City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES – 5-27-03 The City Council of Pelican Rapids met in regular session at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, 05-27- 03, in Council Chambers, City Hall, 315 N. Broadway. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members John E. Waller, III, Ben Woessner, Denise Magnusson and Dave Gottenborg were present. No one was absent. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Street and Parks Superintendent Vern Benson, Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier, Library Director Pam Westby, Otter Tail County Commissioner Malcolm Lee, Frank Morehouse and Gary Salvevold of Great Plains Natural Gas Co., Gene Miller, LaDonna Fjestad, Samantha Evenson, Krista Shaw and Rick Gail of the Pelican Rapids Press were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. Wine License, Chamber of Commerce Request and Wastewater Treatment Facility Windows were added to the agenda. Motion by Waller, seconded by Magnusson to approve the Accounts Payable Listing of 05-27-03 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson reviewed the City Attorney’s opinion on the Great Plains Natural Gas Franchise, modeled on the League of Minnesota Cities model ordinance. Council Member Woessner requested Great Plains Natural Gas Co. to continue stationing an employee in Pelican Rapids. Great Plains representatives Frank Morehouse and Gary Salvevold said the company follows the state guidelines of having someone within 20 minutes of the area served, noting that an employee presently lives in Pelican Rapids. Motion by Magnusson, seconded by Woessner to enter into a 20- year franchise agreement with Great Plains Natural Gas Co. as proposed. Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 03-02, entitled AN ORDINANCE GRANTING TO GREAT PLAINS NATURAL GAS CO., A DIVISION OF MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, A NONEXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, OPERATE, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF GAS ENERGY FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE USE AND TO USE PUBLIC WAYS AND PUBLIC GROUNDS OF THE CITY FOR SUCH PURPOSES; AND PRESCRIBING CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEREOF. (A complete text of this ordinance is part of permanent public record in the city clerk’s office.) Motion passed unanimously and ordinance declared duly adopted upon publication. Gene Miller, Samantha Evenson and LaDonna Fjestad, members of the Friends of the Vision, distributed the Vision Update Meeting of April, 2003 Binder. This is a Project Document. There are folders for distribution to community service organizations and others who are interested in projects to carry out the Vision. Krista Shaw, United Way and member of the Friends of the Vision, said, “Pelican Rapids is a shining star in the county in keeping the Vision focused, current and in the community sight.” Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to approve the changes in assessed values as proposed by the Otter Tail County Auditor. Motion passed unanimously. Council Member Gottenborg said the Comprehensive Plan Committee recommends that the City pursue a Comprehensive Plan. The committee proposes to provide Planner Gene Miller with some seed money for this year. Miller would like to begin by collecting engineering data, water-pumping ability, sewer facility capabilities and census information to make projections. Miller suggested that the City Council authorize a certain task level to accomplish. He said $2,000 would gather all the data for base maps. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to proceed with the Comprehensive Plan Project, awarding the contract to G. A. Miller Engineering Inc., for Task 1.1 through 1.7, at a cost not to exceed $2,000. Total project will not exceed $24,900. Motion passed unanimously. Otter Tail County Commissioner Malcolm Lee reviewed plans for the county to spend about $180,000 to construct a transfer site. Plans were approved by the Otter Tail County Commissioners today and will go to bidding as soon as Solid Waste Officer Mike Hanan can prepare them. Library Director Pam Westby and Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson reviewed a request by the Library Board to serve wine at an appreciation luncheon and reception for library donors this spring. City Attorney Scott Dirks has prepared necessary ordinance amendments for Council to pass if they wish to proceed. Motion by Magnusson to adopt Ordinances to permit the issuance of Temporary Wine Licenses as requested by the Library Board. Motion died for lack of second. Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier presented costs of changing glass at Wastewater Treatment Facility to reduce heat and glare at a cost of $600. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Magnusson to authorize change as proposed. Motion passed unanimously. Jenson reviewed Chamber of Commerce request to use a city vehicle for parades and also permit Farmers Market Day to be held in Peterson Park after minnow races each week this summer. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Waller to approve requests. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Waller to approve WWTF. MPU Jenson updated the City Council on the 2004 Highway 59 Resurfacing Project by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Council Member Dave Gottenborg of the Building Committee reported that the Committee has been investigating leasing the Lake Region Electric Cooperative Warehouse. After reviewing cost of building modifications, lease payments and utility costs, the committee does not recommend leasing the facility. The Committee suggests continuing to research building a facility to be shared by the street, parks, water and wastewater departments. Motion by Waller, seconded by Magnusson, upon recommendation of the Building Committee, the City of Pelican Rapids does not wish to lease or purchase the Lake Region Cooperative warehouse building. Council Members Woessner, Waller, Gottenborg and Magnusson voted yes. Mayor Runningen abstained from voting. No one voted against the motion. Motion carried. Motion by Waller, seconded by Magnusson to authorize the Building Committee to proceed with building recommendations and funding sources. Motion passed unanimously. City Council meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Deputy Clerk-Treasurer