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Shafer City Council met June 6 for a regular meeting. Council member Brad Swenson was absent.

In new business, the council approved City Hall closure of July 4, and also moved the July 4 council meeting to July 5 (Wed.).

The council then agreed to another council meeting date change.  Due to National Night Out, the council agreed to meet on August 2 (Wed.) so members could attend the event.

The council then approved a resolution accepting donations to the Shafer Days fund.  PLC Recovery donated $250 and Campbell Knutson (the city’s attorney) donated $100.  

The council then passed a resolution accepting $580.78 for a gambling fund donation.  

The council then passed a resolution waiving the temporary liquor license fee for alcohol sales by the Lions club at Shafer Days.

Former Treasurer Richard Hill informed council he would like the currently vacant position temporarily working remotely and would do so at the current budgeted salary.

Mayor Paula Hanson stated with the budget coming up, she thinks they should appoint Richard Hill until they can decide exactly what the council wants to do about the position until council can discuss it. 

In open forum, resident Pat Cossor asked the council why the city used its percentage of charitable gambling receipts to pay the Sheriff’s contract instead of leaving the funds with the fire department.

Mayor Hanson said the city has a special fund for building the fire hall and a different fund for the fire department that the city pays into every year. Those are line items already in the budget. 

Hanson also stated the Council chose this method  to keep tax levy down. The preliminary budget last year came in at 12 percent potential increase. Cutting this down in the final budget to five percent was the city’s way of not raising taxes a substantial amount. 

Newly appointed Treasurer Hill stated that the gambling fund is not a donation, They are earnings that are set aside and have various uses throughout the city. As long as it is within the legal definitions, the city council can use the funds how they see fit. 

In the public works report maintenance supervisor Dan Cooper told the council his part-time employee will need six to eight weeks off for medical reasons.  

Cooper then told the council city American flags have been vandalized.  The council agreed to have Cooper fly the flags much higher, even when at half-staff to avoid vandalism.

Cooper told the council he would like to purchase a Kerf cutter to replace the gate valve standpipe that has been damaged by plowing.  Cost of a Kerf cutter is $4,121.65.  Cooper also added he would like to purchase a valve exerciser that would allow employees to turn stuck or hard to turn valves thus reducing potential injury. Cooper told the council he believed ARPA funds could be used for the purchases. The council decided to table discussion until all members were present.

Council adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

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