Lakefield council approves repair invoice and routine vendor payments totaling several thousand dollars

At its Feb. 2 meeting, the Lakefield City Council approved an emergency repair invoice for the fire department's grass rig and several routine vendor invoices covering loan administration, software modules and a past-due construction-related billing.

Fire Chief Baumann reported that Emergency Apparatus Maintenance replaced a leaking mechanical seal and repaired a leaking discharge manifold on the grass rig; the vendor submitted an invoice for $2,026.35, which the council approved (motion Monson/Paplow; unanimous). An invoice from United Community Action (UCAP) for small city loan administration for $3,000 was approved; Banyon Data Systems conversion work for six modules ($2,230) was approved; and a past-due Denison Drywall invoice for $2,465.50 tied to architectural/administration services was approved.

City Clerk Holly Rademacher said the WWTP reported that an electric pump to pull both lift pumps at the golf course lift station is expected this summer, with an estimated cost of $8,000–$10,000. The council discussed options to secure the multipurpose building after Police Chief Roger Pohlman noted 32 incidents of an open door in the last six months; options included warning key holders, re-keying (potentially complex) and installing a keypad, though keypad codes risk being shared.

All vendor and repair payments were approved by unanimous votes as recorded in the minutes. The council directed staff to follow up on vendor sourcing for flag repair or replacement and to monitor the WWTP pump procurement and multipurpose building security steps.