The Devils Lake City Commission met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 5:30 p.m., delayed from its usual Monday due to the Labor Day holiday. After approving the previous meeting’s minutes, Mayor Jim Moe recognized Brandon Padilla for five years of service to the City of Devils Lake, and at the end of the meeting he gave a quick update on the rodeo happening this weekend. So many events and contests are planned and ready to go, it will absolutely be a weekend you don’t want to miss. Public hearings were held on two ordinances, no one was present to comment on them and later in the meeting both were approved unanimously by the commission.
Commissioner portfolio highlights include the hiring of Wade Charboneau as the Public Ways Supervisor, and water main replacements along 2nd Street and 6th, 7th, and 8th Avenues. Senator John Hoeven was in Devils Lake last week to discuss the ongoing healthcare facility problem facing Devils Lake, and local employees and administrators from Altru, CHI, and Essentia were present to passionately defend the current level of care in Devils Lake. Corporate leadership from CHI were not present, and there will be another meeting with the Senator in early October to discuss a new healthcare facility moving forward. The commission then voted unanimously in favor of appointing Mark Kraft and reappointing Jeb Oehlke to the Devils Lake Parking Authority board.
Following this, the commission was presented with a term agreement for the payment of a loan by Western State Bank President Brett Johnston. The city acted as guarantor for Summers Manufacturing, which was sold to another entity, and a sum of $343,000 is now owed by the City of Devils Lake. Commissioner Rob Hach recused himself from the following discussion and vote. Displeasure was voiced at the fact that the City of Devils Lake, though the dollar amount owed on Summers Manufacturing is potentially less than Western State Bank owes (this figure was not disclosed at this meeting), the fact that there was no break presented to the city was disheartening. Discussion became a little heated over the fact that a five-year payment plan at just under 5% yearly interest was the most presentable option to the commission, and commissioners ended up voting unanimously to table the agreement until a future meeting. Western State Bank President Brett Johnston and Forward Devils Lake Chair Brad Barth spoke to the value of backing this company for the past four years, keeping 80 people employed through the manufacturing plant. However, the city will now have to decide the best course of action in terms of paying the guarantee of the loan.
Two budget amendments were passed unanimously with roll call votes, one to the Shade Tree Committee to do some cleanup around Roundhouse Park, and the other to release quarter 4 law enforcement salaries for COVID funds. City Administrator Spencer Halvorson met with the city’s health insurance provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and recommended a plan change to Your Blue, which will keep health insurance costs even from 2023 to 2024. This plan change was approved via roll call vote, with Commissioner Shane Hamre voting nay to see the city’s contribution to family health insurance plans change slightly. With these savings in health insurance, Halvorson also recommended reducing the city’s overall budget by one additional mill, which will be addressed at the city’s next budget meeting.
City Attorney Jack Yunker stated that the City of Devils Lake and Ramsey County are essentially ready to sign the joint powers agreement with the Law Enforcement Center and are waiting on the LEC to approve the drafted changes before the entities will sign. Commissioners then voted to approve pay estimates for curb, gutter, and sidewalk projects, as well as a storm sewer and road paving project in the Stromquist division. The commission also approved the purchase of a new truck chassis to replace a sanitation truck before unanimously voting to pay the list of bills.
Past meeting minutes and future meeting agendas can be found at dvlnd.com.
