City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MINUTES-5-31-00 The City Council of the City of Pelican Rapids met in regular session on Wednesday, 5- 31-00 at 3:30 p.m., in the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room. Present: Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members John Waller III, Dave Gottenborg, Denise Magnusson and Paulette Nettestad. Absent: none. Also present: Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Street Superintendent Vern Benson, Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier, City Attorney Scott Dirks, LoAnn Thompson, Michele Dinkel, Mike Zick and Economic Developer Skip Carpenter. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. Additions to agenda: Request Participation in Fire Works; Personnel; Picnic Shelter Rewiring; Severe Weather Plan; Left Turn Pocket at Hwy 59 and Lake Region Blvd. And Planning Commission Tour. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson explained the development of the liquor application form and the work that has been done to date. City Attorney Scott Dirks explained to the City Council that he has a potential conflict because he has worked for restaurant building owner LoAnn Thompson on business matters as well as being City Attorney. City Council acknowledged the potential conflict and requested that Dirks outline the liquor license procedures for them. Dirks said the granting of the license is in the discretion of the Council. There is a provision for a hearing. The meeting today is for informational purposes. The sequence has been started in that background checks have been requested. The hearing provision is part of the General Code. The name of the restaurant will be Changes and the manager will be Michele Dinkel. She explained that the restaurant is going to be family oriented with the extra availability of liquor. They want to be a place where people can meet and enjoy good food and service and everyone can be comfortable there. They came up with the name Changes because this is a change for the town plus they want to have a historical theme. Dinkel discussed the Subdivision 5. Display During Prohibited Hours. City Attorney Dirks explained that the beer taps should be sleeved and the liquor bottles not displayed, either behind a curtain or removed from shelves. At closing hours bartenders have to take the liquor off display which makes it obvious that closing hours are being complied with. The ordinance makes it clear that the liquor is incidental to the food. So if the food becomes incidental to the liquor then it becomes a violation of the ordinance. Council Member Gottenborg expressed concern about the move for the bar from the southeast corner room to the northwest part of the building. Mike Zick and Dinkel said the bar was moved for economic reasons and security. Food must be available until closing, but not the full menu. Motion by Waller, seconded by Magnusson to set the hearing on the liquor license at 4:30 p.m. on 6-19-00 at the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room. Motion passed unanimously. Economic Developer Skip Carpenter explained that the goal of the Minnesota Investment Fund loan money is to create higher paying, good jobs. These are $8.83 per hour jobs, not minimum wage jobs. These wages include benefits not mandated by law. Biggest areas of growth are in job shopping/contract manufacturing. Carpenter explained that the check issued to West Central Turkeys, Inc. should show $100,000 loan separately from the $86,000 grant for accounting purposes. Payments need to be clearly labeled as loan pool. Carpenter distributed the Revolving Loan Fund Program Guidelines and Council will take action on these at a later date. Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier explained that the Wastewater Treatment Facilities 1995 project included a John Deere tractor with bucket, mower and canopy. It cost under $20,000 and has 450 hours on it. The engine doesn’t run like it used to and the front end is a little loose. Quote to replace with trade in would be: DL Marine - $10,420; Interstate Implement of Fergus Falls - $9,100 and Clay Becker Implement - $8,380 which includes a back mounted rotary mower in addition to the mid-mount mower. “I feel we’re going to start spending money on this mower this year and wanted to bring these numbers to your attention,” Frazier said. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Gottenborg to purchase the tractor mower from Clay Becker Implement at $8,380 with trade-in. Motion passed unanimously. Administrative Assistant Jenson reviewed the Otter Tail County Assessor’s report on Board of Review properties. Motion by Waller, seconded by Magnusson to approve the assessor’s report. Motion passed unanimously. The Chamber of Commerce requested help with the fireworks. City staff will review amount donated in 1999. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Waller to appoint Jacob A. Grabow as a part time police officer at $11.25 per hour, effective 5-19-00. Motion passed unanimously. Superintendent of Streets and Parks Vern Benson reported on quote received from Dave Gilbertson for rewiring the E.L. Peterson Park Shelter in the amount of $2,000. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Nettestad to approve electrical work at E. L. Peterson Park at the quoted cost of $2,000. Motion passed unanimously. Superintendent Benson reviewed the Severe Weather Plan. He would like to go over the plan with a larger group. He expects it to take two or three hours for three sessions. Members include: Administrative Assistant Jenson, Mayor Runningen and Council Member Magnusson, Council agreed that Council Members John Waller and Paulette Nettestad will also serve on the committee and public notice will be provided of the meetings. Administrative Assistant Jenson explained that there is a lot of traffic at Lake Region Electrical Coop’s entrance and at the intersection of Hwy. 59 and Lake Region Ave. He recommends the addition of a left turn pocket, similar to one at the intersection of Hwy. 59 and C.R. 3. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to authorize City to draft a letter to Minnesota Department of Transportation requesting the left turn pockets. Voting yes: Council Members Gottenborg, Magnusson, Waller and Nettestad. Voting no: none. Abstaining: Mayor Runningen. Motion carried. Council expressed appreciation to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion for the MIA/POW flags given to the City. Meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Deputy Clerk-Treasurer