City Council

Rapids Council Meeting Minutes-09-30-03 The City Council of Pelican Rapids met in regular session on Tuesday, 09-30-03, at 4:00 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 315 N. Broadway. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members John E. Waller, III, Denise Magnusson, Dave Gottenborg and Ben Woessner were present. No one was absent. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Streets and Park Superintendent Vern Benson, Auditor Dan Rollie, Larry Barber of Otter Tail-Wadena Community Action Council, Susan Foster, Teresa Foster, Mark Johnson of Shultz, Torgerson Architects and Rick Gail of the Pelican Rapds Press were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. No items were added to the agenda. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to approve the Accounts Payable Listing of 09-30-03 with the addition of Bradco Restoration, Inc., for Old City Hall brick removal in the amount of $1,000. Motion passed unanimously. Council and members of the public present discussed the proposed Water/Sewer Main Extension – 4th St. SE. Engineer Gary Nansen, engineer with Larson-Peterson & Assoc., prepared plans for extending water and sewer to three properties on 4th St. SE. Property Owner Chuck Krekelberg said he’s okay with the improvement. He suggested a culvert be installed for better drainage on 4th St. SE. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Magnusson to approve the plans and specifications for Option No. 2, with City paying 50% of costs of looping, and proceed with bids by introducing RESOLUTION ORDERING IMPROVEMENT, PREPARATION OF PLANS, APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND ORDERING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR 4TH STREET SE WATER/SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 69. Motion passed unanimously and resolution declared duly adopted. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Magnusson for the City to reserve the right to assess future connected properties to the looped line. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to adjourn the City Council meeting and call the Economic Development Authority meeting to order at 4:25 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. City Council meeting reconvened at 5:00 p.m. Library Director Pam Westby reported on library activities. Westby and Tami Skinner attended a Minnesota Library Association Conference in Rochester this past week. Jane French has been hired as circulation librarian at $9.15 per hour. Council Member Gottenborg reviewed the Public Works Building Committee’s work. Mark Johnson of Shultz Torgerson Architects presented a report and drawings of a proposed Public Works Facility. The new building will be sited on the existing property. The present shop would cost $10,000 to demolish. The Building Committee recommends using the present shop as cold storage instead of demolishing it. Council Members discussed costs and financing for the proposed building. Gottenborg and Woessner reported that the precast building is initially more expensive. However, the life of the building offsets the added expense. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson reviewed proposals for financing the building through General Obligation Public Improvement Bonds. The committee recommends the precast building. They will continue to meet and gather information about size of the building. Consensus of City Council is to continue planning, make final decision and call for bids in February, 2004. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Magnusson to approve Plumber’s License for Dwight R. Carlson. Motion passed unanimously. Jenson reported the curb and sidewalk replacement costs by Pelican Drug store. The City has $2,000 in sidewalk funds as a line item for 2003 and he recommends the City use these funds for this project. There is also $5,000 for sidewalk replacement in the Proposed 2004 Budget. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to allocate $2,000 from sidewalk funds for 2003 and $1,000 from 2004 for this replacement project. Motion passed unanimously. Auditor Dan Rollie reviewed the 2002 Audit. Rollie prepared graphs of revenues and expenditures for the various governmental funds. Rollie indicated the City was in solid financial position. Revenues increased by over $300,000, with Rollie noting this was attributable to donations and Local Government Aid. This could change significantly in 2003. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Magnusson to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Deputy Clerk-Treasurer