City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MINUTES-01-31-01 The City Council of Pelican Rapids met in regular session on Wednesday, 01-31-01, at 4:00 p.m. in the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Paulette Nettestad, Denise Magnusson, John Waller III and Dave Gottenborg were present. No one was absent. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert and Street and Park Superintendent Vern Benson were also present. Mayor Runningen called the meeting to order. HACER Study Video, Business Licenses, Bond Refinancing and County Road Project were added to the agenda. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Nettestad to approve the Chamber of Commerce Application for Exempt Permit to hold a raffle. Motion passed unanimously. Otter Tail County is scheduling Household Hazardous Waste Days for 2001. The City will participate every other year and will not conduct a collection this year. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson said that the Board of Review is at 1:00 p.m., on 04-23-01 at the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room. Mayor Runningen attended the Vietnamese New Year Celebration in Fargo. The Vietnamese community expressed appreciation to Pelican Rapids for their work in including Vietnamese people in the community. The Vietnamese donated an artwork to the City in the Vietnamese tradition with mother of pearl mosaic to depict a fishing boat and landscape of ocean and mountains. The art will be displayed in the library. Mayor Runningen reviewed a request by the Pelican Valley Health Center Hospital District for assistance with preparing a Rural Utilities Services (RUS) loan application for the proposed assisted living project. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Magnusson to authorize Economic Developer Skip Carpenter to develop the RUS loan application. Motion passed unanimously. Council considered a request by Ray J’s Café to revise Wine and Strong Beer On-Sale License restrictions. Ray Martin of Ray J’s explained that originally they had arcade games in a separate room and Council restricted beer or wine from being served there. Now the café has four games in the dining room and the separate room is the bar area. They would like to be able to serve beer and wine in the dining room and still have the games. Motion by Waller to delete language about arcade games in a separate room. Motion died due to lack of second. Council discussed restriction Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Waller to change the restriction regarding games to read “There shall be no more than four (4) arcade games on the premises.” Language regarding serving meals will read “Wine and strong beer will be sold only when the restaurant is open and meals are available.” Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Magnusson to approve the following licenses: Cigarette License to Jeanne Hovland of Southtown C Store, Recreational Game License to Pearl Schultz of Sportman’s Recreation, and Plumber’s Licenses to Marty Hanson of Pelican Plumbing, Allen Stadum of Stadum Plumbing and Glen Nelson of Nelson’s Plumbing & Heating. Motion passed unanimously. Jenson explained that the Water Budget Committee is recommending that the Water Tower Bond be refinanced over a longer period of time. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to authorize bond refinancing on the Water Tower Improvement Bonds. Motion passed unanimously. Rick West of the Otter Tail County Highway Department announced that funding has been secured to construct a new bridge over the Pelican River on 1st St NW along with curb, gutter and surfacing from Hwy 108 W to West Mill Ave. Council watched a public television interview with Council Member Nettestad and Maggie Reese and other community members. The interview was in connection with an informational study conducted in Pelican Rapids by HACER, a Latino community advocacy organization. Meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. Glenys Ehlert Deputy Clerk-Treasurer