Also in attendance were Finance Officer John S

							CITY OF WORTHING
APPROVED MINUTES
REGULAR SESSION
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

CALL TO ORDER
The Commissioners of the City of Worthing met in regular session Monday, March
19, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the meeting room of the Worthing Civic Center.
Mayor George Zahn presided. The following commissioners were present: Todd
Gannon, Carrie McDannel, Eric Saugstad, and Darren Van Houten. Also in
attendance were Finance Officer John S. Pribnow, City Administrator Jeffery Tanner,
Gordon Sweeter (Lennox School Board), Jim Weixel (Bumblebee-Gibson, Inc.), and
Worthing residents Doug Johansen, Troy Larson, and Denise Nelson.
(Note: Herein after, all attendees will be referred to by last name and first initial if
necessary for distinction.)
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Gannon motioned to approve the agenda.           Saugstad seconded.     All votes ‘aye’,
motion carried.
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION
Van Houten motioned to enter Board of Equalization at 7:03 p.m. Gannon
seconded. All votes ‘aye’, motion carried. (Mr. Sweeter, representing the Lennox
School Board, is a voting member of the Board of Equalization along with the
aforementioned Mayor and Commissioners.)
Mr. Johansen presented an appeal to the board asking for an adjustment on the
property at 103 North Lily Street assessed in the name of Kathleen Johansen. The
property was assessed at a total of $134,155.00: land at $20,565.00 and house at
$113,155.00. The appeal asked for the board to adjust the property total to
$125,000.00: land at $17,000.00 and house at $108,000.00.
Mr. Johansen presented the Board with the property values of eighteen homes along
Lily Street, noting the discrepancy in assessed and equalized values between his own
property and the median and average of the other properties. Lincoln County noted
that many of the homes along Lily Street do not have lower levels that are finished,
and that the homes most similar to that of the Johansens are in line with his
assessment.
The Board considered the evidence presented, and made note that the land of the
similar properties are all assessed at the same amount: $20,565.00. Recognizing this,
Gannon motioned not to adjust the assessed value of the land, leaving it at
$20,565.00. Saugstad seconded. All votes ‘aye’, motion carried.
House values along Lily Street vary more widely than land values, and many aspects
are considered when assessing the value of a home: year constructed, type of home,
main level square footage, lower level square footage, finished lower level square
footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage size, and deck size, among
other potential factors. The Board took everything presented into consideration,
especially the price per finished square foot of all comparable properties including that
of Mr. Johansen.
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Saugstad motioned not to adjust the assessed value of the house, leaving it at
$113,590.00. McDannel seconded the motion. McDannel, Saugstad, Van Houten,
and Zahn vote ‘aye’ and Gannon votes ‘nay’. Motion carries four (4) to one (1).
OPEN PUBLIC SPEAKING
No Open Public Speaking was presented.
FEBRUARY STATEMENT OF REVENUE, EXPENDITURES, AND
RECAPS
The February statement of revenue, expenditures, and recaps was presented to the
Commission. Saugstad motioned to approve the February statement of revenue,
expenditures, and recaps expressing his desire to continue closely monitoring the
supplies budgets in various departments in order to stay within budget for the year.
Gannon seconded. All votes ‘aye’, motion carried.
FEBRUARY FINANCIAL REPORT
The February financial report was presented to, and reviewed by, the Commission.


OLD BUSINESS
MINUTES OF MARCH 12, 2012 REGULAR SESSION MEETING
The Commission reviewed minutes of the March 12, 2012 regular session meeting.
Saugstad motioned to approve the minutes. Gannon seconded. All votes ‘aye’,
motion carried.


NEW BUSINESS
DAVIES PLAT APPROVAL AGREEMENT ACCEPTANCE
Gannon motioned to approve the Davies Plat Approval Agreement, authorizing
Mayor Zahn to act as signatory on behalf of the City. Van Houten seconded. All
votes ‘aye’, motion carried.

APPROVAL OF “PLAT APPROVAL AGREEMENT”
Saugstad motioned to approve the Plat Approval Agreement. Van Houten seconded.
All votes ‘aye’, motion carried.

PLAT APPROVAL OF TRACT ONE (1) DAVIES ADDITION

McDannel motioned to approve the plat approval of Tract One (1) Davies Addition.
Gannon seconded. All votes ‘aye’, motion carried.
RESOLUTION 03192012: MANDATING CITY STAFF MEETINGS AND
MAKING ATTENDANCE MANDATORY
Resolution 03192012 lays down guidelines regarding the necessity of regular City staff
meetings, and is printed in its entirety in the March twenty-ninth (29th), 2012 edition
of the Lennox Independent.




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Gannon motioned to approve Resolution 03192012. McDannel seconded. All votes
‘aye’, motion carried.
Following discussion regarding the wording of Resolution 03192012, Gannon
motioned to amend the Resolution to excuse the absence of an employee if that
employee is on vacation leave, personal leave, sick leave, or is absent due to work-
related duties. Saugstad seconded. All votes ‘aye’, motion carried.

CHANGE OF REGULAR SESSION MEETING
The Commission discussed the dates of the April meetings and decided a change
prudent to accommodate the April tenth (10th) election and succeeding vote canvass.
Gannon motioned to change the dates of the April meetings from the ninth (9th) and
twenty-third (23rd) to the second (2nd) and sixteenth (16th) at seven o’clock (7:00) p.m.
Saugstad seconded. All votes ‘aye’, motion carried.

PRESENTATION ON DUST CONTROL TREATMENT: BUMBLEBEE-
GIBSON, INC.
Jim Weixel, representing Bumblebee-Gibson, Inc., presented to the Commission his
company’s offering of dust control. The treatment would noticeably cut into the
amount of dust pollution in the air of Worthing, as well as reduce maintenance of the
roads. The treatment has a cumulative effect year-to-year and can be applied in
varying degrees of thickness, howsoever necessary. The treatment is not chemical and
is water soluble. There are many factors regarding the longevity and effectiveness of
this treatment, including wear-and-tear on the road, condition of the gravel being
used, temperature and humidity, and the amount of material applied.

Commissioner Gannon indicated his desire both to consider all available options
before making a decision on a treatment option and take action when the roads still
hold some moisture in them before hardening for the summer.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Mr. Tanner will be in Pierre at the end of the month in attendance of the hearing that
will decide potential principal forgiveness of loans needed for the upcoming Worthing
School Improvement Project.
City staff recently took pictures of Second Street so that it be evidenced that water
does sit alongside driveways after precipitation.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS

MAYOR—Zahn

Mayor Zahn asked if the candidates for the upcoming municipal election on April
tenth (10th) will be holding an open forum for voters to better understand their
respective positions on various topics. It was indicated the candidates must take
initiative if such an event is to be organized, as City staff is not to be involved in any
campaign activity.

PUBLIC WORKS—Gannon



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Commissioner Gannon hosted three concrete and three asphalt contractors in order
to begin the bid process of repairing the Johnson’s Subdivision street issues. City
Engineer Jon Fischer will put together a bid package so all contractors are bidding on
the same specifications. Local contractor(s) were invited and are welcomed to
participate in the process, though no reciprocal interest was shown. Gannon also
mentioned areas of Chris Street are in imminent need of repair, though budget
constraints will limit the amount of repairs that can feasibly be done.
Gannon showed a picture where a section of curb was repaired last fall. Drainage has
clearly been affected by the new repairs that were not properly graded. The collecting
point is certainly a concern and the contractor will be given opportunity to fix its
mistake.
Equipment for parks, though expensive by nature, is being looked into. The Parks
department has spent very little over the past few years in order to save up for a larger
project. The ball field park is looking better and better, and once newly-seeded grass
arises it will be ready for summer usage.
FINANCE & REVENUE—Saugstad
Commissioner Saugstad reported that an automatic payment system has now been
introduced by the City, which allows citizens desiring to take advantage of the offering
to have their water and sewer bill be directly taken from their bank account without
having to worry about writing a check or receiving a penalty for late payment. Meter
readings are still required in order for proper billing to occur, so residents who utilize
automatic payments need to submit their readings by email, phone, or utility bill stub.
Any questions on this process shall be directed toward City Hall.
Furthering the convenience to customers, Saugstad reported that an online credit card
payment is being investigated and, barring prohibitive cost, will be pursued.
PUBLIC SAFETY—McDannel

Commissioner McDannel has fielded multiple inquiries regarding the state of Park
Street, and options to fix it were discussed.

PUBLIC UTILITIES—Van Houten
Commissioner Van Houten met with Maintenance Lead Jacob Sees to discuss
aeration of the lagoons. Using existing pumps, Sees has made efforts to help promote
aeration.

ADJOURNMENT

Gannon motioned to adjourn at 8:35 p.m.           McDannel seconded the motion to
adjourn. All votes ‘aye’, meeting adjourned.


_________________                                     __________________________

George Zahn, Mayor                                     John S Pribnow, Finance Officer

Next regular session Commission meeting: April 2, 2012

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