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Shafer City Council met January 3 for their first meeting of 2023.  All members were in attendance with Attorney James Monge and Engineer Lucas Jones attending via Skype.
 
The council began the meeting by swearing in newly re-elected council members Nick Brehm and Patty Kowalski. Also sworn in was re-elected mayor Paula Hanson.
 
In new business, the council then established appointment of offices.  Council member Nick Brehm will once again be assistant mayor, as well as planning commission, EDA, finance committee, ordinance committee and joint power fire department.
 
Council member Patty Mattson will sit on parks committee, events committee, hr committee, joint powers library, Highway 9 task force, and the cable commission.
 

Council member Brad Swenson will sit on the wellhead protection plan team as well as public works committee, and the street commission.
 
Council member Patty Kowalski will sit on the parks committee, events committee, planning commission, street commission, HR committee, ordinance committee, and the Highway 8 task force.
 
Mayor Paula Hanson will sit on the events committee, public works committee, finance committee, weed inspector, civil defense coordinator, and the joint powers fire department committee.
 
City attorney will be Campbell Knutson, engineers will be MSA, building inspections will be Chisago County, MidWest One will be the official depository and the Chisago County Press will be the offical legal newspaper.
 
The council then had a discussion about the spring clean-up day.  It was agreed to hold the Shafer clean-up day on April 29.
 
In unfinished business, city clerk Joan Ciesler told the council the city was waiting to hear from the county about the one last water meter replacement.  The county is determining whether to condemn the property or not.  
 
In the engineer’s report, Lucas Jones told the council Scandia Electric has completed the electrical upgrades in the water tower.
  
Jones said he has reached out to Osseo Construction and another company about getting quotes for re-lettering the newly painted water tower.  The council was shown a drone video of the water tower when council member Brahm told Jones the letters e and f were odd looking.
 
Jones told the company the city had asked for duplication of the lettering prior to the painting and KLM which oversaw the project deemed the final lettering as the same that was on the tower prior.  Council member Brad Swenson asked Jones why Osseo Construction didn’t ask the city “Are you sure you want this painted crooked again?”  Swenson said he would like the lettering fixed without the city being on the hook for the cost of repainting.  

Jones said he went over the bid and it was stated to repaint exactly the same.  

Jones suggested the council wait until they get bids for repainting and reminded them that the water main part of the summer project came in over $70,000 under budget.  

Jones then asked for a final payout to Osseo Construction for $38,000 with $19,000 left as retainage.  The council approved the payout. 

Council adjourned at 7:30pm

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