The Hampton City Council met on Tuesday December 12, 2023 at the Hampton City Hall for a special meeting and the regular scheduled meeting. Present were Mayor John Knetter; Council Members Jerry Huddleston, David Luhring, Anthony Verch, and Nick Russell. Also present was Brad Fisher with Bolton and Menk; Chris Meyer, City Treasurer; Travis Thiel, VRWJPO Administrator; Marie Jacob, Mayor of the City of Randolph; and Judy O’Brien, City Clerk.
Special Meeting Called to Order – The purpose of the special meeting was to discuss the city budget and levy certification for the year 2024. Mayor Knetter called the special meeting to order at 6:39 pm. Judy O’Brien, City Clerk, summarized levy increases. General tax levy will increase $1,047, which is a 0.45% increase. The Debt Service tax levy will increase $2,119, which is a 2.41% increase. Therefore, the total tax levy will increase $3,166, which is a 0.98% increase from 2023. O’Brien stated that budget line items remained relatively unchanged, with the exception of Local Government Aid revenue, which will increase 12-1/2% in 2024. That additional funding allowed for the Engineering Expense line item to be increased for unanticipated projects that generally come up each year. There were no public comments.
Adjournment – Motion by Huddleston seconded by Luhring to close the special meeting. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0. The public hearing closed at 6:44 p.m.
Regular Meeting called to Order - Mayor Knetter called the Regular Scheduled Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mayor John Knetter; Council Members Jerry Huddleston, David Luhring, Anthony Verch, and Nick Russell. Also present was Brad Fisher with Bolton and Menk; Chris Meyer, City Treasurer; Travis Thiel, VRWJPO Administrator; Marie Jacob, Mayor of the City of Randolph; and Judy O’Brien, City Clerk.
Disclosure of Interest – Mayor Knetter stated that Randolph/Hampton Fire Department business will be discussed at this evening’s meeting and he is a member of the Fire Department.
Approval of November 14, 2023 Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes – Motion by Verch seconded by Huddleston to approve the November 14, 2023 Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Approval of Disbursements – Motion by Luhring seconded by Russell to approve the December disbursements. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Public Comments - None. Mayor Knetter recognized a Dakota County Deputy in attendance at the meeting and asked if he had anything to report. The Deputy introduced himself as Sergeant Bobby Lambert. Sergeant Lambert reported that, at this time of the year, there is always an increase in the theft of mail and packages. He recommended that residents ask neighbors to pick up mail and watch for package deliveries to help prevent the theft of these items.
Petitions, Requests, and Communications:
Set time for Special Meeting in January to discuss Resolution 2024-01–Setting Salaries/Fees - Mayor Knetter asked Councilors for their opinions on how much time is needed for the discussion. Consensus was 15 minutes will be sufficient.
Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO) Watershed Plan Update – Travis Thiel, VRWJPO Administrator – Travis Thiel was in attendance at the meeting and stated that he was there to provide information regarding updating the VRWJPO Watershed Management Plan. The JPO is currently developing goals and strategies based upon identified stakeholder issues. Thiel provided handouts to Council, one of which summarizes who the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization is and what they do. The other handout explains how community members can participate in an online survey that will help identify stakeholder issues.
2022 Internal Audit – Councilor Russell reported that he recently participated in the internal audit with the City’s Treasurer and Clerk. He stated that the audit was very informative and that all financial records were accurate and properly documented.
Dakota County quarterly newsletter (informational – no action required) – Mayor Knetter mentioned newsletter, which was included in Council meeting packets.
Randolph/Hampton Fire Department Joint Powers Agreement – Marie Jacob, Mayor of the City of Randolph – Mayor Jacob was in attendance at the meeting. She stated that the R/H FD JPA is 20 years old and needs to be updated. She said that the City of Randolph hired an independent attorney to review the JPA. The attorney prepared notes of recommended changes and Mayor Jacob wondered if Council was interested in reviewing the attorney’s recommendations. Mayor Knetter stated that Hampton’s current City Attorney also reviewed the JPA and told Knetter that nothing contained in the current agreement is out of line. Councilor Luhring stated that no changes need to be made, per the review done by himself, Knetter, and the City’s attorney. Councilor Verch offered that if something is working, there is no need to change it simply because it is 20 years old.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
Resolution 2023-12 Adopting the Final 2023 Tax Levy, Collectible in 2024 - Motion by Luhring seconded by Russell to approve the final 2023 tax levy, collectible in 2024, in the amount of $324,957. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Reports of Officers, Boards, and Committees:
Engineer Report – Brad Fisher of Bolton & Menk reported on the Water St. Lift Station Generator Project. Updates include that training was done with City staff, the street sign was moved, and there are still 2 minor punch list items that need to be completed before the project can be closed out. Those items are some additional
seeding that needs to be done and the completion of some electrical items. Fisher also reported that the Minnesota Department of Health Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund is the primary option to fund the new water tower, per discussions with the City’s financial adviser. The project plans need to be submitted to the Drinking Water Revolving Fund by the application deadline.
Water / Sewer Report – Mayor Knetter reported that the discharge was completed and the samples look good. Knetter also mentioned that one of the City’s hydrants needs repair, however, because of the age of the hydrant, they might not be able to find repair parts. If that is the case, the hydrant would need to be replaced.
Park Report – Councilor Russell stated that there is nothing to report. Mayor Knetter stated that the contractor who will be removing the trees is planning to get the work done soon.
Street Report – Councilor Luhring stated that there is nothing to report. He would like a review of the streets in the Heights of Hampton to be done early next year so that the repair work can be put out for bid in the spring.
Unfinished Business - None
New Business:
Approve Final 2024 Budget - Motion by Russell seconded by Verch to approve the 2024 Budget as presented. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
CD Purchase Update – Chris Meyer - Meyer provided an annual update on City investments. The City does not currently have any investments in CD’s in its portfolio. Rather, excess funds are invested in a Diamond Money Market account, which is an insured cash sweep account. While CD rates are beginning to rise, in order to receive a rate of return that is greater than what the City is currently receiving on its Diamond Money Market account, funds would need to be invested for longer periods of time, taking away the liquidity the City has with its current investments. Meyer’s recommendation is to continue investing funds into the Diamond Money Market ICS account. Meyer also provided a report of Adequate Cash/Investment Balances as of 11/30/23 for the General Fund, Water Fund, and Sewer Fund, which he briefly reviewed for Council.
Debt Service Transfers – Chris Meyer - Meyer referred to the memo included in Council meeting packets detailing the transfers that need to be made in December in order for the city to make bond payments that are due February 1, 2024. He summarized the transfers that need to be made per fund for each of the bond series.
Motion by Verch seconded by Huddleston to approve the transfers as indicated in Meyer’s memo. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Old City Hall lease extension addendum - Motion by Verch seconded by Luhring to approve the lease extension addendum for Old City Hall. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Adjournment - Motion by Verch seconded by Russell to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0. The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Judy O’Brien