City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES – 03-13-06 The City Council of Pelican Rapids met in regular session at 5:30 p.m., Monday, 03-13-06, in 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, Police Chief Scott Fox, Library Director Pam Westby, Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier, Street and Park Superintendent Brian Olson, Joan Ellison and Pat Krekelberg of the Friends of the Library, Judy Marko, Liquor Store Manager Bob Leslie and Chris of Interstate Engineering were also present. Mayor Runningen called the meeting to order. The following items were added to the agenda: Aggregate Production Tax and Red River Valley Water Supply Project. Motion by Waller, seconded by Woessner to approve the minutes of 02-13-06 and 02-28-06 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Council reviewed the 03-13-06 Accounts Payable Listing. Motion by Waller, seconded by Woessner to approve the 03-13-06 Accounts Payable Listing with the addition of Interstate Engineering, Phosphorous Management in the amount of $10,719.60, and Significant User Agreement in the amount of $824.59, and Liesch Assoc., Well No. 14-well location in the amount of $2,448.16. Motion includes payment of the library bill listing of 03-06-06, approved by Library Board Member Gary Lage. Motion passed unanimously. Police Chief Scott Fox presented a report on the police department. Fox said the department will be receiving new bullet proof vests as theirs do not offer adequate protection. He presented a request from a National Guard Unit for outdated vests to provide additional protection along floor and sides of HumVee. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Woessner to authorize shipment of police department’s outdated bullet proof vests to Michael Wellnitz for use in the unit’s HumVee in Iraq. Motion passed unanimously. Utility Superintendent Brent Frazier presented a report on his department. Street and Park Superintendent Brian Olson presented his report. Library Director Pam Westby presented a report on the library. Joan Ellison on behalf of the Friends of the Library was present to request permission to serve wine with a meal at a Library Special Event. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to give permission to the Friends of the Library to hold a Special Event at the library for one time only in summer, 2006, and to permit the serving of wine with a meal at the library. The Friends of the Library will provide liability insurance for the event. Motion passed unanimously. Chris McConn of Interstate Engineering presented the Wellhead Protection Project F050017, Part 2. He outlined the process for reviewing the project and for holding a public hearing on the project. He suggested the date of 05-30-06. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to approve the Wellhead Protection Project F050017, Part 2, go to a draft form and to hold the public hearing on 05-30-06, at 6:00 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Runningen said the Council appreciates members of the community who served on this committee and staff will send thanks to people. Liquor Store Manager Bob Leslie said the inventory will be Monday, 04-03-06, at 6:00 a.m. Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert presented the 02-28-06 financial reports. She also presented information on the water fund, Well No. 14 and Well No. 14’s replacement, Well No. 15. Council directed Ehlert to secure some options for short term financing from local banks. Ehlert also reported on Tax Increment District No. 6 – Eye Clinic. Council Member Waller reported on the Fire Hall proposed facility. Some items have been eliminated and costs will be reduced to $1.4 million. Administrator Don Solga said the City’s share annually would be $19,500 of the $110,000 annual bond payment for the proposed fire hall. Solga talked to the attorneys from the Minnesota Association of Townships and they said the townships would be able to enter into a twenty year service agreement for fire protection. Administrator Solga reviewed the letter of intent regarding the Pelican Rapids Fire Hall. Council Member Waller said the City will also need to consider putting money away for a ladder truck to reach multi-level buildings in the city. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to sign the letter of intent on the Pelican Rapids Fire Hall and agree to a 20 year fire agreement with a one year termination clause. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Solga reviewed the 2006 ambulance contract. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Gottenborg to approve the 2006 ambulance contract in the amount of $23,740, based on continuing the $10 per capita rate for this year. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Solga reviewed the City Clean Up. All the properties that were in non- compliance in 2005 that are not in compliance by 04-15-06 will be issued a citation by the police department, beginning on 04-16-06. Administrator Solga said Otter Tail County will conduct a public hearing on 03-16- 06 at 7:00 p.m., regarding an Aggregate Production Tax. The hearing will be held in Otter Tail County Commissioners Room in the Government Services Center in Fergus Falls. He reviewed the proposed tax which is in place in Becker and Clay County. There will be an informational meeting on Red River Valley Water Supply Project. One of the major options would involve aquifer water from west central Minnesota. The meeting will be at the Cactus Gardens in Perham, Thursday, 03-23-06, at 7:00 p.m. There is still time to submit testimony on this plan until 03-30-06. Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer