By Anne Thom

Lent Township Board Supervisor Gene Olson made an appearance at the Stacy City Council June 13. He started by saying there have been some changes to the township board. Monica Abress and Betsy Randt had resigned. Olson talked about the joint powers agreement that governs the Stacy-Lent Fire Department.

As Township clerk, Randt handled the financial affairs of the fire department, with Stacy City Clerk Sharon Payne then signing off as well. Olson said that just because the clerk resigned, doesnít mean they wonít have to pay the bills. Lent is proposing to hire a part-time person for approximately 6 hours a week, no benefits. Olson asked if the council would be opposed to Lent hiring a bookkeeper. ìItís a basic job but somebody needs to do it,î Olson said. He explained that none of the town board members had bookkeeping skills or experience.

He said if Payne was interested in taking over the joint powers duties, but then said there was a person the board had in mind who would be doing the job temporarily whether Stacy approved or not, ìbecause we (Lent) need someone to pay the bills.î

Turning to City Attorney Peter Grundhoefer, Councilman Mel Aslakson asked if the city needed to advertise. Grundhoefer suggested they should when they are ready to hire a long-term employee, but that it is common to hire an independent contractor. Grundhoefer proposed Stacy and Lent contract for a fixed period of time to see if the person will work out. Grundhoefer will send a contract template to Lent.

Dram shop insurance

Stacy Wine and Spirits manager Brian Hachey has been a force for change in his short tenure. Last week he brought the results of some research he had done, as well as information from his own career experience. He was proposing to change insurers of the cityís dram shop coverage.

Hachey raised this issue several months ago and has worked on it ever since. The goal is to lower the cityís cost.

He cited statistics that Minnesota is second in the nation in liquor consumption behind Wisconsin, the result of that is the dram shop coverage is expensive.

Hachey had received a quote from a company known as Founders or Accordia Insurance. The quote was for $29,990, nearly half of what the city is currently charged under a policy underwritten by the League of Minnesota Cities.

Grundhoefer had concerns. His first question was whether the company is an admitted carrier in Minnesota and how long it had been doing business in the state.

Grundhoefer said there are many instances where a company has come into a state looking for business, undercuts existing carriers and then raises rates exorbitantly the following year.

Grundhoefer agreed the quote would offer substantial savings, but that it would be safer for the city to stay with the League. He advised Hachey to perhaps seek a price guarantee that would be in effect for two years.

Councilman John Daher also expressed concern that Founders is not a well established carrier in Minnesota.

Mayor Michael Carlson asked for a show of hands on who was in favor of a change in carriers. Carlson raised his hand and was joined only by Councilman John Walz. Councilman Aslakson said the city still has a couple of weeks to work on quotes and pricing, but in the end it looks as if the city will stay with the current coverage through the League of Minnesota Cities.

The new bar and liquor store are assets the city intends to protect and manage conservatively, he said.

In other business:

ï There will be a council work session on July 11 at 4 p.m. Nick Thompson, the local Mn/DOT representative will attend. The agenda will include the I-35 corridor, the County Road 17 interchange, and the County Road 19 interchange. The council is also hoping to have a discussion regarding the speed limits on Stacy Trail and Forest Blvd. as they approach the city and installation of a traffic light in Stacy.

ïA city of Stacy logo is being designed by a local resident. The resident is a graphic artist by trade and submitted a design to the city through a contest that had been advertised on the city Web site. The council has been told the resident will charge the city $400 for the design and then the city will own it and be free to place it on water towers, letterhead, etc.