Clark asked for clarification on the payment of 37 hours of work to Dick Huhta in
December. Scott explained that it was the pay check for the month of December. Sam
saw no basis for such pay and called for a line item vote on the item. Being no motion
for approval of the item, it is considered not approved. Other items discussed included
the MRWA conference attendance, the purchase of a plaque and watch for exiting
council members Lippo and Huhta (it was explained that all but $17 came from YOT, DR
Bode, and Dr. Benzie), Berkadia (a bond payment), a $275 payment to some of the fire
dept. volunteers ( a reimbursement from State of MN to training for EMT’s), Wanda
Shiflett $627 (contracted payment + some additional hours worked).
 Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Jerry Graham to approve disbursements
excluding the check to Dick Huhta. Motion carried unanimously.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 There was discussion on Council pay and attendance. Mayor Clark said that the only
reason a council member should be excused and paid for a meeting they do not attend is
for a scheduled vacation or illness. He also mentioned that the council pay should be
reviewed each year and that any pay changes would not take affect until after the
following election cycle.
 Discussion on the pavilion policies included: clubs signing an agreement and have
consequences for failure to clean up after their meetings; the amount of money paid for
cleaning, the amount of money paid for supplies, allowing groups to use for free could be
considered a gift from the city, cost and rental price. The council appointed Mayor Clark,
jerry Graham and Scott Warner to review the policies and bring a recommendation to the
next meeting for review by the entire council.
 Mayor Clark asked if the city Attorney, Engineer, Tom Johnson or Paul Lampi should be
required to attend the meetings. The council agreed that they did not need to attend every
months meeting and could give the clerk a report to put into the agenda and the council
would decide if they needed to attend to explain anything in the report. The council
further asked that the clerk have the agenda to them by the Friday before the meeting so
they would have time to review the items and make decisions on needs before hand.
Scott agreed that would work. If he has all necessary materials ten days before the
meeting he could have everything on the agenda by the Friday before.

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Lisa Lund and seconded by Nancy Graham. Meeting
adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
January 19 2010 [2011]
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
January 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
Present: Mayor Clark, Council Members: Nancy Graham, Lisa Lund, Jerry Graham
Excused: Ray Lally
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager; John
Mattonen, RLK Engineering; Tom Johnson, Maintenance; Dick & Elaine Huhta; John
Grones, Voyageur Press.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Clark at 7pm.
Additions to agenda: John Grones was present to address the council regarding advertising.
Mayor Clark added a discussion on Travis Peterson promotion toW&S/Maintenance
Assistant to the agenda under Water & Sewer section.
Minutes: Motion to approve December minutes by Nancy Graham and seconded by Lisa
Lund. Motion carried with three yea votes (Graham, Lund, Graham) and one Abstain (Clark).
LIQUOR STORE:
 John Grones of Voyageur Press spoke about adverting for the year for the liquor store.
He thanked the City for all the support over the past twelve years. He said he put
together a summary of the advertising we have done over the past few years and thought
we could approve them up front at one meeting instead of needed to approve one at a
time over the course of the year. Some options were discussed including regular
advertising and an insert flyer. John mentioned that the city could put any type of event
they wanted on the ads, it did not have to be only the liquor store advertising. The cost of
the package would be $880.00 for the year for a monthly flyer or ad. John mentioned
that the paper always does its best to cover our community and is happy to provide news
coverage for the area on all our events. He expressed his appreciation for the business he
gets from the area. Nancy Graham asked what we do now. Paul Lampi said it is
currently hit and miss whether or not we advertise. Mayor Clark said he thought the
council should vote on a budgeted advertising amount for the liquor store and let the
manager decide how it is spent. Mayor Clark mentioned that he had asked on Facebook
what people thought about where to get news and many of them “of Course” said “on
Facebook”. Paul mentioned that The Jokimaki Band always post on their own Facebook
page where they are playing.
 Paul Lampi reported for the liquor store.
 Dennis Cieluch DJ’s on December 18th and Dean Nyberg DJ’d on December 31st. Both
went well. January 15th we had Double Dose come in.
 Paul had the beer distributor add additional taps to the beer to increase flow volume.
 Laine Electric put in an outlet for the cooler fan.
 Bernicks put in two new lighted information boards for the bar.
 Paul thanked Tom Johnson and the maintenance dept. for the care of the parking lot and
sidewalk for the bar.
 The back door of the bar sticks when you open it because of heaving in the parking lot.
Paul asked that we try to find a solution before next winter.
 The pump for the tap soda is making noise and Paul would like to have it fixed before it
goes out. Paul said he would ask Bill (Miller Rep) to find out if they own it or we do.
 Paul also mentioned that Mayor Clark offered to DJ once in a while for free to help boost
the liquor store sales.
 There will be cribbage on Jan 23rd.
 MMBA Boot camp coming up in February.
 Paul would like an antenna on the bar so he can get MY9 for the local sports coverage.
Scott mentioned that an real good antennae is about $100.00
 Paul mentioned that there has been talk about installing a security camera at the liquor
store for security. He is worried that some people will not come in if a camera is on.
Scott said the system in the hardware store was about $600.00 and would work well for
us. He also said we would not be viewing every minute of footage, but rather viewing it
if there was cause to do so. The system would keep 30 days of video in memory. Scott
said it would be a plus for our insurance company also and may reduce our insurance.
Mayor Clark said we should have a very clear policy on the use of the footage if we
install one and let the customers know that policy.
 Mayor Clark asked permission to attend the MMBA boot camp with Paul. He thought it
would be a very good opportunity to learn about the liquor operations. The additional
cost would be $110 for the hotel room and $75 for the conference fee. Motion by Jerry
Graham and seconded by Nancy Graham to allow Mayor Clark to attend the MMBA
conference in addition to Paul Lampi. Motion carried unanimously.
 Mayor Clark asked if there were any questions on the liquor store sales numbers. Mayor
Clark asked about the juke box and pool paid out amounts for the year. When compared
to commissions it shows a negative balance. Scott explained that any “cash paid out”
goes into that category such as when Paul goes toWalmart or Sam’s Club and takes cash
paid out of the register to reimburse himself. Scott said he would change the title of the
account to “cash paid out” instead of “juke box/pool”.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/maintenance dept
 Tom mentioned Bill Scott who owns the “Glass Man“ building (old creamery) had called
him regarding the sewer line freezing. Bill believes that the city is partially responsible
for the line because it travels under the parking lot of the pavilion to the manhole more
than 200 feet from his building. Tom believes the spot that does freeze is very close to
our manhole.
 There was discussion on the subject. Tom has not plowed the snow by that manhole this
year to help prevent the freezing. According to city ordinance, the lateral line is the
responsibility of the property owner. The property owner hired a contractor to install the
line, and therefore it was not the decision of the City to run the line to the manhole
instead of putting in a lift station to run it deeper under ground to a different one. Nancy
Graham said the contractor should have insulated the line when it was installed. The
council said they would allow Bill to dig up what was necessary to insulate the line as
long as he returns the ground/pavement to its original condition when the digging is done.
The city clerk was instructed to send a letter to that effect to the Bill Scott as well as a
copy of the city ordinance.
 Tom had Hawkins out to fix a pump in the well house for the Fluoride.
 The water in the city has been brown on and off for a few weeks. Tom explained that the
tower is kept half full in the winter. The color comes from the water freezing to the side
of the tank and, when the sun hits it, the ice melts and splashes into the tank to stir up the
water. The color is from manganese oxidizing in the ice in the tank.
 Tom mentioned that we have been paid for the hydrant repair at the villa so there is no
reason for us to go to court over it.
 Mayor Clark mentioned that Tom Johnson had come to him about high water readings in
town. Tom had narrowed the leak to three houses in town that were empty. Two were
ruled out and Sam was able to check on the other and found the leak. The water was shut
off to the house and is no longer leaking. The home is in the process of foreclosure.
Scott said he had checked into the mortgage company about the problem and was told
that the marketing company, once they were ready to put it on the market, would clean up
the property, pay all past due charges and clean up the title as part of the sale process.
 Nancy asked about removing the piles of snow along highways 210 and 73. Since we
will get reimbursed by the state, she said it is getting dangerous for people pulling onto
the roadways and for the pedestrians. Tom was instructed to have the snow removed
throughout the city and to bill MNDOT for the cost of everything along the two state
highways.
 John Mattonen, city engineer, spoke regarding current activities on the proposed school
zone and continued work to fund the loop project.
 Jerry Graham about the Lally road project highway 210 access. John explained that the
developer of riverside estates is required to create access to highway 210 as part of the
project. This has not been done and the only access to the area is Lally Road which is a
private road. The city had previously decided that no more building permits could be
given for the area without the access being completed.
 Mayor Clark asked if the loop project was the best project for the city to be working on,
when it does not add any hook-ups for the system. John explained that the idea of the
loop project was to have additional access to water by the city if something were to
happen to the water main. If something happened to the line between the wells and the
tower, it would still provide an alternate route for the water to supply the tower and the
city. With no new customers being added, it is difficult to justify the use of public funds
for the project. The council thought maybe there would be a different route to bring the
line that would add customers to offset the cost. The council thought there may be a
better chance of gaining grant funding for a project along the lakeshore since it would
eliminate some wells along the shore, which is a goal of many state funded programs.
We could further help our funding chances if we ran sewer along with it to eliminate
private sewers in the area.
 The council discussed the possibility of allowing water and sewer customers paying there
bill at the bank. Jerry Graham asked the clerk if it would be easier for him to process the
payments if this accrued. Scott said it would add a small amount of work for him to track
the individual payments, but not much. He thought it was a way we could provide our
customers with a convenience without it costing the city much of anything. After
discussion on the subject, the council decided would not outweigh the cost to the city and
the extra effort of the bank. If we find out that there is a lot of interest we can revisit it at
a later date.
 There was discussion on promoting Travis Peterson to Assistant W&S/Maintenance
manager. Nancy thought if we are going to have an assistant it should be someone who is
qualified to step up to manager if needed. Jerry Graham thought it should be someone
who is going to be here for a long time and since Travis is going to college, he is likely to
leave soon after he graduates. Nancy questioned the need to have an assistant. Mayor
Clark thought we should have someone who can fill in in case of emergency and to cover
any sick or vacation time of the manager. Sam called for a vote to approve Travis’
promotion to assistant manager. Being no motion, the promotion is therefore denied.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The pavilion calendar was reviewed by the council.
 Jerry Graham asked what the rental price of the pavilion was. Scott briefly explained the
pricing. Mayor Clark said we would be reviewing the pavilion policies at a later time.
 A donation from the Y.O.T. of $1000.00 to the city, $50.00 to the Fire Dept. and $50.00
to the ambulance dept. was discussed. Motion by Jerry Graham and seconded by Nancy
Graham to accept the donation. Motion carried unanimously.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 An anonymous citizen complaint regarding council makeup (having a married couple on
the council) was reviewed. The legality of the subject was discussed and, being it is legal
under the State constitution, the city decided not to change anything at this time (Nancy
Graham stated that we do not have the authority to change the state constitution).
 Some training opportunities and funding information was reviewed by the council.
 The annual appointments were reviewed by the council with the following results.
1. Health Official = Dr. Shawn Bode
2. Health Inspector = Ray Lally, Nancy Graham
3. Weed Inspector = Mayor Clark (required)
4. Civil Defense = Ray Lally, Scott Warner, Mayor Clark
5. Register Control = Nancy Graham, Scott Warner
6. Depository = Northview Bank and Lake State Federal Credit Union
7. Legal Newspaper = Voyageur Press
8. Law Firm = Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, & Pritchett
9. Program Liaison/Census Bureau = Jerry Graham, Scott Warner
10. IT Manager = Mayor Clark
11. Acting Mayor = Ray Lally
12. Engineer = RLK Kuuisisto
13. Cromwell Area Development Chairperson = Nancy Graham
Motion by Jerry Graham and seconded by Nancy Graham to approve the annual
appointments as discussed. Motion carried unanimously.
The employee handbook was discussed. Previous changes were reviewed and more
discussed. Some wording corrections on the dangerous weapon policy were reviewed.
Fire Department:
 A resolution to approve Steve Bridge as the fire chief was discussed. Motion by Nancy
Graham and seconded by Lisa Lund to approve Steve Bridge as the fire chief. Motion
carried unanimously.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none.
Lisa: none.
Ray: none.
Jerry: none.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Scott passed out a breakdown of the overtime paid out for 2010 totaling gross pay of
$3,417.94.
 Scott requested permission to attend the annual MCFOA (MN Clerks and finance
officers) conference in March and supplied the council with the agenda for review.
 Motion by Jerry Graham and seconded by Lisa Lund to allow the attendance. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Scott asked Frank Yetka what the meeting requirement was for the Economic
development corp. Frank indicated that we should hold one meeting per year and record
the minutes as proof of the meeting.
 2nd half levy receipt was reviewed by the council. Nancy Graham asked if she could get a
copy of the TIF agreement for review. Scott asked her to come to the office and look at
the file so we could only copy what was necessary instead of the whole file. She agreed
that would be fine.
 The meeting schedule for 2011 was reviewed by the council. Lisa Lund asked if the day
could be change because she had a conflicting meeting on the same day each month and
the School Board also meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Motion by Lisa Lund
and seconded by Nancy Graham to move the regular council meeting to the fourth
Wednesday of the month at 7pm with the exception of November meeting which will be
November 9th at 7pm (second Wednesday) 2011. Motion carried unanimously.
 Scott provided the council with a new treasurer’s report with a correction. He also
mentioned that the YTD numbers are un-audited and may change slightly. He also
explained that the fire department showed a loss of 25,121.06 but was still in the black
due to funds carried over from previous years.
 Mayor Clark asked for clarification on the payment of 37 hours of work to Dick Huhta in
December. Scott explained that it was the pay check for the month of December. Sam
saw no basis for such pay and called for a line item vote on the item. Being no motion
for approval of the item, it is considered not approved. Other items discussed included
the MRWA conference attendance, the purchase of a plaque and watch for exiting
council members Lippo and Huhta (it was explained that all but $17 came from YOT, DR
Bode, and Dr. Benzie), Berkadia (a bond payment), a $275 payment to some of the fire
dept. volunteers ( a reimbursement from State of MN to training for EMT’s), Wanda
Shiflett $627 (contracted payment + some additional hours worked).
 Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Jerry Graham to approve disbursements
excluding the check to Dick Huhta. Motion carried unanimously.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 There was discussion on Council pay and attendance. Mayor Clark said that the only
reason a council member should be excused and paid for a meeting they do not attend is
for a scheduled vacation or illness. He also mentioned that the council pay should be
reviewed each year and that any pay changes would not take affect until after the
following election cycle.
 Discussion on the pavilion policies included: clubs signing an agreement and have
consequences for failure to clean up after their meetings; the amount of money paid for
cleaning, the amount of money paid for supplies, allowing groups to use for free could be
considered a gift from the city, cost and rental price. The council appointed Mayor Clark,
jerry Graham and Scott Warner to review the policies and bring a recommendation to the
next meeting for review by the entire council.
 Mayor Clark asked if the city Attorney, Engineer, Tom Johnson or Paul Lampi should be
required to attend the meetings. The council agreed that they did not need to attend every
months meeting and could give the clerk a report to put into the agenda and the council
would decide if they needed to attend to explain anything in the report. The council
further asked that the clerk have the agenda to them by the Friday before the meeting so
they would have time to review the items and make decisions on needs before hand.
Scott agreed that would work. If he has all necessary materials ten days before the
meeting he could have everything on the agenda by the Friday before.

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Lisa Lund and seconded by Nancy Graham. Meeting
adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Special Council Meeting
January 10 2011
6:00 p.m.
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Monday, January
10, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Roll Call: Mayor Clark, Council Members: Ray Lally, Nancy Graham, Lisa Lund and
Jerry Graham
Absent: none:
Others present: Carol Peterson, Dick Huhta, Harvey Ukura, Craig Harp, Margi Harp,
Gerald Letty, Jeannie Weimer, Dawn Lippo & B.J. Wilson (Cardinal Quilters), Brittany
Raveill (Voyageur Press)
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Clark at 6pm.
Roll call was taken
Mayor Clark called for an agenda.
Nancy Graham stated that the meeting was called to discuss and establish the policies and
procedures for the City.
In the discussion of a priority list for the meeting Mayor Clark asked if it would be easier to
look at the policy handbook that was started in 2010 and reviewed by the City Attorney and
said it should help cover a lot of the points to be discussed.
Mayor Clark asked if anyone present had any particular issue they wanted discussed.
Dawn Lippo asked if the Cardinal Quilters would still be able to use the pavilion free of
charge or if that would change. The Council saw no reason that that would change, but stated
the pavilion policies would be reviewed at a later date and would not be part of this meeting.
There was discussion of the pavilion use. Nancy Graham stated the pavilion does not pay for
itself and costs the taxpayers money to run. Craig Harp said maybe we should promote it
more to draw in more business.
Dick Huhta said he thought the council should be included in the policies and should have assigned roles. Mayor Clark stated that, although some things may be discussed tonight, the roles of the council members will be a part of the regular January meeting agenda when we go through the annual appointments. Nancy Graham stated that the policies of the city should apply to the council members as well as the employees. Mayor Clark said the employee policies did not apply to the council. Nancy Graham said the code of conduct would apply to the councilors.
Craig Harp asked why it was necessary to hold a special meeting to go over the policies when
the regular meeting was only nine days away. He thought, since the council would get paid
for the special meeting, it was not necessary. Mayor Clark explained that the first meeting of
the year is very full with required items and would not leave much time for the policy
discussions. Ray Lally mentioned that the document was 48 pages long and could not be
covered at a regular meeting.
There was lengthy discussion on the dress code. The public worried that it was singling out
particular employees. Brittany Raveill explained to the council and public explained that the
dress code is necessary to limit liability of the city for injury caused by inappropriate
clothing. Nancy Graham further explained that the staff should wear clothing appropriate for
their position, the office people would dress differently than the Liquor store staff and the
Maintenance people would wear differently clothes also. There was discussion of purchasing
cover-alls for the maintenance personnel to help deter damage to personal clothing.
Margy Harp said that we should be careful what we call a procedure and what we call a
policy, as there is a legal difference between the two and it could hurt the city if an auditor
sees a procedure that is not being followed.
Nancy brought up some Liquor store policies that should be revisited and updated or
eliminated. Specifically the cash control policy. Mayor Clark stated that the Liquor store
being an operations-based business different from the general city should have a separate
policy handbook. The general policies would also apply to liquor store along with other
specific policies. The Council asked the clerk if the cash control policy was currently being
followed at the liquor store and he indicated that it was not. In order for it to be followed
properly, each bartender would need to have their own drawer, count it when they come in,
and count it again before they leave. This is not the way they are doing it right now.
Ray Lally mentioned the shift change policy regarding employees missing or changing shifts.
He thought it should be simplified so the employee know exactly who has to approve shift
changes. The purpose of the policy is to ensure all shifts are covered and to prevent overtime
due to employees swapping shifts.
Carol Peterson brought up the safety of an employee doing certain duties alone.
The wording of the paycheck policy was brought up regarding direct deposit. Scott indicated
that no employee currently has direct deposit. The checks are sealed in an envelope and
delivered to the department the employee works in. The council saw no reason that should
be changed unless an issue is brought up at a later date.
Scott brought up the city cell phone and asked what the council felt regarding it, since he had
to get the phone out of Dick Huhta’s name. Scott indicated that Verizon could put it on a
government plan for 39.99 per month. Motion by Jerry Graham and seconded by Ray Lally
to change the phone over to the new plan. Motion carried unanimously.
The council decided to pull out the job description information and have it as a separate
document for each job available as needed for new-hires or by request.
Jeanne Weimer asked about the city vehicle use policy. There was discussion on the subject.
The public was concerned whether the PW employee would be able to respond to an
emergency in a timely manner if he/she did not take the truck home each day. Jerry Graham
stated that responding to a fire/ambulance call not an official use of the city vehicle. Jeanne
worried about a sewer emergency in the middle of the night and whether the PW worker
could get there in a timely manner without the city vehicle at home. Nancy Graham
mentioned MS471.666 specifically mentions that a city owned vehicle cannot be used for
personal use. Mayor Clark mentioned that we should have a log book in the truck. Scott said
he would put it out on list serve to see what other cities do, and contact the city attorney
regarding the issue to get his opinion.
There was discussion on the overtime policy. Concern was expressed regarding the wording
“overtime must be approved in advance” and “subject to disciplinary action” in the policy.
There was discussion on the wording in the weapon policy regarding a weapon in the city
vehicle. The PW person is required to eliminate rodents (muskrats and such) in the sewer
ponds. Nancy said we should add the wording “except for a council approved purpose” to
the policy. Mayor Clark thought we should add the wording “the sewer & water maintenance
employee may possess a weapon for the purpose of pest control at his discretion”. The
council agreed with the wording.
Mayor Clark mentioned that there is a grievance procedure in the handbook. It was not
specifically discussed at the meeting.
There was discussion on appointing an employee liaison. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded
by Lisa Lund to appoint Mayor Clark as employee liaison. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Jerry Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to make discussed changes and talk to
the city attorney regarding the city vehicle use policy and bring to next meeting for further
discussion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Clark asked if there were any other policies that needed to be updated or discussed.
In summary, Mayor Clark stated we still needed to work on job descriptions, Pavilion use,
liquor store policy. He thought the job descriptions should be done next and everyone should
get a copy of their own job description.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by and seconded by. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
unApproved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
December 15 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
November 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Huhta, Council Members: Ray Lally, Nancy Graham, Phil Lippo, And
Tom Borglund
Absent: none:
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager; John
Mattonen, RLK Engineering; Harvey Ukura, TamarackWatershed; Craig Harp, Fire
Department; Roger Harp, Property Owner.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm.
Additions to agenda:
 None.
Minutes: Motion to approve November minutes by Lally and seconded by Lippo. Motion
carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Paul Lampi reported for the liquor store.
 There will be a D.J. at the bar on December 18th and 31st.
 A complaint form was reviewed by the council. Paul explained that the game that
was taken out of the bar was not making money and the wine the complaint was
about was on the shelf at the time of the complaint, so he is not sure why it was on
there. He further explained that there are drink specials during Vikings games, which
was also mentioned in the complaint. No action taken by the council.
 Motion by Lally and seconded by Lippo to send Paul to the MMBA boot camp at
Breezy Point on February 21st through 23rd if he wants to go.
 Dick asked what it would take to get “MY-9” channel 10-2 in the liquor store. Scott
mentioned that we would need to have an antennae hooked up to the televisions to get
that channel, as it is not available through satellite.
 Pull tab rent was reviewed by the council. The sales have been good in recent
months and Paul believes it is due to keeping better track of what games are in play.
 Motion by Lally and seconded by Graham to send in sponsorships of $30 for Moose
Lake Historical Society, throw out the complaint, $60 for the Shrine Circus, and $50
for Evergreen PAC. Motion carried unanimously.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Mayor Huhta reported for the W&S/maintenance dept.
 The tower is in good shape for the cold weather, the city is in general good shape and
everything is going well.
 John Mattonen presented a grant application for well sealing through the MN Dept.
of Health. Information from Carlton County for possible grants and loans for well
sealing was also reviewed.
 Motion by Lippo and seconded by Lally to send in the grant application for Mn Dept.
of Health.
 Information from USDA and from Villa Court was reviewed by the council, with no
action required. Scott mentioned that the Villa information was for the wellhead
protection file.
 A request for a letter of support for the MRWA was reviewed, Scott will be typing
one up and sending to them on behalf of the city.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The December - February pavilion schedule was reviewed.
 Grant information regarding the beach project was reviewed by the council.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Scott mentioned that a business owner asked if they could sponsor a banner for the
light poles in town. The council thought that was a good idea as long as the city
maintains control over the content of the banner.
 Carlton County Historical Society Newsletter was reviewed by the council.
Fire Department:
 There was discussion on the Fire Relief payout increase requested by the Relief
Association, carried over from October’s council meeting. Information from Hugh
Heinecke on the cost of raising the payout was reviewed and discussed.
 Motion by Lally and seconded by Lippo to allow a $100.00 per year of service raise
in the payout. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilor requests:
Nancy:
 none.
Phil: none.
Ray: none.
Tom:
 none.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Nancy asked if the Treasurer report could be submitted for the entire year so they
could see how the departments are doing. Scott will have that for the next meeting.
 Motion by Graham and seconded by Lippo to Add Sam Clark to the bank accounts
and removing Dick and Phil. Scott and Sam will be the required check signatures.
 Motion by graham to set the first regular council meeting of 2011 on the third
Wednesday of January, 01/19/2011 at 7pm at the park pavilion.
 Receipts for September 2010 totaled $57,871.79
 Disbursements for September 2010 totaled $80,969.37
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick asked if there was an update on the Harvest fest finances. Nancy said she could
have brought on if she had been asked earlier about it. She also mentioned that they
were still waiting for the invoice from the city for the shared expenses.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Borglund and seconded by Lippo. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
November 17 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
November 17, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Huhta, Council Members: Ray Lally, Nancy Graham, Phil Lippo, And
Tom Borglund
Absent: none:
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tom Johnson, W&S/Maintenance Manager;
Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager; Lisa Lund, Katy Cirilli.
The meeting was called to order by Councilor Lally at 7pm.
Additions to agenda:
 None.
Minutes: Motion to approve October minutes by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy
Graham. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion on annexation ordinance. Motion to approve annexation ordinance #2010.11.01
with stated changes by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham to accept the recount results of the
2010 general election. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Paul Lampi reported for the liquor store.
 Keystones played for deer hunting
 Rifles were raffled off. Carol Anderson won one and a fellow from Stacy, MN won
the other.
 Sunday cribbage will be November 28th.
 2 Doug Nite play Nov 20th. Double Dose will be playing Dec. 3rd. They were
recommended by some patrons.
 Looking for a New Years Eve band.
 Paul asked for permission to get a pocket calendar as a give away item for the bar for
the season. Nancy asked what we did previously and Scott said that we did key
chains 2 years ago and it was not as well taken as the calendars. Dick asked Mayor-
Elect Clark what he thought and he indicated he thought it was a good idea. Motion
byMayor Huhta and seconded by Phil Lippo to purchase 150 of the calendars at
approximately $350.00. Motion carried unanimously.
 Dick asked if Paul raises drink prices on nights with music. Paul indicated that he
has not done that. The council said he should be raising beer prices $0.25 and drink
prices $0.50 when we have music in the bar. This is to help pay for the band and is in
lieu of a cover charge.
 Paul asked about the schedule for Christmas and New Years. The bar will close at
4:00 on Christmas Eve, be closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day.
 Paul mentioned that he is double-checking the prices at other area bars to make sure
we are not out of line on our prices.
 Paul mentioned that one of the new bar stools had a broken weld and Tom Johnson
fixed it.
 A request for donation from Dollars for Scholars was presented. Motion by Huhta
and seconded by Borglund to give $100.00 this year. Motion carried unanimously.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/maintenance dept.
 The ponds have been drained; hydrants, pumps and tower are winterized. Beach
project is on hold until spring, but we will be getting 80% of our grant funds now and
the balance when the project is finished in the spring.
 Mike Peterson supplied us with the name of the person who did the actual cutting into
the water line and caused the damage to the hydrant by the Villa. We will continue
our suit against Jack Olson Construction as he is the contractor. He will be
responsible for trying to collect from his sub-contractor.
 The past due water and sewer accounts were presented to the council for certification
to property tax. Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Nancy Graham to certify all
past due accounts listed to the property tax.
 There was discussion on the abandoned wells in the Riverview Meadows
development. Frank Yetka had sent a letter to the property owner indicating that the
MN Dept. Health (MDH) has advised the city to seal the wells and that the city would
seek grant funding to minimize the cost to the property owner to help get them
sealed. John Mattonen indicated that he was waiting for the application cycle for
funding from the MDH for well sealing. The wells pose a specific threat to the
aquifer the city draws its water from. If they were to become contaminated, the
contamination could travel into the City’s wells within 3 years of the initial
contamination. Frank will send a follow-up letter to the property owner on the
subject.
 Following up on a complaint regarding fairness, Tom and Scott checked all the
properties with sewer and water accessibility and found two properties with potable
water that are not hooked up to the sewer. One is already being charged for the
service even though they are not hooked up. Scott will add the other property, which
has two separate cabins with potable water, to the sewer account list and start
charging for sewer service as per our sewer ordinance. We will need to follow up in
the spring and get them to hook into the city sewer as our ordinance requires.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The November – January pavilion schedule was reviewed. Scott indicated he added
the December 2nd ATV meeting to the official calendar in the Clerk’s Office.
 2011 Y.O.T. dance schedule was presented to the council. Motion by Ray Lally and
seconded by Nancy Graham to accept the 2011 YOT dance schedule. Motion carried
unanimously.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 John Mattonen spoke regarding the School Zone project. He has drawn up a School
zone map/plan and sent it to MNDOT. Crossing data was provided by the school and
pedestrian traffic numbers were estimated according to information from the school.
The greatest concern is the kids crossing 73 to go to the businesses in Cromwell, the
kids walking to and from school, the sports teams running along 73 and 210, and the
kids who walk along 210 to get to the church for confirmation and other groups.
There was discussion on parking along the highways during events and possible
solutions to traffic speed coming into the intersection of 210 & 73 from all directions
and the danger to pedestrians in the roadway. Tom Borglund mentioned that he
witnessed traffic coming in from the south that did not stop for the pedestrians
waiting to cross 73 east of the school (including a county sheriff vehicle). The goal
of the project is to slow traffic coming into the intersection and to have school zone
warning signs indicating 20 mph speed limit when children are present. This is an
ongoing project.
 John will also be watching for grants for one or more “your speed is” signs which
seem to help in other cities.
 An invitation to the middle mile project informational meeting was presented to the
council. Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Nancy Graham to send Mayor-
Elect Clark to the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
 A request by a lake lot owner to change the name of South Point road was discussed
by the council. Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally to leave the name
as is. Motion carried by 4 yea votes and one nay (Borglund).
 Information on the Glass Man building was presented to the council. Motion by Dick
and seconded by Phil to take no action on the Glass Man building. Motion carried
unanimously.
 An estimate for new banners for the light poles on Main Street was reviewed. Dick
indicated that there was $2000.00 left over from the grants and donations for the
tables and chairs in the pavilion and $500.00 from the sale of the air filters in the
liquor store that could be used for new banners. Scott mentioned that once the
brackets are on the poles, we could switch out banners for each season if we wanted
to. Motion by Huhta and seconded by Lippo to spend $2500.00 on banners and
brackets for the new light poles on Main Street (highway 210). Motion carried
unanimously.
 The final property tax levy was presented for approval. Scott indicated that he moved
as much into the General Fund as possible to help reduce the deficit in that fund.
Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Tom Borglund to accept the Levi as
presented. Motion carried with four yea votes and one abstain (Huhta).
Fire Department:
 Discussion on a request by the Fire Relief Association for a $400.00 raise per year of
service for the retirement payout. Ray thought it has been four years since the last
Motion by Huhta to approve the request. Graham asked to table the request until we
can gather more information. Second by Lippo pending verification by Hugh
Heinecke. Motion tabled until next meeting to allow for information to be gathered
to assess our liability.
 Scott and Ray will work with Hugh Heinecke to verify the cost of raising the
retirement amount for the Fire Relief Association.
Councilor requests:
Nancy:
 Nancy asked if we could send the three new council members to the LMS training for
newly elected officials. Motion by Lally and seconded by Huhta to send the newly
elected officials to the LMC training in Nisswa. Motion carried unanimously.
Phil: none.
Ray:
 none.
Tom:
 none.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Scott mentioned that Dick and Phil are currently on the signers for the checking
account and we will need to change that before January 1st.
 Scott also mentioned that the city cell phones are currently in Dick’s name and we
will need to change that also. The council will need to decide who should have a
phone and how to set up the account.
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for October 2010 totaled $49,653.99
 Disbursements for October 2010 totaled $36,480.88
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick congratulated Sam Clark on his election win and wished him good luck.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Lippo and seconded by Borglund. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
October 20 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
October 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Huhta, Council Members: Ray Lally, Nancy Graham, Phil Lippo, And
Tom Borglund
Absent: none:
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tom Johnson, W&S/Maintenance Manager;
Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager; Judy Koivisto, property owner, Lisa Lund, Council
Member Elect; Katie Sirisi, Voyageur Press.
The meeting was called to order by Councilor Lally at 7pm.
Additions to agenda:
 None.
Minutes: Motion to approve September minutes by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom
Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Paul Lampi reported for the liquor store.
 Paul mentioned that the pizza freezer is paid for with pizzas and ownership is now
turned over to Giovanni’s.
 Paul mentioned that the Confidence Learning center is raffling off a gun as well as
the Sno Gophers.
 Sunday cribbage starts in October.
 2 Dug Nite played on Oct 16th. They play good music at a very reasonable price.
 Keystones will play Nov. 5th and 6th for deer hunting.
 The liquor store contributed popcorn and supplies for the Chill-O-Ween party.
 Miller made us two hunting season banners.
 LMC seminar for liquor stores safety and OSHA compliance was at the pavilion.
Paul found out we should be checking fire extinguisher more often than we do and
we need to have a handicap parking space. There was discussion on the subject and it
was decided to make a space nearest the street up against the grocery store wall.
 Paul asked for a blind for the front window of the bar so people can’t seen in while he
is counting money at the counter there.
 A complaint regarding pricing was discussed, no changes will be made.
 No questions on sales, Scott mentioned that we are staying very close to last years
sales numbers. Motion to approve Liquor Store report by Phil Lippo and seconded
by Tom Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/maintenance dept.
 Tom mentioned that the playground is down and gone from the pavilion
 The ponds leek very good this year and Tom is currently draining them.
 The water tower level will be lowered next week to the sinter level. Tom will be
flushing the hydrants once the level is lowered and given a day or two to settle.
 The alley by Judy Koivisto has been ditched out and repaired for drainage.
 The hydrant anti-freeze will be put in over the next few weeks to get them set for
winter.
 The beach project will be started on Oct. 25th.
 Frank Yetka mentioned that he had sent Cal Jacobson a letter regarding the two
abandoned wells on his property. Scott mentioned that he had spoken to Cal
regarding the issue and Cal had stated that he wanted to use the wells in the future
and would not like them sealed. Scott also mentioned that there may be a solution to
the issue through the MN Dept. of Health.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to pursue a solution with the
Dept. of Health to get the wells capped. Motion carried unanimously.
 Water protection Plan grant information was presented to the council. John
mentioned that we may be able to use the grant to pay for sealing the wells on the
Jacobson property. He said he would look into it.

PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The October – December pavilion schedule was reviewed.
 The beach project will be started on Oct. 25th.
 The disbursements regarding the Harvest Fest were discussed. The Harvest Fest will
pay for the $140.00 advertising.
 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Tom Borglund to split the cost of the extra
dumpster and the extra toilets placed at the pavilion park. Motion carried
unanimously.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 There was discussion on proposed construction of a new house on N. Mingus rd. The
home-owner is having trouble getting the variance permit from the County. John
Mattonen reviewed the proposed construction and did not see anything the city could
do to help get it approved at the County level as proposed. The variance was denied
by the County Variance board.
 Scott presented the council with a new quote on “Your Speed Is” signs slightly less
expensive than the previous quotes. Scott also mentioned that Pat Oman was
working on a grant for all cities in Carlton County to receive funding for this type of
safety sign. There was discussion on the subject, no action was taken.
 John Mattonen mentioned he was still working on the School Speed Zone with
MNDOT. He supplied the council with some drawings showing the zone area.
 The old Christmas decorations for the light poles on Main Street will not be able to
be used this year, as there is no electricity on the poles since the power company
replaced them. Tom gave some information to the council for review for banner for
the poles to replace the old decorations. Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by
Tom Borglund to hold off until 2011 for new banners. Phil asked if we could
possibly put up the old ones this year without having them plugged in.
 Smith rd was cleaned up and all the brush was chipped and removed.
 The Middle Mile Fiber Project is looking for space for the equipment for the fiber
coming through in 2011. Scott presented some information on the purchase of the
Trolley Station building. The purchase would not be a viable option for purchase at
this time. The project may be able to put a free-standing “pod” on the water tower
property to house the equipment as another option. Tom Borglund mentioned we
should look into the price of the Glass Man building as it would have the space for
the city offices, shop and rental for the fiber project. Scott is to gather some info for
the November meeting.
Fire Department:
 No new business.
 Scott is working with the fire department on a method of spreading the levy amount
for the fire department more fairly across the service area.
 Diane Knoben asked if the City had a FEMA plan in place. Scott mentioned that we
should update it to include the food shelf in the plan.
Councilor requests:
Nancy:
 none.
Phil: none.
Ray: none.
Tom:
 none.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for September 2010 totaled $57,871.79
 Disbursements for September 2010 totaled $80,969.37
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick talked to Frank Yetka regarding the hydrant repair on the corner of highway 73
and Villa Vista Circle. The amount spent on the repair was $5087.88. Frank
mentioned that we could take it to conciliation to try to recover the money. Jack
Olson Construction was the contractor doing the dirt work during the Villa Court
construction. A coupon from the connection of the Villa Court to the city water line
lodged in the hydrant and caused it to leak.
 Nancy asked if we need to change the inspection process for water hookups to avoid
this type of problem in the future.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund. Meeting
adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
September 15 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
September 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Council Members: Ray Lally, Phil Lippo, And Tom Borglund
Absent: Mayor Huhta, Nancy Graham – Excused:
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tom Johnson, W&S/Maintenance
Manager; Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager; Judy Koivisto, Lisa Lund.
The meeting was called to order by Councilor Lally at 7pm.
Additions to agenda:
 None.
Minutes: Motion to approve July minutes with stated corrections by Phil Lippo and
seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Paul Lampi reported for the liquor store.
 Paul mentioned that the pizza freezer is in and working, we have enough invoices
from them to almost pay for it already.
 Paul mentioned also that the air fryer is still broken and he is going to throw it out
and eliminate the food other than pizza. He said it takes many trips back to the
cooker to make up a hamburger, where a pizza is one and done.
 Harvest fest went well at the LS, no fights; everyone had a lot of fun without any
hassles.
 He mentioned that he would like another awning for the LS, possibly on the wall
as a pull out awning for outdoor events.
 The snow gophers have a gun in the LS for their annual gun raffle. Confidence
Learning Center will also be bringing their gun same as last year.
 The Ls will be participating in the MMBA food drive again this year in
conjunction with Coors Light.
 Beer prices are on the rise. Paul expects all beer companies will be raising their
prices in October. Some have done so already.
 Two Doug Nite will be playing at the liquor store on October 16th.
 Paul is working on coming up with football specials (beer and/or pizza) for
Vikings games.
 Paul will be bringing in the cleaners to clean the floor before winter.
 We cancelled the contract with Leef Brothers and have our own down now. Our
contract expired in September and we did not renew.
 Paul is going to meet with the pull tab manager to see about getting the boxes
swapped out quicker when the profit is high in them.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/maintenance dept.
 Tom mentioned that the ponds are due for draining. He will be taking the water
samples and ordering the ALUM at the end of the month. They look very clear
this year and should be well balanced.
 MRWA met with Tom J. and Scott regarding wellhead protection. He had
concerns about the abandoned wells on Roger Harps old property now owned by
Cal Jacobson. MRWA would like us to cap/seal the wells and they have grant
money available to help with that process. We could save Cal a lot of money if
we manage the process and get the grant money, then assess the balance to the
property. Tom mentioned that the wells do not have well tags and were not listed
on our wellhead protection list. MRWA is asking us to try to locate any other
wells in the area of our wellhead protection so we can manage them. The council
asked Frank to send cal a letter offering to manage the sealing of the wells and
assessing him only the cost after grant money is depleted. Cal would also have
the option of having the wells sealed himself within a certain time frame to be
determined.
 Scott mentioned that all the past due W&S charges for the River View Meadows
are current.
 There was discussion on the MNDOT requirements for River View Meadows and
the Highway 73 access.
 Tom mentioned that the power poles in the south alley have been moved and we
are ready to widen the alley. Tom will work with the county to get it graded and
leveled out.
 The playground at the pavilion has been dismantled and most of it was put in the
extra dumpster from the Harvest Fest to fill it up.
 The hydrants and the tower will be winterized soon also.
 Tom mentioned that, since the entire city has been jetted now, he is planning to
use Ritter & Ritter to fix the manhole leaks around the city next year instead of
having them jet a new section of sewer line. He will be working off the list from
last months meeting.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 Pavilion schedule for September – November was reviewed by the council with
no changes or additions.
 There was discussion on the new owner of the Cromwell Car Wash property,
which operates an Aardvark toilet distribution. He had asked about the city
switching outhouse contracts. The same person had inquired about opening an
off-sale liquor in the city. The council did not wish to bid out the outhouses at
this time.
 There was discussion on a water leak in the shop roof that caused the ceiling to
collapse. The ceiling that caved was tested and did not contain any asbestos. The
insurance company offered $1,200.00 for the claim. Scott mentioned that our
deductible is $1,000.00 so it would not be worth it to have the claim on our record
just to receive $200.00. Tom was instructed to patch up the ceiling for now as we
will likely be moving the shop to the garage at the Pavilion Park.

GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Judy Koivisto, Property Owner, asked if the city would dig out the ditch along the
north alley along her property to allow the water runoff to get to the storm drain
without flooding her house or garage. She mentioned that Keith Clark was
working on some filling and leveling on her property and asked if the city would
do the ditch at the same time so it would all be done. Tom Johnson mentioned
that Keith is our regular excavator and he has shown us very good work in the
past, so he would recommend we have Keith fix the ditch. Motion by Ray Lally
and seconded by Phil Lippo to fix the ditch in the north alley using Keith Clark.
Motion carried unanimously.
 There was discussion on the petition for annexation by Mary Gohlike. Frank is
waiting for the signed petition, then we have to send notice to the petition to the
adjoining land owners and give 30 days for them to respond. We will plan to
address the petition and vote on the ordinance at the regular Council meeting on
November 17th.
 A request from Eagle Township to share the cost on some maintenance on Smith
road was discussed. Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Ray Lally to
share the cost up to $500.00. Motion carried unanimously.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to approve a zoning
request to build a garage by Ken Smith pending John Mattonen’s approval.
 A request from the food shelf for donation was discussed. There is a matching
fund period in September, so this would be a good time to donate if we are going
to. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to donate $100.00 from the
Liquor Store fund to the food shelf now instead of waiting for the March drive as
it would help carry them through the winter. Motion carried unanimously.
 There was discussion regarding the board of appeal process. Motion by Ray Lally
and seconded by Tom Borglund to transfer the board of appeal power to the
county until 2013. Motion carried unanimously.
 A donation request from the Volunteer Services of Carlton County, Inc. The
organization helps support volunteers in our community by paying them mileage
for their volunteer driving miles.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to donate $40.00 from the
Liquor Store fund to volunteer services of Carlton County. Motion carried
unanimously.
 An agreement for joint funding request for the small cities development grant was
discussed. The Mayor had already signed it and Scott will send it off to the
county.
Fire Department:
 .
Councilor requests:
Nancy:
 Absent.
Phil: .
Ray:
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4
 Ray mentioned that there will be an all-school reunion next year and they are
looking for someone to sponsor the dance. Ray had been asked if the city would
like to sponsor the dance. The council showed no interest in the idea.
Tom:
 .
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for August 2010 totaled $49,985.13
 Disbursements for August 2010 totaled $49,506.71
 The 2011 budget information was discussed. Scott sent in the preliminary levy to
the county with a 10% increase. He explained that it is the top limit we could
approve and that our goal is to leave taxes at the same total amount as last year.
 The levy will be discussed at the November meeting and must be turned in to the
county by December 15th.
 The energy usage in the pavilion was discussed. Scott felt like it is an area we
could save money on and hopes we can come up with more ideas for it. Tom is
paying close attention to the heating and cooling in times when no-one is renting
it.
 Scott mentioned that he would like to enter a detailed budget for 2011 and we
could actually track specific areas and see if we are on track or need to make
adjustments in budget amounts.
 Tom asked if he had to get overtime ok’d in advance or not. He mentioned that
things like doing rounds on weekends, special events or customer calls sometimes
create overtime and he wondered how to handle it. The council said to use best
judgment.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 none
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Tom Borglund and seconded by Ray Lally. Meeting
adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
August 18 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
August 18, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Council Members: Nancy Graham, Ray Lally, Phil Lippo, Tom Borglund
Absent: Mayor Huhta – Excused
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Bill Helwig, Rudy Law Office; Tom
Johnson, W&S/Maintenance Manager; Leon and Helen Hanka, Homeowners
The meeting was called to order by Councilor Lally at 7pm.
Additions to agenda:
 Accepted forms of payment policy under Liquor Store.
Minutes: Motion to approve July minutes with stated corrections by Nancy Graham
and seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Scott Warner reported for the liquor store.
 Tom mentioned that the new freezer would be in on Monday and he is working on
getting the room prepared for it.
 Scott mentioned that the air fryer is broken and Paul is looking into repair cost
and, if it is too much to repair, he will eliminate it instead. Paul had mentioned
that the time it takes to cook the burgers and fries was too much when they are
busy and only have one person working. Most of our food sales are pizza
anyway.
 Some information on awnings was reviewed. It had been brought up at the
previous meeting so Scott put some info in there for it in case the council wanted
to look into it.
 Scott mentioned that Pull Tabs have been pretty slow and will hopefully start
going up again as fall approaches.
 A thank you from the Diabetes Run for our hospitality during their event.
 A new “accepted form of payment policy” was reviewed by the Council.
 Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Tom Borglund to approve the
accepted form of payment policy. Motion carried unanimously.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/maintenance dept.
 Tom mentioned that the septic system utilized by the Hanka property is getting
pretty old and wondered if it would handle a large year-round home there.
 Ritter and Ritter offered to help us with our I&I list by utilizing the money we
have budgeted for the sewer cleaning to do some of the need repairs and skipping
a year of cleaning. Lee Bundy will provide us with more detail and a priority list
for the September meeting.
 Tom mentioned that the playground at the pavilion was vandalized and all the
plastic bubbles were destroyed. He asked for permission to tear down the play
center instead of fixing it. Nancy mentioned that the Harvest Fest committee is
planning to put in a new system any way, so it should be torn down. Permission
was granted to tear it down.
 The mound on Lippo Ln was repaired and Tom could immediately see the
difference in pumping time for the holding tank. Scott estimated we would save
$50.00 per month in electricity.
 Tom asked what he should do with the shop roof. It is leaking badly and repairs
don’t seem to last very long. He asked if he should plan to move out of there to
the other garage or look into repairs. Ray asked if he could tar it and make it
better for now until we figure out what to do with it. Nancy mentioned that we
could do a lot better things with the $25,000+ dollars it would cost for a new roof
on that building. Nancy also mentioned that she had a meeting coming up with
the county and she would see if there is money available for a grant to work on
that roof.
 John Mattonen reviewed the progress on the School Zone project.
 There was discussion on moving the speed limit signs farther out from the 210/73
intersection on the north end of town. There was further discussion on a radar
speed sign and ticketing system.
 Clean water revolving fund information was reviewed.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 Pavilion schedule for August – October was reviewed by the council with no
changes or additions.
 Parade approval form was reviewed. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by
Nancy Graham to sign and send in the form
 There was discussion on the beach project. Scott mentioned that the Aitkin
County Soil and Water District is working on the specs for the project and will be
getting the proper information to Carlton County for the permits for the project.
 A request from the Census bureau was reviewed. Scott mentioned that he let the
committee know that they could he already told them they would have to rent it if
they wanted to use it. The Council agreed.
 The state’s certified LGA amount was reviewed.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Leon and Helen Hanka were present to discuss there request for a zoning permit
to tear down their existing structure on their lot and replace it with a new twostory
home with a basement and deck. The request had previously been reviewed
by John Mattonen, city engineer, and he found no issues with the setbacks on the
property. Ray asked if Carlton County had approved the project yet. Leon
explained that he is trying to get on the September agenda for the County
planning committee. Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to
approve the zoning permit pending approval of the plan by the county board.
Motion approved unanimously.
 Information on the MN development conference was reviewed.
 There was discussion on the employee handbook. Ray said we should postpone it
until the full council can discuss it and vote. Nancy said she would like to review
and vote now.
Fire Department:
 Scott mentioned that the Fire Department fund actually went to the negative in
August before the ambulance deposit went in mid-month. The reason for the
decline was an extraordinary amount of training and repair costs in the last few
months. The officers are aware of the situation and know to watch spending until
the fund is built back up.
 Phil asked if Scott was attending the FD meetings and Scott said he would be
attending them in the future, but had other obligations which ended on July 19th.
 The fire dept. meeting notes were reviewed.
Councilor requests:
Nancy:
 Nancy asked who approved the new windows in the garage at the pavilion park.
Tom said Dick had approved it. Nancy mentioned that the council had discussed
it at the June meeting and decided that nothing would be done with the windows
until they decided what to do with the building. Nancy said it was not wise to put
single pain windows in there if we decide to heat the building.
 Motion by Nancy Graham to approve the employee handbook as written. Ray
asked for a second, being no second, motion died.
Phil: Phil asked about a charge from the IRS for $440.22. Scott explained that it was a
fine for submitting the 4th quarter 2009 941 taxes late.
Ray: Ray asked about a disbursement for $28,085.25 labeled as “ice maker for bar”.
Scott explained that it was the T.I.F. payment for the Villa TIF district from
property tax and was just mislabeled.
Tom:
 Tom asked about the water hook-up on the lot just south of his on the lake, and
mentioned that there was a new home sold by Cal Jacobson on Northstar lane.
Scott mentioned that the person on South rd paid for hookup for water and did not
hook up sewer yet.
 There was discussion on the lots owned by Cal Jacobson and fees associated with
water & sewer hook-up. The council mentioned that Cal is supposed to finish the
highway 73 access road prior to building any more homes in the Riverview
Meadows addition.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for July 2010 totaled $169,857.14
 Disbursements for June 2010 totaled $126,764.52
 Nancy asked about an ad in the voyageur press, Scott explained that it was form
May or June but was paid in July.
 Nancy asked about fund #801. Scott explained that the fund is where misc.
donations go into and allow the city to pay for things separate from the money
collected from property tax or dedicated donations, such as advertising for the
YOT dances which is not eligible to be paid with property tax money.
 Nancy asked about a payment to Moose Lake florist from the general fund. Scott
thought it was flowers for a funeral and should be changed to Liquor store fund.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 none
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
July 28 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
July 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Nancy Graham, Ray Lally
Absent: Tom Borglund, Phil Lippo – Excused
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Paul Lampi, Liquor Store Manager;
Tom Johnson, W&S/Maintenance Manager; Lyle MacVey, NE Service Cooperative,
Bruce Williamson, Compass Consultants.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Additions to agenda:
 None
Minutes: Motion to approve June minutes by Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray
Lally. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Paul Lampi reported for the liquor store.
 Paul talked about the Diabetes run in July. The annual golf tourney went well.
Dean Nyberg played after the golf tourney. The new bar stools are in and the old
ones have been sold.
 There was discussion on the events at the bar during Harvest Fest. Paul will work
with the bartenders to get all set for the weekend. Paul asked if the council had
ever considered putting an awning on the side of the bar for events like this
instead of having the tents. The council told Paul to make sure Dean quits playing
during Harvest Fest by 7pm so people will attend the Harvest Fest dance. Carol
and Wanda will be helping with the food, games and cleanup.
 The foot rail in the bar has been repaired and looks good.
 August 14th the Richard’s will be doing the drawing from Keith’s benefit raffle at
the liquor store.
 The Keystone will be playing on August 21st, likely a jam-o-rama since the last
one went so well.
 June sales were reviewed by the council.
 Pull tab rent was reviewed by the council.
 A new policy on payment methods was presented to the council, no action was
taken.
 There was discussion on getting a pizza freezer which will be paid for by the
pizza company by us getting free pizza equal to the price of the freezer. We are
contractually required to maintain insurance on the freezer in order for Giovanni’s
to pay for it.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham to purchase the freezer.
Motion carried unanimously.
 Two applications were reviewed by council and will be kept in file.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/maintenance dept.
 Quality Flow came and serviced the lift stations. Tom had them show him how to
do it so he can do it in the future, but for the price he believes it would be better to
just have them do it each year.
 The city truck had new rear brakes put on.
 The Sentence To Serve crew came out and brushed Smith Rd and Swenson Rd.
We supplied them with lunch, snack and lemonade.
 The City Hall/Clinic building has been painted.
 John Mattonen provided information on the Army Corps of Engineers grant
application for the water loop project. The application has been submitted. The
city will be responsible for 25% of the cost of the project, approximately $89,000.
Nancy questioned whether the application should have been submitted without
council approval since there is a match required. Ray and Dick explained that the
project has been approved for many years and the application has been submitted
before, but we did not get the grant money in the past. John explained that we do
not have to accept the grant. If we are not in a position to pay/borrow the
necessary match, we can turn down the grant after we are approved.
 Correspondence from Frank to Jack Olson construction regarding the hydrant
repair at highway 73 and Villa Circle was presented to the council.
 A report from Ritter & Ritter regarding their sewer inspections was review by the
council.
 Information on available services fromMRWA was reviewed by the council.
 An employment application was presented and will be kept on file for one year.
 There are five manhole covers that need replacing, Tom will do that. There was
discussion on replacing some of the risers on the manholes to help prevent I&I.
 Tom will work on prioritizing the list from Ritter and Ritter and pick away at it
over the next year or so.
 There was discussion on the mound on Lippo lane. Keith Clark is the lowest bid
to fix the mound with Lyle Huhta doing the jetting of the lines.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 Pavilion schedule for July – September was reviewed by the council with no
changes or additions.
 Copies of grants received for the beach project from Operation Roundup and Lake
States Federal Credit Union were presented to the council.
 Letter of thanks from Evergreen P.A.C. was presented to the council.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Bruce Williamson and Lyle MacVey spoke to the council regarding the fiber optic
project coming through the city. This project will help provide broadband
technology to our area which will make the availability of cable tv, and broadband
internet connections a reality for rural areas like ours. This city, medical, and
school will be hooked up as part of the project at no cost to the taxpayers. The
service providers will be determined at a later date. It will give the opportunity
for carriers other than Frontier to come into the area and should lower the cost of
the service to the consumers. The service will greatly increase the possibility of
E-education and E-medicine in our area as well.
 A letter from Frank regarding annexation was reviewed by the council. The
council noted that Frank should clarify the fact that there is no city water for this
property, only sewer.
 John handed out information on the school zone speed limit. He is working with
the school to gather some information needed by MnDOT. We will need to wait
until September to gather the needed information.
 There was discussion on moving the poles in the south alley. Lake Country
Power is willing to do the $16,000.00 project at a cost to the city of $4,500.00.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham to pay the $4500.00 and
have the poles removed and replaced. Motion carried unanimously.
Fire Department:
 Narrow-banding requirements from the State Patrol were reviewed by the council.
 Fire and Ambulance service area maps were presented to the council.
Councilor requests:
Nancy:
 A folder from the Carlton County Economic Authority was presented to the
council by Nancy Graham. They are requesting information from the city to place
in the folder for tourism purposes. Scott will call Angie Korpela in Carlton to get
some information to them.
Phil: none.
Ray: Ray presented the Fire Relief Association pension schedule to the council. It
currently shows a surplus and will not require addition contributions this year.
Tom:
 none.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for June 2010 totaled $60,078.72
 Disbursements for June 2010 totaled $87,911.30
 Nancy questioned two payments to the Country Inn for business meals. Dick said
both had to do with fire dept. business. Nancy said they should be posted
accordingly and taken out of the general fund.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 none.
ADJOURN: Meeting was adjourned by proclamation as Dick left early leaving less
than a quorum to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
.
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
June 16 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
June 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Nancy Graham, Tom
Borglund
Absent: Ray Lally – Excused
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Paul
Lampi, Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, W&S/Maintenance Manager; Hugh
Heinecke, City Auditor; Karen & Mike Whaley, Citizens; Brittany Raveille and Neil
Sample, Voyageur Press.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Additions to agenda:
 The Whaley’s asked to speak in regard to their chickens and rooster. (Before
Liquor Store)
 An annexation request for review. (General City)
 Discussion on the bill to Villa Vista for the repairs to the hydrant on the corner of
State Highway 73 and Villa Vista Circle. (Water, Sewer, Maintenance)
Minutes: Motion to approve May minutes by Phil Lippo and seconded by Nancy
Graham. Motion carried unanimously.
 The Whaley’s discussed the correspondence between themselves, the City, and
the City Attorney. They requested that the city allow them to have the rooster on
their premise as long as they keep it in the chicken coop area on the south end of
their property. They also asked that any future complaints result in a phone call to
them before any official written correspondence. They further questioned the
wording of the nuisance (noise) ordinance and the definition of “considerable
number of citizens”. Frank explained that the ordinance allows the city to make
decisions on each individual complaint to determine the level of action necessary.
The council directed the Whaley’s to keep the rooster as long as there were no
further complaints. Scott (city clerk) was directed to ask any complainant to
speak directly with the Whaley’s in the future if a complaint is registered. If no
resolution is come to by the individuals, then the city would take further action on
the complaint.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Paul Lampi reported for the liquor store.
 Paul showed the council the new hats and shirts ordered to be sold at the liquor
store.
 Paul mentioned that the “Diabetes Run” will be on June 19th. They will be
closing off the parking lot to allow outside sales of food and beer.
 The liquor store got in some new bases for some of the tables in the bar. Still
waiting for the stools. CSN Stores is working with the manufacturer to find out
what the delay is all about.
 Paul is working on getting a freezer for the pizzas. This will make more room for
storage of bags of ice. Giovanni’s pizza will give us free pizza equal to the cost
of a freezer if we purchase one for their pizzas. They would then own the freezer
and we can only keep their pizza in the freezer. Paul is considering eliminating
the other pizza brand that we sell. The council requested that Frank take a look at
the contract for the purchase and reimbursement and ownership of the freezer.
Paul will work with Giovanni’s and Frank. Council asked Paul to come back with
a solid price for the freezer at next months meeting.
 Paul has an estimate for $400.00 from Town & Country Flooring to redo the foot
rail in the liquor store. It is falling apart and looks terrible. Motion byMayor
Huhta and seconded by Phil Lippo to accept the quote from Town & Country
Flooring. Vote 2 for and two against, Motion defeated. Motion by Mayor Huhta
and seconded by Nancy Graham to get a bid from Borglund Anderson
Construction, accept the lower of the two bids and get the project done. . Motion
carried unanimously.
 A rep (Dan Barr) from the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association stopped in
to speak to Paul about different options for our liquor store
 The annual golf tourney will be on July 24th at the Floodwood Golf Course, with
prizes and food at the liquor store afterward.
 Another jamorama will be held at the bar on August 21st from 6pm until midnight
with The Keystone. Paul mentioned it went very well last time so he prefers this
to just having them play.
 Scott talked about the credit card system in the liquor store and mentioned Paul
and he are looking for a new company that can do both credit cards and check
authorization. Our current credit card processing cost has gone up and the one
quote we have on a new system will save us approximately $500.00 per year and
can do check services as well. Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Tom
Borglund to switch credit card service in order to save money on processing fees.
Motion carried unanimously.
 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Nancy Graham to freeze hiring at the
liquor store until the council agrees that it is necessary. There was discussion on
the subject, but no vote was taken. Motion shall be held over to next meeting.
 There was discussion on check acceptance and what we may want to change in
the future. We will leave the policy alone for now and look at it again in the
future. There was some question on whether or not we can refuse a check if
someone won’t give us a driver’s license number. Hugh Heinecke suggested
Frank look into it.
 There was discussion on the annual recreation guide from the Voyageur Press.
Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Mayor Huhta to buy the ¼ page color
ad same as last year. Motion carried unanimously.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/maintenance dept.
 There was discussion on the repairs necessary for the mound on Lippo Lane.
Tom has now received 3 quotes and Keith Clark has the lowest bid. The council
asked Tom to have Keith clarify the estimate to make sure it includes the exact
same service as the other two quotes, specifically jetting out the lines during the
installation of the cleanout valves so it is all done at once and the bid process is
fair. John mentioned that the work will need to be done before winter to possibly
prevent the freezing problems we had last winter.
 Tom asked John Mattonen if there is a rule for the calibration of water meters in
the well house and John did not know of one. Tom was asked by Dave Isaacson
from Kettle River if we wanted ours calibrated at the same time as Kettle River
does theirs. We would likely save money on the work if both cities did it at the
same time. Mayor Huhta asked Tom to find out what the price would be and
discuss then.
 The pumps for the lift stations are now on their third year and are due for service.
Tom would like to have Quality Flow show him how to service them so he can do
it himself in the future. We have a relationship with Quality Flow and know that
their work is good and they are familiar with our system. Cost is approximately
$100.00 per pump plus mileage through another company. Nancy mentioned that
Ritter & Ritter can do the service also. Tom said he would check prices and if
Quality Flow is comparably priced he would use them. Otherwise he will just
take the lowest bid.
 Tom mentioned that we are working with Lake Country Power to get the power
poles in the south alley moved. LCP wants to replace two of them, so our cost to
move them right now would be lower than if we request it later. Tom and Dick
are working with LCP to come up with a fair agreement. The poles are currently
in the middle of the right-of-way of the alley due to a land agreement that gave
the city addition property in the alley.
 Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to allow a metered yard
hydrant hookup at 1250 South Point Road.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The applications for the variance for the beach project are filled out and sent to
the county for approval. The grant dollars are approved and we are just waiting
for the variance and conditional use permits to be approved.
 Tom has contacted Bernicks Pepsi to fix the pop machine in the pavilion.
 There are two windows in the garage at the pavilion park that are falling apart.
One has already broken and is covered by plywood. We are waiting to repair
them until we decide if other repairs are going to be done on the building.
 Tom mentioned that he has been mowing the grass at the car wash in the ditch
area. The council instructed Tom to continue mowing the grass for the sake of the
city and instructed Scott to charge the mowing to the State of MN as most of it is
State right-of-way. Scott will add it to our annual snow plowing bill to MNDOT.
 There was discussion on the School Zone speed limit. The council will be
attending the next School Board Meeting to discuss the issue with them. The
council directed Scott to call the School and make sure they are on the agenda for
the next School Board meeting.
 The June through August pavilion schedule was reviewed. The three tentative
dates for the Lake Country Power meeting are now set for the 28th at 7pm only.
 The pavilion rental fee schedule was reviewed by the council. Some changes
were discussed including adding “donation in kind” to class 2, adding an
 “outside-only” rental such as with campers, arena, ball fields or courts, horseshoe
tourney’s etc…, making class 3 & 4 the same with the difference of class 4 having
alcohol at their event and class 3 having no alcohol. Scott will go over the list of
supplies and equipment at the pavilion and correct any errors.
 Nancy mentioned that the big freezer at the pavilion does not work well and needs
to be defrosted.
 There was discussion on adding a skate park in the city. Scott will check into the
insurance implications. Scott also mentioned that there is not currently a problem
with kids on skateboards in town and that most cities add a skate park in order to
get the kids of the sidewalks.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Tom mentioned that we will need new pole decorations for main street this year.
The new poles do not have electric outlets to plug the old decorations into. We
will need to get banners/decorations that do not require electricity.
 The annual insurance information was presented to the council.
 A donation request from a 5th grader for a national basketball tournament was
reviewed by the council. Scott was instructed to write a letter to the family in
response stating that the city has a precedent of not donated to individuals and,
since only one individual from our area is in the tournament, we cannot donate to
them.
 An annexation request by a property owner on Beltt Drive was discussed by the
council. Frank was instructed to contact the individual and request more
information on the plotting and plans for the property. She would like to run
sewer to the property and make it 3 or 4 individual lots for the purpose of selling
them. She believes having sewer to the property will help her sell the lots. The
council was receptive to the idea because it will raise the tax base of the
community and effectively lower individual tax burdens for the community by
spreading the levy over more properties. Frank believes that the county would be
receptive to the idea and we should have no problems with it on that perspective
since Red Clover Township is unorganized. The council indicated the property
owner will be responsible for all costs associated with the annexation and sewer
extension.
Fire Department:
 The water meter in the fire hall has been removed to increase the flow of water for
filling the tankers for fire fighting.
Councilor requests:
Nancy:
 Nancy said that Jerry would run the drain for the ice machine for free as long as
he got reimbursed for labor. Tom Johnson indicated that he already had someone
lined up to do the job.
 Nancy asked about the booths that were in the pavilion last year. She asked who
made the decision to get rid of the booths. Dick said they were removed last year
to make room for the tables. He indicated that the removal was part of the plan
when the new tables and chairs were purchased, but the removal was not done
right away because they had no place to put them. Nancy thought they should
have been sold instead of being disposed of or at least discussed with the council.
Phil:
 none.
Ray: none.
Tom:
 none.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Scott mentioned that the fire department had some exceptional expenses related to
the purchase of the new ambulance and the training of the new EMT’s. He also
mentioned that there is still a $9,500.00 due in June or July for the EMT training.
The fire dept. would get a reimbursement from the state for the training after the
EMT’s were in service for one year.
 Receipts for May 2010 totaled $54,560.98
 Scott also indicated that the liquor store is approximately 6.5% below last year on
sales and will probably continue to be throughout the year unless the
unemployment rates improve dramatically. Hugh Heinecke indicated that all the
Municipal liquor stores he is associated with have a manager/bartender, referring
to the discussion on hiring for the liquor store. Hugh said that if a bartender was
to separate from the liquor store we should look at hiring two or three bartenders
to replace her so they could all work below PERA limits.
 Nancy asked about the bill for Kangas regarding Lippo lane, which was for
pumping the tank at the Lippo Lane Mound.
 Disbursements for May 2010 totaled $46,60.09
 The 2009 Audit was presented to the council by Hugh Heinecke. He mentioned
that the margin for the liquor store was better than prior years. Profitability was
way up. $80,000 was transferred to general fund. He recommends to keep some
of the bond payments coming out of the sewer fund, but the water fund should
eliminate some of the deficit in the fund before we use the funds to pay bonds
with the fund. It will keep the fund looking better if we need to look at more debt
service for the fund. He indicated that the maintenance of the system is a big
reason that the balances are staying up. The general fund was overspent by
$52,000 and would have been the red without the liquor store transfer of $80,000.
We need to work toward eliminating the deficit in that fund. Paying some of the
GO bond payments out of the sewer fund will help us in that respect. He
indicated that we should increase our levy by one to two percent each year so we
avoid a sudden, large increase like we saw for the 2009 levy.
 Motion to approve the 2009 Audit by Phillip Lippo and seconded by Tom
Borglund. Motion carried unanimously.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 .
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
April 21st 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
April 21, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, CouncilMembers: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy
Graham, Tom Borglund
Absent:
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney: Paul Lampi,
Liquor Store: Dale Heikkila, Cromwell Little League,: Tom Donohue, Resident of
Southview Apartments.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm.
Additions to agenda:
 One public agenda item was added to agenda: Dale Heikkila asked if the Cromwell
Little League could use the field by the beach for some practices until school is out.
Minutes: March 24 2010 and February 17 2010 minutes were presented to the council for
approval. Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally to approve March 24 minutes,
motion carried unanimously. Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to
approve the Feb 17 minutes with stated corrections, motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Paul Lampi spoke for the liquor store. He mentioned that the Keystone was doing a
Jamorama on April 24th and the annual golf tourney will be on July 24th in
Floodwood. May 3rd will be the alcohol awareness meeting taught by the State of
MN. Tammie Envall resigned and will be done bartending at the end of May. Paul
mentioned that he would like Wanda Shiflett to bartend. Scott mentioned that he had
two bartender apps in his office from Tammy Fahrendorff and John Hedin.
 Line Electric came in and fixed the circuits in the cooking room due to some circuit
breaker issues.
 Paul asked for approval to purchase 48 bar stools for the liquor store with an
estimated price of $5903.52. There was considerable discussion. Motion by Ray
Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham to purchase the 48 barstools after Scott was
comfortable with the bank balances and cost of upcoming insurance payments.
 Dick mentioned that when we sell the old barstools we need each purchaser to sign a
hold harmless agreement regarding the as-is purchase of the barstool and any liability
related to the use of said barstools.
 Paul also asked the council for permission to purchase a new ice machine at an
estimated cost of $3363.32 for the liquor store. He mentioned that the current ice
machine does not have enough capacity to cover the sale of ice, only for the amount
the liquor store uses in house. He feels that the sale of ice to our customers who are
already there to purchase off-sale beer will more than pay for the purchase. There
was discussion on the matter including several cost options and the fact that addition
freezer space will be required in the near future if the purchase of an ice machine is
approved. Scott mentioned we could possibly sell bagged ice to Peters Hardware as
well. No estimates of the additional cost of freezer space were presented. Motion by
Nancy Graham and seconded by Tom Borglund to approve the immediate purchase
of a new ice machine and put off the purchase of the barstools until Scott is
comfortable with the purchase financial situation. Motion carried unanimously.
 Paul asked about repairing the cove molding at the bottom of the bar on the foot rail.
Tom will look into repairing it.
 Pull tab payment was presented to the council.
 Two requests for softball sponsorship were discussed, one girls and one boys. The
girls' team has been sponsored for $200.00 for several years. Motion by Ray Lally
and seconded by Phil Lippo to sponsor both teams in the amount of $200.00 each.
Motion carried unanimously.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to attend the 2010 annual
conference of the MMBA. Motion carried unanimously.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Scott Warner reported for the W/S/Maint dept.
 Tom is still working on getting bids for replacing light on the poles that are not LCP
poles. LCP will not do the work on them. A bid from Lyle Huhta has been received
for $200.00 for the four lights needing replacement.
 The mound on Lippo Lane is working properly again now that it is thawed out. Tom
is seeking bids on adding clean-outs to the mound to eliminate any buildup in the
lines. They will cover the mound next winter to keep it from freezing.
 BSALWMP has a grant available for the work that needs to be done at the beach.
Dick is seeking other grants to help cover the matching funds for the grant from
BSALWMP if we get it. The match is a 30% match. The project is projected to cost
$4600.00.
 Ritter & Ritter is pulling the screens in the tanks on Lippo lane to put on the handles
that were missed when they installed the screens last year. They will not be charging
the city for the labor, as they should have done it when they were installed.
 John Mattonen is working on the entrance signs for the city. An email from the
MnDOT was presented to the council.
 John will submit a bid on putting cleanouts on the Lippo Lane mound. Tom will get
quotes from Ritter & Ritter and Keith Clark for the job also.
 There was discussion on NSF checks at the Liquor store and whether or not we
should maintain a list of people who have NSF checks should be able to write checks
in the future. Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to not accept
checks from anyone who has an NSF check.
 There was further discussion on whether to accept any checks at the liquor store at
all. No motions were put forth to this fact.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council. Nancy mentioned that the
Harvest Fest steak fry in June will be on June 11th. A harvest fest meeting was added
for May 11th at 5pm.
 Dale Heikkila asked for permission to use the ball field at the beach for little league
practice and also if the city could make a donation for them to buy new catcher
equipment. Nancy Graham suggested that the little league take over the sale of ice
cream at the Harvest Fest as a fundraiser. Dale said he felt that would work out good.
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Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Tom Borglund to allow the use of the
field at the beach by the little league. Motion carried unanimously.
 Dale also asked if there was a possibility of building another baseball field at the
pavilion park.
 An estimate to build a shed behind the pavilion for the harvest fest. At the March
meeting it was discussed whether or not the city would pay half and double the size
of the shed. There was discussion on groups storing their supplies at the pavilion.
 There was discussion on where to put new playground equipment if we can get it and
what may be a good style of equipment for the area. The consensus was to leave it in
the same area that it is in now. The Harvest Committee is working on grants for the
equipment.
 There was discussion on a request by Jeannie Weimer to rearrange the kitchen. The
council would like the kitchen left the way it is. Motion by Mayor Huhta and
seconded by Phil Lippo to leave the kitchen the way it is. Motion carried
unanimously.
 There was discussion on the use of the pavilion by the saddle club. The amount they
are able to donate to the city is insufficient for the amount of use they have for the
building. Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Tom Borglund to restrict the
use of the pavilion by the saddle club to the outside area unless they pay to rent the
pavilion. Motion carried unanimously.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 A complaint regarding roosters crowing was brought before the council for follow up.
The council discussed possible solutions to the issue. Scott mentioned that he sent a
letter to the homeowners and they responded stating that they had permission from
the council to have the animals back in 2002. No reference to the council giving
them permission was found in the minutes from 2002. The complainant would be
satisfied if the noise from the rooster was eliminated. He is not opposed to the
chickens running around, just the noise of the roosters. Frank will send a letter to the
homeowners regarding the offense and possible solutions as well as consequences of
the violation should they not comply.
 Gary Davis application was presented to the council for review.
 Motion by ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund to retain our $25 membership in
Carlton county historical society. Motion carried unanimously.
 The property tax for the clinic/city hall building was reviewed by the council.
 Copy of correspondence between John Mattonen and MnDOT was reviewed by the
council.
 There was discussion on the unnamed street which runs from highway 210 to Lake
Street east of town. There was discussion on whether we should abandon it or not.
Currently the maintenance crew plows the street which only serves one persons
house. There will be further discussion on the subject in the future. Frank will look
into the legal aspects.
 A donation request from “Friends of Animals” was discussed and denied.
 LMC annual conference information was presented to the council.
 Land use workshop information was presented to the council.
 DEED grant/loan information was presented to the council
 MN Rural Roundup info was presented to the council.
Fire Department:
 A gas Pipeline safety meeting is scheduled for May 12th. Tom Johnson and Steve
Bridge will attend the meeting.
 Copies of land grant requests from the fire dept. were reviewed. No action is
necessary at this time.
 There was discussion regarding the meter in the fire hall. The meter inhibits the flow
of water through the line that they use to fill fire truck during fires. Tom Johnson
will be removing or bypassing the meter to increase the flow rate for filling fire
trucks.
Councilor requests:
Nancy:
 Nancy asked if the smoke filter from the liquor store were sold and if the
microphones were ordered for the liquor store.
 Nancy asked that the employee handbook be put on the next meeting agenda.
Phil: Phil Thanked Tom Donohue for voluntarily cleaning up the ditches around town.
Ray:
Tom:
 Tom talked to Cal Jacobson about finishing the turn lane and street work at his
property not of the river. Cal indicated that he did have the funding to finish the
work until he sold some of the lots there.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for March 2010 totaled $66,504.52
 Disbursements for March 2010 totaled $52,531.77
 Scott mentioned that there was a large amount of March bills paid in the beginning of
April so the profit margin is a little bit skewed for March.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick asked if the money that is designated for fire levy is dedicated to the fire
department or not. Scott indicated that the money goes to the fire department fund.
Scott also mentioned that he charges the fire department fund for the water used by
the fire department for all purposes. Dick asked that the city and the fire department
should have a meeting to determine how fires are billed out and whether the cost for
water use is billed to the responsible party.
 Dick mentioned that there will be ATV training on May 1st at the pavilion. He asked
if the city would donate something for the kids and instructors for the training.
Motion by Dick and seconded by Ray Lally to donate $50.00 to the training for
drinks and/or food.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
March 24 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
March 24, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.

Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy
Graham.

Absent: Tom Borglund (excused)

Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney: Tom
Johnson, maintenance dept: Paul Lampi, Liquor Store: Jeanne Weimer, Citizen of
Cromwell: Jerry Graham, Harvest Fest.

The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.

Additions to agenda:
 Two public agenda items were added to agenda: Jerry Graham was present to
discuss building a shed for the harvest fest committee to store all there stuff in;
Jeanne Weimer was present to discuss rearranging the kitchen in the pavilion to
make it more friendly to catering, and to discuss using the pavilion as a starting
point for an annual 5k and/or 10k race as a fundraiser for the community youth
group.
 Added hiring of liquor store manager on first line under the liquor store section.
Minutes: February 17 2010 minutes were presented to the council at the meeting.
Approval of minutes were tabled until April 21st meeting so Council would have time to
review before approving.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to hire Paul Lampi as the new
Liquor Store Manager. Motion Carried unanimously.
 The monthly pull tab rent was presented to the council. Scott presented a sheet
showing all payments from Confidence Learning Center for pull tabs since they
began in the liquor store.
 The monthly sales were discussed and were just under (-5.76%) February 2009
sales. Scott mentioned that this would probably be the trend for the year and as
long as we watch the expenses we will be okay. Ray mentioned he would like to
see where the changes in purchasing is and Scott said he would bring a detailed
comparison to the next meeting. Paul mentioned that his suppliers said our liquor
store is much more consistent than many other in their territory.
 An alcohol awareness meeting is scheduled for May 3rd 2010 at 8am. Bar will be
closed until 11:00 am that day. All bartenders are required to be there.
 Paul noted that the alumni basketball tourney is coming up on April 10th and 11th.
He has made up a business card sized coupon for one free pitcher of beer for each
team.
 The Keystone has been booked for April 24th for a jamorama. Paul had the games
in the front of the bar and plans to put the band up there to see if it makes it more
“dancer friendly”.
 Paul has talked to Danny Karpinen about the golf tourney the last Saturday in
July. He will have more info as time goes on. He is looking for ways to keep the
players at the bar longer after the tourney.
 Meat raffle on Fridays seems to be going well. Paul is looking to slow it down a
bit to give people more time to purchase tickets and Lola more time to prepare for
each game. This will also give people more time to have an extra drink, which is
the point of having the meat raffle.
 Bingo has been moved to Tuesdays to try to give it a little better showing, but it
has been very slow. We may have to drop it for the summer and try again next
fall.
 Dart leagues are done and the two extra dart machines will be removed soon
which will give more room for other things in that area.
 Cribbage has their final day on March 25th and will have a pot luck at the bar that
day.
 Karaoke…Paul talked to Rob & Deb switzers about putting together more song
booklets.
 Paul talked about the barstools asking for permission to buy some new ones to
replace the damaged or missing ones. No action taken. Dick asked Paul to bring
exact number of stools needed and amount of money needed for them.
 Paul is working on a plan to make the space available in the bar more usable to
give max selling, seating area.
 Paul spoke about the ice machine in the bar. He feels that it is too small for what
they need. He feels if we had a bigger machine we could sell a lot more ice and it
would pay for itself quickly. He quoted as much as $6.00 per off-sale beer sale as
an example.
 Pizza prices are going up by $0.25 to stay close to the market price in other bars.
 Paul asked if there was a set pricing plan for the liquor store. The council is not
aware of a plan in place for markup percentage.
 Paul mentioned that there was an incident of serving a minor in the liquor store.
The minor was at a table with some legal drinkers and they purchased shots which
were then given to the minor. As soon as the situation was realized by the
bartenders they stopped serving the table.
 Paul is working with the food shelf on a way to promote donations for the food
shelf in the month of March.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W/S/Maint dept..
 The heater in the lift station on Lippo Ln caught fire. It did not do any damage to
the lift station, and tom is going to replace it with a light bulb system.
 Tom talked to the people fromMcGuire Iron about the water tower and they are
offering us a contract for tower cleaning. They will clean the tower for $1,550.00
each three years 2012,2015,2018 and 2021. Tom was instructed to get matching
estimates from a couple other companies to ensure we are getting the best deal on
the service. Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to table the
discussion on the contract until we get two more quotes for matching services.
Motion carried unanimously.
 Tom checked all the street lights in town and called Lake Country Power for an
estimate on changing out bulbs or fixing them. Jerry Graham mentioned that LCP
was changing the bulb in front of his house on March 23rd.
 Funding information fromMn Rural Water was presenting to the council for their
review.
 Tom spoke about the mound on Lippo Ln. It is partially plugged and not able to
keep up with the flow rate at times. Tom would like to get it cleaned out this year
to avoid future large problems and expense. He mentioned that the lift station
was overflowing this spring with the thaw and that the overflowing water was
pumped out to avoid it backing up into the septic tanks of the residents and
contaminating the area. Nancy mentioned that it should have been pumped out by
a sewage company and put into the ponds to avoid trouble with the MPCA. Tom
thought the water pumped out was not contaminated because it was fresh water
from the run-off and it was pumped from the top of the lift station. John
Mattonen mentioned that an incident reported should be filed.
 John Mattonen stated that he is still waiting for Todd Carroll, LLA, -
Landscape Architect, Senior Minnesota Department of
Transportation, to get back to him on the designs for the
monument signs for the city. John forwarded an email to Scott
from him dated February 17th indicating that he would get back to
John by February 25th.
 John had no updates on the other project in his report.
 Dick asked about the $500.00 payment for Carlton County for the
Wetland Conservation Act. Scott has a call in to Bruce Benson on
the subject and will follow up again next week.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council. Nancy mentioned that
the Harvest Fest steak fry in June will be on June 11th. A harvest fest meeting
was added for May 11th at 5pm.
 Jerry Graham spoke for the Harvest Fest Committee. They would like to build a
shed behind the existing outdoor pavilion to store all their equipment and supplied
for the Harvest Fest. Dick asked if they could build it a little bigger so the
Luminary committee could store their stuff in it also. Jerry said they would build
it with colors that match the existing pavilion. Nancy asked the Jerry get a cost
for the building before building it. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil
Lippo to give the Harvest Fest Committee permission to build a shed 20’ x 15’ to
store the Harvest Fest and Luminary equipment and supplies. Motion carried
unanimously.
 Jerry also mentioned that the Harvest Committee was planning to purchase some
new playground equipment to replace the existing equipment at the pavilion.
There was discussion on the placement and type of equipment. The committee
would like guidance from the council on what they would like to have there and
where it should be. Then they will get costs and apply for grants.
 Jeanne Weimer spoke to the council about the layout of the kitchen in the
pavilion. She offered to come in on her own time and rearrange it to make it more
friendly to catering. She also mentioned that the city should seek out convention
business for the building. She believes that the building would be a good fit for
some large conventions and would bring in lots of business to the community
from such conventions. She has seen many smaller places in rural areas that have
held fairly large conventions. Ray asked if we could do some web advertising for
convention business.
 Jeanne also talked about a 5k race starting at the pavilion. She would like
permission to hold the race as an annual event beginning and ending at the
pavilion. Some things the city would need to help with is street closures, EMT’s
and the use of the pavilion. She had spoken to Scott Keenan, who is in charge of
Gramma’s marathon, about it and he thought it would be a great thing for the
spring of the year as a pre-Gramma’s race.
 Jeanne also would like the use of the pavilion for a drama workshop. She says
that several young adults/teens asked if she would be willing to put one on.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 The annual safety and loss workshop agenda for April 15th was presented to the
council. Scott was instructed to pay for four attendees at $20.00 each. Nancy has
another meeting in Biwabik that day and will likely only attend the afternoon
sessions. Scott, Tom J., and Phil will attend the whole day. Nancy asked Scott to
let her know which sessions no-one else was attending so she could attend those
ones.
 A request for donation fromMcGregor post prom committee was reviewed.
Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to NOT donate to the McGregor
post prom party. Motion carried unanimously.
 A noise complaint was discussed by the council regarding 1229 hwy 73. The
residents have roosters that are crowing all day long and the complainant cannot
keep his windows open. Scott was instructed to send a letter to the property
owner to address the noise issue. The property owner talked to the council when
they first got the farm animals and is grandfathered in for the animals since it was
before the ordinance was put into place, but will need to address the noise issue.
 Tom mentioned there are two stray bicycles in town and that if they are there for
another week he would remove them and get rid of them.
Fire Department:
 Tom mentioned that there was a big grass fire on March 23rd that jumped hwy 210
and the railroad track and burned a big swamp southeast of Cromwell.

Councilor requests:
Nancy:
 Nancy received a call from Larry Winter from the Lions club. He is looking for
names of anyone that may be interested in starting a lions club in the area.
 She also mentioned that the minutes for the council meetings are required to be
typed up within 30 days of the meeting.
 She asked if any progress was made on the question about the Mayor’s pay form
last month. Scott indicated that he would be talking to Hugh Heinecke, the City
Auditor, about it on Sunday March 28.
 Nancy asked that Scott put NSF checks on the next month’s agenda as a
discussion item.
Phil: Phil mentioned that the water in the south alley is running into the fire hall and
that the city should consider ditching out the alley to alleviate the issue. He
mentioned that the water is blocked by the storage unit in the back of the fire hall
and needs to be diverted away from the unit. Dick mentioned that there are a lot
of electrical, telephone and other cables in the alley right of way and ditching it
would be a large undertaking.
Ray: Ray mentioned that the Cromwell Historical Society has a corner in the Carlton
County Historical Society building next to the fire hall in Cloquet.
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for February 2010 totaled $174,909.96
 Disbursements for February 2010 totaled $166,853.04
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick mentioned he is trying to get some money from Tamarack Watershed for the
beach. The purpose of the money would be to clean up the shoreline and redo the
sand of the beach to make it look better and cleaner.
 Dick mentioned that there may be an ATV trail that comes into town coming in
the near future.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
February 17 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
February 17, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy
Graham, Tom Borglund.
Absent:
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney: Tom
Johnson, maintenance dept: Jeanne Weimer, Citizen of Cromwell: John Gronnes,
Voyager Press
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Nancy mentioned that the saddle club gave us financial information
and it should be included in the minutes. Also regarding the annual appointments Phil
Lippo was added as a weed inspector and Ray Lally was added to census liaison in lieu of
Nancy Graham. Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve the
January 20 regular council meeting minutes with stated corrections. Motion carried
unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 The monthly pull tab rent was presented to the council. Scott mentioned that he
would make a spreadsheet showing all the payments from confidence learning for
the council to view all in one comparison sheet.
 The monthly sales were discussed and were just under (-.08%) last January 2009
sales. Scott mentioned that this would probably be the trend for the year as the
economy hit us a little later than other places.
 Nancy mentioned that the newest bar stool purchased for the liquor store is the
one they want, but they want to wait one more month before ordering a quantity
of them to make sure it stays good and sturdy.
 A list of candidates from each of the councilors was provided to Frank. Frank
will quantify the results and have Scott invite the top six candidates for interview
on February 23rd at the pavilion starting at 5:00pm and continuing at 30 minute
increments until all five are interviewed..
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 .Tom Johnson reviewed the Dept. of Health report information for the
Water/Waste Water system. We are in compliance in all areas of the report.
 There were a few complaints of yellow water and Tom flushed the hydrants to
clear it up. East end of town had a frozen hydrant.
 Smoke filters in the liquor store. Since we don’t use them any more, Ben Line is
interested in putting them in his shop. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by
Tom Borglund to sell them for as much as he can, minimum of $100.00 each.
 Tom mentioned that the one water heater is turned off and if someone lets him
know he can turn it on for events at the pavilion. Also the heater for the dish
washer is kept off and needs to be turned on to heat up before use.
 John Mattonen had two items to discuss. (1)The MNDOT contacted John
regarding the entrance signs for City. He said he would be able to get plans done
soon. The program provides the materials and design of the sign and the city is
responsible for finding a contractor to build it. (2)A letter will be coming on the
trunk highway 73 speed zone study. John suspects that it will reflect there will be
no change in speed limit from the state.
 MNDOT does have “your speed is” signs that they are willing to bring out and set
up. We just need to put in a request. John will put in request for opening of deer
season. If we purchase our own sign, MNDOT wants to be involved in the
placement of the signs. John mentioned that if the monument entrance signs were
up the traffic would be more aware that they are entering a city and traffic may
slow down.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council. The Council meeting
was listed as the 10th of March, but should be on the 24th.
 Jeanne Weimer thanked the council for the use of the pavilion for the dinner
theater. She talked to the council about the kitchen in the pavilion. She
mentioned that the design is not very friendly for catering and that we could do
much better in attracting convention type business if we rearranged and did a few
improvements including redoing some of the outlets so they can handle the big
coffee pots or other appliances. She provided some printouts on a warming oven,
shelving and carafes for the kitchen. She also mentioned that the knob on the
oven has no numbers on it and should be replaced.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 John Gronnes spoke for the Voyageur Press and discussed the special issue
coming out highlighting the Cardinal Court and its impact on the area. They are
selling advertising to help cut Cardinal Court’s cost for the issue. Motion by Dick
Huhta and seconded by Phil Lippo to purchase a $250.00 advertising spot in the
special issue.
 A request for donation from the School regarding the annual “Environthon” was
discussed. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund to donate
$50.00 from the liquor store fund for the program.
 Nancy mentioned that there were mics missing from the karaoke equipment.
Motion by Dick Huhta and seconded by Nancy Graham to purchase new ones to
replace them.
 Nancy requested to be paid for her work on the employee handbook and waxing
the liquor store floor. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund to
pay Nancy the equivalent of t full meeting days for the work. Motion carried with
three yea votes (Ray, Tom, Phil), one nay vote (Dick), and one abstain (Nancy)
 Nancy asked why Mayor Huhta could turn in hours for work done when the rest
of the council could not without approval. Scott will look into the matter and
follow up on it.
3
Fire Department:
 Tom Johnson mentioned that the fire department has not been turned down for the
new fire hall grant they applied for. At this point no news means good news.
They are only letting departments know when they are no longer being considered
and we have not been notified.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none
Phil: none
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for January 2009 totaled $49,388.70
 Disbursements for January 2009 totaled $50,029.72
 Nancy mentioned that an invoice from Batteries Plus was posted to the general
fund when it should be in the fire department fund.
 Nancy mentioned that and invoice from Federated Coops posted on 1/26/10
looked similar to one from 12/9/09. Scott will look into it further.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick shared a sample code of conduct and statement of values form the League of
Minnesota Cities for everyone’s review. He mentioned that all would benefit
form reading and following the documents.
 Two letters from the sixth grade class to the Mayor were shared with all. They
were an exercise in persuasive letter writing and both discussed the merits of the
city having a skate park. Scott was instructed to type up a reply to the letters and
send to the class.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned 8:20pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
January 20 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
January 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy
Graham, Tom Borglund.
Absent:
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney: Tom
Johnson, maintenance dept.; Dorothy Rick, Liquor Store.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve
the December 16 regular council meeting minutes with stated corrections.. Motion
carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 A summary of all 2009 pull tab rent payments was presented to the council.
Mayor Huhta mentioned that we should increase our pull tab rent by 5%. The city
clerk will let the Confidence Learning Center know when the contract is up for
renewal in September 2010.
 Liquor Store sales were reviewed by the Council.
 A summary of the 2009 sales for the Liquor Store were reviewed by the Council.
 Two employment applications were presented to the Council.
 Motion by Councilor Lally and seconded by Councilor Lippo to accept
applications for the liquor store manager through February 12th. Motion carried
unanimously. There was discussion on the application and interview process.
 Frank Yetka, City Attorney, will facilitate the hiring process. February 23rd is set
for the interview process starting at 5:00pm.
 A request for The Keystone play at the liquor store on Feb. 6th was discussed by
the council. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Dick mentioned that Dot asked about giving free drink tickets during cribbage
each month. The council approved it as long as the tickets were used the same
day during cribbage and did not carry over to any other time.
 Dot also talked about karaoke. Rob & Deb Switzer are going to DJ the karaoke
for free. Jerry Graham will train them on how to use the equipment.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
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2
 Tom reported for the W&S/Maintenance Dept. The ponds are in good shape.
Water tower has come close to freezing a couple times, but is okay so far. There
has been a couple times when the water in town has turned a little yellow, and
Tom flushed the lines to clear it up. He has had a hose running during the very
cold weather to keep the tower from freezing and has now taken it out. Weather
should be good for the near future. A new heater was installed in the shop and is
working well.
 John Mattonen reported for RLK engineering. He is waiting for info from
MNDOT on the school zone/speed zone near the school.
 Water and sewer rates were reviewed by the council. Some clarifications were
made on the existing codes to make sure everyone understood the current rates.
There was no objection to leaving the rates the same. The water and sewer funds
are maintaining a positive balance and progressing towards paying off debt.
 The lift station on Lippo Lane is still acting up a little. Tom feels that we may
need to open it up and clean out the piping in the mound so it works properly. He
is worried it may not keep up when the spring melt comes.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council.
 There was discussion on the pavilion use. All people using the pavilion shall get
a key from the clerk for each time they need to get into the pavilion. The
luminary committee has had a key for several months and the council doesn’t
them to have a key for so long. Scott will talk to Linda Larson, who signed out
the key, and let her know she needs to turn it back in after each use.
 There was discussion on the riding arena. There is a light on the south end that is
not working. We will need to either have Lake Country Power or an electrician
change it out. Tom will need to talk to Mary Jo Stenson to figure out exactly
which light it is. Mary Jo had also mentioned to Scott that they would be
straightening post on the arena this summer and needed to have the Gopher State
One-Call done when they do it so they mark and cables that may be there.
 Nancy mentioned that the Harvest Fest steak fry will be held on either June 18th or
11th depending on the pavilion rentals.
 Dick mentioned that people should not be doing carpenter work inside the
pavilion or painting of props for the play inside the pavilion. We do not have any
kind of deposit from some of the groups and do not want to be left with the
liability of doing major repairs due to an accident. It is also very hard to keep the
pavilion clean when you don’t know when someone is coming into the building.
The cleaning person has come in to clean a couple times and found out someone
was using the pavilion so she could not clean.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 There was discussion on the current rate schedule for the city services. Motion by
Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to raise the per hour cost for city
employees from $25.00 to $30.00 to make sure it covers regular cost of highest
paid employee when all benefits, taxes, and insurance is figured in. Motion
carried unanimously.
 An updated zoning permit was reviewed with language indicating a time limit.
People will need to renew the permit if the project is not complete within one
year. Ray said to make sure the spelling in the permit is corrected before it is
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3
printed. Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Nancy Graham to accept the
permit with spelling corrections. Motion carried unanimously.
 There was discussion on insulating the garage in the park. The council felt they
should have had the opportunity to approve project before the materials were
ordered. Scott assured them that no checks will be written in the future without
proper board approval.
 Annual appointments were reviewed.
1. Health official: Dr. Shawn Bode
2. Health inspectors: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, Nancy Graham
3. Weed inspector: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Tom Borglund, Phil
Lippo
4. Civil Defense Directors: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
5. Register Control: City Clerk, Nancy Graham, Phil Lippo, Ray Lally
6. Depository: Northview Bank of Cromwell and Moose Lake Credit Union
7. Legal Newspaper: Voyager Press
8. Law Firm: Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, and Pritchett
9. Program Liaison: Census Bureau: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
10. Acting Mayor: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Ray Lally, Phil Lippo
11. Engineer: Rlk Kuuisto Engineering
12. CCEDAC Rep: Richard Huhta, Scott Warner
13. Cromwell Area Development Corporation Chairperson: Nancy Graham
Fire Department:
 Scott mentioned the new ambulance is due to come in this month, but he has not
heard an exact date yet.
 Tom mentioned that the State of Minnesota is requiring our fire department to
have quarters for a fire crew within four years from now. The fire department is
seeking grant funding for a new fire hall (discussed at a previous council
meeting). If the funds come through, the existing fire hall will go to the city for
use as a new city hall or garage or liquor store etc….
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none
Phil: none
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for December 2009 totaled $140,991.53
 Disbursements for December 2009 totaled $77,274.75
MAYOR’S NOTES:

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
January 20 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
January 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy
Graham, Tom Borglund.
Absent:
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney: Tom
Johnson, maintenance dept.; Dorothy Rick, Liquor Store.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve
the December 16 regular council meeting minutes with stated corrections.. Motion
carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 A summary of all 2009 pull tab rent payments was presented to the council.
Mayor Huhta mentioned that we should increase our pull tab rent by 5%. The city
clerk will let the Confidence Learning Center know when the contract is up for
renewal in September 2010.
 Liquor Store sales were reviewed by the Council.
 A summary of the 2009 sales for the Liquor Store were reviewed by the Council.
 Two employment applications were presented to the Council.
 Motion by Councilor Lally and seconded by Councilor Lippo to accept
applications for the liquor store manager through February 12th. Motion carried
unanimously. There was discussion on the application and interview process.
 Frank Yetka, City Attorney, will facilitate the hiring process. February 23rd is set
for the interview process starting at 5:00pm.
 A request for The Keystone play at the liquor store on Feb. 6th was discussed by
the council. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Dick mentioned that Dot asked about giving free drink tickets during cribbage
each month. The council approved it as long as the tickets were used the same
day during cribbage and did not carry over to any other time.
 Dot also talked about karaoke. Rob & Deb Switzer are going to DJ the karaoke
for free. Jerry Graham will train them on how to use the equipment.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom reported for the W&S/Maintenance Dept. The ponds are in good shape.
Water tower has come close to freezing a couple times, but is okay so far. There
has been a couple times when the water in town has turned a little yellow, and
Tom flushed the lines to clear it up. He has had a hose running during the very
cold weather to keep the tower from freezing and has now taken it out. Weather
should be good for the near future. A new heater was installed in the shop and is
working well.
 John Mattonen reported for RLK engineering. He is waiting for info from
MNDOT on the school zone/speed zone near the school.
 Water and sewer rates were reviewed by the council. Some clarifications were
made on the existing codes to make sure everyone understood the current rates.
There was no objection to leaving the rates the same. The water and sewer funds
are maintaining a positive balance and progressing towards paying off debt.
 The lift station on Lippo Lane is still acting up a little. Tom feels that we may
need to open it up and clean out the piping in the mound so it works properly. He
is worried it may not keep up when the spring melt comes.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council.
 There was discussion on the pavilion use. All people using the pavilion shall get
a key from the clerk for each time they need to get into the pavilion. The
luminary committee has had a key for several months and the council doesn’t
them to have a key for so long. Scott will talk to Linda Larson, who signed out
the key, and let her know she needs to turn it back in after each use.
 There was discussion on the riding arena. There is a light on the south end that is
not working. We will need to either have Lake Country Power or an electrician
change it out. Tom will need to talk to Mary Jo Stenson to figure out exactly
which light it is. Mary Jo had also mentioned to Scott that they would be
straightening post on the arena this summer and needed to have the Gopher State
One-Call done when they do it so they mark and cables that may be there.
 Nancy mentioned that the Harvest Fest steak fry will be held on either June 18th or
11th depending on the pavilion rentals.
 Dick mentioned that people should not be doing carpenter work inside the
pavilion or painting of props for the play inside the pavilion. We do not have any
kind of deposit from some of the groups and do not want to be left with the
liability of doing major repairs due to an accident. It is also very hard to keep the
pavilion clean when you don’t know when someone is coming into the building.
The cleaning person has come in to clean a couple times and found out someone
was using the pavilion so she could not clean.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 There was discussion on the current rate schedule for the city services. Motion by
Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to raise the per hour cost for city
employees from $25.00 to $30.00 to make sure it covers regular cost of highest
paid employee when all benefits, taxes, and insurance is figured in. Motion
carried unanimously.
 An updated zoning permit was reviewed with language indicating a time limit.
People will need to renew the permit if the project is not complete within one
year. Ray said to make sure the spelling in the permit is corrected before it is
printed. Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Nancy Graham to accept the
permit with spelling corrections. Motion carried unanimously.
 There was discussion on insulating the garage in the park. The council felt they
should have had the opportunity to approve project before the materials were
ordered. Scott assured them that no checks will be written in the future without
proper board approval.
 Annual appointments were reviewed.
1. Health official: Dr. Shawn Bode
2. Health inspectors: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, Nancy Graham
3. Weed inspector: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Tom Borglund, Phil
Lippo
4. Civil Defense Directors: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
5. Register Control: City Clerk, Nancy Graham, Phil Lippo, Ray Lally
6. Depository: Northview Bank of Cromwell and Moose Lake Credit Union
7. Legal Newspaper: Voyager Press
8. Law Firm: Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, and Pritchett
9. Program Liaison: Census Bureau: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
10. Acting Mayor: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Ray Lally, Phil Lippo
11. Engineer: Rlk Kuuisto Engineering
12. CCEDAC Rep: Richard Huhta, Scott Warner
13. Cromwell Area Development Corporation Chairperson: Nancy Graham
Fire Department:
 Scott mentioned the new ambulance is due to come in this month, but he has not
heard an exact date yet.
 Tom mentioned that the State of Minnesota is requiring our fire department to
have quarters for a fire crew within four years from now. The fire department is
seeking grant funding for a new fire hall (discussed at a previous council
meeting). If the funds come through, the existing fire hall will go to the city for
use as a new city hall or garage or liquor store etc….
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none
Phil: none
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for December 2009 totaled $140,991.53
 Disbursements for December 2009 totaled $77,274.75
MAYOR’S NOTES:

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
January 20 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
January 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy
Graham, Tom Borglund.
Absent:
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney: Tom
Johnson, maintenance dept.; Dorothy Rick, Liquor Store.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve
the December 16 regular council meeting minutes with stated corrections.. Motion
carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 A summary of all 2009 pull tab rent payments was presented to the council.
Mayor Huhta mentioned that we should increase our pull tab rent by 5%. The city
clerk will let the Confidence Learning Center know when the contract is up for
renewal in September 2010.
 Liquor Store sales were reviewed by the Council.
 A summary of the 2009 sales for the Liquor Store were reviewed by the Council.
 Two employment applications were presented to the Council.
 Motion by Councilor Lally and seconded by Councilor Lippo to accept
applications for the liquor store manager through February 12th. Motion carried
unanimously. There was discussion on the application and interview process.
 Frank Yetka, City Attorney, will facilitate the hiring process. February 23rd is set
for the interview process starting at 5:00pm.
 A request for The Keystone play at the liquor store on Feb. 6th was discussed by
the council. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Dick mentioned that Dot asked about giving free drink tickets during cribbage
each month. The council approved it as long as the tickets were used the same
day during cribbage and did not carry over to any other time.
 Dot also talked about karaoke. Rob & Deb Switzer are going to DJ the karaoke
for free. Jerry Graham will train them on how to use the equipment.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom reported for the W&S/Maintenance Dept. The ponds are in good shape.
Water tower has come close to freezing a couple times, but is okay so far. There
has been a couple times when the water in town has turned a little yellow, and
Tom flushed the lines to clear it up. He has had a hose running during the very
cold weather to keep the tower from freezing and has now taken it out. Weather
should be good for the near future. A new heater was installed in the shop and is
working well.
 John Mattonen reported for RLK engineering. He is waiting for info from
MNDOT on the school zone/speed zone near the school.
 Water and sewer rates were reviewed by the council. Some clarifications were
made on the existing codes to make sure everyone understood the current rates.
There was no objection to leaving the rates the same. The water and sewer funds
are maintaining a positive balance and progressing towards paying off debt.
 The lift station on Lippo Lane is still acting up a little. Tom feels that we may
need to open it up and clean out the piping in the mound so it works properly. He
is worried it may not keep up when the spring melt comes.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council.
 There was discussion on the pavilion use. All people using the pavilion shall get
a key from the clerk for each time they need to get into the pavilion. The
luminary committee has had a key for several months and the council doesn’t
them to have a key for so long. Scott will talk to Linda Larson, who signed out
the key, and let her know she needs to turn it back in after each use.
 There was discussion on the riding arena. There is a light on the south end that is
not working. We will need to either have Lake Country Power or an electrician
change it out. Tom will need to talk to Mary Jo Stenson to figure out exactly
which light it is. Mary Jo had also mentioned to Scott that they would be
straightening post on the arena this summer and needed to have the Gopher State
One-Call done when they do it so they mark and cables that may be there.
 Nancy mentioned that the Harvest Fest steak fry will be held on either June 18th or
11th depending on the pavilion rentals.
 Dick mentioned that people should not be doing carpenter work inside the
pavilion or painting of props for the play inside the pavilion. We do not have any
kind of deposit from some of the groups and do not want to be left with the
liability of doing major repairs due to an accident. It is also very hard to keep the
pavilion clean when you don’t know when someone is coming into the building.
The cleaning person has come in to clean a couple times and found out someone
was using the pavilion so she could not clean.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 There was discussion on the current rate schedule for the city services. Motion by
Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to raise the per hour cost for city
employees from $25.00 to $30.00 to make sure it covers regular cost of highest
paid employee when all benefits, taxes, and insurance is figured in. Motion
carried unanimously.
 An updated zoning permit was reviewed with language indicating a time limit.
People will need to renew the permit if the project is not complete within one
year. Ray said to make sure the spelling in the permit is corrected before it is
printed. Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Nancy Graham to accept the
permit with spelling corrections. Motion carried unanimously.
 There was discussion on insulating the garage in the park. The council felt they
should have had the opportunity to approve project before the materials were
ordered. Scott assured them that no checks will be written in the future without
proper board approval.
 Annual appointments were reviewed.
1. Health official: Dr. Shawn Bode
2. Health inspectors: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, Nancy Graham
3. Weed inspector: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Tom Borglund, Phil
Lippo
4. Civil Defense Directors: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
5. Register Control: City Clerk, Nancy Graham, Phil Lippo, Ray Lally
6. Depository: Northview Bank of Cromwell and Moose Lake Credit Union
7. Legal Newspaper: Voyager Press
8. Law Firm: Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, and Pritchett
9. Program Liaison: Census Bureau: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
10. Acting Mayor: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Ray Lally, Phil Lippo
11. Engineer: Rlk Kuuisto Engineering
12. CCEDAC Rep: Richard Huhta, Scott Warner
13. Cromwell Area Development Corporation Chairperson: Nancy Graham
Fire Department:
 Scott mentioned the new ambulance is due to come in this month, but he has not
heard an exact date yet.
 Tom mentioned that the State of Minnesota is requiring our fire department to
have quarters for a fire crew within four years from now. The fire department is
seeking grant funding for a new fire hall (discussed at a previous council
meeting). If the funds come through, the existing fire hall will go to the city for
use as a new city hall or garage or liquor store etc….
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none
Phil: none
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for December 2009 totaled $140,991.53
 Disbursements for December 2009 totaled $77,274.75
MAYOR’S NOTES:

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
January 20 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
January 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy
Graham, Tom Borglund.
Absent:
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney: Tom
Johnson, maintenance dept.; Dorothy Rick, Liquor Store.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve
the December 16 regular council meeting minutes with stated corrections.. Motion
carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 A summary of all 2009 pull tab rent payments was presented to the council.
Mayor Huhta mentioned that we should increase our pull tab rent by 5%. The city
clerk will let the Confidence Learning Center know when the contract is up for
renewal in September 2010.
 Liquor Store sales were reviewed by the Council.
 A summary of the 2009 sales for the Liquor Store were reviewed by the Council.
 Two employment applications were presented to the Council.
 Motion by Councilor Lally and seconded by Councilor Lippo to accept
applications for the liquor store manager through February 12th. Motion carried
unanimously. There was discussion on the application and interview process.
 Frank Yetka, City Attorney, will facilitate the hiring process. February 23rd is set
for the interview process starting at 5:00pm.
 A request for The Keystone play at the liquor store on Feb. 6th was discussed by
the council. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Dick mentioned that Dot asked about giving free drink tickets during cribbage
each month. The council approved it as long as the tickets were used the same
day during cribbage and did not carry over to any other time.
 Dot also talked about karaoke. Rob & Deb Switzer are going to DJ the karaoke
for free. Jerry Graham will train them on how to use the equipment.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
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2
 Tom reported for the W&S/Maintenance Dept. The ponds are in good shape.
Water tower has come close to freezing a couple times, but is okay so far. There
has been a couple times when the water in town has turned a little yellow, and
Tom flushed the lines to clear it up. He has had a hose running during the very
cold weather to keep the tower from freezing and has now taken it out. Weather
should be good for the near future. A new heater was installed in the shop and is
working well.
 John Mattonen reported for RLK engineering. He is waiting for info from
MNDOT on the school zone/speed zone near the school.
 Water and sewer rates were reviewed by the council. Some clarifications were
made on the existing codes to make sure everyone understood the current rates.
There was no objection to leaving the rates the same. The water and sewer funds
are maintaining a positive balance and progressing towards paying off debt.
 The lift station on Lippo Lane is still acting up a little. Tom feels that we may
need to open it up and clean out the piping in the mound so it works properly. He
is worried it may not keep up when the spring melt comes.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council.
 There was discussion on the pavilion use. All people using the pavilion shall get
a key from the clerk for each time they need to get into the pavilion. The
luminary committee has had a key for several months and the council doesn’t
them to have a key for so long. Scott will talk to Linda Larson, who signed out
the key, and let her know she needs to turn it back in after each use.
 There was discussion on the riding arena. There is a light on the south end that is
not working. We will need to either have Lake Country Power or an electrician
change it out. Tom will need to talk to Mary Jo Stenson to figure out exactly
which light it is. Mary Jo had also mentioned to Scott that they would be
straightening post on the arena this summer and needed to have the Gopher State
One-Call done when they do it so they mark and cables that may be there.
 Nancy mentioned that the Harvest Fest steak fry will be held on either June 18th or
11th depending on the pavilion rentals.
 Dick mentioned that people should not be doing carpenter work inside the
pavilion or painting of props for the play inside the pavilion. We do not have any
kind of deposit from some of the groups and do not want to be left with the
liability of doing major repairs due to an accident. It is also very hard to keep the
pavilion clean when you don’t know when someone is coming into the building.
The cleaning person has come in to clean a couple times and found out someone
was using the pavilion so she could not clean.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 There was discussion on the current rate schedule for the city services. Motion by
Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to raise the per hour cost for city
employees from $25.00 to $30.00 to make sure it covers regular cost of highest
paid employee when all benefits, taxes, and insurance is figured in. Motion
carried unanimously.
 An updated zoning permit was reviewed with language indicating a time limit.
People will need to renew the permit if the project is not complete within one
year. Ray said to make sure the spelling in the permit is corrected before it is
printed. Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Nancy Graham to accept the
permit with spelling corrections. Motion carried unanimously.
 There was discussion on insulating the garage in the park. The council felt they
should have had the opportunity to approve project before the materials were
ordered. Scott assured them that no checks will be written in the future without
proper board approval.
 Annual appointments were reviewed.
1. Health official: Dr. Shawn Bode
2. Health inspectors: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, Nancy Graham
3. Weed inspector: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Tom Borglund, Phil
Lippo
4. Civil Defense Directors: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
5. Register Control: City Clerk, Nancy Graham, Phil Lippo, Ray Lally
6. Depository: Northview Bank of Cromwell and Moose Lake Credit Union
7. Legal Newspaper: Voyager Press
8. Law Firm: Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, and Pritchett
9. Program Liaison: Census Bureau: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
10. Acting Mayor: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Ray Lally, Phil Lippo
11. Engineer: Rlk Kuuisto Engineering
12. CCEDAC Rep: Richard Huhta, Scott Warner
13. Cromwell Area Development Corporation Chairperson: Nancy Graham
Fire Department:
 Scott mentioned the new ambulance is due to come in this month, but he has not
heard an exact date yet.
 Tom mentioned that the State of Minnesota is requiring our fire department to
have quarters for a fire crew within four years from now. The fire department is
seeking grant funding for a new fire hall (discussed at a previous council
meeting). If the funds come through, the existing fire hall will go to the city for
use as a new city hall or garage or liquor store etc….
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none
Phil: none
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for December 2009 totaled $140,991.53
 Disbursements for December 2009 totaled $77,274.75
MAYOR’S NOTES:

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
January 20 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
January 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy
Graham, Tom Borglund.
Absent:
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney: Tom
Johnson, maintenance dept.; Dorothy Rick, Liquor Store.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve
the December 16 regular council meeting minutes with stated corrections.. Motion
carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 A summary of all 2009 pull tab rent payments was presented to the council.
Mayor Huhta mentioned that we should increase our pull tab rent by 5%. The city
clerk will let the Confidence Learning Center know when the contract is up for
renewal in September 2010.
 Liquor Store sales were reviewed by the Council.
 A summary of the 2009 sales for the Liquor Store were reviewed by the Council.
 Two employment applications were presented to the Council.
 Motion by Councilor Lally and seconded by Councilor Lippo to accept
applications for the liquor store manager through February 12th. Motion carried
unanimously. There was discussion on the application and interview process.
 Frank Yetka, City Attorney, will facilitate the hiring process. February 23rd is set
for the interview process starting at 5:00pm.
 A request for The Keystone play at the liquor store on Feb. 6th was discussed by
the council. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Dick mentioned that Dot asked about giving free drink tickets during cribbage
each month. The council approved it as long as the tickets were used the same
day during cribbage and did not carry over to any other time.
 Dot also talked about karaoke. Rob & Deb Switzer are going to DJ the karaoke
for free. Jerry Graham will train them on how to use the equipment.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
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2
 Tom reported for the W&S/Maintenance Dept. The ponds are in good shape.
Water tower has come close to freezing a couple times, but is okay so far. There
has been a couple times when the water in town has turned a little yellow, and
Tom flushed the lines to clear it up. He has had a hose running during the very
cold weather to keep the tower from freezing and has now taken it out. Weather
should be good for the near future. A new heater was installed in the shop and is
working well.
 John Mattonen reported for RLK engineering. He is waiting for info from
MNDOT on the school zone/speed zone near the school.
 Water and sewer rates were reviewed by the council. Some clarifications were
made on the existing codes to make sure everyone understood the current rates.
There was no objection to leaving the rates the same. The water and sewer funds
are maintaining a positive balance and progressing towards paying off debt.
 The lift station on Lippo Lane is still acting up a little. Tom feels that we may
need to open it up and clean out the piping in the mound so it works properly. He
is worried it may not keep up when the spring melt comes.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council.
 There was discussion on the pavilion use. All people using the pavilion shall get
a key from the clerk for each time they need to get into the pavilion. The
luminary committee has had a key for several months and the council doesn’t
them to have a key for so long. Scott will talk to Linda Larson, who signed out
the key, and let her know she needs to turn it back in after each use.
 There was discussion on the riding arena. There is a light on the south end that is
not working. We will need to either have Lake Country Power or an electrician
change it out. Tom will need to talk to Mary Jo Stenson to figure out exactly
which light it is. Mary Jo had also mentioned to Scott that they would be
straightening post on the arena this summer and needed to have the Gopher State
One-Call done when they do it so they mark and cables that may be there.
 Nancy mentioned that the Harvest Fest steak fry will be held on either June 18th or
11th depending on the pavilion rentals.
 Dick mentioned that people should not be doing carpenter work inside the
pavilion or painting of props for the play inside the pavilion. We do not have any
kind of deposit from some of the groups and do not want to be left with the
liability of doing major repairs due to an accident. It is also very hard to keep the
pavilion clean when you don’t know when someone is coming into the building.
The cleaning person has come in to clean a couple times and found out someone
was using the pavilion so she could not clean.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 There was discussion on the current rate schedule for the city services. Motion by
Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to raise the per hour cost for city
employees from $25.00 to $30.00 to make sure it covers regular cost of highest
paid employee when all benefits, taxes, and insurance is figured in. Motion
carried unanimously.
 An updated zoning permit was reviewed with language indicating a time limit.
People will need to renew the permit if the project is not complete within one
year. Ray said to make sure the spelling in the permit is corrected before it is
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3
printed. Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Nancy Graham to accept the
permit with spelling corrections. Motion carried unanimously.
 There was discussion on insulating the garage in the park. The council felt they
should have had the opportunity to approve project before the materials were
ordered. Scott assured them that no checks will be written in the future without
proper board approval.
 Annual appointments were reviewed.
1. Health official: Dr. Shawn Bode
2. Health inspectors: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, Nancy Graham
3. Weed inspector: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Tom Borglund, Phil
Lippo
4. Civil Defense Directors: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
5. Register Control: City Clerk, Nancy Graham, Phil Lippo, Ray Lally
6. Depository: Northview Bank of Cromwell and Moose Lake Credit Union
7. Legal Newspaper: Voyager Press
8. Law Firm: Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, and Pritchett
9. Program Liaison: Census Bureau: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
10. Acting Mayor: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Ray Lally, Phil Lippo
11. Engineer: Rlk Kuuisto Engineering
12. CCEDAC Rep: Richard Huhta, Scott Warner
13. Cromwell Area Development Corporation Chairperson: Nancy Graham
Fire Department:
 Scott mentioned the new ambulance is due to come in this month, but he has not
heard an exact date yet.
 Tom mentioned that the State of Minnesota is requiring our fire department to
have quarters for a fire crew within four years from now. The fire department is
seeking grant funding for a new fire hall (discussed at a previous council
meeting). If the funds come through, the existing fire hall will go to the city for
use as a new city hall or garage or liquor store etc….
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none
Phil: none
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for December 2009 totaled $140,991.53
 Disbursements for December 2009 totaled $77,274.75
MAYOR’S NOTES:

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer

 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
January 20 2010
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
January 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy
Graham, Tom Borglund.
Absent:
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney: Tom
Johnson, maintenance dept.; Dorothy Rick, Liquor Store.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve
the December 16 regular council meeting minutes with stated corrections.. Motion
carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 A summary of all 2009 pull tab rent payments was presented to the council.
Mayor Huhta mentioned that we should increase our pull tab rent by 5%. The city
clerk will let the Confidence Learning Center know when the contract is up for
renewal in September 2010.
 Liquor Store sales were reviewed by the Council.
 A summary of the 2009 sales for the Liquor Store were reviewed by the Council.
 Two employment applications were presented to the Council.
 Motion by Councilor Lally and seconded by Councilor Lippo to accept
applications for the liquor store manager through February 12th. Motion carried
unanimously. There was discussion on the application and interview process.
 Frank Yetka, City Attorney, will facilitate the hiring process. February 23rd is set
for the interview process starting at 5:00pm.
 A request for The Keystone play at the liquor store on Feb. 6th was discussed by
the council. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Dick mentioned that Dot asked about giving free drink tickets during cribbage
each month. The council approved it as long as the tickets were used the same
day during cribbage and did not carry over to any other time.
 Dot also talked about karaoke. Rob & Deb Switzer are going to DJ the karaoke
for free. Jerry Graham will train them on how to use the equipment.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom reported for the W&S/Maintenance Dept. The ponds are in good shape.
Water tower has come close to freezing a couple times, but is okay so far. There
has been a couple times when the water in town has turned a little yellow, and
Tom flushed the lines to clear it up. He has had a hose running during the very
cold weather to keep the tower from freezing and has now taken it out. Weather
should be good for the near future. A new heater was installed in the shop and is
working well.
 John Mattonen reported for RLK engineering. He is waiting for info from
MNDOT on the school zone/speed zone near the school.
 Water and sewer rates were reviewed by the council. Some clarifications were
made on the existing codes to make sure everyone understood the current rates.
There was no objection to leaving the rates the same. The water and sewer funds
are maintaining a positive balance and progressing towards paying off debt.
 The lift station on Lippo Lane is still acting up a little. Tom feels that we may
need to open it up and clean out the piping in the mound so it works properly. He
is worried it may not keep up when the spring melt comes.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council.
 There was discussion on the pavilion use. All people using the pavilion shall get
a key from the clerk for each time they need to get into the pavilion. The
luminary committee has had a key for several months and the council doesn’t
them to have a key for so long. Scott will talk to Linda Larson, who signed out
the key, and let her know she needs to turn it back in after each use.
 There was discussion on the riding arena. There is a light on the south end that is
not working. We will need to either have Lake Country Power or an electrician
change it out. Tom will need to talk to Mary Jo Stenson to figure out exactly
which light it is. Mary Jo had also mentioned to Scott that they would be
straightening post on the arena this summer and needed to have the Gopher State
One-Call done when they do it so they mark and cables that may be there.
 Nancy mentioned that the Harvest Fest steak fry will be held on either June 18th or
11th depending on the pavilion rentals.
 Dick mentioned that people should not be doing carpenter work inside the
pavilion or painting of props for the play inside the pavilion. We do not have any
kind of deposit from some of the groups and do not want to be left with the
liability of doing major repairs due to an accident. It is also very hard to keep the
pavilion clean when you don’t know when someone is coming into the building.
The cleaning person has come in to clean a couple times and found out someone
was using the pavilion so she could not clean.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 There was discussion on the current rate schedule for the city services. Motion by
Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to raise the per hour cost for city
employees from $25.00 to $30.00 to make sure it covers regular cost of highest
paid employee when all benefits, taxes, and insurance is figured in. Motion
carried unanimously.
 An updated zoning permit was reviewed with language indicating a time limit.
People will need to renew the permit if the project is not complete within one
year. Ray said to make sure the spelling in the permit is corrected before it is
printed. Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Nancy Graham to accept the
permit with spelling corrections. Motion carried unanimously.
 There was discussion on insulating the garage in the park. The council felt they
should have had the opportunity to approve project before the materials were
ordered. Scott assured them that no checks will be written in the future without
proper board approval.
 Annual appointments were reviewed.
1. Health official: Dr. Shawn Bode
2. Health inspectors: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, Nancy Graham
3. Weed inspector: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Tom Borglund, Phil
Lippo
4. Civil Defense Directors: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
5. Register Control: City Clerk, Nancy Graham, Phil Lippo, Ray Lally
6. Depository: Northview Bank of Cromwell and Moose Lake Credit Union
7. Legal Newspaper: Voyager Press
8. Law Firm: Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, and Pritchett
9. Program Liaison: Census Bureau: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
10. Acting Mayor: Tom Borglund, Nancy Graham, Ray Lally, Phil Lippo
11. Engineer: Rlk Kuuisto Engineering
12. CCEDAC Rep: Richard Huhta, Scott Warner
13. Cromwell Area Development Corporation Chairperson: Nancy Graham
Fire Department:
 Scott mentioned the new ambulance is due to come in this month, but he has not
heard an exact date yet.
 Tom mentioned that the State of Minnesota is requiring our fire department to
have quarters for a fire crew within four years from now. The fire department is
seeking grant funding for a new fire hall (discussed at a previous council
meeting). If the funds come through, the existing fire hall will go to the city for
use as a new city hall or garage or liquor store etc….
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none
Phil: none
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented.
 Receipts for December 2009 totaled $140,991.53
 Disbursements for December 2009 totaled $77,274.75
MAYOR’S NOTES:

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
December 16, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
December 16, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy
Graham, Tom Borglund.
Absent:
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to approve
the November 18 regular council meeting minutes with stated corrections.. Motion
carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 An incident at the liquor store was discussed regarding ejecting people from the
bar. Scott will get more info from the bartenders and remind them to stay behind
the bar and to not physically touch patrons.
 Pull tab rent payment was reviewed.
 The council was upset that the Confidence Learning Center changed Pull Tab
Managers at the liquor store and did not inform the council. Scott was asked to
follow up with the pull tab manager and find out who to talk to in order to make
sure it doesn’t happen again. The council felt they should have been informed of
the change before it happened.
 A donation to the Shriners to sponsor kids’ trip to the circus. Motion by Ray
Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to donate $56.00 to Shriners for the annual
Shrine Circus in Duluth.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom reported for the W&S/Maintenance Dept.
 John Mattonen reported that there are stimulus dollars coming into the state that
we may be able to use to do work on the water loop project. There was no other
new news regarding active city projects.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council.
 Changes to the Pavilion Rental Agreement were discussed and approved.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
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2
 2009 property tax breakdown was reviewed by the council.
 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Councilor Graham to send the entire
list of past due water and sewer payments to the county for collection as special
assessment to property taxes. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion on the validity of the building permit for Cal Jacobson on the property
on North Star Lane. Scott will check on current permit and make necessary
changes for future permits to add an expiration date.
Fire Department:
 No new business.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: Nancy mentioned that there were two nights of D.J. music at the liquor
store. The consensus of the council is that the Karaoke equipment should be use instead.
Jerry Graham will train a new person to run the equipment so we can set up a monthly
Karaoke night. Motion by Councilor Graham and seconded by Councilor Lippo to pay
someone $50.00 to run karaoke equipment on karaoke night. Motion carried
unanimously.
Phil: Phil mentioned that the maintenance shop heater is out of order and needs
to be replaced. Tom Borglund will have Federated install a new one.
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented and discussed.
 Receipts for November 2009 totaled $62,465.33
 Disbursements for November 2009 totaled $76,788.16
 2010 council meeting dates were discussed. The meetings will be held the third
Wednesday of each month at 7pm with the exception of March and July, which
will be held on the fourth Wednesday at 7pm.
 There was discussion on a Payroll law seminar on January 28th in Duluth. Scott
will attend.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick mentioned that we should donate $100.00 to the food shelf. Nancy
mentioned that if we wait until March, the food shelf will get matching funds and
will gain more from our donation. Motion by Lally and seconded by Graham to
donate $100.00 to food shelf when they will get greatest benefit.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Nancy Graham and seconded by Tom Borglund.
Motion Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
November 18, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, October 21st 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.

The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.

Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, and Nancy Graham.
Absent: Tom Borglund (excused)
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department Manager; Dr. Shawn Bode, Cromwell Medical Clinic.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.

Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve
the October 21st regular council meeting minutes with stated corrections.. Motion carried
unanimously.

LIQUOR STORE:
 Tomika reported for the liquor store.
 A complaint was discussed regarding the pricing of peanuts in the bar. Tomika
put the price of peanuts on each pack so there is no confusion in the future.
 There was discussion on new barstools and tabletops and bases. No action was
taken. It was decided to wait a month to see how the wooden bar-stool holds up
in the liquor store before we order anything.
 Pull tab rent payment was reviewed.
 There was discussion on aluminum cans at the liquor store. The council decided
to donate the aluminum cans to the local boy scouts instead of keeping them and
turning them in. The labor cost of keeping the cans is more than the money we
get back from them
 There was discussion on buying a WII for the bar. Motion by Nancy Graham and
seconded by Ray Lally to purchase a WII system for the liquor store. Motion
approved unanimously.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom reported for the W&S/Maintenance Dept.
 Tom shared a letter from the repair person regarding the hydrant at the corner of
hwy 73 and Villa Vista Circle. The leak in the hydrant was caused by a sliver of
plastic lodged in the seal from the cutting of the line by the Cardinal Court
Construction.
 There was discussion on a snow plowing estimate/bid. The city council intends to
continue to use Keith Clark to do the snow removal and any necessary outside
plowing services needed. These services are generally billed out to the State of
Minnesota as it pertains to State Highways 210 and 73.
 Tom mentioned that the city truck is repaired and works perfectly. The plow is
ready to go for winter and the John Deere tractor and plow are ready to go also.
 The water tower and all sewer systems are winterized and ready to go.
 The street signs are up on all the streets in waters edge addition.
 There was discussion on a property on the east side of Island Lake who inquired
about hooking up to the city sewer. The property is in both Red Clover Township
and the City of Cromwell. All costs of the project, if approved, would fall on the
property owner.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The calendar for the pavilion was presented to the council.
 A thank-you from the Chill-O-Ween party was presented.
 A thank-you from the food shelf was presented.
 Scott mentioned that the PTA will be donating $100.00 to the city for the use of
the kitchen for the hunter’s supper.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Discussion on Cromwell Medical Clinic rent amount for the space in the City Hall
Building. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to charge rent in the
amount of 60% of the buildings expenses paid each month beginning January
2010 and ending December 2010, and beginning January 2011 and continuing
indefinitely the rent payment will be 80% of buildings expenses.
 John Mattonen discussed the possibility of a “your speed is” radar sign for the
city. There may some grant money in the near future for such things.
 A school zone was discussed also. Nancy mentioned that she has witnessed about
25-30 kids crossing the street near the school on a daily basis and several parents
that drop kids off at the eastern door to the school where a “school crossing”
should be.
Fire Department:
 No new business.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: Nancy mentioned that, since we have the new key policy in place, we
should re-write the pavilion agreement to read, “if the key to the pavilion is not turned
back in, you will be charged to cost of re-keying the locks. If the deposit does not cover
it, then you will be billed for the difference.”
Also, we need to add the stipulation that anyone selling food at the
pavilion, must get the proper dept. of health food permit for the event.
Nancy also mentioned that there have been complaints regarding the smell
of propane in the pavilion. Tom stated that the inspector said it is set up properly and the
pilots leave a minor scent of propane, but it is not a health or safety concern. Nancy
thought we should add to the checklist on the rental agreement to turn off pilot
lights/kitchen gas line, turn down the thermostat (up in summer), doors locked, key
turned in.
Phil: none
Ray: Thanks for the new sign on Lally rd.
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented and discussed.
 Receipts for October 2009 totaled $58,296.61
 Disbursements for October 2009 totaled $27,891.66
 Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray Lally to keep the 2010 levy the
same as 2009 levy.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 .
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
October 21, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
October 21st 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all present.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Tom Borglund, and
Nancy Graham.
Absent: Ray Lally
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tom
Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department Manager; Pat Oman, from Carlton County
Economic Development.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Tom Borglund to
approve the September 16th regular council meeting minutes with stated corrections..
Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Scott reported for the liquor store
 Scott presented two 2010 pocket calendars to the council for review. Tomika
would like to order them for customer appreciation presented. We will search for
a better calendar and present again next month.
 Pull tabs rent payment was presented to the council for review
 September sales were presented for the council’s review
 There was discussion MN Snowmobile Association Dues statement.
 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Nancy Graham to pay the $50.00 dues
for MN Snowmobiler Association. Motion passed unanimously.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/Maintenance dept.
 Tom mentioned that, with the clean tower, it is much easier to maintain the
chemical levels in the water.
 Three fire hydrants were fixed under warranty, and one was repaired. The
hydrant had been damaged during construction on the Cardinal Court, and the
repair bill will be sent to the contractor’s insurance company for reimbursement.
 Tom mentioned that the pre-transfer inspection is done for the sewer ponds. He
has ordered the Alum, and will have the pond transfer done before next council
meeting.
 There was discussion on the meters for “site 20&21” from LCP. The charge is for
two meters hooked to sewer pumps for individuals on Mingus rd. Nancy
suggested we charge the homeowners for the cost of the electricity since every
other homeowner has to pay their own. They could run electricity from their
home instead and save money in the long run.
 Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Tom Borglund to approve resolution
#09.10.1 authorizing city of cromwell to be a party to MnWARN response
network.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The schedule for October - December was presented to the council.
 There was discussion on the rekeying of the locks at the Pavilion. The decision of
the council is as follows, Dick Huhta, Nancy Graham, Phil Lippo and Tom
Johnson will each have two keys. Tom Borglund, Ray Lally, Wanda Shiflett, and
Scott Warner will each have one key. All others wishing to have a key to the
pavilion will be required to come to the city clerk’s office and check one out for
their event. If unable to check one out from the clerk during the week, they can
contact a council member or the mayor to get a key or have the building unlocked
for them.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Pat Oman discussed the Economic Development department of Carlton County.
They have applied for funding for housing and rental rehab throughout the
county. They will need applications from homeowners to rehab there homes and
rentals once the program is funded. Pat also spoke about the Lakes and Pines
program to weatherize homes in the area. There are also several low/no interest
loans people can apply for regarding housing rehab.
 Pat mentioned that the city could apply for a tourism grant of up to $1,000 to help
pay for “Welcome to Cromwell” entrance signs.
 Pat showed the council the county tourism folder and said we should come up
with additions for the folder.
 There was discussion on possible grant money to help put in speed control signs
on the entrances to Cromwell. Information on radar traffic signs was reviewed by
the council.
 Motion by Nancy Graham and Phil Lippo seconded by to maintain our $25
membership in Carlton County Historical Society. Motion carried unanimously.
 Road signs were ordered for Lally Rd, south point rd, river view and Northstar
lanes. Scott will follow up with the County and get an estimated time of arrival.
 Frank updated the council on the rental agreement for the Cromwell Medical
Clinic. Proposals to pay either 80% of utilities beginning in April or 60%
beginning in January with 80% in all years following 2010. Scott will check if
there are tax implications on renting the building.
 Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Mayor Huhta to have Dr. Bode come
in and discuss the rental of the City Hall Building. Motion carried unanimously.
Fire Department:
 No new business.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none
Phil: Phil mentioned that the city garage (old fire hall) will need a roof soon as
the leaks are no longer fixable. He is afraid that the roof will collapse if not fixed.
Ray:
Tom: Tom asked about the street signs ordered from the county.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented and discussed.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to have Scott attend the
2010 MCFOA Clerks Conference. Motion carried unanimously.
 Receipts for Sep 2009 totaled $58,296.61
 Disbursements for Sept 2009 totaled $27,891.66
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Mayor Huhta had a couple oral complaints, one regarding the street lights and one
regarding service at the liquor store. No official complaints were filed.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
September 16th, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
September 16th 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Tom Borglund,
Nancy Graham, and Ray Lally.
Absent: none
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tom
Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department Manager; Tomika smith, Liquor Store
Manager
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally to approve the
August 19th regular council meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Tomika reported for the liquor store
 Keystone will be playing Friday and Saturday the 1st weekend of deer hunting,
and Tomika will DJ and karaoke the other two deer hunting weekends
 We will be adding a MEGA BINGO on Saturday’s in November in the liquor
store
 Pull tabs rent payment was presented to the council for review
 August sales were presented for the council’s review
 There was discussion on a complaint regarding one of the bartenders
 There was discussion on the process of review for employees
 There was discussion regarding the liquor store cleaners having people helping
them in the morning and the council asked Tomika to talk to them and make sure
they are in the liquor store alone when cleaning.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/Maintenance dept.
 Water tower was cleaned on September, 15th and should be done every 3-5 years
in the future
 There was discussion regarding a sewer system on the east side of Island Lake
that was not working properly. Tom and Phil checked the City’s line and it is
clear, so the problem is in the home-owners line.
 We received two estimates for fixing the baffles in the three older sewers on
Lippo lane. The city will pay for half of the repair and the home-owners will be
charged for the other half. Low estimate is $350.00 for each baffle.
 Motion by Dick Huhta and seconded by Nancy Graham to go ahead with the
baffle repair and charge the tank owners for one-half the cost. Motion carried
unanimously.
 A letter explaining of water & sewer rates was mailed to a citizen at her request.
This letter was reviewed by the council.
 A letter from Carlton regarded an illegal sewer in the city limits was reviewed by
the council. No action is necessary at this time.
 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Nancy Graham to change the locks on
the pavilion and limit the number of keys given out for it.
 There was discussion regarding the Beef Association’s use of the pavilion. They
do not donate to the city and therefore must pay for their use of the pavilion or
offer the city a donation to help cover costs related to the upkeep of the building.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The schedule for September - November was presented to the council. ATV
meeting was added for November and December, the club will give Scott the date
for their January Xmas party.
 There was discussion on food sales during events at the pavilion. Any group
selling food at the pavilion needs to get a permit from the MN Dept. of Health.
 There was discussion regarding the locks on the pavilion. The council decided to
change all the locks so every door has the same key. The keys will be tracked
more closely, and the council will need to decide who is allowed to have a key,
and who must pick up a key and sign it out before each of their events.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 A speed/School zone sign/light was discussed for highway 73 near the school.
We will work with MnDOT and the school to get it installed.
 There was further discussion on getting “your speed is” signs for the city, either
on wheels that can be moved or to mount on the speed limit signs. Frank and
Scott will follow up on getting quotes for the. John will speak with MNDOT to
see if we can install them.
 There was discussion on putting up street signs for Lally Rd, Southpoint Rd,
Riverview Rd, and North Star Ln.
 There was discussion regarding the City Pickup. The motor needs to be replaced.
We expect to get a donation to pay for a portion of the motor replacement.
 Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to go ahead with the
repair. Motion carried unanimously.
 An LMC regional meeting is scheduled for Sept. 7th and will be attended by
Nancy Graham.
 The March MN Clerks and Finance Officers conference was discussed and will be
discussed at the Oct meeting to see Scott will attend all or a portion of the
conference.
Fire Department:
 No new business.
Councilor requests:
Nancy:
Phil:
Ray: Ray mentioned that we need signs on the city streets north of the river and
east of highway 73.
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented and discussed.
 Proposed Property Tax Levi, due to Carlton County by Sept. 15th, was discussed.
It was submitted with a 10% increase, as we cannot raise it higher than the
proposed. However, the council and the clerk/treasurer will go over the budget at
the October and November regular scheduled meetings and have a final levi by
Dec. 1, 2009 which should reflect a 3% or lower increase in property tax.
 Receipts for Aug 2009 totaled $53,572.68
 Disbursements for Aug 2009 totaled $51,992.62
 Disbursements for Sep 1-15 2009 totaled $2,808.42
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Mayor Huhta discussed the rental contract with the Cromwell Medical Clinic.
Frank Yetka will follow up with Dr. Bode and initiate the discussion on the rent
for the building.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
Augut 19th, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
August 19th 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Nancy Graham, and
Ray Lally.
Absent: Tom Borglund, excused
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance
Department Manager;
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve
the July 8th, regular council meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 A few minor issues at the liquor store were discussed regarding the Bartenders
role in running the liquor store during Tomika’s absence and about the recent
changes to policies.
 Discussion on changes to LS policies regarding cell phones and general code of
conduct for city employees. We will create and review over next several months.
 Council discussed having a gun raffle in the LS for Sno Gophers. There were no
objections to it.
 Nancy mentioned that we should add to policy that we give out no free drinks or
bottles. All stock must be sold whether we pay for it or not.
 A motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Ray Lally to donate fifty dollars to
the Harvest Fest for the volunteers for the purpose of supplying drinks for them.
Motion carried unanimously.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/Maintenance dept.
 Tom cleaned out all the freezers and coolers at the LS to conserve energy and
lengthen the life of them.
 Tom contacted the McGuire Iron for tower cleaning and they said it would be
done before summer is done.
 Tom was contacted by Paul Grimes with American Flow regarding the hydrants
in the city and was told that they could fix the one by the Villa Vista for parts cost
only and would be replacing three hydrants under a recall warranty through
American Flow.
2
 A quote was received from Ritter & Ritter to replace the baffles in the sewers on
Lippo Lane of $300.00 per sewer.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The schedule for July - September was presented to the council
 The council discussed having Tom help set up for the Harvest Fest with no
objections.
 There was discussion on the safety of the playground equipment at the pavilion.
The equipment meets safety codes, but generally children are not supervised
while playing on it. When a new set is found, the old will be dismantled and new
one will be put somewhere in from of pavilion where can be supervised more
easily.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 The council discussed a variance permit application for Peter’s Hardware.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve a setback variance
from 30ft to 21ft for an addition to the back of the existing hardware store.
Motion approved unanimously.
 The 2010 preliminary levy is due by September 15th to the county. We will send
it in as a ten percent tax hike, and we will have a goal of raising it 3% or less
before final budget in December.
Fire Department:
 No new business.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: Nancy asked if we could get quotes from other trash companies for the
cities dumpsters.
Phil: Phil mentioned that the pop machine at the pavilion is broken and needs
repair.
Ray: Ray mentioned that the stop signs on Lally Rd and South Point Rd. are
helping and people have actually slowed down in that area.
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented and discussed.
 Receipts for July 2009 totaled $128,003.66
 Disbursements for July 2009 totaled $116,506.52
 Disbursements for Aug 1-14 2009 totaled $15,196.56
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick asked for a breakdown of the
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
July 8th, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
July 8th 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Nancy Graham, and
Ray Lally.
Absent: Tom Borglund - excused
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance
Department Manager; Tomika Smith, Liquor Store Manager; Steve Bridge & Mike
Peterson, Cromwell fire Dept..
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm on July 8th, 2009
Approve Minutes: Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve
the June 17th, regular council meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Tomika reported for the liquor store.
 Pull tab rent payment or $1044.20 was presented. Tomika explained some
changes to staffing regarding meat raffle and pull tabs and expects this payment to
be “the Norm” in the future
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to hire Tammy Enval as a parttime
bartender.
 The filtration system for the liquor store has been installed. This should eliminate
the need to buy bottled water for mixing drinks at the liquor store.
 Several lights will be fix/replaced at the liquor store by lake country power.
 Tomika mentioned a nice Front page write-up on the 16th annual Diabetes Run in
the June 30th issue showing a picture of the city streets lined with Harleys.
 Tomika also mentioned that the CromwellMuni is on the favorite list for favorite
places to play bingo #6, and favorite nightspot #5.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 Tom Johnson reported for the W&S/Maintenance dept.
 The southwest mound on Island Lake is having issues with pumping times. It is
caused by inadequate baffles in the tanks that feed WW to the mound. The
baffles are allowing sludge to infiltrate the mounds, which plugs the holes in the
mound’s pipes. Tom is seeking estimates for replacing the baffles in the tanks
and to cut the end of the mound, clean it out, and put clean-outs on to clean the
sludge out that is already in the mound.
 Tom also mentioned that the city truck is knocking. He has an estimate of
$1,000.00 to fix the motor. The truck had the entire underside repaired in 2008,
so Tom feels it will be worth it to do the repair, rather than replace the truck. He
believes, since we only put 2500 miles on the truck each year, we will get five to
ten more years out of it with a new/repaired motor.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The schedule for July-September was presented to the council. Nancy noted that
the second Harvest Fest meeting in July was cancelled.
 The council discussed the play equipment at the pavilion. There was an incident
involving the concrete bench being tipped over by one kid which pinned another
kids clothing. The child was not harmed. The Luminary committee asked that
the fenced in area be locked before the July 11th celebration. The council decided
to not lock the fence at this time and not to deny access to the play equipment.
The council is not opposed to the luminary Committee locking the gates during
their celebration. Tom Johnson will remove the bench from the play area. The
council noted that parents are responsible for watching their children while they
use the park facilities. If a grant becomes available to replace the equipment the
city will install new equipment in a different location and remove the old one.
 A donation from BSALWMP for the use of the pavilion throughout the year was
presented to the council as well as a thank you from Mercy Hospital.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 The council discussed the board of appeal and equalization training at Carlton
County. It was decided that we would not do any new training until at least 2011.
 A request fromWanda Shiflett was discussed for a few extra hours to take care of
the flowers and outside bathrooms at the pavilion, beach, and ball field.
Fire Department:
 Chief Bridge and Asst. Chief Peterson discussed the building of a new fire hall
with the council. The Fire Department is applying for a FEMA grant for a new
hall. The grant requires no matching funds, so if we get it, it will pay for
everything except the land acquisition. The acquisition of land was the topic of
discussion with several possible sites discussed. The biggest issue was the
funding for acquisition, and the Fire Department asked for the cities blessing to
use the southeast corner of the Park pavilion property if necessary to complete the
project.
 After much discussion, the consensus was to only use the park property if another
suitable site could not be acquired, but that the land would be available if such
land was not feasible. The Fire Department does not feel they could purchase
land at a premium price for this project, so if the price is not right and we do
receive the grant, they ask the city to agree to the use of the park property. They
agreed that they would do everything possible to make the fire hall a part of the
park property and not a hindrance to the use of the park property by the citizens of
the community or the Harvest Festival.
 Steve Bridge stated that the State of Minnesota has mandated that the fire
department meet new facility requirements including the addition of a paid-oncall
staff which will require a new fire hall for the paid-on-call ambulance/fire
crew to live at the facility when necessary. “We will have to build a new hall
within the next four years to meet these new requirements” said Bridge, “so this is
the time to get the money when it is available. Four years from now the money
may not be there. We have an excellent record with FEMA and stand a good
chance to be in the running for these funds”.
 Ray Lally asked if the grant included money to pay contractors to do everything
or if we would have to put labor into the project. Nancy worried that the Harvest
Fest would cease to exist if the fire hall was on the park property, and Steve
assured her that they would make sure that the area would be even more friendly
for the festival and that the fire department would be able to help out with the
festival with the hall right in the park.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve the use of the park
property for the new fire hall if the other options cannot be used. With the
condition that the fire hall be “a part of the park” and not cause undue limits on
the use of the park property. It was noted that the city prefers the fire hall be on a
different site, but that they recognize the need for the new facility and that it
would be a great asset to the community. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: Nancy asked about sending a letter to Cal Jacobsen to keep his lots mowed
below twelve inches tall as per our city ordinance. Scott was instructed to send
him a letter. There was also discussion on the Skare lot in town. It will be abated
this weekend and Tom Skare will be billed for the abatement.
Phil: Phil mentioned that the coolers at the pavilion should be shut off and
unplugged unless there is a necessary use scheduled. The council agreed.
Ray: Ray requested that we put up two stop signs in the city. One on South
Point Rd. and on Northstar Ln. where they meet Lally Rd. He mentioned that
several vehicles have had close calls recently and we should avoid having an
accident there. Tom Johnson will follow through and get it done.
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 The breakdown of the first-half levy was presented to the council.
 The breakdown of the annual insurance premiums was presented to the council.
 Financial information was presented and discussed.
 Receipts for June totaled $100,966.68.
 Disbursements for June 2009 totaled $85,988.60
 Three disbursements were discussed and further explained.
 Disbursements for June 1st through 13th 2009 totaled $44,821.10.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick mentioned that Hugh Heinecke suggested that Eagle Township increase their
fire protection levy and pay more for their annual fire protection.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham. Motion
Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
June 17th, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
June 17th 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Nancy Graham, and
Tom Borglund.
Absent: Ray Lally - excused
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; John Mattonen, City Engineer; Tom
Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department Manager; Tomika Smith, Liquor Store
Manager; Hugh Heinecke, City Auditor.
The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta at 7pm on June 17th, 2009
Approve Minutes: Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to approve
the April 15th, regular council meeting minutes with stated correction. Motion carried
unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Pull tab rent payment was presented.
 Tomika reported for the liquor store.
 There is an issue with the person from Confidence Learning Center who count the
pull tab boxes and Tomika is working with CLC to resolve it.
 The filtration system for the liquor store has been received and will be installed in
June.
 Volleyball teams will pay $40 per team to help pay for shirts, balls, and trophies.
 Diabetes run is June 20th. The liquor store will be donating $100.00 again this
year.
 The liquor store will be sponsoring a hole for the Kalli’s Memorial Golf Tourney
to support the Cromwell/Wright school sports programs.
 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Nancy Graham to discontinue Diane
Hanson’s employment due to her limited availability. Motion carried
unanimously.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to rehire Denise Richards
as a part-time bartender.
 There was discussion regarding having Tammy Fahrendorff work som shifts at
the liquor store if needed, and there were no objections by the council since
Tammy gave proper notice and worked out her schedule when she left the liquor
store.
 Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Mayor Huhta to allow Leslie Wilson
to get more hours which will make her eligible for PERA benefits. Motion
carried unanimously.
 The new beer cooler’s compressor is burnt out, Tomika will be working with Tom
Johnson to set a cleaning schedule for the compressors in the liquor store so they
do not have future compressor issues.
WATER, SEWER MAINTENANCE:
 John Mattonen went over the projects he is working on. The school board is
discussing the safety zone/school crossing where the kids cross in front of the
school and will get back to John
 Tom Johnson mentioned that the fence at the well house is up and complete.
Janet Smude from the BASLWMP executive board and the Aitkin County Soil
and Water District inspected the area and it was passed by the board. The County
will meet and approve the payment in June and we should be reimbursed for our
expenses in June or July.
 MPCA audited our sewer ponds and gave us a good report, mentioning that they
use our sewer ponds as an example to other cities of what ponds should look like.
 The sewer ponds have been drained for the spring and all is okay with them.
 Frank Yetka discussed the sewer backup at the 5560 hwy 210 with the council.
He sent a letter to the homeowner to let him know that he will need to put a
backflow prevention system in place to prevent sewer backup and sewer gas
infiltration in the home. Frank will also be sending the homeowner a letter
explaining that we will need to see the completed job.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The schedule for June-August was presented to the council, several additions
were made for harvest fest meetings in June, July, August and September.
 Four letters sent out to citizens regarding tall grass on their lots were discussed.
Three of the four have responded and said they will take care of the problem. The
other has until June 21st before the city will take action. If the city abates the tall
grass we will charge the citizens according to the equipment fee schedule adopted
in 2008.
 Dick discussed the non-profit groups that use the pavilion. There are 34 different
groups that utilize the pavilion for meetings or events. Of the 34, 33 of them help
the city either financially or physically. The other will receive a letter requesting
some financial support to the city or payment for their use of the building.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 The Pay equity schedule which was adopted in 2008. There are several people at
the next step on the schedule. Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Mayor
Huhta to allow Tom and Tomika’s raise as prescribed by the schedule. Tom
Borglund abstains from voting on Tomika’s raise. Motion passed with 4 yea’s
and 1 abstain.
 Scott mentioned that he emailed Rep. Bill Hilty about the energy grant from the
state of Minnesota. He is waiting for a reply on the timeline of the grant dollars.
 Mayor Huhta mentioned that the Auxiliary is disbanding and will possibly
spending some money on flags for the city. Scott mentioned that the veterans
association may also get flags for the park flag pole.
3
Fire Department:
 There was discussion on the new ambulance the fire department is purchasing.
Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Tom Borglund to support the purchase
with Scott and Dick or Phil as signers on the loan. Motion carried unanimously.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to support submission for
grant funds for a new fire hall. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilor requests:
Nancy:Nancy reminded the council that the July meeting is on the 8th instead of the 15th.
Phil: Phil started discussion on the purchase of a new ambulance and the
submission for a grant for the construction of a new fire hall.(see above under fire dept.)
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Hugh Heinecke presented the annual audit to the council.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to accept the audit as
presented. Motion carried unanimously.
 It was noted that the LGA money from the state will not be cut in 2009 or 2010
and Cromwell will receive its full amount.
 Financial information was presented and discussed.
 Receipts for May totaled $71,413.02.
 Disbursements for May 2009 totaled $79,590.15.
 Disbursements for June 1st through 13th 2009 totaled $20,151.45.
 Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Phil Lippo to accept the financial
information. Motion carried unanimously.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick asked Hugh to comment on time allocation to various funds. Hugh
suggested we not track vehicle miles to various funds to avoid possible future
problems with S&W rates with our bond companies. Dick mentioned that the
City truck has had only ten thousand miles put on it in the last four years.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Nancy Graham and seconded by Tom Borglund.
Motion Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Unapproved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
May 20th, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on
Wednesday, May 20th 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Nancy
Graham, Ray Lally, and Tom Borglund.
Absent: (none)
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; John Mattonen, City Engineer;
Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department Manager; Dawn Lippo and
B.J. Wilson, Cardinal Quilters; John Grones & Lisa Koehler, Voyageur Press;
Jerry Graham, Harvest Festival.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm on April 15th, 2009
Introductions were made for new people present.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Nancy Graham to
approve the March 18th, regular council meeting minutes with stated
correction. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Pull tab rent payment was presented.
 Scott reported for the liquor store. There will be two nights of music at
the liquor store in June. June 5th will be Live Bait and on June 12th will
be dean Nyberg. June 12th will be the “Class of 1999” Reunion.
 Tomika will be taking an online seminar from Tom Shay on how to be a
better manager (free seminar).
 Scott is working on getting the filtration system for the liquor store to
clear up the coloration of the water.
 Tomika will be getting “Island Oasis” tropical smoothie to sell at the bar.
 Tomika is working on getting two of the bartenders trained for the
“Alcohol Awareness”.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve the liquor
store managers report and music requests. Motion carried unanimously.
 An ad sponsorship request for the graduating seniors was discussed and
we will be sponsoring ads in the amount of $59.00.
 A thank you from Wells Fargo for switching the dram shop insurance to
them was reviewed by all.
WATER AND SEWER:
 Tom Johnson reported for the Water/Sewer/Maintenance dept.
 MN Dept Health quarterly samples were perfectly in order.
 Fire Hydrants will all be flushed at the end of May to help clean out the
winter buildup of insolubles.
 Ritter & Ritter did the cleaning of 1/3 of the city as per our contract and
found no major problems. There were a few spots with grease buildup
possibly from the Clark Station. Tom talked with Lance Line and they
will work together to solve any grease issues coming for the Clark
Station.
 A fax from Ritter & Ritter was read aloud describing possible issues for
one home in the city that has had water backup issues. Scott will
forward the fax to the homeowner.
 Gerald Manthy, Code Inspector for the City of Cloquet, inspected one
home in the city that has had several sewer backup issues and will be
sending his recommendation to the homeowner and the city for action.
 Frank Yetka will work with John Mattonen to come up with a new city
code to protect the city and its residents from harmful gasses and/or
liability regarding sewer backup and sewer gas buildup. This will be a
topic of the June council meeting.
 John Mattonen has sent in paperwork to fund the water loop project. We
are likely to get a large grant to help fund the project.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The schedule for May-July was presented to the council, several
corrections were discussed.
 Dawn Lippo and B.J. Wilson spoke for the Cardinal Quilters. The
discussed the quilt donation for the harvest festival raffle ticket, stating
the value at between $600 and $1,000. They also wanted to know how
the donation of the quilt benefited the city. Jerry Graham spoke for the
Harvest Fest committee and assured them that all Harvest Fest money
stays within the community and is used for community benefit only.
 Tom mentioned that the netting on the playground at the pavilion is
falling apart and he wants to take it down to avoid liability. Dick will
ask Berkley Risk for their opinion. Tom also mentioned it would be a
lot easier to keep the area clean without the netting in the way. Frank
sees no reason to leave it up and agrees that the liability would be less
without the netting.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 John Mattonen is working with the MnDOT to get funding for street
projects.
 We are also working with MNDOT to replace the street lights through
the main part of town with new ones while doing highway 210 in 2010.
 The annual wellhead protection update was discussed by all. We run
well below our allowed usage on our city sewer system and the wells.
There was discussion on a possible ordinance requiring a reduction to
possible infiltration due to poor drainage systems on older homes and
businesses.
 BSALWMP is inspecting the landscaping and fence project by the
Cardinal Court and well area on Villa Circle the first week of June.
 Tom Johnson will be using the existing gate from the old mound system
area on the fence around the wells to help save money for the city. This
will save about $600.00.
 There was discussion on a school crossing zone and/or putting up speed
limit signs that show your current speed to help slow traffic coming into
town. There have been several complaints regarding the subject.
 We will be putting gravel on Swenson Rd and Mingus Rd. Both are
having issues with erosion due to poor roadbed condition.
 A web site to the state legislature was presented to the council.
 Bond refunding was reviewed with no change from last year.
 Easement information for the old sewer mound area was reviewed by all.
 Street lighting was reviewed and 22 lights are slated to be removed.
Scott will notify affected businesses and homeowners of lights near there
home or business that are being removed. A grant from the State of MN
will be used to pay for removal and for replacing remaining lights with
more energy efficient bulbs. Scott will provide Voyageur Press with the
details on the street lights and money saved by removing them.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally to remove 22 street
lights as discussed. Motion carried unanimously.
 There was discussion on the ATV Mud-Bog and the Harvest Fest
liability insurance coverage. Frank will check with the insurance
company regarding coverage already paid for by the city and the cost of
any additional insurance needed.
Fire Department:
 Scott mentioned that the new printer is installed and working well.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: Nancy presented a new timesheet which could be used to track
where the miles should be charged to.
Phil: none
Ray: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented and discussed.
 Receipts for April 2009 totaled $53,434.10.
 Disbursements for April 2009 totaled $41,179.09.
 Disbursements for May 1st through 13th 2009 totaled $20,445.15.
 Two expenditures (Keith Clark Sand & Gravel and Office Depot) were
discussed. Scott will provide the council a copy of the Office Depot
invoices and he stated that the Keith Clark invoice was for snow removal
which was then charged to the state and reimbursed to the city by
MnDOT.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Nancy Graham to accept the
financial information. Motion carried unanimously.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick mentioned that he got a good compliment on Scott for his good
bookkeeping regarding the BSALWMP grants process. She wished that
everyone kept such good records. Dick mentioned that we have received
$16,390.00 worth of grants from Tamarack watershed and BSALWMP
in the past two years.
 Dick mentioned that we needed to fix the outfield fence at the softball
field by the beach. The frost has pushed the posts up and the fence is
leaning. Keith Clark will straighten it up and push the posts back down
for approximately $300.00.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally.
Motion Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
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Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
April 15th, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on
Wednesday, April 15th 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Nancy
Graham, and Tom Borglund.
Absent: Raymond Lally (excused)
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; John Mattonen, City Engineer;
Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department Manager; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager;
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm on April 15th, 2009
Approve Minutes: Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Nancy Graham to
approve the March 18th, regular council meeting minutes. Motion carried
unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Pull tab rent payment was presented.
 Tomika reported for the liquor store. New cleaning person had to resign
for personal reasons and Kevin Davis has taken her place.
 Bass Bait pull tab game is going well. Have done two boxes so far and
were both profitable.
 Tomika informed the council that Jerry Graham donated another TV for
the liquor store.
 Final dram shop policy was reviewed by council.
 Wednesday night Twins Games are displayed on the back room tv
during bingo.
 Tomika showed the councilors the newest bar stool and voiced
customers complaints that it does not swivel. She will keep looking for
new one. Dick mentioned that the new stools need the NSF label on
them for liability reasons.
 Tomika mentioned that we had a credit with Superior Beverage that did
not show up on the statement. Scott called the warehouse and got a
2
credit authorization number to take the credit on our next payment to
them.
 Tomika asked permission to attend the 2009 MMBA annual conference
with another bartender. This was tabled until after our budget meeting
on April 18th.
 Cribbage has been very good on the last Sunday of each month.
 Ad sponsorship request from Voyageur Press was tabled until after
budget meeting. We will review again at May meeting.
WATER AND SEWER:
 Tom Johnson reported for the water and sewer dept.
 Tom filled the water tower and it is ready for summer.
 Ritter and Ritter will be coming the end of April for their second
cleaning of the sewer lines per our contract with them.
 John Mattonen stated that we need annual wellhead protection meeting
during the May council meeting.
 MPCA is using Tom for an example of how to keep sewer ponds in the
State of MN, due to the excellent upkeep of our ponds.
 The sewer ponds are ready to go for the summer and will be drained in
May.
 MRWA will be helping Tom with the phosphorous in the ponds to help
get the level correct before draining.
 The lift station on Lippo lane was full of water from the melting snow
and was shut down for a short time while Tom and Phil pumped the
water out and cleaned out the culver so the water could flow.
Hakamaki’s thanked them for their quick response to the problem which
saved their home from flood damage.
 The consumer confidence report was presented to the council for review.
It will appear in the Voyageur Press’ April 21st.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The schedule for Feb-Apr was presented to the council.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 We turned in the snow plowing to the State of MN for 2008-2009 winter
including Keith Clarks hauling charges.
 John Mattonen will put together a project profile for the stimulus dollars
for our water loop and present it at the May meeting. We are likely to
get a large grant for the project.
 No new news on the welcome to cromwell sign.
 We received a grant from BSALWMP for our fence around the
wellheads by the Cardinal Court. We will be getting the money in June
to put up the fence.
 Scott mentioned that there would be a meeting on April 16th at 7pm
regarding the status of highway 73. All interested parties should attend.
 The waiver form from LMCIT regarding limits was presented to the
council. Motion by Nancy Graham and seconded by Phil Lippo to not
waive the limits. Motion carried with all yeah votes.
 Two prior motions were reviewed due to questions from March meeting.
Fire Department:
 No new business was discussed
 Phil mentioned that the Fire Dept. is looking to purchase a new
Ambulance this year. The was discussion on the subject.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: none
Phil: Phil mentioned that Brent Goranson had asked him about the
possibility of purchasing the lot next to the bank for a new beauty shop. There
was discussion, but no motions were considered.
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented and discussed.
 Receipts for March 2009 totaled $49,124.50.
 Disbursements for March 2009 totaled $47,421.05.
 Disbursements for April 1st through 10th 2009 totaled $16,645.13.
 Two expenditures (Boundtree Medical and Gobel Excavating) were
discussed.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Dick requested that the city managers attend the budget meeting on April
18th. at 10:00am and we will discuss their part of the budget first and
then dismiss them.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Nancy Graham and seconded by Mayor
Huhta. Motion Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
March 18th, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on
Wednesday, March 18th 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cromwell Park Pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Raymond
Lally, Nancy Graham, and Tom Borglund.
Absent: None
Eagle Township Members Present: Loren Shelton, Don Maki, Sue Koivisto,
Wanda Shiflett, Carmin Martin.
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; John Mattonen, City Engineer;
Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department Manager; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager; Jerry Graham, Homeowner; Bill Storck, Larry Peterson,
Jason Douglas and Ken Dahlberg of Mercy Hospital; Sean Bode, Cromwell
Medical Clinic; and Chris Sterwe , Voyageur Press.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm on March 18th, 2009
Approve Minutes: Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to
approve the February 18th, regular council meeting minutes. Motion carried
unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Pull tab rent payment was presented.
 Tomika reported for the liquor store. There will be 3 nights of music at
the liquor store in March. Bingo is getting bigger and bigger crowds and
is going well. They are adding a third pull tab game called “Bass Bait”,
they will have $599 main prize and $300 in smaller prizes.
 The liquor store will be looking for a new cleaning person and possibly a
new bartender.
 Frank discussed the Dram Shop policy for the liquor store. We have a
new quote from Wells Fargo which is $10,000.00 less than the League
insurance we have now.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to accept the bid from
Wells Fargo for dram shop insurance. Motion carried unanimously.
 The liquor store is looking at new bar stools that are more stable, they
will get samples and bring to the council meeting.
 The council reviewed the list of page sponsorships for the Voyageur
Press and will review again at next meeting.
 Donation request from the tri-community food shelf was discussed.
Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve a $100.00
donation to the Tri-Community Food shelf. Motion approved
unanimously.
WATER AND SEWER:
 John Mattonen reported on the water loop project and possible funding
sources. Nancy mentioned that PFA funding will be available for Water
infrastructure projects.
 John also mentioned that we would be getting an update on a “Welcome
to Cromwell” sign.
 The council reviewed a letter from Carlton County regarding the sewer
at 5537 Dahl Rd. There was discussion on the subject, no action was
taken.
 .
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The schedule for Feb-Apr was presented to the council.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 The council and the Eagle Lake Township Board met with several
members of the Mercy Hospital’s Board to discuss the possibility of
joining the Hospital District. There was discussion on the matter and
many questions were posed and answered. The matter will be further
discussed in future meetings.
 There was discussion regarding a speed zone on hwy 73 where the
students cross the highway. John Mattonen will continue to look into it
and communicate with the school.
 A resolution was presented to the council to appoint Scott Warner as
Proxy for Dick at the CCEDAC meeting so Cromwell keeps their voting
rights when Dick can’t attend. There was discussion on the matter.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to appoint Scott as
Proxy for CCEDAC. Motion passed unanimously.
 A resolution to deny house file #1280 was reviewed by the council, there
was discussion on the matter. Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by
Ray Lally to approve the resolution to deny house file #1280. Motion
passed unanimously.
 A breakdown of the street lights billings and possible restructuring.
 There was mention of the Lake Country informational meeting at the
pavilion on March 24th.
 A zoning request for Eric Waldemarsen was reviewed. Motion to
approve by Nancy and seconded by Tom Borglund. Motion carried
unanimously.
 A thank you from Wrong Days committee was presented to the council.
Fire Department:
 No new business was discussed
Councilor requests:
Nancy: Nancy asked about the date for the budget meeting. There was
discussion. The council approved a special meeting on Saturday April 18th
beginning at 10am.
Phil: none
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented and discussed.
 Receipts for February 2009 totaled $47,134.85.
 Disbursements for February 2009 totaled $69,132.60.
 Disbursements for March 1st through 12th 2009 totaled $17,603.10.
 There was discussion on having a budget meeting in the end of March or
beginning of April.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Mayor Huhta to accept the
financial information as is. Motion carried unanimously.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 The Mayor discussed how well the winter went with no frozen water and
very little maintenance required. He also thanked the city management
staff for keeping on top of maintenance and finances to help make it go
smoothly.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo.
Motion Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
February 18th, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on
Wednesday, February 18th 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Raymond
Lally, Nancy Graham, and Tom Borglund.
Absent: None
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; John Mattonen, City Engineer;
Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department Manager; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager; Jerry Graham, Homeowner, and Mary-Jo Stenson ,
Riverside Drifters Saddle Club President.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm on February 18th,
2009
Approve Minutes: Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to
approve the January 21st, regular council meeting minutes. Motion carried
unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Pull tab rent payment was presented.
 Mayor Huhta mentioned that he had spoken to Tomika about an
employee that was upset about the liquor store schedule, and that he told
Tomika to write the schedule in the best way for the liquor store.
 There was discussion regarding a glass door that was broken on the beer
cooler at the liquor store and whether there was another way to dispose
of the bottles so it would not happen again.
 Tomika reported for the liquor store. She mentioned that she was taking
Stephanie with her the MMBA Conference.
 Tomika is working with the Confidence Learning Center to start Bingo
every Wednesday at 6:30pm by March 4th. They will have Mega Bingo
that is combined with all the other liquor stores in the state that do it and
offers a bigger pot to the winner. Our progressive pot will start at
$500.00. Camp Confidence will hire a local person to call the bingo
which will help our community and save Camp Confidence travel
dollars.
 January 2009 sales were presented to the council.
WATER AND SEWER:
 Tom Johnson Reported for the Maintenance/Water& Sewer dept.
 There was discussion on the broken curb stop at 1277 hwy 73.
 There was discussion on the resident whose water was scheduled to be
shut off.
 There was discussion on marking curb stops and how to triangulate the
location so they are easier to find without having an unsightly post in the
law or yard of the residents. Some posts that were put in the ground to
mark curb stops have been removed by residents.
 Tom Johnson mentioned that he would be attending the MRWA
conference on March 3-5.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The pavilion schedule for the months of Feb-Apr 2009 was presented to
the council.
 There was discussion with Mary-Jo Stenson regarding the use of the
pavilion by the Riverside Drifters Saddle Club, the donation of $600.00
for that use, and the possibility of the Saddle Club taking over
maintenance and prep of the arena area to help reduce the city’s
expenses for maintaining the arena and pavilion park.
 Mayor Huhta asked if the Harvest Fest Committee could use the Saddle
Club’s timer for the mud bog that is planned for the Harvest Fest this
fall, and it was okay’s by Mary-Jo Stenson.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 There was discussion regarding a speed zone on hwy 73 where the
students cross the highway. He will continue to work on it with
MNDOT and follow up at the next meeting.
 There was discussion on the loss of LGA money and it was decided
to set a special budget meeting in late March or early April.
 There was discussion regarding the charges for street lighting in the
city.
 There was discussion on the charges from the power company.
 A letter to Congressman Oberstar was reviewed.
 There was discussion on the south alley and the position of the power
poles being in the middle of our easement keeping us from widening
the alley.
 Nancy will attend the “Town Hall Meeting” in Duluth on the 20th
regarding the state budget cuts.
 Nancy and Phil will attend the Carlton County meeting at the
transportation meeting on March 3rd in Carlton.
Fire Department:
 A donation from the Westerlund family was reviewed.
Councilor requests:
Nancy: Nancy reviewed several expense items, and requested that the agenda be
distributed on the Friday before the meeting to give the Councilors time to review it and
ask questions prior to the meeting. There was discussion on a set cut-off date for
information for the council meeting. There was discussion on what to do about citizen
complaints.
Phil: none
Ray: none
Tom: none
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented with no objections.
 Receipts for January 2009 totaled $55,876.51.
 Disbursements for January 2009 totaled $44,597.57.
 Disbursements for February 1st through 12th 2009 totaled $26,180.93.
 There was discussion on having a budget meeting in the end of March or
beginning of April.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 There was discussion on joining the Mercy Hospital district. Subject
will be discussed at the March meeting jointly with Eagle Lake
Township to determine the benefits of joining.
 Mayor Huhta discussed a stray dog running in the city and dumping
garbage cans. The owners have been warned several times and the next
step is to call the Sheriff’s dept. to pick up the dog. The council prefers
not to go that route if we can solve the problem.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Nancy Graham and seconded by Ray
Lally. Motion Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
January 21st, 2009
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on
Wednesday, January 21st 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Raymond
Lally, Nancy Graham, and Tom Borglund.
Absent: None
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; John Mattonen, City Engineer;
Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department; Jerry Graham, Homeowner,
John Grones from The Voyageur Press.
Nancy Graham and Raymond Lally were sworn in as council members and
Dick Huhta was sworn in as Mayor.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm on January 21st, 2009
Approve Minutes: Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund to
approve the December 17th, regular council meeting minutes. Motion carried
unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Pull tab rent payment was presented.
 There was discussion on hiring Leslie Wilson as a part-time bartender.
Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally to hire Leslie for the
position of part-time bartender. Motion passed unanimously
 There was discussion regarding the open cleaning position at the liquor
store. Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Phil Lippo to deny the
application of Lee Anderson. Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by
Tom Borglund to hire Channing Lucking as cleaning person and to allow
her to work her normal bartender shifts as well.
 December 2008 sales as well as year ended 12/31/2008 sales were
presented to the council.
WATER AND SEWER:
 Tom Johnson spoke for the Maintenance/Water& Sewer dept.
 Tom showed graphs of winter 2007/2008 versus winter 2008/2009
showing water pumping and tower water levels. He showed that the new
tower control is helping to keep the tower from freezing and maintaining
a more constant water level.
 Sewer Fund and Water Fund budgets were presented and discussed.
 A complaint regarding the discolored water in the city was discussed.
No action was taken.
 There was discussion regarding the discolored water in the city. Tom
presented a quote for tower cleaning to the council for a 1-time cleaning
and also for a 3-year contract. Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by
Nancy Graham to accept the 1-time cleaning bid and have the tower
cleaned as soon as weather permits. Motion passed unanimously.
 A water disconnect letter was discussed by the council. It was decided
with a vote of 3 yea’s and 2 abstains (Mayor Huhta and Phil Lippo) to
proceed with the disconnection if payment is not received or an
acceptable payment plan is not reached.
 Correspondence between Carlton County, Cromwell, and Craig Harp
regarding the sewer at 5537 Dahl rd. was presented to the council.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The pavilion schedule for the months of January, February and March
was presented to the council.
 There was discussion on the pavilion phone bill. It was noted that the
city is being billed the minimum for a business line which is $43.56 per
month.
 There was discussion of the check from the Riverside Drifters Saddle
Club for $600.00. It was decided that the clerk would write a letter to
the club asking for explanation of the amount of the check. It was noted
that last year’s check was double the amount.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 There was discussion on the rezoning or possible special use of lots 8
& 9 to allow for a trailer house to be moved in there. Motion by Ray
Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to not allow a change or special
use to allow a trailer house on the lots. Motions passed with 4 yea’s
and 1 abstain (Tom Borglund)
 2009 annual appointments were discussed. Motion by Ray Lally and
seconded by Tom Borglund to accept the appointments as presented.
Motion passed with four yea’s (Mayor Huhta, Ray Lally, Tom
Borglund, Phil Lippo) and one nay (Nancy Graham) vote
 Maintenance fee schedule and Water & Sewer rates were discussed
and were tabled until the June 2009 meeting.
 There was discussion on the speed of travelers coming into town
from the south. John Mattonen is to look into the possibility of
putting up a caution light near the school to help with the problem.
 A peddler ordinance was discussed and Frank Yetka agreed to draw
up an ordinance to present to the council.
 There was discussion of questions from citizens to the Councilors and
Mayor regarding the “Youth Center Project” and whether or not
anything had been done with the money that was donated for it. The
council asked Scott to write a letter to Jeannie Weimer and ask her to
present the information to the council so they could answer the
questions of the citizens.
 There was discussion regarding the charges for street lighting in the
city. Scott Warner will contact Lake Country Power and find out
how the charges are billed and how we can cut the amount of the
charges.
Fire Department:
 A mutual aid agreement between the Cromwell fire department and
Cloquet area fire district was presented to the council for review.
Councilor requests:
Nancy:
Phil:
Ray:
Tom:
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented with no objections.
 Receipts for December 2008 totaled $109,959.84.
 Disbursements for December 2008 totaled $115,957.09.
 Disbursements for January 1st through 15th 2009 totaled $76,610.16
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 There was discussion on joining the Mercy Hospital district. Subject
will be discussed at future meetings jointly with Eagle Lake Township to
determine the benefits of joining.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom
Borglund. Motion Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
December 17th, 2008
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on
Wednesday, December 17h 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Council Members: Phil Lippo, Raymond Lally, Jan Swenson, and
Tom Borglund.
Absent: Mayor Richard L. Huhta - Excused
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; John Mattonen, City Engineer;
Tomika Smith, Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance
Department; Nancy Graham, Homeowner.
The meeting was called to order by Ray Lally at 7pm on December 17th, 2008
Approve Minutes: Motion by Jan Swenson and seconded by Phil Lippo to
approve the November 19th, regular and special meeting minutes. Motion
carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Tomika reported for the liquor store.
 June Kingsley resigned as cleaning lady at the liquor store, Tomika said
that Carol Anderson will pick up an extra shift and we will need to hire
another cleaner for three shifts per week.
 Tomika stated that there were a few problems with the coolers at the
liquor store which were all fixed by Jerry Graham.
 Tomika mentioned that we would have the two person band “Double
Dose” on News Year Eve. They charge much less than others and do a
great job.
 Tomika mentioned that they cannot accept discover card at the liquor
store even though the credit card company says we can.
 The water in the liquor store turned yellow due to freezing in the water
tower, Tom Johnson flushed all the hydrants and the water has returned
to normal.
 Tomika mentioned that the liquor store would be closed on Christmas
day and will be open from 12-5pm on Christmas Eve.
 The confidence learning center is looking to hire someone locally to run
the Bar Bingo when it starts in January, the person will be paid directly
by confidence learning center.
 Tomika reported that confidence learning center stated to her that our
liquor store is doing good business in pull tabs even when other bars
have fallen off in sales, we are holding strong.
WATER AND SEWER:
 Tom Johnson also reported on the yellow water in the city and stated that
it should be back to normal now.
 Tom has been working on the ice rink at the pavilion and thinks it will
be ready for the luminary service night at the pavilion on the 20th.
 The tower did freeze during the first extreme cold this winter and Tom
mentioned that he has water running in the swamp south of town to
make sure that a continuous flow is maintained and it doesn’t freeze
again. He mentioned that the water is running into the swamp so that it
won’t go into the sewer system instead of running water in a building
that would go into the sewer system.
 John Mattonen reported nothing new on the water main looping, but
mentioned that the state of Minnesota may have funds available through
the federal stimulus to help us out with some projects over the next few
years. No immediate action is necessary, but he will keep an eye on the
progress of the stimulus.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The pavilion schedule for the months of Dec08, Jan09 and Feb09 was
presented to the council.
 Tom has been working on the ice rink at the pavilion and thinks it will
be ready for the luminary service night at the pavilion on the 20th.
 The city is doing a skating rink again this year at the request of the
Luminary Committee and several citizens. Tom has the site ready for
ice, but the weather will need to cooperate for the rink to be done by the
time of the Luminary Service.
 Another payment from BSALWMP was received and covered all the
labor for the fence and cleanup project at the city beach on lower island
lake.
 Scott presented the costs of operating the pavilion for 2008. Discussion
ensued as to how we could possibly save money. Scott asked for
suggestions to help lower some of the costs. Scott will look into
lowering the phone bill with more basic service before next meeting.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 John Mattonen has forwarded our thoughts on the “Welcome” sign to
the MnDot and is waiting further correspondence.
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3
 The cleanup agreements for the well house area are executed and
cleanup will commence in th
 Scott presented the breakdown of the electric usage for 2008. The
street lights cost of $6,581.77 was discussed heavily and Scott
mentioned that he would look further into why the cost is so high.
 The council discussed charging a “franchise fee” to the power
company’s usage of our easement to help belay the city’s cost of
electricity. Frank Yetka will look into the logistics to find out
whether it is feasible without adding to the individual citizen's
electricity costs.
 Communication from Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake was discussed
regarding joining the hospital district. Some benefits may be getting
more services in Cromwell and having lower insurance costs. But
there would be an additional “hospital district tax” on our property
tax if we joined the District.
Councilor requests:
Jan: Jan thanked all the council members, Tom, Scott, and John Mattonen for
all their help over the years, Frank for bringing the popcorn to the
meetings.
Phil:
Ray: Ray mentioned that Mayor Huhta would be receiving an award at the
Moose Lake Hospital on Sunday the 22nd for his community service over
the past many years.
Tom:
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented with no objections.
 Scott noted the costs of Electricity, propane, and the Park Pavilion area
in general, and asked for suggestions to keep the costs down.
 Receipts for November 2008 totaled $88,281.17.
 Disbursements for November 2008 totaled $56,424.06.
 Disbursements for December 1st through 11th totaled $60,548.34.
MAYOR’S NOTES:

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Jan Swenson and seconded by Ray Lally.
Motion Carried unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
November 19th, 2008
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
November 19h 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Council Members: Phil Lippo, Raymond Lally, Jan Swenson, and Tom Borglund.
Absent: Mayor Richard L. Huhta - Excused
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; John Mattonen, City Engineer; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department; John Grones, Voyageur
Press; Nancy Graham, Homeowner.
The meeting was called to order by Ray Lally at 7pm on November 19th, 2008
Approve Minutes: Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Jan Swenson to approve the
October 15th, October 22nd, and November 10th meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Tomika reported for the liquor store.
 Tammy put in her two weeks notice due to family issues.
 The new bar cooler in working well, and the walk-in is working better.
 They do not have the results of the food drive yet.
 “Live Bait” will be playing on Dec. 6th and there will be Karaoke or a D.J. on Dec 31st.
 A new computer was put in for one of the registers in the bar. It burned out and had to be
replaced.
 The October sales numbers were reviewed as well as the year to date sales.
 Phil mentioned that the Sno Gophers didn’t like having two rifles being raffled off at the
same time. Tomika said that they sold more raffle tickets this year than ever before.
WATER AND SEWER:
 Tom mentioned that one of the hydrants near the villa vista will be turned off due a leak
that needs to be fixed. He can turn it on if necessary for an emergency, but the area is
covered well by two other hydrants. It will be fixed during 2009.
 Tom mentioned that the water tower is all set for winter. The new control will keep the
level at the correct height to keep the tower from freezing over the winter.
 A water sample came back with contaminants in it. It was determined by the Dept. of
Health that it was the location in the shop that it came from and recommended we use the
pavilion sink in the future to assure it is cleaner.
 The sewer ponds are set for the winter. Tom will be working with MN Rural Water
Assoc. to determine how to keep the Phosphorous levels down in the future and to remain
in compliance with the MPCA.
 Tom mentioned that a foreclosed home in the city that was sold and that Carlton County
is requesting that the new owners have the sewer inspected to insure compliance. The
home is currently hooked up to the city sewer system and the owner is paying for the
sewer.
 A hydrant on South Point Rd had an issue and was fixed by Tom and Phil. The same
hydrant is very near the snowmobile trail and froze solid last year. The Sno Gophers are
going to install a barrier so it doesn’t happen this winter.
 John Mattonen presented three options for the “Welcome to Cromwell” sign. The Mn
Dept. of Transportation will draw up specific plans and drawings so we can receive
quotes on building one. The design is free, but the city would have to pay for the
construction. The council chose the design and the lettering style and John will present it
to the DOT for drawings and designs.
 An agreement between the city and Cardinal Court was discussed and Scott will put
together something for both parties to sign. The agreement is for the cleanup of the area
surrounding the water wells after the completion of the construction. It must include the
term “at no cost to the City”.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The pavilion schedule for the months of Nov08, Dec08, and Jan09 was presented to the
council.
 The city is doing a skating rink again this year at the request of the Luminary Committee
and several citizens. Tom has the site ready for ice, but the weather will need to
cooperate for the rink to be done by the time of the Luminary Service.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Ray Lally asked if Cal Jacobson had responded to John Mattonen regarding finishing
the access to Highway 73 for Northstar Lane. John has not received a response yet.
 The University of Mn Extension office requested we advertise in the new 2009 Plat
Book. The council denied the request unanimously.
 The council reviewed some emails and responses to and from the Sell family
regarding raising chickens in the city. No action was needed.
 The renewal for the Cromwell Community Development non-profit corporation was
renewed for another year.
Councilor requests:
Jan:
Phil:
Ray: Ray requested that a copy of the final Levi to the County be emailed to him.
Tom:
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented with no objections or questions.
 Scott noted that the reason for the negative margins for all departments is largely due to
the second half of the City’s insurance being paid in October.
 Scott requested half of the Local Government Aid dollars and $15,000.00 from the
County from the December payment due to us, and has received both in November.
 Receipts for October 2008 totaled $57,926.09.
 Disbursements for November 2008 totaled $73,115.83
 Disbursements for November 1st through 17th totaled $46,703.70.
MAYOR’S NOTES:

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo. Motion Carried
unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott AWarner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
October 15th, 2008
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, October
15h 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Jan Swenson, and Tom
Borglund.
Absent: Raymond Lally - Excused
Others present: Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tomika Smith, Liquor Store Manager; Tom
Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department; Chris Struwve , Voyageur Press; Nancy Graham,
Homeowner.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm on October 15th, 2008
Approve Minutes: Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Jan Swenson to approve the
August 20th public forum and regular council meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Tomika mentioned that she would try to hold off until February before raising beer
prices, but she will watch the prices and raise them if she needs to before then, we are
still in line with other municipals. Private establishments have already raised prices.
 They will be adding soup to the menu in November and throughout the winter.
 Tomika will be waxing the floors on October 25th after bar-close to make sure it is done
before deer season.
 The liquor store will be opening at 9:30 am during the week from now until business
slows down after deer season.
 The liquor store has received three boxes of food for the food drive so far.
 During hunting season we have Jokimaki’s play on the 8th, two members of “The Jury”
will play on the 22nd. We will also have one night of karaoke on 15th.
 Tomika verified for the council that drink prices are $0.25 higher when the is music in
the liquor store.
 The monthly sales were presented to the council, there were no questions.
 The new beer cooler to replace the broken one shipped on Oct 15th and should arrive by
Oct 21st.
 Mayor Huhta mentioned that the Harvest Fest Committee paid the full amount for the
new volleyball court at the pavilion.
 Tomika will attend a seminar in Duluth on how to hold a wine tasting on Oct 21st. She
will hold a wine tasting in January when traffic is low.
 Tomika said the meet raffle is doing well and the pull tabs are going well also.
WATER AND SEWER:
 Tom Johnson read from a report from the MPCA audit. The auditor praised him for the
excellent job he is doing with the sewer ponds and system. All paperwork and testing
was done on time and correctly. All differences were addressed and recorded properly.
 There were no new items to report for the Engineer project status report.
 Tom mentioned that the street lights north of town on 73 are now all working. Scott
mentioned that the power company had replaced one of the bulbs on the northernmost
light.
 Tom mentioned that the county would like three loads of pit-run gravel placed at the end
of Mingus rd so they can spread it and make a turn-around for the grader and plow trucks.
 The lower sewer pond has been drained and the upper pond then drained into the lower
pond. Tom is waiting for the results on the testing results for the lower pond now that the
upper is drained into it.
 Frank Yetka mentioned that the old sewer mound near the Villa, which is on land traded
to the Villa for the land surrounding our wells, should be looked at for the purpose of
removing all structure and soils in the near future. The reason for this is that the county
is changing some laws which may make it much more costly to do it in the distant future.
The exact timeline of the new laws is not known.
 Tom and Phil will check out the old sewer mound near the Villa Vista to assess the
amount of work needed to remove it and any soils we want from the property.
 Tom Johnson mentioned that the area surrounding theWells near the Villa Vista is in
disrepair due to the construction at the Cardinal Court. He had previously talked to
Charles “Mike” Peterson and Mike agreed to take care of it when the construction is
completed. The council asked that Scott draft a letter for the Villa to sign to assure it is
cleaned up and reseeded when the Cardinal Court project is completed.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The pavilion schedule for the months of Oct, Nov, and Dec was presented to the council.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Frank Yetka presented a new Identity Theft Prevention policy to the council. The
policy is required by the federal red-flags law for cities providing utilities billed
directly to the homeowners to protect their identifying information form getting to
the wrong people.
 Motion by Jan Swenson and seconded by Phil Lippo to adopt the ID Theft policy to
the city code. Motion passed unanimously.
Fire Department:
 .
Councilor requests:
Jan:
Phil:
Ray:
Tom:
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented with no objections or questions.
 Disbursements September 2008 totaled $65,552.36.
 Disbursements for 10/1/08 – 10/15/08 totaled $22,980.89
 Receipts for September 2008 totaled $56,259.10.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Mayor Huhta congratulated Tom Johnson on a job well done on the MPCA audit.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Phil Lippo and seconded by Jan Swenson. Motion Carried
unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott AWarner, City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
September 17th, 2008
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday,
September 17h 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Jan Swenson, and Ray Lally.
Absent: Tom Borglund - Excused
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities/Maintenance Department; Chris Struwve and
John Grones, Voyageur Press; Brian Marshall, Homeowner.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm on September 17th, 2008
Approve Minutes: Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve the August
20th public forum and regular council meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Tomika thanked Tom, Phil, Travis and Channing of the maintenance dept. for all their
help on setting up for the Harvest Fest weekend. Tomika mentioned that the weekend
went very well and there were no issues from the weekend.
 Tomika shared three thank-you notes from students regarding the donation to the golf
tourney that helped the athletic department.
 Tomika explained the aspects of the 1st annual Minnesota Municipal Beverage
Association food drive which the liquor store will take part in. The food collected will go
to the local food shelf and we could also win $2000.00 for the food shelf if we win the
contest. Flyers will be sent to us by the MMBA to post around town.
 Tomika presented the council with the entertainment schedule for October.
 Sales information for the liquor store was reviewed by the council.
 Scott presented to the council the final rent payment from the Sno Flyers for pull tabs.
 Tom mentioned that an electrical box which feeds the outside sign is in need of repair at
the liquor store. He has called Ben Line to come and rewire it.
WATER AND SEWER:
 Tom Johnson reported for the maintenance/water&sewer dept.s. The water meter is in at
the fire hall so we can now track the water usage there which will help us with any grants
we seek for our water dept. Kitty Rubey’s sewer is hooked up and ready to go. Water
tower control is in now which will help us to lower the wasted city water usage
dramatically over the winter months to come. The Villa Vista is offering the city a
culvert to add a walk path from the pavilion to downtown to help prevent people from
having to walk around on the back driveway and lower the risk of injury on the blind
curve by Roger Harps driveway.
 Mayor Huhta asked if the collapsed culvert on Dahl Rd had been fixed yet and Tom
confirmed that it had been done.
 There were no new items to report for the Engineer project status report.
2
 The council discussed widening the south alley in the city, utilizing the gravel we have by
the Sno Gophers building. Tom Johnson will contact the electric company to see about
moving the power poles. John Mattonen mentioned that the fire hydrant needs to be two
(2) feet from edge of the roadway.
 Tom also mentioned that he is working on tagging all the fire hydrants in the city to
prevent damage to them or citizens because they could not be seen under the snow or
grass.
 Correspondence from Carlton County regarding a sewer not in compliance at 5537 Dahl
Rd. was reviewed by the council. The homeowner had a permit from the city but did not
follow through with county procedures. The property is currently owned by Wells Fargo
Bank and must be inspected by the county before the property can be sold.
 A letter to Wendy and Donald Clark was reviewed by the council and the attorney and
will be sent out on 9/18/08 regarding the artesian well at 5560 hwy 210 which flows into
the city sewer.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The final version of the maintenance fee schedule was reviewed by the council with no
revision.
 The Pavilion meeting schedule for September - November was presented. John Grones
asked to be informed of the calendar of events at the pavilion and to have times attached
to the events.
 Scott noted that the “Job description” of what the city expects of security persons at
events within the city when providing security.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally to approve the zoning change for
the Brian and Michelle Marshall property from A1 to R1.
 The application for employment from Channing Lucking was reviewed by the
council.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally to hire Channing as a part time
employee. She will be utilized wherever she is needed in the Clerk’s office,
maintenance, or liquor store.
 The resolution of participation in the Carlton County EDA was reviewed by the
council.
 A thank-you from Willis J. Mann regarding the city web site was presented to the
council.
 A program agenda from Rural Development was presented to the council.
 A wage negotiation meeting was scheduled for 6pm on October 15th prior to the
regular 7pm meeting.
Fire Department:
 Ray Lally mentioned that the fire department members would like to see the fund balance
information on the Clerk’s Report each month.
 The fire department is beginning to spec out a new ambulance for the district which will
likely be purchased in 2009.
 Ray also reported that the ambulance district voted to raise their levi amount to be $5,000
over last years which equals approximately $13 per household in the district, which keeps
it below the $15.00 limit they agreed on when incepted.
Councilor requests:
Jan: Jan mentioned an intrusion of turnip weed entering Minnesota and spreading along the
main highways through the state. It is very poisonous and creates a terrible burning rash
when contacting the skin. It looks somewhat like dill weed. She noted that she has not
seen any or had reports of any in our area.
3
Phil: None
Ray: Ray mentioned that we should create a letter of support for Doctor Bode to oppose the
Non-Compete agreement imposed by Gateway clinic which prevents Dr. Bode from
practicing within 20 miles from the clinic. This non-compete keeps Dr. Body from
providing services at the Moose Lake Mercy Hospital for patients from the Cromwell
area who go there for procedures and/or care.
Tom: None
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented with no objections.
 Disbursements August 2008 totaled $78,328.90.
 Disbursements for 9/1/08 – 9/12/08 totaled $32,858.05
 Receipts for August 2008 totaled $58,268.86.
 Motion by Jan Swenson and seconded by Ray Lally to approve resolution # 08.9.1 to
establish a preliminary levy and budget for 2009 or $114,306.00
MAYOR’S NOTES:

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Jan Swenson and seconded by Phil Lippo. Motion Carried
unanimously, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott AWarner
City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
August 20th, 2008
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, August
20h 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Jan Swenson, Ray Lally and
Thomas Borglund.
Absent: none
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities Department; Mike Heaser, Voyageur Press;
Robert Levinski; Nancy Graham; Dennis Cieluch; Chris Stjern, BNSF Railway; Pat Oman,
Carlton County Economic Development.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm on August 20th, 2008
Approve Minutes: Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Jan Swenson to approve the July 16th
meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Ray Lally to purchase DJ/Karaoke equipment
from Jerry Graham for the liquor Store. Motion carried unanimously.
 3 estimates for new barstools were presented to the council, no action taken at this time.
 Tomika reported that three boxes have been played on the new pull tabs and have gone
very well.
 Tomika presented the council with the entertainment schedule for September.
 Sales information for the liquor store was reviewed by the council.
 An article from the Voyageur Press on the Liquor Store Golf Tourney was reviewed.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to advertise in the 2008-2009 Carlton
County Snowmobile Trail map at a cost of $100.00. Motion carried unanimously.
WATER AND SEWER:
 Tom Johnson presented three estimates for water level controllers for the water tower to
the council.
 Motion by Jan Swenson and seconded by Ray Lally to go ahead with quality flow
systems for the control, since we already use them for many other controls in our water
and sewer systems. Motion carried unanimously.
 The council discussed widening the south alley in the city, utilizing the gravel we have by
the Sno Gophers building.
 John Mattonen reported no new activity on engineering projects.
 Water main looping project is on hold awaiting grant funding,
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 Tom Johnson noted that the fence at the beach is completed and the landscaping is done.
Mayor Huhta noted that the only cost to the city was the labor since we received a grant
from Big Sandy watershed for the cost of the material.
 A new volleyball court was discussed and will be installed east of the soccer field at the
Pavilion park.
 We are waiting for grant money to build a new playground.
 MNDOT is developing sign ideas for the city to review.
 The Pavilion meeting schedule for August-October was presented.
 A Letter of thanks from Patty Switzer regarding the pavilion facility was presented.
 A copy of the Harvest Festival Flea Market ad was presented.
 Dennis Cieluch spoke to the council about concerns regarding providing security at
pavilion events and request the city give a “job description” of what the city expects of
him when providing security. It was noted by the council that security is generally the
responsibility of the renter to provide and not the city, but that Scott would check with
Sheriff Lake and the League of Minnesota Cities and put together a job description for
him.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 An updated maintenance fee schedule was presented to the council.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to change the minimum charge to
one hour times the rate of service provided.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to change the inspection fee from
$15.00 to $25.00.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Jan Swenson to adopt the fee schedule with
stated changes. Motion carried unanimously.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to approve the special use
permit for BNSF to build a tower on their property in the city. Motion carried
unanimously.
 A rezoning request from Brian and Michelle Marshall was discussed and a public
hearing will be held on September 17th at 6:30pm to allow the public to voice
concerns.
 A request from Robert Levinski to use his existing sewer holding tank as a privy was
heard. There was discussion on the matter.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund to all Robert Levinski to build
a privy on his existing sewer tank. Motion carried unanimously.
 A copy of an e-mail fromMNDOT was presented regarding placement of campaign
signs.
 A copy of the published TIF disclosure was presented for discussion. No further
action was needed.
Fire Department:

Councilor requests:
Jan: None
Phil: None
Ray: None
Tom: None
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented with no objections.
 Disbursements 7/15/08-8/20/08 totaled $93,242.78.
 Outstanding claims totaled $29,750.01
 Receipts for the month of July 2008 totaled $121,658.70.
 It was decided that a budget meeting will be held on September 8th at 5:00pm at the
pavilion.
 The tax levi breakdown for first half 2008 was presented to the council.
3
 A summary of free LGA summits was reviewed and Scott will attend the September 4th
summit in Brainerd.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Pat Oman of Carlton County Economic Development presented a resolution to opt into
the Carlton County Economic Development Authority. There was discussion by the
council.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Mayor Huhta to adopt a resolution to opt into the
Carlton County Economic Development Authority. Motion carried unanimously.
 Mayor Huhta congratulated Thomas Miller on passing his Eagle Scout Rank. A
celebration will be held at the pavilion on September 20th.
 Mayor Huhta stated that the luncheon for Doctor Bode and his staff went very well. And
thanked Wanda Shiflett and Kay Smith for a job well done.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo. Motion Carried,
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott AWarner
City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
July 16th, 2008
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, July 16th
2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Jan Swenson, Ray Lally and
Thomas Borglund.
Absent:
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities Department; Mike Heaser, Voyageur Press; Hugh
Heinecke, City Auditor; Sam Clark, Kitty Ruby, Don Shabiash, Bud Lund, Karen Reed of the
Tamarack Sno-Flyers and Cherie Nyberg.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm on July 16th, 2008
Approve Minutes: Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to approve the June
18th meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Ray Lally to donate $100.00 to the Athletic
department golf tourney for Cromwell/Wright School.
 There will be two nights of Karaoke at the liquor store in August.
 Tomika and Scott reported on the new pull tab setup. They are ready to go for August 1st.
 Karen Reed spoke for the Sno Flyers regarding the end of their doing pull tabs at the
liquor store.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally to hire Tammy Fahrendorff as a parttime
bartender.
 Sales spreadsheets were presented with comparison to last year for the council’s
information.
 A copy of the alcohol awareness training roster was presented to the council showing all
bartenders in compliance.
Water and Sewer:
 Tom Johnson spoke on the matter of Kitty Rubey’s sewer installation at 1277 Mingus
Rd.. The curb stop she expected to use is already hooked up to the neighbor’s sewer.
There was discussion on alternatives, and the city agrees to pay for a new curb stop for
her to hook up to. There was further discussion regarding the placement of the existing
curb stop being on Kitty’s property. She does not want it on her property if it is hooked
up to the neighbor’s sewer. More information will be gathered, possibly including a
survey at owner’s expense to find a solution.
 There was discussion regarding Timothy Kruse’s sewer installation at 1279 Mingus Rd.
It was not completed per code and will need to be fixed in order to meet the proper codes.
 There was discussion regarding a water access fee for Sam Clark’s property. The county shows the House at 5544 Highway 210 and his rental trailer at 1308 Robert Clark Drive as separate parcels. The city code indicates that if this is the case, he should be paying two separate water access charges. Sam contends that the property is one parcel and the county only separates it as government lots and should only pay one access charge. Frank will check into the matter with the County and we will hold over until the August meeting.
 There was discussion regarding the water line on South Point Road. We will bill Lake
Country Power for the total cost of the repair project.
 A proposed maintenance fee schedule was presented to the council, there was discussion
on the amounts, Scott was instructed to calculate the actual cost of Tom’s wages and
update the manual labor amount for the next council meeting.
 Copies of letters to and from Robert Hoebelheinrich regarding Buildable lot fees were
reviewed.
 An estimate for a new water level control for the water tower was reviewed. Motion by
Mayor Huhta and seconded by Ray Lally to have Tom Johnson seek more estimates and
get it installed before winter. Motion carried unanimously.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 Cherie Nyberg asked if the city would allow the liquor store to serve beer at the
volleyball tourneyment as well as having the liquor store open so they could have
everything at the pavilion and keep more people there during the tourney. Concerns were
voiced by the council regarding cost of insurance to serve off the liquor store property
and whether the Harvest Fest Committee wanted alcohol sold during the event quoting it
as a “family affair” where alcohol may not be appropriate. Frank will look into cost of
the insurance and Cherie will get the okay from the Harvest Fest Committee. The Item
will be discussed more at the August council meeting.
 The city is working on funding for a new fence at the beach between the parking lot and
the beach to replace the dilapidated one that is there now.

GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 The “Notice of Primary Election Filing Period” was presented to the council for approval.
No objections were voiced.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve zoning request from Rodney
(Bud) Lund to build a new shed on his property.
 Letter from Lake Country Power regarding energy conservation was presented to the
council.
Fire Department:
 Scott and Mike Peterson met with Roger Clapp of USDA Rural Development to get the
final Grant dollars for the Brush Rig. All paperwork except for one invoice is complete.
 Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Mayor Huhta to sell the old fire truck that is
stored in the Home Town Family Foods shed. Motion carried unanimously.
Hugh Heinecke presented the 2007 financial statements to the council, they were reviewed and
accepted. Hugh commended the city managers on a job well done. Hugh recommends reopening
the Liquor Store checking account and maintaining a separate checking for the liquor store. He
also recommends using QuickBooks to keep separate accounting for the liquor store to better
track actual profitability.
Councilor requests:
Jan: None
Phil: None
Ray: None
Tom: None
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented with no objections.
 Disbursements 6/18/08 – 7/14/08 totaled $40,474.75.
 Outstanding claims totaled $18,608.24
 Receipts for the month of June 2008 totaled $73,739.35.
 A debit card was ordered for the purpose of paying for training and internet purchases,
hotel fees for the city and fire dept. motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to
approve the debit cards for the Clerk’s office and for the Fire Dept. Motion carried
unanimously.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 The council discussed the Tamarack Sno Flyers and pull tabs and reconfirmed their
choice to switch pull tab operators.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally. Motion Carried,
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott AWarner
City Clerk/Treasurer
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
June 18th, 2008
7:00 p.m.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, June 18th
2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Jan Swenson and Thomas
Borglund.
Absent: Raymond Lally
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities Department; Mike Heaser, Voyageur Press;
JeanieWeimer and Linda Larson of the Luminary Committee
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta at 7pm on June 18th, 2008
Approve Minutes: Motion by Jan Swenson and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve the May
21st meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
LIQUOR STORE:
 The Jokimaki band will play at the liquor store the Friday beforeWrong-Days-in-Wright
 The liquor Store has six teams for the volleyball league. The league will play five times
over six weeks. (skipping the weekend of Wrong Days) Two nets are in place at the
Pavilion.
 Tomika requested that the liquor store have beer at the pavilion for the volleyball
tournament during Harvest Fest. Frank Yetka that we would likely have legal issues
and/or insurance issues if we did. Tomika then suggested we install one net put up at the
liquor store so they would be able to sell beer and/or liquor to the players during the
games.
 Tomika mentioned that beer prices are on the rise again starting with Miller products in
July. Mike Heaser mentioned that beer has already gone up at the Dry Dock in Duluth.
 A donation request of $100.00 for the “Diabetes Run” motorcycle ride on Saturday, June
21st was discussed.
 A request for $200.00 for food for the July 26th golf tournament was discussed. The food
will be sold at the liquor store after the tournament with Karaoke afterward. The Tourney
will be at the Retreat golf course from 10am-the last team is off the course, then people
will come back to the liquor store for food and the band.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to approve both the $100 donation
and the $200 food purchase.
 Tomika mentioned that there was an ad in the Voyager Press for the liquor store showing
that we now have food and that we have the sports games on a 50” HD TV.
 There was discussion on the issues of the pull tabs in the liquor store.
 Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Phil Lippo to rescind the resolution naming
the Tamarack Sno Flyers as our pull tab/lawful gambling agent. Motion carried
unanimously.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Jan Swenson to name the MS Society as our new
pull tab/Lawful gambling agent. Motion carried unanimously. This will take effect on
August 1st 2008
Water and Sewer:
 The sewer Ponds were drained in the month of May and the output tested by NTS. All
Pollutant levels are within acceptable limits, phosphorous levels were just over
recommended limits.
 A copy of the letter to Robert Hoebelheinrich and a copy of his response were presented
for the councils information. Robert is protesting his “Buildable Lot” fees for 2007 &
2008 and will attend the July 16th Council meeting to present his case.
 A copy of the updates to the water & sewer ordinance was presented to the council for
review.
 There was discussion about theWright fire dept. getting water form Cromwell’s fire hall
for the purpose of filling a swimming pool for a resident of Wright. This matter had been
previously discussed by Steve Bridge and Scott Warner and the fee for the water was
known by all parties. Scott will follow up with Steve Bridge on the matter to ensure the
city gets paid for the water.
 The Cardinal Court project is well under way, and has had to use city water to flush out
the new line there twice in the month of June, using approximately 90,000 gallons of
water. It was determined by the council that they should be billed for the water usage.
 John Mattonen presented the Project Status Report.
1. We are waiting for more info on the MnDot Landscaping Partnership. We may
be able to get a new “Welcome to Cromwell” sign through them.
2. We are looking for funding from US Army Corp of Engineers for the water loop
project. The project is on hold until we find grant money.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 The June and July schedule was presented to the council.
 The luminary committee asked the city if they could hold a fireworks display on the 5th of
July after their festivities during the day at the pavilion. It was determined that the
insurance rider would cost the city $600.00 to cover the liability. It was unclear how big
of a display would be presented. 90% of proceeds from the days activities goes to the
cemetery funds of Forest Hill in Cromwell, Eagle Lake Cemetery in Eagle Township, and
the three cemeteries in Wright.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Jan Swenson to deny the request this year, but
with the stipulation that if Eagle township and the City of Wright would each pay onethird,
they would reconsider. Motion carried unanimously.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 A copy of the information on the Board of Appeal and property taxes was presented for
the council’s information.
 A copy of a “thank you” note from Jennifer Langenbrunner was presented. She is a
“Dollars for Scholars” recipient.
Fire Department:
 No new business was presented.
Councilor requests:
Jan: Jan talked to Mike Martin of the Burlington Northern railroad about fixing the crossing
on Martinson rd. He said he would take a look at it.
Phil: none
Ray: none
Tom: Tom noted that the Prairie River Inn has to expand their parking lot for their Bar Bingo
night.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Financial information was presented and no objections were voiced.
 An analysis of the food sales showing an increase was presented.
 Disbursements 5/22/08-6/16/08 were $93,976.70 which included the payment for the new
roof on city hall.
 Outstanding claims totaled $18,236.18
 Receipts for the month of May 2008 totaled $60,196.50. This included the payment by
Gateway clinic of $8,015.62 for the operating expenses incurred by the city at the
Cromwell Gateway Clinic building for 2007 & 2008.
 Scott attended the LMC conference in Rochester June 11-13. The biggest concern
presented was rising cost of energy. Several seminars were presented on energy costs.
One possible source of grant money is out there to find alternative heating and electricity
for municipalities. We will watch this closely.
 Scott will be attending election training on June 26th at the Carlton County Transportation
Building. We have 2 council positions Jan’s and Ray’s up for election as well as the
Mayor’s seat.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 Mayor Huhta presented a thank you from Bernadine Reed for the praise extended to her
at the May council meeting.
 Mayor Huhta commended the City Managers for a job well done. He feels the city is
running smoothly.
 Mayor Huhta noted that the Northview Bank is having their annual picnic and everyone
should stop by during the day.
 Dr. Shawn Bode stopped in to the city office on 6/18 to pick out paint colors for the new
clinic and is excited to get started. Mayor Huhta suggested we hold a “Meet the Doctor”
day at the pavilion for the citizens of Cromwell to meet him and him to meet us.
 Mayor commended Ted Pihlman for his role in getting the $10,000 grant from CCEDAC
for the City Hall roof.

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Tom Borglund and seconded by Ray Lally. Motion Carried,
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott AWarner
City Clerk/Treasurer

 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
May 21st, 2008
6:00 p.m.

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, May 21st
2008 at 6:00 p.m. at the pavilion.

The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.

Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Raymond Lally, Phil Lippo, and Jan
Swenson and Thomas Borglund.
Absent: none
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities Department; Bernadine Reed, City of Kettle River
clerk; Mike Heaser, Voyageur Press; Grace & Carolyn Krogh, United Methodist Church
Representatives; Karen Reed, Tamarack Sno-Flyers; Quinlan Warner, Troop 169 Boy Scouts;
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta.
Approve Minutes: Motion by Jan Swenson and seconded by Ray Lally to approve the May
21st meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Water and Sewer:
 Carolyn Krogh spoke on behalf of the United Methodist Church of Cromwell. She raised
concerns regarding water & sewer prices rising beyond what their small church could
afford to pay.
 Mayor Huhta read an excerpt from the Voyageur Press regarding the rising costs of so
many things that affect our every day lives.
 Rates were discussed and an analysis was presented by John Mattonen. John noted that
the water and the sewer are both “enterprise funds”, should be “self supporting”, and
should not operate in the red.
 Motion by Mayor Huhta to raise water and sewer rates by $2.00 per month, no second,
motion failed.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Tom Borglund to raise water and sewer rates by
$1.50 each per month. Motion carried Unanimously.
 Further discussion on rates ensued.
 Phil Lippo rescinded his motion to raise water and sewer by $1.50 per month.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Jan Swenson to raise water and sewer by $2.00.
Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion on changing the usage portion of the rate. There will be no change to the
usage charge. Current usage charge is $2.50 per thousand gallons used for one to three
thousand gallons, $2.75 per thousand gallons used from four to six thousand gallons, and
$3.00 per thousand gallons for anything used over six thousand gallons.
 New rate will be effective immediately and will be published in the Voyager Press.
 Discussion on changing the “buildable lot” for empty lots with a curb stop for the city
water or sewer charge from $6.00 per month to $12.00 per month.
 So Motioned by Mayor Huhta, discussion, seconded by Ray Lally, motion carried
unanimously.
 Tom Johnson reported for the wate&sewer dept. He will be draining the sewer ponds in
May and NTS will be checking the Phosphorous levels in the water in the ponds to assure
we are within the limits.
 The control unit for the water level in the water tower may need to be replaced in order to
assure the tower doesn’t freeze in the winter and save us from needing to open hydrants
and flush the water to keep it from freezing which also causes overtime on the payroll.
This unit will also keep the tower full when the risk of fire is higher in the spring and the
usage is higher in the summer. The approximate cost is $1000.00, but we are looking for
quotes.
 John Mattonen presented the engineers report. We are waiting for information from
MNDOT for their landscaping project. There was discussion on the Loop Project for the
water lines. The loop would allow for water pressure to be maintained when a break in
the line occurs. This would allow for fire department to have pressure if necessary. It
would also help maintain clarity in the water supply to the homes on the north end of the
city without having to flush the lines and waste water.
PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 A plaque was presented showing all the businesses and individuals who donated for the
tables and chairs for the pavilion. It will be hung by Tom Johnson before the YOT dance
on the 5/22.
 There was discussion on improving the Island Lake Beach area. Fixing some of the
tables and replacing the fence between the parking lot and the beach.
 The schedule for the pavilion was presented for the councils review and information.
GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Community service request from the Troop 169 Boy Scouts was discussed. Several
scouts are looking for service projects to help them move up in the ranks in scouting.
 There was discussion on the roof project for the City Hall Building.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Jan Swenson to donate $100.00 to the Boy Scouts
toward the purchase of an equipment trailer.
 The 2007-2008 expenses from the Gateway Clinic were received in the amount of
$8,015.62.
 A recap of the insurance meeting from April was presented for review.
 The press release from the Villa Vista was presented for review.
 Information request from Carlton County Zoning was presented to the council and given
to John Mattonen.
LIQUOR STORE:
 Tomika reported for the liquor store.
 Air fryer is up and running. Going well.
 Will have in-house volleyball league on Sundays, Tom Johnson will set up a second net.
Will need to play on grass instead of sand.
 New door was installed on the liquor store.
 Jerry Graham donated a 50” HD tv, we switched to Dish Network and put the old tv in
the back room so we now have 3 tv’s in the liquor store.
 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Jan Swenson to give $200.00 donation to
sponsor ship of the “League of Their Own” softball team. Brings in good business on
Wednesdays.
 Donated one of the old pizza makers to the Cromwell Little League.
 New spread sheets for liquor store inventory are coming from Peter’s Hardware.
 We will have music on the Friday before “Wrong Days in Wright”
 Presented a summary of the MMBA convention in Alexandria. Big upward trend in wine
sales. Tomika will arrange training for wine sales. Tom Shay presented at conference
and Tomika received several good tips on management.
 We will hold Liquor sales training at the liquor store in July and invite all local liquor
store employees to attend. We will advertise in the Voyageur Press when date is set.
 Jerry Graham remodeled the back room at the liquor store, rewired and rerouted some
plumbing to create the room for the food processing.
 A donation of $3000.00 was presented by Karen Reed of the Tamarack Sno-Flyers.
Fire Department:
 Fire Dept. minutes were presented for review by the council members.
Councilor requests:
Jan: Jan asked where to plant the flowers this spring and there was discussion on the matter.
Phil: none
Ray: Ray thanked the council for their thoughts on his dad’s passing.
Tom: Tom noted that the motion and second on the minutes for the April 16th council meeting
to adjourn were incorrect. Scott will double check the notes and correct.
Tom also mentioned a sinkhole at Chevvy Borglund’s garage pad and asked that the
engineer look at it.
CLERK’S NOTES:
 Scott is working on the Fire Dept. checking account and will monitor the account for
several months to make sure nothing is missed, and the account will then be closed.
 Financial reports were presented.
 There was discussion on the Trolley Station water and sewer account. It was determined
that the Bank is liable only for the charges that occurred after the bank took possession of
the building.
 There was discussion on the final adjustments to the water and sewer accounts to correct
the billing errors from the past. All accounts are now being billed correctly.
 There was discussion on the final invoices for the Fire Truck purchase. The remaining
grant money will be received after the invoices are reconciled and presented to the
USDA/Rural Development.
 There was discussion on the pay dates for the council members for the regular council
meetings. They will be paid on June 1st and December 1st.
MAYOR’S NOTES:
 There was discussion on the pay dates for the council members for the regular council
meetings. They will be paid on June 1st and December 1st.
 Bernadine Reed was presented with a watch as thank you for her service in our time of
need last fall.
 There was discussion on the new Cromwell Medical Clinic. Shawn Bode will be coming
in as our new doctor. He will be coming in to review the building when he returns from
New Zealand in June. An email from Shawn was presented to the council.
 A letter of support from the Cromwell/Wright school in support of the new clinic was
also presented.
 The city has applied for some grant money to help with the startup costs of the new
clinic.
ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Tom Borglund and seconded by Ray Lally. Motion Carried,
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott AWarner
City Clerk/Treasurer
 
Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
April 23rd, 2008
7:00 p.m.

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, April
23rd 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.
Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Raymond Lally, Phil Lippo, and Jan
Swenson.
Absent: Thomas Borglund - excused.
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities Department; Nancy Graham, Carl Brandt; Town &
Country Insurance.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta.

Approve Minutes: Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Jan Swenson to approve the March
19th regular meeting minutes with stated changes. Motion carried unanimously.

Approve Accounts Payable: Motion by Jan Swenson and seconded by Ray Lally to approve
payment of claims as presented in the amount of $9,075.93 for the general city expenses and
$9,629.50 for Fire Dept. expenses, receipts from 03/01/2008 to 03/31/2008, and disbursement
registers from 03/17/2008 to 04/4/17/2008 in the amount of $166,896.81 as presented, as well as
the Treasurer’s report and the updated Statement of Indebtedness. Motion carried unanimously.

Water and Sewer:

 There was discussion on cleaning the city water tower. Estimated cost will be added to
the 2009 budget.
 The project status report from city engineer, John Mattonen was review and discussed.
 No current park improvement activity
 Wastewater Infrastructure improvements #2006-031 is being closed out
 there was further discussion water main looping and sanitary sewer repair project
#2007-308 carried over fromMarch 19th 2007 meeting. USDA loan dollars are
currently available with a significant rise in the water & sewer rates to the public.
The council will review at the May 21st meeting regular council meeting. The
balance of funding would be through MDH and US army corp of engineers
grants money.
 Tom Johnson and Phil Lippo will be reading the water meters in May and we will be
updating the customer information at the same time.
 An information request from Pate bonding will be filled out and sent in by city engineer
John Mattonen.
 There was discussion on putting a new fence around the sewer ponds for the safety of the
public. Approximate material cost is $9,200 plus the cost of concrete for the corner and
end posts. Installation will be done by the Maintenance dept. if peaceable.
 Acknowledgement of claim from LMCIT was reviewed by all.
 Discussion on theWater Week poster contest. Scott Warner brought the information to
Christie Elias on (Cromwell-Wright School 3rd grade teacher) and she will have the
posters back to the city by the end of April.

PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:

 Yellow page advertising was reviewed and denied. We will not advertise in the yellow pages
for the Pavilion this year.
 The property valuation from Carlton County for the City Hall Building was reviewed by the
council. Mayor Huhta spoke to the county assessor's office prior to the meeting and they
agreed we will not owe any property tax unless we lease out the space again before year end.

GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:

 The 2008-2009 insurance renewal information was discussed by the council and Carl
Brandt. The city will renew the policy with the agent’s percentage changing from 10%
down to 8%. Carl will submit the renewal to the LMCIT and we will be billed when it is
approved.
 Carl Brandt requested a copy of the Saddle Club’s insurance listing the city as additional
insured. Scott Warner will provide it to him.
 A Proof of insurance request from CAPMARK was reviewed and will be filled out by
Carl Brandt and sent in.
 The city received and reviewed "thank you’d" from the Tri-County Food Shelf, Dr. Sue
Benzie, and The senior prom committee.
 A flag price list was reviewed by the council and we will evaluate our needs and order
flags from All Flags LLC as needed.

LIQUOR STORE:

 Tomika Smith, Liquor Store manager, reported for the liquor store.
 There was discussion on two altercations at the liquor store. The sheriff’s dept. was
called for both and the situation was dissolved without further incident. The council
commended Tomika and her bartenders for following policy and acting quickly to
dissolve the situations.
 There was discussion on the NSF checks at the liquor store. We will continue taking
checks for the time being, but limit it to the amount of their bill, if the problem continues
we will revisit it in the future. Scott information from Sheriff Kelly Lake on how to
submit them to the Sheriff’s dept. if necessary. Tomika will enforce policy requiring the
bartenders to initial all checks received from customers so we can get a voluntary
statement from the cashier in the event any check needs to be submitted to the Sheriff’s
dept.
 There was discussion of the wage increase for Dot and Diane at the liquor store for their
additional duties as “Shift-lead”. It was tabled until the May 21st meeting. Any pay
increase will be retroactive to April 1st for Dot and May 1st for Diane.
 Tomika and Scott met with the Sno-Flyers regarding adding bar bingo. The Sno-Flyers
were not receptive to the idea at this time.
 The council reviewed a Yellow page advertising request and decided not to advertise in
the yellow pages. The liquor store is listed in the white pages under Cromwell Municipal
Liquor.
 Discussion: An air fryer has been ordered and is due to arrive by the end of April.
$2260.00 was transferred from the Liquor store savings account to pay for it. Profits are
expected to pay for it by the end of 2008. We will offer burgers and appetizers. We will
have a food day to promote it to the public.
 Discussion of the Mulligan water softener in the liquor store. Scott stopped the salt
deliveries and purchased salt at Mansards for a savings of $6.00 per bag. Tom Johnson
will fill the softener twice per month and keep an eye on it. We will continue to lease the
softener at this time and look into other options. We can buy the existing softener from
Mulligan for $540.00.

Fire Department:

 No new business
Councilor requests:
Jan: none
Phil: Phil mentioned that the Sno Gophers were looking for dirt for fill at club building on
 Highway 73. The city will sell to them for $1 per yard.
Ray: none
Tom: none

CLERK’S NOTES:

 Discussion on the LMC and Clerk’s Orientation training in June and July. Scott will
attend both.

MAYOR’S NOTES:

 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Ray Lally to go forward with the gable roof on
the City Hall Building and take he lowest bid, (Tyson Warner Construction), pending his
presentation of his license and insurance information. Motion approved unanimously.
 Mayor Huhta suggested we pick up a watch from Buskala’s Jewelry and present it to
Bernadine Reed as a thank you for her service in our time of need last fall and winter.

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo. Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Scott AWarner
City Clerk/Treasurer
 
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
March 19th, 2008
7:00 p.m.

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, March
19th 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.

The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.

Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Tom Borglund and Jan
Swenson.

Absent: Raymond Lally - excused.

Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tomika Smith,
Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities Department; Mike Heaser, Voyageur Press; Jerry
and Nancy Graham, Cindy Richards, Dan Karponen, and Robert Levinski.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta.

Approve Minutes: Motion by Jan Swenson and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve the February
20th 2008 regular meeting minutes and March 5th 2008 closed meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried unanimously.

Approve Accounts Payable: Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Jan Swenson to approve
payment of claims as presented in the amount of $15,236.11, and receipts from 02/01/2008 to
02/29/2008 and disbursement registers from 02/20/2008 to 03/18/2008 as presented, as well as
the Treasurer’s report. Motion carried unanimously.

Water and Sewer:
 Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Jan Swenson to go forward with the Levinski
sewer project as soon as the ground thaws. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion an new water main looping project and the possible grant from Army Corp of
Engineers for up to 75% of cost.
 Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Jan Swenson to approve the addition of a
used car lot on the northwest corner of the intersection of highway’s 210 and 73. Motion
carried unanimously.
 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve the Ritter & Ritter sewer
maintenance contract upon final approval by Frank Yetka. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion with John Mattonen regarding the MNDOT landscaping funds. We will have
more details in June. No action at this time.
 Discussion on the excavating and utilities connections for the new Villa Vista project.
City will inspect all sewer and water connections before hookups are approved.
 Discussion about the sewer backup at Wendy Tillman’s house. It has been turned into
the insurance company.
 Discussion regarding an artesian well flowing into the city sewer. A letter has been sent
to the homeowner requesting it be rerouted away from the sewer access.
 Discussion on minimum water and sewer charges, no action taken.

PARKS AND REC/PAVILION:
 Review of liability policy from Riverside Riders showing the City of Cromwell as
additional insured for the use of the riding arena.

GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:
 Motion by Jan Swenson and seconded by Phil Lippo to donate $100.00 to the Post Prom
party.
 Motion by Mayor Huhta and seconded by Jan Swenson to donate $100.00 to the food
shelf for their March food drive.
 Discussion on Gateway Clinic closing. Mayor Huhta and Frank Yetka will meet with
the clinic manager to discuss what equipment will have to stay with the city for the next
tenant.
 Information was presented on supervising people.
 Discussion on bids to fix the City Hall roof and a grant request sent to CCEDAC.

LIQUOR STORE:
 Tomika Smith, Liquor Store manager, reported for the liquor store.
 Discussion on possible changes to the pull tab sales in the liquor store. There will be a
meeting with the Sno Flyers to look at alternatives to increase profits.
 Discussion of adding an air fryer to the liquor store to allow us to offer more food items.
 Discussion on the MMBA and MLBA conferences.
 Copies of cash control and NSF check policies were presented.

Fire Department:
 Discussion on the closing on the new fire truck and the USDA grant. Closing moved to
April 3rd at 10:30am at the fire hall.

Councilor requests:

Jan:
Phil:
Ray:
Tom:

CLERK’S NOTES:
 Discussion on the LMC and Clerk’s Orientation training in June and July. Scott will
attend both.

MAYOR’S NOTES:

ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn by Jan Swenson seconded by Tom Borglund. Meeting
adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott AWarner
City Clerk/Treasurer

 
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
February 20th, 2008
7:00 p.m.

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on Wednesday, February 20th 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.

The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.

Present: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Tom Borglund and Ray Lally and Jan
Swenson.

Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tomika Smith, Liquor Store
Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities Department; John Groness, Voyageur Press; Lee Bundy, Ritter & Ritter Sewer;

Nancy Graham, Casey Hutar, John Richards, Cindy Richards, and Wayne Richards.

The meeting was called to order byMayor Huhta.

Approve Minutes: Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve the January 16th, 2008 regular meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Approve Accounts Payable: Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve payment of claims as presented in the amount of $18,702.33, and receipts and disbursement registers from 01/17/2008 to 02/19/2008 as presented, motion carried unanimously and Treasurer’s report.

Water and Sewer:

 Engineer Project status report as submitted by City Engineer, John Mattonen:
 Discussion with Ritter & Ritter regarding a revamped agreement for scheduled cleaning and emergency
response program for the city sewer.
 Motion byMayor Huhta seconded by Ray Lally to have city attorney work with Ritter and Ritter to
complete and bring to next council meeting for final approval. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion regarding a survey of Lippo Lane.
 Motion by Ray Lally, Seconded by Phil Lippo to go ahead with necessary paperwork to allow Butch
Levinski’s sewer hookup to include use of the right-of-way of Lippo Lane, and to get him hooked up to
the city sewer.
 Discussion regarding Minnesota Department of Health funding. We are on their priority list and need
to re-apply by July 31st 2008.
 Discussion about setting up a meeting with Roger Clapp with the USDA Rural Development at the
pavilion on March 13th to discuss theWater Main Loop Project. John Mattonen to follow up.
 Discussion on LTAP training, Tom Johnson will look into the sessions available.
 Discussion on Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems Ordinance. John Mattonen recommends we
continue our relationship with the County administration. Council agrees.
 The Tamarack Watershed received a plaque from the MPCA a job well done promoting the use of
“lead-free” tackle. It is hung in the Pavilion.
Parks and Recreation/Pavilion:
 A plaque has been placed in the Pavilion thanking the donors for the tables and chairs

GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:

 Discussion on the clinic closing. The city is seeking another clinic to take the place of Gateway.
Gateway is planning to be closed after April 1st 2008.
 Mayor Huhta is seeking bids on fixing the roof on the City Hall Building and will apply for grants to
accomplish the task once bids are in.
 Dick, Jan, Tom, Phil, and Scott will be attending the annual Safety and Loss Workshops in Biwabik on
April 24th 2008.
 Discussion on zoning permit for Wayne Richards. John Mattonen will work with Wayne to get all
necessary information and it will go before the council again when complete.
 “Thank you” was presented to the council from the Boy Scouts for the donation for the spaghetti feed.
 Discussion on new Board of Health requirements. No action needed.

LIQUOR STORE:

 Tomika Smith, Liquor Store manager, reported for the liquor store.
 Tomika gave a summary of the MMBA “Boot Camp” attended by Scott, Casey, and herself.
 Motion byMayor Huhta, seconded by Phil Lippo to hold a special closed meeting to discuss city
staffing concerns. Motion Carried unanimously.
 Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Jan Swenson to send Tomika to Manager Skills Training in
Duluth on March 3rd. Motion carried unanimously.
 Discussion about sending someone to MMBA/MLBA Legislative day on March 4th. We will not be
sending anyone this year.
 Discussion about the discoloration in the water in the liquor store. Tom will check into another filter or
softener system to help. Other businesses on the same water loop are not having the same problem.
Fire Department:
 Discussion regarding Fire Department Meeting Minutes. Ray Lally will get the minutes to the City
Clerk prior to the monthly City Council Meeting.
Councilor requests:
Jan:
Phil:
Ray:
Tom:

CLERK’S NOTES:

 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Tom Borglund to allow the Clerk/Treasurer to send all Payroll
related tax and insurance payments electronically.
 Discussion on legal holidays per Minnesota Statutes. Further discussion on holiday pay will be set for
September 2008 with reminders to be sent to council members in August.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve the CCEDAC loan amortization schedule
and all subsequent payments.
 Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Jan Swenson to pay all invoices due and payable between
council meetings to avoid “service interruptions” or finance charges.
 Motion by mayor Huhta and seconded by Ray Lally to adopt a policy of allowing CityManagers to
purchase items of $100.00 or less without prior approval and needing prior approval of the Mayor (if an
immediate need)or Council (if not immediate need) for Larger amounts.
 Motion byMayor Huhta and seconded by Ray Lally to pay back pay to bartenders who did not receive
raises in accordance with their compensation schedule totaling $302.50.

MAYOR’S NOTES

 Discussion regarding the light poles on Main street. Mayor Huhta has a meeting with REA to discuss
replacing the poles.
 Discussion regarding new banners for the city. City will wait until after new light poles are installed.
 Correspondence regarding the closing of Gateway Clinic on April 1st. The city is looking into other
options to keep a clinic in the community.
 Discussion regarding fixing of Highway 73 south of Cromwell. It is slating to be patched in 2010 but
work may begin in 2009 if funds come available.
 Discussion regarding Highway 210 from Cromwell to McGregor. It is slated to be repaired in 2009 to
match the Cromwell to I35 section.

ADJOURN: 9:10pm

Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner
City Clerk/Treasurer
 

Approved Meeting Minutes
City of Cromwell
Carlton County, Minnesota
Regular Council Meeting
January 16 2008
7:00 p.m.

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cromwell was held on
Wednesday, January, 16th 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion.
The Pledge of Allegiance was done by all.

PRESENT: Mayor Richard L. Huhta, Council Members: Phil Lippo, Tom Borglund and
Ray Lally.
Absent: Jan Swenson (excused)
Others present: John Mattonen, City Engineer; Frank Yetka, City Attorney; Tomika
Smith, Liquor Store Manager; Tom Johnson, Utilities Department; John Groness,
Voyageur Press; Lee Bundy, Ritter & Ritter Sewer; Nancy Graham and Bernadine
Reed.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Huhta.

APPROVE MINUTES: Motion by Phil Lippo and seconded by Ray Lally to approve the December 17, 2007, regular meeting minutes as presented, Mayor Huhta abstains motion carried.

APPROVE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve payment of claims as presented in the amount of $20,232.24, additional claims in the amount of  3,416.03 (attachment to agenda) and receipts and disbursement registers from 12/17/07 to 01/16/08 as presented, discussion or phone and Keith Clark bills, motion carried unanimously. Discussion of phone bill.

Tom Johnson to review Keith Clark bill with Clerk and Mayor for possibility of the
city billing out some of the charges to third parties.

WATER AND SEWER: Engineer Project status report as submitted by City Engineer,
John Mattonen:

Motion by Tom Borglund and seconded by Phil Lippo to approve the final payment
to Utility Systems of America and for change order #1for the Wastewater
Infrastructure Improvements Project (estimeate#7, project 2006-031. Motion carried
unanimously.

There is a problem with one of the lift stations which will possibly require repair in
the spring. The pumping times are inconsistent with normal day-to-day operation.
Tom Johnson is working with John Mattonen on the issue. Tom has made
adjustments to the timing mechanism and it is working at present. It will be
monitored closely to insure operation continues through the winter. Phil Lippo
asked if a filter would help keep system from plugging up. Topic will have follow-up
in the spring.

Discussion regarding NE lift station having an abnormally high volume. There was a
cabin with broken pipes causing extra water in sewer system. Water is now shut off
in the cabin.

Discussion on Carlton County Economic Development and Lakes & Pines information
on the Small Cities Development Program grant application. Information has been
sent to Community news and is available in the City Clerk’s Office.

Park Improvements – Playground Equipment, Project No. 2001-109
 No recent activity – Engineer is searching for grant funding for new playground
equipment.
Other:
 Discussion with Ritter & Ritter regarding a scheduled cleaning and emergency
response program for the city sewer. Frank Yetka, City Attorney; John Mattonen,
City Engineer, Tom Johnson, Utilities Manager; and Lee Bundy, Ritter & Ritter will
work together to bring a proposal before the City Council.

Villa Vista/Cardinal Court

 Reviewed correspondence fromMn Dept of Labor and Industry regarding the proposed Villa Vista Project.

PARKS AND RECREATION/PAVILION: First YOT dance is on January 24, 2008.
Tom Johnson commented that the new garage is working out well.
Leak in Maintenance closet is being repaired.

GENERAL CITY/HOUSING/HIGHWAY:

Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to accept the officials for 2008 as
follows:

Health official: Dr. Susan Benzie – Gateway Clinic – Cromwell
Health Inspectors: Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, Jan Swenson
Weed inspectors: Jan Swenson, Phil Lippo, Tom Borglund
Civil Defense Directors: Ray Lally, Scott Warner
Register Control: Jan Swenson, Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, Scott Warner
Depository: Northview Bank of Cromwell and Moose Lake Credit Union
Legal Newspaper: Voyager Press and Star Gazette
Law Firm: Rudy, Gassert, Yetka, and Pritchett
Program Liaison : Census Bureau: Phil Lippo
Acting Mayor: Jan Swenson, Phil Lippo, Ray Lally, Tom Borglund
Engineer: RLK Kuusisto Engineering
CCEDAC Rep: Richard Huhta

Butch Levinski is asking for an easement to put his septic tank on public land to help comply with DNR water protection guidelines regarding closeness to lakes and streams. City engineer will verify whether or not the land is owned by the city and send correspondence regarding request.

Discussion was held regarding notification from Dr. Sue Benzie that she would be retiring in April of 2008. Frank Yetka, City Attorney, will send correspondence to Dr. Ray Christensen and Dr. Teppke to inquire on who will replace her at the Cromwell Office.

Motion by Ray Lally and seconded by Phil Lippo to have the City of Cromwell put on the Project Priority List of the Minnesota Department of Health to keep us on track for future water main looping needs. Grants have been applied for.

Ray Lally and Scott Warner will attend the Board of Review and Equalization training at Carlton County Transportation building on January 22nd.

Acknowledgement of correspondence concerning Thomas Skare’s property zoning
classification.

LIQUOR STORE: Tomika Smith, Liquor Store manager, reported for the liquor
store. Tomika will contact Hugh Heinecke for year-end inventory requirements.
Motion by Tom Borglund seconded by Ray Lally to authorize Tomika, Diane and
Scott to attend the 2008 Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association meeting
February 19th and 20th and authorize all related expenses. Carried unanimously.
Tomika mentioned that the payphone at the liquor store should not be in service,
but may still be. Scott Warner will check with phone company.
Discussion on hiring an assistant manager for the liquor store and PERA
requirements. Meeting with Hugh to obtain further explanation of prior
conversations. Subject will be placed on February agenda.
There was some discoloration of the water in the liquor store. Tom Johnson flushed
the lines and will check the water softener.
Tomika will supply Scott with a copy of the employee schedule.
Mayor Huhta asked for an explanation of the low payment from the Sno Flyers –
Tomika responded that business has been slow. She had checked with other
facilities and got the same response from them.

Councilor requests:

Jan:
Phil:
Ray:
Tom:

CLERK’S NOTES: Bernadine Reed is processing 2007 year-end reports and training new
Clerk/Treasurer, Scott Warner.

Discussion concerning TIF year-end requirements. Frank Yetka will provide Bernadine
with TIF consultants & related info.

MAYOR’S NOTES: Motion by Mayor Huhta, seconded by Tom Borglund and carried
unanimously to authorize donation of $100.00 to the Troop 169 Boy Scouts
spaghetti dinner fund raiser on 01/19/2008 in Barnum. Check issued on
01/17/2008.

ADJOURN: 8:05pm

Respectfully submitted,
Scott A Warner
City Clerk/Treasurer

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