By Kris Goracke

Reporter

The regular Starbuck City Council meeting was short in agenda items as well as short in council members. Absent from the regular meeting were council members Steve Gorder and Chris Taffe.  

Roger Aaberg spoke before the council to discuss the Adopt A Park Shelter Program. At the regular February city council meeting, Aaberg proposed the idea of groups adopting a shelter at the city park. “This proposal does not take the place of the city maintenance, but to help the city and to improve the overall care of the park buildings,” said Aaberg. 

At that time, the council approved for Aaberg to create a proposal and come back with the plan. The plan states, “Adopting a shelter involves the sponsor to complete two inspections a year to clean, repair and create a “wish list” for possible improvements or additions for the shelter.” The plan suggests that when a group adopts a shelter, it is for a two-year commitment.

 “This is a great idea. “Thank you for your time working on this,” said council member Mary Baukol.

“The soil borings for the possible placement of the lighthouse are complete, and the results with recommendations should be in our office sometime this week,” said Nick Koos from Widseth. “Once we have this information, we can move forward on the costs for the lighthouse’s foundation.”

Starbuck police officer Ryan Frank informed the council he had submitted a grant application to Yamaha for signage specific for golf cart and ATV use in the city. “The easiest way to resolve any issues with the golf carts and ATVS is to inform the public. With this grant, the city can post signage informing people what routes are allowed. In particular, I would like to see one by the Dairy Queen, so golf carts/ATVs know they cannot continue up the highway and by the city beach to inform golf carts/ATVs they cannot drive on bike paths or the grassy area by the city beach.” The grant is for $2000, which will help cover the total cost of $3100 for four metal signs. The council thanked Frank for this time and said they would wait for a decision regarding the signs once they know if the city receives the grant.

On behalf of the Starbuck Volunteer Fire Department, Casey Boutain asked the council to allow the fire department to pursue a cost analysis to determine if the department qualifies for a state retirement plan, Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). “Currently, we are handling our retirement funds which is a lot of work and not our expertise, said Boutain.

According to the PERA website, The Minnesota Legislature created a Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Retirement Plan (SVFRP) for volunteer firefighters who serve a municipal fire department or an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation. PERA takes over the administration of those existing plans, with the State Board of Investment administering the investment of assets. 

Funding for the program is through the current Fire State Aid issued to municipalities. However, lump-sum benefits are available in $100 increments between $500 and $7,500. If, based on the level of benefits offered, the state funding isn’t sufficient to cover the cost of the benefits, additional contributions from the employer are required. 

Employers who wish to participate in the Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Retirement Plan

(SVFRP) may contact PERA to request a cost analysis for the benefit level(s) asked. The municipality’s governing body must then approve coverage, and PERA will begin administering the plan the following January. 

If the municipality’s council approves a cost analysis, a request to PERA’s executive director is submitted for estimates of the costs of the potential retirement coverage. The steps are as follows:

1. PERA prepares estimated costs for the benefit level(s) requested.

2. The State Board of Investment (SBI) reviews the investment portfolio of the existing relief association (if one exists) and determines which assets could be transferred to SBI and which must be sold before December 31 should the entity elect to join the plan.

3. Upon receipt of the cost analysis, the governing body of the municipality or municipalities or independent nonprofit corporation associated with the fire department has 120 days to approve coverage in the plan. If the retirement coverage change is acted upon within 120 days, it is deemed approved. If the applicable governing body approves the retirement coverage, a copy of the approval is sent to PERA.

4. If coverage is approved, PERA begins administering the plan for the entity effective the following January 1 and issues all future benefit payments.

5. On the date immediately prior to the effective date of the coverage change (December 31), the special fund of the applicable volunteer firefighters’ relief association, if one exists, ceases to exist as a pension fund of the association and legal title to the assets of the special fund transfers to the State Board of Investment. With some modifications, the relief association may continue as an organization and maintain its general fund.

If coverage is not approved, the plan is not extended to firefighters, and the firefighters continue as before, with or without a relief association benefit plan, as applicable.  The council approved to pursue the cost analysis.

Under new business, the council approved the salaries for part-time/seasonal workers. For part-time summer help in streets and parks, beginning pay went from $15 to $15.50; year-round, part-time received a one-dollar raise. Hobo Park’s summer help and manager positions both received a one-dollar raise. Wages for lifeguards increased by one dollar.

The council approved waiving the community center fee for the beautification committee’s Mystery Dinner Theater in May. The proceeds of the dinner will go towards flowers for the city.