Kramer City Council Meeting

6 April 2024

Kramer Firehall Community Room

 

Call to order: Mark Timbrook, council member, recognized Judy Peters, Council Member.

Mark Timbrook, council member, recognized the following community members present:

Tiffany Bacon, Resident

Todd Larson, Business Owner

Brenda Tikkanen, Business Owner

Lisa Tonneson and Scott Martin: Newburg Community Club board members

March Minutes Review/Approval:  Minutes from 30 March 2025 Emergency Meeting of the Kramer City Council were read and a motion for approval was made by Mark Timbrook, city
council member. The motion was seconded by Judy Peters, city council member. Minutes are filed as an official city document.

Financial Report: Mark Timbrook, city council member, noted that a complete and accurate report is not possible at this meeting due to the inconsistencies in the March financial report compared to records recovered from the First National Bank and Trust records. An updated financial report based on available information will be provided to the Council once it is completed. Mark Timbrook, motioned for adoption of this position. The motion was seconded by Judy Peters. Timbrook noted the financial report as completed by the auditor in March is filed as an official city document if it needs to be reviewed.

New Business:

Council Member Nomination/Appointments:

The following residents of Kramer, North Dakota stepped forward to accept City Council membership:

• Tiffany Bacon, Resident
• Eunice Timbrook, Resident

Mark Timbrook, City Council member reviewed ND Code 40-08 and without the presence of a Mayor, Mark Timbrook, city council member made the motion to nominate and appoint Tiffany Bacon and Eunice Timbrook to the city council. Judy Peters, city council member seconded the motion.  Ayes 2 Nays 0. The motion passed.

The Oath of Office was conducted before the Council and community members. Also taking the oath, Judy Peters, as she was not administered the oath by the previous mayor on her selection to the committee. 

New Business:

• Mark Timbrook, City Council member, provided the council with an overview on how the city council discovered the Kramer City Auditors applications for gaming funds which led to discussions with Lisa Tonneson of the Newburg Community Club.
• Mark Timbrook testified to the council members that he and Lorraine Belisle, then a City Council member, knew nothing about the applications for funds nor that they were awarded and deposited. In all the City Council was unaware of the receipt of $33,091 in received funds over a period of four years. A search of three years of meeting minutes and financial reports reveals no mention of the funds, deposits, or payments.
• With the assistance of the First National Bank and Trust of Bottineau, it was discovered that at least two (2) City of Kramer checks, were prepared and cashed by the Auditor, to herself. Check Number 6943, dated 6/624 was for $9,000.00 and check 6955, dated 7/8/24 was for $4,500.00.
• Timbrook informed the council that the auditor has verbally resigned from the Kramer City Council. Attempts to regain control of City of Kramer financial records have failed after numerous phone calls, emails, and visits to her workplace. In response, Timbrook completed a North Dakota Open Meeting and ND Open Records request through the Bottineau County Sheriff on 19 March 2025. The notice was served on 19 March 2025 by Deputy Sand. The only records provided resulting from the Records Request were old city documents. A second, more detailed Opening Meetings and Record Request is under consideration.
• Timbrook informed the council that the Newburg Community Club contacted the North Dakota Gaming Commission for assistance. Agent Jacob Marschner, North Dakota Gaming Commission has been assigned the case. The investigation is ongoing.
• It has also come to our attention that the North Dakota Diversion Recreation Grant Office awarded the City of Kramer another $21,500.00. This fund only pays upon the posting of receipts. As of this date, no requests for payment have been made and it expires in September 2025 if not used. Timbrook enquired if the funds could be redirected to another use by the city and was informed by the grant official this was not permissible. Timbrook requested that if receipts were presented, that the funds not be dispersed without first contacting the Kramer City Council. The grant officer agreed.
• The North Dakota Auditor Report, which is required annually, has not been submitted by the city auditor since 2018. We contacted the North Dakota Auditor and acknowledged the failure in reporting and are currently in progress of attempting to complete the record for 2024.
• It has been discovered that the Bottineau County Auditor annual report was completed and forwarded to the Bottineau County Auditor without City Council review and approval. We have notified the County Auditor that the scheduled August 2025 report will be completed. 
• With loss the City of Kramer Auditor, a motion was made by Mark Timbrook to place an advertisement for the position in the County newspaper, the Bottineau Courant. The motion was seconded by Judy Peters, and enjoined with Tiffany Bacon, and Eunice Timbrook, City Council members.
• Mark Timbrook advised other council members that the City Council motioned in February 2022 to move ahead in determining the viability of a water park and park changes. The council mentioned nothing about a basketball court. A read of city minutes from this February 2022 through March 2025, revealed nothing is ever again mentioned about a park project. It abruptly appears in March 2025 when the council discovered the unreported gaming funds. In clarification, the City Council agreed to examine a water park and park changes. Timbrook emphasized the council did not know that the auditor completed roughly $37,000 in gaming funds requests from the Newburg Community Club and another $21,500 in funds from the Garrison Diversion Recreation Grant Program. We knew nothing concerning $50,000 awarded to the city. 
• Mark Timbrook noted the City of Kramer is not a member of the North Dakota League of Cities (NDLC). The membership fees would $244.00 annually. The council agreed for moment we needed to focus on paying bills and working on getting true numbers on our bank balance sheets.
• A motion was made by Mark Timbrook, to commence the search for an auditor, but not to market the salary until an accurate financial report was achieved.  The motion was seconded, by Judy Peters, City Council member, and enjoined by Eunice Timbrook and Tiffany Bacon, City Council members.
• Mark Timbrook noted that all city council members would receive training on the City Landfill and the Lift Station in the near future.
• The following areas were not discussed due to the length of the meeting, but will be addressed at the May 4, Kramer City Council meeting: landfill and lagoon, streetlights, lift station and pumps, city hall building, road conditions, and maintenance of the City Park.
• Mark Timbrook, City Council asked if other items remained on the floor.  No response.
• Mark Timbrook, City Council motioned for closure of the meeting. The motion was seconded by Eunice Timbrook and enjoined by Tiffany Bacon and Judy Peters, City Council.

Meeting closed at 5:45, 6 April 2025.

The next City Council meeting will be held on 4 May 2025, at 7pm CST, in the Kramer Fire Department Community Room.

Approved: Original signed
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Kramer City Council agenda, as shown below, was publicly posted in the Kramer Post Office on 1 May 2025.

Our 4 May 2025 meeting agenda for the Kramer City Council was as follows:

The City Council of Kramer will be holding a regular council meeting on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 4:00pm in the Kramer Fire Hall Community Room. The City Council agenda will cover the following topics.  NOTE: M/A/V means Motion, Approve, Vote.

• Call to Order.
• Review Kramer City Council meeting minutes dated 6 Apr 2025. M/A/V
• Review Kramer Equalization Meeting minutes dated 14 Apr 2025. M/A/V.
• Review Kramer Financial Report as of 30 April 2025. M/A/V

Old Business:

• Financials 2022, 2023, and 2024 First National Bank (FNB) update.
• Resignations and update of mayor and auditor search, options. Auditor ad. 
• Grass mowing bid in newspaper will run for 2 weeks.
• North Dakota State Auditor Report 2024 update by Interim Auditor.
• Payroll issues with WSI and WSI bonding by Interim Auditor.
• Update on City of Kramer Certificate of Deposit by Interim Auditor.
• City speed and stop signs update from 2023.
• Circle Sanitation paid for 2025.
• Update burn site, sewage ponds, lift station, roads, city park, city hall.

New Business:

• Motion to open bid on mowing at burn pit and around sewage lagoons. M/A/V.
• Interim Auditor to brief on late fees for Otter Tail Power Company. Other bills are being examined now.
• Motion to make Bottineau official city newspaper M/A/V.
• Motion to place bid newspaper for summer gravel projects. Bottineau Co. Road advised M/A/V.
• Motion to form a City Park and City Hall Working Group (Council/Residents) Sign-up. M/A/V.
• Motion to form City Sewer/Garbage Working Group. M/A/V.
• Motion to approve purchase of stamps using General Operating Account.
• Motion to reimburse council member, FNB, $78.75 fees, copies of accounts. General op fund. M/A/V.
• Inform city of on discovery of Sewer Ordinance, fee collection failures.
• Inform Council on Sewage Pump Hwy 14.
• City of Kramer Website. M/A/V.
• Brief city council on new asset control policies currently under review.
• Flags posted on May 25, 1-PM CST hours, Kramer Cemetery. Vet Day.
• M/A/V: Purchase a quality Legion Flag $30.00 City Park 
• M/A/V: Change the locks on three City Hall entrances.
• M/A/V: Establish a City Clean-Up Day

Open Community Discussion:

• M/A/V: Open Community Session for discussion, feedback, and questions. 
• M/A/V: for closure of Open Community Session. 
• M/A/V: for adjournment of the Kramer City Council Meeting. 
• M/A/V: for Closed Session to convene. M/A/V: for Closed Session to adjourn.

NOTE:  Once the Kramer City Council approves the minutes of the 4 May 2025 meeting, they will be posted below: