City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-06-26-07 The City of Pelican Rapids Council met in regular session at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, 06-26-07, Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Ben Woessner, Richard Peterson and John Waller, III, were present. Council Member David Gottenborg was absent. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Library Director Annie Wrigg, Sam Buck, Linda Grefsrud of Trinity Church, Don Cole of West Central Turkeys, LLC, Brenda Brand and Kelley Gorman of the Pelican Rapids Press were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. The following items were added to the agenda: WCT-1st St. NW; Airport Fuel Pump Resolution; Pelican Artist Thank You Letter; Community Sign and Eagle Scout Project-Sam Buck. One item was deleted: Certify Unpaid Utility Bills to OTC. Motion by Waller, seconded by Woessner to approve the 06-26-07 Accounts Payable Listing as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Brenda Brand of the Pelican Rapids Chamber of Commerce discussed Visitor Information Center staffing and the need to supplement volunteers. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Waller to approve the Chamber of Commerce request that the City participate as the agency requesting and monitoring an Experience Works employee to work at the Visitor Information Center. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to approve an Eagle Scout project for Sam Buck to organize re-shingling the E.L. Peterson Park Shelter, at an estimated cost not to exceed $1,000. Motion passed unanimously. Trinity Church is sponsoring an Outdoor Concert on 07-17-07 in their parking lot. They wanted to let the City know about the plans and also to check on the noise ordinance requirement to discontinue loud noise at 10:00 p.m. The concert should be ending about 9:30 p.m. If it runs later, what would be the consequences? Mayor Runningen said in the past if complaints are received, then the police will need to ask the band to lower the sound. Council agreed that it would be a good event for the community. Administrator Don Solga reviewed a proposal to provide 66 ft. of 1st St. NW in connection with West Central Turkeys expansion and parking lot project. Council discussed the project to provide better drainage. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to allow West Central Turkeys to rebuild 1st St. NW from the catch basins north in a manner to conform to their project. Motion passed unanimously. Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert reviewed liquor license ordinances. The City had received a request to expand the number of licenses available for On Sale Intoxicating Liquor at their meeting on 06-11-07. The new business owners who made that request have decided to apply for Malt Liquor and Wine Licenses at this time instead of the On Sale Intoxicating Liquor License. No action to change the ordinance was taken. Administrator Don Solga said the City of Pelican Rapids, Pelican Rapids Public Schools and property owners have met to discuss water retention solutions at the elementary school. Due to the large amount of storm water retained in this area, a berm is being considered and would be constructed from 1st St. SE to Highway 59 along the north edge of school property. School staff is obtaining approximate costs for that project. Administrator Don Solga reviewed a grant application with the State of Minnesota for replacing the aviation gas pump at the airport. The City will remove two pumps at the airport and install a dual pump. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for airport improvement to replace aviation fuel pump with a project cost not to exceed $3800. The City will contribute $1900 and the state will contribute $1900. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to designate the Mayor and Administrator as signers on the Transportation Grant Agreement and to introduce the following, written resolution, entitled AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT AGREEMENT FOR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT EXCLUDING LAND ACQUISTION. (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 requested that Administrator Solga work on acquiring airport hangar plans and cost estimates so the City will be ready to build when money becomes available from the State. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson that Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert write a thank you to Carolyn Borgen-Heintz for her work in creating a pelican statue for the City as part of the Chamber of Commerce Pelican Project. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Solga reviewed options for location of the Community Sign. Motion by Waller, seconded by Woessner to locate the sign by the entrance to Chauncey Martin Field. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to suspend the City Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. for the Economic Development Authority meeting. Motion passed unanimously. City Council meeting reconvened at 5:42 p.m. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to authorize the Economic Development Authority’s actions to approve the minutes, to approve the Accounts Payable Listing of 06-26-07, to approve the Final Pay Estimate of $20,620.93 for Fire Hall Site Preparation and Demolition project to JL Trucking, Excavating and Grading and Partial Payment No. 2 for Fire Hall Construction project to R.A. Bristlin & Son in the amount of $65,490. Motion passed unanimously. Council discussed airport commercial activity and city licensing requirements. Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer