City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-11-08-04 The City Council of the City of Pelican Rapids met in regular session 5:30 p.m., Monday, 11-08-04, Council Chambers, City Hall, 315 N. Broadway. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Ben Woessner, David Gottenborg and John E. Waller, III, were present. Council Member Denise Magnusson was absent. Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Police Chief Scott Fox, Street and Park Superintendent Tom Soberg, Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier, Malcolm Lee of the Otter Tail County Commissioners, Dennis Schell of the Chamber of Commerce and Tom Hintgen of the Pelican Rapids Press were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. Items added to the agenda: Board of Review Training and Otter Tail County Commissioner Malcolm Lee. Dennis Schell of the Chamber of Commerce addressed City Council regarding Turkey Days, scheduled for 07-08 and 07-09-05. They would like to add a Demolition Derby to the events. Two city owned locations are under consideration. One location is near Well No. 14 and the other is behind the southwest soccer field. Insurance will run about $1500 to $2000 which will be a Chamber expense. Schell requested Council consideration to locate the Derby on city property. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to have City Attorney check on the City’s liability in permitting a Demolition Derby on City property. Motion passed unanimously. Otter Tail County Commissioner Malcolm Lee thanked and congratulated the City on the recent Emergency Management Exercise and work on the Emergency Management Plan, headed by Emergency Management Director Vern Benson and Council Member Denise Magnusson. Lee also thanked Council Member Woessner for his efforts to get local contractors to bid on the work at the newly expanded solid waste transfer station west of Pelican Rapids. Cost of the transfer station, a county project, totals $325,000. Lee said that state and federal funding played a major role in completion of the West Mill Ave. and 1st St. NW road and bridge work that, combined, totaled $1.15 million. Road work totaled $665,000 and bridge work $492,000. Mayor Runningen said the City is very appreciative of the bridge and street project and the transfer station. Referring to the 11-02-04 election and Otter Tail County’s providing precincts with electronic precinct counters, Lee commented that the precinct counters tallied the votes for accurate and speedy reporting to the state wide system. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to approve the minutes of 10-11-04, 10- 19-04, 10-20-04, and10-26-04 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to approve payment of the 11-08-04 Accounts Payable Listing as presented with the addition of Northwest/Southwest Striping, paint curbs and parking lot striping, in the amount o $1200. Motion passed unanimously. Police Chief Scott Fox presented his report. Officer Jeff Stadum and the police dog will complete training on Wednesday, 11-10-04. Officer Stadum is pleased with the dog, Sarge, and says he is an excellent drug-sniffing dog. Mayor Runningen told people to take time to stop by Historic City Hall. There is an excellent display about the Police Department, created by Kristin Fox as a Girl Scout Gold Award project. Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier presented his report. Street and Park Superintendent Tom Soberg presented his report. Mayor Runningen reported on work accomplished on the Public Works Garage. Soil mitigation was accomplished on 11-02-04 and construction has proceeded in a timely manner. Former street superintendent Vern Benson is willing to drive the city bus a couple of days a week. Soberg would also like to continue scheduling summer employee Richard Peterson on a part time basis. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to allow Vern Benson to drive the city bus at the seasonal employee rate and to continue summer employee Richard Peterson on a part time basis as weather permits. Motion passed unanimously. Otter Tail Power Co. easement is being reviewed by City Attorney Greg Larson. Mayor Runningen reviewed a request by the Western Area City and Counties Cooperative to pass a resolution supporting education and programs for recovery. Motion by Waller to postpone action on resolution until Council Member Magnusson is present. Motion died for lack of second. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Woessner to introduce the following written resolution, entitled RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS FOR RECOVERY. (A complete text of this resolution is part of permanent public record in the city clerk's office.) Motion passed unanimously and resolution declared duly adopted. Mayor Runningen explained about requirement for at least one council member to attend training with the Minnesota Department of Revenue, prior to holding the Board of Review locally. He will attend this training in December. Mayor Runningen reported on various engineering options. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer