City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-11-10-03 The City Council of the City of Pelican Rapids met in regular session Monday, 11-10-03, at 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 315 N. Broadway. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Dave Gottenborg, John E. Waller, III, Denise Magnusson and Ben Woessner were present. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson, Deputy Clerk- Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Street and Park Superintendent Tom Soberg, Utilities Superintendent Brent Frazier, Police Chief Scott Fox, Rick Gail of the Pelican Rapids Press, Norm Robinson, Brent Jenkins and Joe Maske were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. Items added to the agenda: Joint Township Request, Skating Rink Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to approve the minutes of 10-13 and 10-28- 03 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Council reviewed the Accounts Payable Listing of 11-10-03. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to approve the Accounts Payable Listing of 11-10-03 with the following corrections and additions: Correcting Scott Dirks bill, October legal expenses to $1130 and adding Municipal Service Co., WWTF Labor and Materials in the amount of $791; Ameripride, WWTF, Lagoon, Coveralls, towels in the amount of $32.48 and ERA Labs, WWTF, Lagoon, Water, Sludge Testing in the amount of $816. Motion includes Library Bill Listing of 11-05-03 as approved by the Library Board. Motion passed unanimously. Police Chief Scott Fox presented a report on the Police Department activities. Council Member Woessner requested additional parking spaces in front of the Old City Hall. Fox said that would be fine and other city staff agreed. Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier reported on activities in his departments. Street and Park Superintendent Tom Soberg reported on activities in his departments. Council Member Woessner asked what the game plan was for the skating rink this year. He asked if the rinks will be located in the same location. Soberg said the rinks will be same as last year. Administrative Assistant Richard A. Jenson reported that the bridge on 1st St. NW received Class 5 gravel today and should be paved this week. The street should be reopened by the end of the week. Sidewalks will not be installed until spring due to weather. Contractors are also working on the sewer extension on 4th Ave. SE. Council reviewed the liquor store reports submitted by Liquor Store Manager Bob Leslie and Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert. Mayor Runningen said he would like to see a physical inventory accomplished this month or next month. Council Member Gottenborg requested that Liquor Store Manager Bob Leslie be present at the first meeting of the month. Ehlert presented the 10-31-03 financial reports. Library Director Pam Westby reported on the library. The library has been notified by an attorney in Idaho regarding a gift in memory of Alice Kittelson by Lloyd Kittelson. There is the possibility that there may be litigation as the family is requesting the library gift be limited to the purchase price of the bonds of $32,000. The present value of the bonds is $168,500. The family would return the difference to the estate. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to pass a resolution accepting the gift of savings bonds with interest. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Runningen introduced discussion on a request for a letter of support for the Echo Bay Project. Brent Jenkins, president of the Pelican Lake Owners Association, addressed City Council. He said their members are opposed to the development due to the number of units, increased use of water, sewer and emergency services. People living on the lake are also concerned about 252 additional boats and jet skis in the quiet waters of this small lake. A year ago these developers presented a plan to the Pelican Lake Owners Association for development of 50 units and one dock on this property. There hasn’t been a forum to address the concerns of neighboring property owners. Developers are proposing a city about half the size of Pelican Rapids located on this small lake. General consensus includes concerns about crowding, providing services, destroying a quiet, peaceful lake and how much more can this ecosystem take. Joe Maske of the Otter Tail County Planning Commissioners reviewed the process that will take place on Wednesday night at the Planning Commission meeting. He said at that time the developers will present their plans. Due to the size of Echo Bay, the Planning Commission will have the option of recommending sending the plans for an environmental review. Council Member Gottenborg said when this was first reviewed by the developers, it did not appear to impact the larger area. He is not in favor of the resolution today, right now. Motion by Waller to table the resolution until more information is available. Motion died for lack of a second. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Woessner to withdraw the resolution concerning Echo Bay Project with no specific date to reconsider. Council discussed need for more information. G, Woessner, and Runningen voted in favor. Waller voted against. Motion carried. Council Members discussed membership in the Minnesota Association of Small Cities Association., tabled from 10-28-03 meeting. The membership fee is $909 for 2004. Council discussed the issues the Small Cities Association addresses. Council requested more information. Ehlert reviewed use of City Logo on shirts to promote the City of Pelican Rapids. She presented a request to authorize employees to use the logo on appropriate business casual shirts and jackets. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to authorize the use of the city logo on apparel with the City paying the set up costs. Employees will pay for their own shirts, etc. Motion passed unanimously. Jenson reported on the Airport House. It has been winterized. Council has requested information about status of the house. He will check on time to inspect the house. Mayor Runningen presented information on a joint township request. City has heard a presentation and been asked to consider annual funding and vacating a street depending on location. Mayor Runningen explained to the joint township group that the Council basically decided to wait ad see what other requests would be made. The joint townships say they are not opposed to the Community Center. They are concerned about funding it with Hospital District funds. He said the townships are going forward to obtain a decision by the State Attorney General about the Hospital District’s ability to commit money to the Community Center. Library Director Westby said public meetings would be the best way to allow people to express how they feel about the project. Council Member Woessner said the biggest problem is to share ownership of projects. Norm Robinson of the Pelican Lake Association said, “Let’s have the conversation.” Mayor Runningen said it is up to the Council if they would like to take any action on the issue. Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Deputy Clerk-Treasurer