City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MINUTES – 09-11-00 The City Council of Pelican Rapids met in regular session on Monday, 09-11-00, at 6:30 p.m. in the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room. Present: Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members John Waller III, Paulette Nettestad and Denise Magnusson. Absent: Dave Gottenborg. Also present: Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Streets and Parks Superintendent Vern Benson, Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier and Gary Peterson of Pelican Rapids Press. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. Opening and Closing for Beer and Wine Establishments and Notice of Election Filings were added to the agenda. Motion by Waller, seconded by Nettestad to approve minutes of 08-14-00 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Council reviewed the Accounts Payable Listing of 09-11-00 with the addition of Black & Decker, street department part for $17.62 and Minnesota Library Association, Westby registration for $210.00. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Waller to approve payment of the Accounts Payable Listing of 09-11-00 as presented with additions. Motion passed unanimously. Superintendent of Streets and Parks Vern Benson reported on his department’s activities. Benson said Equipment Operator Curt Lahlum will be retiring this winter and Benson requested authorization to advertise the position effective 10-1-00 with goal of filling position on 12-11-00. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Waller to advertise for a street department employee, Equipment Operator and Service Mechanic, on 10-01-00 with plan to hire successful candidate effective 12-11-00. Motion passed unanimously. John Schroeder of Minnesota Department of Transportation presented an award for Airport Lighting to the City of Pelican Rapids for three years of 100 % scores on airport lighting. Council Member Denise Magnusson arrived at 6:55 p.m. Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier reported on valve problems at the lagoon force main. Each past repair job has cost $1500. There are five more sets of elbows that need to be replaced. Frazier said it would cost $10,000 to replace four of the elbows located in older streets and at the wastewater facility. Frazier would like to have Dezurick Valve Co. inspect the valve to determine that it is working correctly. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Magnusson to approve above. Motion passed unanimously. Council reviewed the Liquor Store Report of 8-31-00. Council reviewed the 8-31-00 Financial Reports presented by Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson reviewed a request from a business owner for an Off-Sale 3.2 Beer License. Motion by Waller, seconded by Magnusson to have Jenson and City Attorney Scott Dirks research the request and report back to council. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Nettestad to introduce the following resolution regarding amending ordinance to permit on-sale beer sales at 11:00 a.m. and entitled, ORDINANCE NO. 00-4, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND PELICAN RAPIDS CITY CODE SECTIONS NO. 601.08 AND 603.09 – ON-SALE BEER AND WINE HOURS. (A complete text is part of permanent public record in the City Clerk’s Office.) Voting yes: Mayor Runningen, Council Members Magnusson, Waller and Nettestad. Voting no: none. Motion passed unanimously and Ordinance declared duly adopted and effective upon publication. Jenson reviewed a request from an individual for additional handicapped parking spaces on Hwy. 59. Council directed Jenson to verify that each city parking lot has a handicapped space with appropriate signage and to check with Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the City’s liability of handicapped street parking on Hwy. 59. Mayor Runningen and Jenson reviewed changes to 2001 Proposed Budget. Library Director Pam Westby requested an additional $2,000 for the library, increasing from $94,000 to $96,000. Library use is about 45% by City residents and 55% by nonresidents. Westby reported on the library expansion project. Council Member Nettestad said the library proposed budget amounts to 10% of the City Budget increase. Council discussed the budget. Motion by Waller, seconded by Nettestad to accept Proposed Budget No. 3 for 2001 and set the Budget Public Hearing for 12-5-00 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pelican Rapids Public Library with Continuation Hearing for 12-11-00 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pelican Rapids Public Library. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Nettestad to introduce a resolution to increase budget, entitled RESOLUTION RELATING TO CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS TAX RATE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE YEAR 2001. (A complete text of the resolution is part of permanent public record in the city clerk’s office.) Motion passed unanimously. Council reviewed the Police Report. Council expressed concern about the COPS Grant and hiring of police officer. Mayor Runningen said the Personnel Committee will be meeting with Police Chief Greg Ballard regarding these issues. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Deputy Clerk-Treasurer