Meeting Watch

Includes Bertha City Council and Eagle Valley School Board

Bertha City Council
by Carolynne Bisel
The regular council meeting held on January 9 was attended by all members except Medley Shamp. Guests and staff present were: Sara Harig, Rick Harig, Marvin Stokes, Gerald Berndt, Shaun Nelson, Adam Templin, Pete Wallner, Bobby Berndt and Janet Umland. The meeting was approximately two and a half hours long.
Actions
• Approved the consent agenda which included the adoption of the December 12, 2011 minutes and the acceptance of a donation in the amount of $300 from ACS designated for Bears Country Kiddie Tractor Pull.
• Sara Harig addressed the council on the matter of an injury she sustained while working for the city several years ago. Mayor Klebs suggested the claim should be turned in to the city insurance for processing.
• Approved a resolution adopting the 2012 schedule of fees and charges for various services, licenses and permits.
• Approved the official designations and annual appointments resolution.
• Approved a resolution setting 2012 employee compensation. The city clerk will receive 50 cents an hour increase starting January 1, 2012. The two public works employees will also receive 50 cents an hour increase in pay once they complete job probation in September 2012.
• Approved to set the date for the bid opening of the Bertha Public Authority Project for January 31, 2012 at 11 a.m.
• The council tabled approving the Safety Management Program proposal with MacNeil Environmental until a fee for the cost of installation can be negotiated.
• Approved the 2012 insurance package with Peterson Insurance Agency, Inc. of Bertha for the amount of $19,215.
• Approved the Independent News Herald 2012 promotion schedule for $150.
• Approved a temporary building permit for Matt Peterson’s temporary shed until the council meeting in May, noting that at that time, if all conditions have been met, he will be given two years to construct a permanent structure.
• Approved a fund for the ambulance department to purchase needed equipment and fixtures for the amount of $7,500.
• Approved to send Janet Umland to the MN Clerk’s Conference and to send Adam Templin and Shaun Nelson to the MN Rural Water Conference in March.
• Approved to accept the estimate of $534.49 from Contact Radio Communications to install wireless internet service in the public works office.
Discussion Without Action
• Pete Wallner gave an update on the fire department, noting that they lost a coat and helmet in the last fire they were called to control. Also, they started making calls to Bertha Township concerning the fire contracts which are due by March 1.
• Bobby Berndt presented the monthly activity report for the police department. He explained to the council how the joint agreement was working between Bertha and Eagle Bend. Also, he presented a sample copy of the warning—parking violation tickets to each council member. The copy clarifies the snow removal schedule for the odd/even method that will be used by the city during snowstorms.
• Adam presented the public works report and had a lengthy discussion and answered questions about some of the future expectations for the department. He noted that Shaun Nelson was working out very well as the part-time help.

Eagle Valley School Board
by Karin L. Nauber
karin@inhnews.com
The organizational and regular meetings of the Eagle Valley School Board were held on January 9. Superintendent Jim Madsen was absent due to an injury. Also absent were Elementary Administrator Duane Motzko and Board Member Shawn Rowe. The two meetings were a total of one hour and eight minutes in length.
Actions
• Elected Sharon Notch chair of the board with Chris Notch as vice chair and Twila Pierce as clerk.
• Approved the organizational consent agenda which included: naming the Independent News Herald official newspaper, set regular meetings at 7:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month in Eagle Bend, authorized the financial and signatories for the bank and fund accounts, named Star Bank of Eagle Bend, Unity Bank of Clarissa and Liquid Asset Fund as depositories, authorized the Imprest Fund access for Madsen and Jered Freudenberg, set the posting of notices at the official entrances of the school buildings, named Madsen as the Human Rights Officer and Title IX Officer, approved substitute pay at $100 per day, set the pay for extra-curricular workers at $25 per event, $30 for ticket sellers at extended events and $35 for junior varsity and junior high officials that ref multiple games in one day, set the mileage rate at .39 per mile which is 70% of the federal rate.
• Set the meeting per diems at $60 for regular, special and committee meetings and $90 for all day meetings.
• Approved the chair and clerk salaries at $500 per year.
• Named Pierce as the Freshwater Education District representative.
• Named Board Member Adam Riedel as the Minnesota State High School League and Region 6A representative.
• Named Board Member Becky Pratt as the Minnesota School Boards Association Legislative Liaison.
• Named Rowe as the National Joint Powers Association representative.
• Named Pratt as the Wellness-Nutrition officer.
• Named the following to the standing committees: Pierce and Riedel to the Emergency Leave Bank Committee; Riedel, Board Member Rick Nelson and C. Notch to the Facilities Committee; Pierce and Pratt to the Finance Committee; full board to the Long Range Planning Committee; S. Notch, Riedel and Pierce to the Negotiations Committee; Nelson to the Safety Committee; Pratt to the Staff Development Committee; Pratt, S. Notch and Rowe to the Student Handbook/Board Policy Committee. At the suggestion of Principal Barry Johnson, they also added Staff Handbook to this assignment. C. Notch to the Technology Committee; S. Notch, C. Notch and Rowe to the Transportation/Personnel Committee. The board also set the athletic prices for the year at the same rate as last year. They added that college students can attend events at the student rate if they show their college ID.
The organizational meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
The regular meeting began a couple of minutes later.
• The board set the date of their retreat for Monday, January 23, at 5:30 p.m.
• Adopted a resolution directing the superintendent to make recommendations for reductions in programs and positions and reasons therefore. This is done annually.
• Closed the meeting at 8:38 p.m. to discuss personnel issues primarily related to Madsen who was injured in a fall and has not been able to work regular hours.
Discussion Without Action
• Heard the high school report from Principal Barry Johnson. He talked about some of the learning opportunities becoming available from Study Island to Race to the Top funding. He also talked about Project Lead the Way. He said they are finalizing the grant to receive an additional $50,000 and are meeting with a representative to help better implement the current funds.
He also briefly talked about possibly extending the day program for preschoolers to help meet daycare and afterschool care needs.
• Stephanie Booker gave an update on the many things that the PTO is active in this school year including the students of the month, technology related to spotting bullying, family movie night and many other activities. She also highlighted several of the activities they had already been a part of since the start of the 2011-2012 school year.
• The board discussed the need to have job descriptions in place for all positions at the school. They talked about the committees working on the different descriptions.
They also talked about more mentoring of staff by Johnson and Instructor Cindy Roos. Johnson is working on his superintendent licensure and Roos has an administrative master’s degree.
S. Notch said after discussions, they think they can do this without an impact on the budget and it will give them a chance to use their skills.
Johnson felt this was a prudent measure to take in light of the current circumstances (with Madsen out for an undetermined amount of time).
He felt this would be beneficial to the district and all efforts would be made not to compromise other programs including the music program.
S. Notch said it would be important to get Johnson in and start working with Madsen and train him in on the financial operations with Freudenberg.
• The board discussed the police liaison position and what would need to be done to have the liaison back at the school.