City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-02-28-06 The City of Pelican Rapids City Council met in regular session at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, 02-28-06, Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Ben Woessner, John E. Waller, III and David Gottenborg were present. Council Member Richard Peterson was absent. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Housing Inspector Lyle Nesvold, Park Board Member Julie Lammers, Judy Marko, Kathy Arntson, Ordean Berg and Jerry Barney of the Pelican Rapids Press were also present. Mayor Runningen called the meeting to order. The following items were added to the agenda: Rental Housing Report, Liquor Store Inventory and Charitable Gambling Raffle Permits. Pursuant to due call and published notice thereof, a public hearing was conducted on the potential submission of a grant application to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The purpose of this grant application is to request funding that would assist in the development of a public park, River Park, along the Pelican River to the north of the Multicultural Learning Center. Park Board Member Julie Lammers discussed the project scope and the type of activities involved. The project scope will be to build a park accessible to people of all ages with an amphitheater, gazebo, climbing boulders and a playground for two to five year olds. Application will be made in March and in October the awards will be announced. She explained the implementation would be in 2007. The overall costs include the following: general landscaping, $1,508; picnic tables, $2,800; garbage cans, $1,305; flower planters, $2,087; playground, $7,927; climbing boulders, $46,692; gazebo, $3,913; amphitheater, $2,870 and bleachers, $9,436 for a total cost of $78,538. The location begins at a point north of the Senior Citizen’s Center, continuing north along 1st St. NW to a point north of the river, continuing along the river in a south easterly direction and then west to the beginning point north of the Senior Citizen’s Center. Contributions received total $17,439. The City Council will need to authorize $12,954 to be raised as part of the General Fund budget and assessed to community residents. Associated project maintenance costs will include mowing, equipment upkeep, and replacement of picnic tables. Members of the public present and Council asked various questions regarding location and timing. No objections were raised. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to close the hearing. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to introduce the resolution to authorize the Mayor to apply to the Department of Natural Resources for funding of this project on behalf of the City of Pelican Rapids. A complete text of this resolution is part of permanent public record in the city clerk's office. Motion passed unanimously and the resolution was declared duly adopted. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to authorize the necessary $12,954 to fund the remainder of the local share of the River Park Grant Application. Motion passed unanimously. Lyle Nesvold of Codes Plus presented a report on the rental housing inspections. There are 73 properties with approximately 240 units. Nesvold said, “The process has been much quicker this time. Most corrections involve batteries for smoke alarms and ground fault interrupters. Egress windows are important.” Mayor Runningen said, “The City Council has been concerned about life safety issues.” Nesvold reported, “Today was the deadline to complete inspections and they are essentially complete except for a few to be re-inspected.” City Council members reviewed the 02-28-06 Accounts Payable Listing. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Waller to approve Accounts Payable of 02-28-06 with the additions of Codes Plus, housing inspections, $3,885.00; Wells Fargo Card Services, city training expenses, $159.06 and Wells Fargo Card Services, $7.13, library training expense. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Don Solga presented the Park Board Report. Council Member Woessner said the American Legion has developed plans to plant trees in the community. Administrator Solga reviewed an ordinance addressing discharge of storm water, ground water and surface water into the sanitary sewer system. Motion by Waller, seconded by Woessner to introduce a resolution to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 06-04, entitled AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT CITY CODE SECTION 403.051, DISCHARGE OF STORM WATER, GROUND WATER AND SURFACE WATER INTO SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM. Motion passed unanimously and ordinance is considered duly adopted upon publication. Mayor Runningen discussed Otter Tail County Community Health Service Advisory Board’s work to develop a county-wide smoke-free ordinance. The City of Pelican Rapids has passed a smoke free ordinance for the City parks and buildings. The City Council considered a resolution supporting Otter Tail County’s efforts. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to introduce Resolution to Support a Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance That Will Reduce Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in Worksites. Motion passed unanimously and resolution declared duly adopted. Administrator Don Solga said the liquor store inventory will be Monday, 04-03- 06 at 6:00 a.m. Motion by Waller, Gottenborg to approve the application of the Chamber of Commerce to conduct a raffle on Saturday, 09-02-06, at the Muddy Moose in Pelican Rapids. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to approve the application of the Friends of the Pelican Rapids Library to conduct raffles from April through July 15, 2006 at the Pelican Rapids Public Library. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer