CITY OF OKOBOJI
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012, 6:00 P.M.
PRESIDING: Mayor Mary VanderWoude
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Larsen, Robinson, Hentges, Delperdang. Absent: Christensen
OTHERS PRESENT: Susan Robinson, Mike Miller, Jean Allen, Jason Petersen, Brad Tifft, Brad Beck,
Arvin Druvenga, Rod Meendering, Kathy Peterson.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor VanderWoude called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. Hentges/
Robinson moved to adopt the agenda. All ayes. Motion carried. Larsen/Hentges moved to approve the
consent agenda, which included minutes of the previous meeting 12/13/11, claims for January 2012, Clerk’s
Report ending December 2011, and a renewal of a Class B Liquor License for the Arrowwood Resort and
Conference Center with Sunday sales and outdoor service area. All ayes. Motion carried.
CITIZENS APPEARANCES
Mike Miller, Superintendent for the Central Water System, gave a report on the new water plant project.
Miller stated the construction is approximately 25% complete, with construction proceeding as scheduled.
Miller invited the Council and Mayor to visit to see firsthand what is taking place.
OLD BUSINESS
Brad Beck of BEI, Inc., to present Council with proposed plans and costs for the Echo Bay Access
drainage project: Brad Beck of BEI, Inc., presented the Council with plans showing a thirty-six inch pipe to
contain the drainage water with step-downs built within the structure to slow the velocity of the water to the
lake. Beck felt there were two different situations to deal with, those being a curb cut to the north that allows
drainage onto private property, and intakes and drainage on the south side with the water all getting to the
same spot. In Beck’s opinion, there are 3 options to consider. Beck felt everyone would be in agreement that
the north area would be a bio-retention cell. The south area could have two options: a fifteen-inch pipe to the
lake with a large detention pond, or a thirty-six inch pipe to the lake with no detention pond. Beck stated
there would be an estimated cost of $71,000 for the bio-retention cell and associated piping. The detention
pond alone would be $94,000; and the thirty-six inch pipe alone would be $87,000. Beck also provided the
option of using piping alone with no bio-retention cell, which would save approximately $55,000. Grant
funds were discussed, and Beck stated the City could possibly receive half the cost for the bio-retention cell
if that option were chosen. Brad recommended the city receive input from the neighborhood association on
any of the proposed designs. Beck was directed to send a letter to the neighborhood association president for
input on the designs and report at a later date.
NEW BUSINESS
The Mayor announced she is going to move some items up earlier in the meeting, as she has to attend
another scheduled meeting.
Mayor to make the following appointments--Mayor Pro Tem, Police Chief: Mayor VanderWoude
appointed Councilmember Jerry Robinson as Mayor Pro Tem and Jason Petersen as Police Chief.
Mayor to make the following appointments with Council consideration--Personnel Committee,
Finance Committee, Street Committee, Equipment Committee: Mayor VanderWoude made the
following committee appointments. Personnel Committee: Larsen, Robinson, Daly, VanderWoude. Finance
Committee: Delperdang, Hentges, Daly, VanderWoude. Street Committee: Christensen, Robinson, Daly,
VanderWoude. Equipment Committee: Christensen, Robinson, Daly, VanderWoude. The Council concurred
with all appointments.
Council to consider the following appointments--City Clerk/Administrator, City Attorney: Robinson/
Hentges moved to approve the appointment of Dennis Daly as City Clerk/Administrator and Michael Chozen
as City Attorney for two years. All ayes. Motion carried.
The Mayor announced the item to consider employee wages for fiscal year 2012/13 would be tabled for a
later meeting.
Council to review and consider fiscal year 2010/11 City audit: Rod Meendering and Arvin Druvenga of
Winther Stave & Company were present to discuss the City Audit for fiscal year 2010/11. Meendering stated
overall the audit for fiscal year 2010/11 was favorable. Meendering pointed out figures on pages 6, 7, 24 and
25 of the audit. Meendering also explained the issue of the segregation of duties. Delperdang/Larsen moved
to accept and approve the city audit for fiscal year 2010/11. All ayes. Motion carried.
Council to consider Fire Department budget for fiscal year 2012/13: Councilmember Robinson, city
representative on the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department Board, reported the Board was presented with
the proposed fire department budget for fiscal year 2012/13, and per the 28E Agreement with the cities of
Arnolds Park and Okoboji, each city is required to approve the proposed budget. Robinson reported each city
would be required to pay $81,650 to the fire department next fiscal year. Delperdang/Larsen moved to
approve the fire department budget for fiscal year 2012/13. All ayes. Motion carried.
Council to consider Health and Dental Insurance package renewals effective 02/01/12: Jean Allen of
Central Bank Insurance presented and reviewed the health and dental insurance renewals effective 2/01/12.
Allen stated Wellmark has offered a renewal with the same plan as last year with a 15.74% increase. Allen
reviewed the new rates and the claims experience for the year, and stated the plan is currently $1500
deductible per person or $3000 deductible for family. Co-insurance is 10% within the network and 20%
outside the network. Out-of-pocket maximum expense is $3000/$6000 with office visit co-pay at $15 and
emergency room visits at $100. The new single coverage rate will be $535.76 per month per employee and
family coverage being $1,346.12 per month per family. It was suggested to possibly raise the deductibles to
save money for the city and the employees as well. Mayor VanderWoude excused herself from the meeting
at 6:45 P.M., and Mayor Pro Tem Robinson took over the meeting in the Mayor’s absence. Robinson felt the
Council should have more time to review the insurance plans since this is due January 15th of this year.
Councilmember Delperdang felt since the city reimburses employees 60% for any deductible incurred, even
if the city were to increase deductibles to save costs, the reimbursement figure would increase and probably
would be a wash concerning the amount spent by the city for either plan. Councilmember Robinson stated
since a decision must be made by January 15th and there is not time to further discuss this, he is inclined to
approve what is proposed. Allen stated Delta Dental has risen approximately 3%, with the single plan being
$37.17 per month per employee and the family plan being $127.97 per month per family. Short-term
disability was discussed with the consensus being that this portion of the health insurance stays the same.
Delperdang/Hentges moved to approve the health and dental insurance renewals as presented, with the short-
term disability portion of the health insurance plan to remain the same. All ayes. Motion carried.
Council to consider SRF Payment Request #23 for Pay Estimate #6 for ½ of ILRW share for Gridor
Construction and MEC invoices ($17,375.23) and MEC invoices for the City of Okoboji ($5,531.21)
payable to the Central Water System in the amount of $22,906.44: Larsen/Hentges moved approve SRF
Payment Request #23 in the amount of $22,906.44. All ayes. Motion carried.
Council to consider I-JOBS Payment Request #8 for Pay Estimate #6 for Gridor Construction payable
to the Central Water System in the amount of $129,995.56: Hentges/Larsen moved to approve I-JOBS
Payment Request #8 in the amount of $129,995.56. All ayes. Motion carried.
Council to consider a new Class B Liquor License for The Inn with Sunday sales and outdoor service
area: Larsen/Hentges moved to approve a new Class B Liquor License for The Inn. All ayes. Motion
carried.
Council to consider a new 6 month Class C Liquor License for The Inn (Golf course & convention
center) with Sunday sales and outdoor service area: Hentges/Larsen moved to approve a new 6 month
Class C Liquor License for The Inn (Golf course and convention center). All ayes. Motion carried.
Council to consider a dock application for Maureen & Bob Suga of 2301 Holliday Way for Dock #23:
Larsen/Hentges moved to approve a dock application for Maureen & Bob Suga of 2301 Holliday Way for
Dixon Beach Dock #23. All ayes. Motion carried.
REPORT OF OFFICERS
Police Chief Jason Petersen gave the police report. Petersen also reported he and Arnolds Park Police Chief
Al Kruger will be working on and proposing a citizens academy this coming spring.
Councilmember Robinson reported he would try to attend the Council of Governments meeting next
Thursday and invited anyone else who wished to attend. Robinson also brought to everyone’s attention the
Fire and EMS Call Annual Report. The Council reviewed the report at this time.
City Administrator Dennis Daly reported Mrs. Sam (Betty) Speier had passed away, and the city will do
some type of memorial for Mrs. Speier at Speier Park this coming spring. Daly reported the city is receiving
donations in Mrs. Speier’s name designated for park use. Daly asked the Council if they wished to have the
Christmas decorations taken down now or after the Winter Games. The Council advised Daly to confer with
the Mayor on this issue, and whatever is decided is fine with them. Daly also reported in the newly annexed
area at our north city limits there are no streetlights, and indicated we should have at least three placed in this
area. Police Chief Petersen concurred, and the Council directed Daly to contact Alliant Energy.
Daly asked the Council to be thinking of other drainage problem areas in town that possibly could be taken
care of all at once when the time came.
Expenditures for the month of December 2011 are as follows: Public Safety - $22,161.50; Public Works -
$32,384.25; Culture & Recreation - $1,299.67; Community & Economic Development - $3,279.90; General
Government - $27,544.18; Water - $401,700.44; Road Use Tax - $2,150.09; Trust & Agency - $500.00.
Receipts for the same period were in the amount of $558,224.21, creating a balance in all funds in the
amount of $961,219.53. $35,309.96 of the reported balance in invested in Certificates of Deposit with the
United Community Bank.
Hentges/Larsen moved to adjourn. All ayes. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:20 P.M.
Mary VanderWoude, Mayor
ATTEST:
Dennis J. Daly CMC, City Clerk/Administrator
CITY OF OKOBOJI PAYROLL 2011
BALK, BRIAN $ 2,840.00
BAULER, THOMAS $ 7,612.00
CHRISTENSEN, NEAL $ 750.00
DALY, DENNIS $ 56,235.19
DELPERDANG, JAMES $ 550.00
DONNENWERTH, SHERYL $ 41,325.71
ENGELKES, CARRIE $ 6,396.25
FURMAN, JORDAN $ 5,680.00
GRIMMIUS, MATTHEW $ 192.00
HENTGES, JAMES $ 550.00
HOUGE, NEAL $ 40,365.70
JENSEN, TIMOTHY $ 39,310.63
LARSEN, SUSAN $ 877.75
LOCK, EDWARD, JR. $ 1,344.00
MENEFEE, KURT $ 34,052.40
MICHEHL, TREVIR $ 24,349.23
PETERSEN, JASON $ 54,124.04
ROBINSON, JARIEL $ 750.00
SCHILLINGER, TODD $ 384.00
THEYE, MARLIN $ 43,110.24
VANDER WOUDE, MARY $ 3,600.00
WATTERS, MITCHELL $ 43,247.01
WATTERS, TERRY $ 3,536.00
YUNGBLUTH, ANDREW $ 784.00
TOTAL: $ 411,966.15