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Shafer City Council met December 20 for a regular meeting. All members were present with city finance officer Drew Hill being absent.

The council opened the meeting by unanimously passing resolutions acknowledging donations.  The first was from the Shafer Fire Gambling fund for $46.38 and the second was from the Shafer Fire Relief Fund for $40,000.  

The council then approved a pay equity report which issubmitted to the state  to show a city is in compliance with equal pay for men and women.

In the engineer’s report, city engineer Lucas Jones told the council Scandia Electric was working on the installation of the new electrical in the water tower and should be done soon.  Jones then presented a pay request from Osseo Construction for the water tower project.  Before approving the payout, the council discussed the lettering issue on the newly painted water tower.  Jones told the council that KLM which oversaw the project deemed the lettering to be okay.  Most of the council agreed the lettering was unacceptable.  The council discussed if they could get Osseo to repaint the lettering and Jones said he doubt it would be free due to KLM approving the job.

Jones then told the council a company coming out to train the city employees on the new GIS system does travel with a drone for special uses.  He asked the council if they would like to get drone photos of the lettering while that company is in town.  They all agreed that was a good idea.  They also instructed Jones to get two bids for repainting the lettering.  Jones said the water tower project came in ob budget, but reminded them the water main project came in $72,000 under budget.  

The council then approved a payout to Osseo Construction for $23,370.00 unanimously.

The planning commission requested Jones company (MSA) to provide an estimate to clarify definitions in the city’s industrial zoning section.  Jones told the council the cost would not exceed $1,000 and was approved to do so.

In the clerk’s report, city clerk Joan Ciesler told the council there was one water shut-off scheduled next week.  The homeowner told the city they were closing on the sale of the home and the buyers would pay the past due bill.  After the sale date had passed, Ciesler called the bank and was told the sale never took place.  A letter was sent to the homeowner, a second letter and a shut-off warning was sent with no reply.

The council adjourned at 7:27pm

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