City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-09-26-06 The City Council of Pelican Rapids met in regular session at 4:30 p.m., on Tuesday, 09-26- 06, in Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members David Gottenborg, John E. Waller, III and Richard Peterson were present. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Kelley Gorman of the Pelican Rapids Press, Gary Nansen and Jon Olson of Ulteig Engineers, Rhoda Johnson, Tom Soberg, Joel Smith of ACS, Kim Peters of Loretel and Gerald Grefsrud were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. Otter Tail County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and a Library Open House were added to the agenda. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Gottenborg to approve payment of the 09-26-06 Accounts Payable Listing as presented. Motion carried. Council discussed Board of Review options. The City may authorize the County to conduct the Board of Review. If the City continues to conduct the Board of Review then a member of the City Council will need to complete training on Board of Review practices. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Peterson to continue to hold Board of Review locally. Motion carried. Administrator Don Solga said the City bus will be transferred to Transit Alternatives on 10- 2-06. There will be an Open House at the Library on Wednesday, 10-04-06, to welcome Library Director Annie Wrigg. Administrator Don Solga explained that he wanted to review the Sabin Fire Hall plans before signing an agreement with Eugene Hanson regarding bid documents for an engineered post frame building for a Fire Hall. Solga stated he will not sign agreement presented to the City Council on 08-29-06, until he has looked at all options for a Fire Hall and determined that the pole type building is the way the City wishes to proceed. Pursuant to due call and published notice thereof, Mayor Runningen called the Improvement Project No. 71 Assessment Hearing to order. Engineer Gary Nansen reviewed Improvement Project No. 71. Council discussed the portion of property that will have the assessments deferred. Nansen suggested deferring assessments until the property is developed or platted. Rhoda Miller and Tom Soberg were only members of the public present to discuss project. Their discussion concerned deferred assessments on Parcel No. 76000 2700079003. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to close the hearing. Motion carried. Motion by Waller, seconded by Gottenborg to adopt the assessment roll for Improvement Project No. 71, set the interest rate at 6% and terms to 15 years, by introducing the following written resolution, entitled, RESOLUTION ADOPTING ASSESSMENT FOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 71. (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. Council discussed terms for deferring assessments. Ideas included transfer of title, building permit issued for an improvement, development of property or platting property. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller that the assessments will become active on Parcel No. R76000270079003 if one of the following occurs: property is platted or if property is improved by one or more residences. The sale or transfer of property will not activate the assessments. Motion carried. Administrator Don Solga reviewed a meeting he attended with Otter Tail County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) regarding a Small Cities Development Grant application for a housing grant under the county’s administration. The amount of money sought could be $1 to 1.2 million. Single family homes, owner occupied or rental property and businesses could be eligible. The City has applied in the past with the assistance of a consultant. Money could be available for the acquisition of public property. Council needs to authorize the county to work on the pre-application. City Council indicated that they were in favor of Otter Tail County preparing the pre-application for a grant. Kim Peters of Loretel Cablevision explained that Loretel Cablevision is part of Hector Communications which is being acquired by Arvig as Hector Acquisition Corporation. Joel Smith, of Arvig Communications System (ACS) addressed questions from Council regarding possibility of the provider offering cable, television and internet as a bundle. He says the capability is there and ACS already offers these. Strengthening the channel line-up and bundling the services to reduce price are possibilities. Smith agreed the reception issue needs to be addressed. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to introduce the following resolution, entitled RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS APPROVING THE CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL. Motion passed unanimously and resolution declared duly adopted. Meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer