City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-10-31-01 The City Council of the City of Pelican Rapids met in regular session on Wednesday, 10-31-01, at 4:00 p.m. in the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Denise Magnusson, John E. Waller, III, Dave Gottenborg and Paulette Nettestad were present. No Council Members were absent. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Street Superintendent Vern Benson, City Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Skonseng, Liquor Store Manager Gary Olson, Acting Police Chief Scott Fox, Gary Peterson of the Pelican Rapids Press, Ben Woessner and Brady Ballard were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. There were no additions or deletions to the agenda. Mayor Runningen announced Representative Paul Marquart invites the public to the District 9B Town Meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, 12-01-01, at The Rapids Family Restaurant. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson announced Political Leadership Training Programs for Cities & Counties to be offered November through May in Fergus Falls. Western Area City County Cooperative in partnership with Hubert Humphrey Institute and Minnesota Extension Service sponsor the sessions. Mayor Runningen reviewed the Police Chief selection process. An interview panel comprised of area law enforcement officers and City Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Skonseng interviewed five candidates. Candidates answered written and oral questions and were scored independently by the panel. The panel recommended Scott Fox for the position of Police Chief. Motion by Nettestad, seconded by Gottenborg to appoint Scott Fox as Police Chief for the City of Pelican Rapids. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Nettestad to set the salary for Scott Fox as Police Chief at $36,254 annually. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Runningen thanked Jeff, Deputy Brian Schlueter and Chief Kelvin Keena for participating in the process. Jenson read a retirement letter received from Liquor Store Manager Gary Olson. Mayor Runningen said the City considers the resignation with regret and he expressed appreciation for Gary’s years of service. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Waller to accept Liquor Store Manager Gary Olson’s resignation. Motion passed unanimously. Jenson reviewed the changes to the Curfew Ordinance. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Magnusson to approve the following ordinance, entitled Ordinance No. 01-03, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND PELICAN RAPIDS CITY CODE SECTION NO. 805.01 ENTITLED CURFEW – REGULATIONS. (A complete text of the ordinance will be published separately and is part of permanent public record in the city clerk’s office.) Motion passed unanimously and ordinance declared duly adopted. Jenson reviewed the Planning Commission’s action on a variance request by Kelly and Jamie Funk to permit construction of an attached garage. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Gottenborg to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendation and grant Kelly and Jamie Funk’s request for a 2-ft. variance from the established building line to permit construction of a 26 ft. by 32 ft. attached garage. Motion passed unanimously. Jenson read a letter from Ryan Fox concerning a dangerous intersection at Hwy. 59 and 10th Ave. SW. He cited the number of accidents that have already occurred there and many more “close calls” he has seen as he uses the intersection daily on his way to work. He suggested installation of a traffic light to make the intersection safer by slowing traffic and eliminating confusion by drivers about right of way. Council Members agreed that the intersection is dangerous. Mayor Runningen said since Hwy. 59 is a state highway, the matter would need to be considered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT). Jenson reported that MNDOT has considered the matter previously but no action was taken. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Magnusson to direct Jenson to bring these safety concerns to MNDOT. Motion passed unanimously. Jenson presented a request for streetlight between 5th St. SE and 6th St. SE. It is a long block. Also the streetlight at 6th St. SE is partially blocked by a large evergreen tree. Jenson suggested a longer arm on the existing pole. Council agreed with this action. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to certify an unpaid utility bill for parcel number R76000990531000 in the amount of $215.64 to Otter Tail County for collection with the real estate taxes. Motion passed unanimously. Council discussed rescheduling the November Council meeting from 11-12-01 to 11-13- 01 due to the Veteran’s Day Holiday observed on 11-12-01. Motion by Waller, seconded by Nettestad to set regularly scheduled November meeting for 11-13-01 at 5:00 p.m. in the Pelican Rapids Public Library meeting room. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Deputy Clerk-Treasurer