The Menahga City Council “censured” a fellow member’s conduct.
In the resolution passed at the Monday, Aug. 12 meeting, Jody Bjornson is directed to not communicate directly with city employees, city elected officials or third parties in a way that violates the city’s statement of values and code of conduct.
The motion passed 3-1, with Bjornson opposed and council member Dan Warmbold absent.
Wrongly prohibited from recording meeting
In related business, Jeanne Bjornson stated that on July 16 she asked to watch a portion of video from a previous meeting, but was told the tape was with a lawyer. She inquired about the city’s policy on such citizen requests.
“It was also suggested that I not attend the July 29 meeting. When I questioned that, I was told along the lines of ‘There was just a lot of drama,” Jeanne said.
Jeanne was recording the July 29 public hearing about her husband when Police Chief Amy Lane told her to stop, “which I did.”
Referring to the League of Minnesota Cities, Jeanne said, “Under recordings and broadcasting, the public may make an audio or video recording of an open meeting, as long as it does not have a significantly adverse impact on the order of the meeting. The city council may not prohibit dissemination or broadcasting of the meeting.”
She spoke during the public portion of the meeting.
Jonathan Rippentrop thanked Jody for “standing up for the people of the community. I really appreciate that.” He also expressed concern about the censorship “because I understand Brett (Gagnonpalick) took it the wrong way. … How is that any different from Mike (Netland) talking to Laura (Ahlf) and she took what you said the wrong way. She got visibly upset with you at the last meeting.”
Rippentrop reiterated that Jody is “blunt.” “You’re going to find a lot of that in that town. People are very blunt, very honest,” he said.
Rippentrop advised City Clerk-Treasurer Brett Gagnonpalick to become thicker-skinned.
Gagnonpalick reported there are 60 delinquent accounts – and that doesn’t include back billed accounts. That represents 9.5% of total billable accounts, he said.
He presented a draft water disconnect policy. “I don’t want to take a hammer where a scalpel may be needed; however, this is for consideration.”
The draft proposes that a customer who is 60 days past due on a water utility bill would receive a disconnect letter with the third month’s billing statement. If the entire payment isn’t received by the last day of the third month, the utility will be disconnected on the second working day of the following month (not on a Friday or holiday).
Mike Netland noted that every community he’s lived in has had a disconnect policy as well as a disconnect-reattach fee.
Gagnonpalick said, per the city’s fee schedule, the disconnect-reconnect fee would be $100.
Netland said a policy may “motivate people.”
No action was taken. It was tabled until the August work session.
In other business, the council did this:
- Approved transfer of $30,000 from the city-owned Greenwood Connections to the city’s general fund, per the 2024 budget.
Greenwood Connections Administrator Laura Ahlf said she was disappointed that she wasn’t contacted about this, noting that payment in lieu of taxes had previously been discussed. “The attorney said there was no statute against it.”
Olson said it was recommended by the city attorney.
Ahlf asked to be informed of Greenwood Connections-related item “rather than just putting it on the agenda.”
Gagnonpalick apologized. - Contributed $1,729 to Todd-Wadena County Community Corrections.
- Received a complaint about the police department from Nicholas Patson.
