Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rolla City Council authorizes DWR design application, advances ordinance amendments and approves personnel, policy and lease actions
Summary
At its Feb. 18 meeting the Rolla City Council authorized an application to the North Dakota Department of Water Resources to cost-share engineering for water treatment plant design, approved second reading of Ordinance 503, adopted a cell phone policy and an NDIRF insurance endorsement, and approved a vacation payout policy change despite one dissenting vote.
Rolla — The Rolla City Council on Feb. 18 authorized Interstate Engineering to submit an application to the North Dakota Department of Water Resources to seek cost-sharing for engineering and design work for upgrades to the city’s water treatment plant, including consideration of a new plant and renovation of the existing facility. Mayor Kevin Juntunen reported the committee had received an assessment from Wade Senger of Interstate Engineering and council approved the application request on a unanimous motion by Clarence Booth and seconded by Damond Schemmel.
The meeting also advanced several policy and legislative actions. The council approved the second reading of Ordinance 503, which amends Chapter 13.51.080 (subsections (3), (4), (5) and (6)), on a motion by Damond Schemmel, seconded by Alex Albert. The minutes record the motion carried unanimously. The council held a first reading and review of a Flood Plain Ordinance and approved that first reading (motion by Alex Albert, seconded by Willie Fritz); the minutes do not specify an ordinance number for the flood-plain measure.
Member Counts reported Administrative Committee work that included drafting an ordinance to allow a City Council student representative and approving the committee’s recommended first reading for that measure. The council also approved a Cell Phone and Mobile Device Policy that offers a $50-per-month reimbursement for employees who use personal devices for work (motion by Counts, seconded by Alex Albert). The council authorized an NDIRF endorsement for public sewer-backup and water main break coverage in the amount of $10,000 (motion by Alex Albert, seconded by Clarence Booth).
On personnel policy, the council authorized a change to vacation leave payout: after five continuous years of service, payment of vacation hours above the 240-hour carryover limit will be paid on the employee’s anniversary date at the employee’s regular rate of pay. Clarence Booth moved the measure and Alex Albert seconded; members Willie Fritz, Clarence Booth, Counts, Damond Schemmel and Alex Albert voted "Aye," and Member Paul Frydenlund voted "Nay." The motion carried.
In other business, the council approved a satisfaction of judgment after full payment of $10,000 related to a tuition reimbursement matter involving Paul Weigand (motion by Alex Albert, seconded by Willie Fritz). The council also approved a quit claim deed transferring Lot 11, Block 9, OTS, to the Rolla Job Development Authority (motion by Alex Albert, seconded by Willie Fritz) and approved a revised lease with Nutrition United effective May 1, 2026 (motion by Alex Albert, seconded by Clarence Booth).
The Police Committee reported 104 calls for service and 34 citations for January; the committee continues work with Turtle Mountain Communications on camera installation and discussed using the Recycling Center building as a temporary impound site under an existing ordinance. Public Works reported the west-side GSR tank leak has been repaired and a sewer line on 9th Ave. NE was fixed.
The council accepted committee reports by unanimous motion and adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
The minutes list motions, movers and seconders and vote outcomes for each recorded action; where the minutes do not provide additional detail (for example, the flood-plain ordinance number), the minutes are silent and the ordinance number is not specified in this report.
