City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-07-09-07 The City Council of the City of Pelican Rapids met in regular session on Monday, 07-09-07, at 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Ben Woessner, David Gottenborg, Richard Peterson and John E. Waller, III, were present. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier, Street and Park Superintendent Brian Olson, Liquor Store Manager Bob Leslie, Library Director Annie Wrigg and Kelley Gorman of the Pelican Rapids Press were also present. Mayor Runningen called meeting to order. Item No. 12 – Wine and Strong Beer License Application was deleted from the agenda. Motion by Waller, Peterson to approve the 06-11-07 and 06-26-07 minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Woessner to approve the 07-09-07 Accounts Payable Listing as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Council reviewed the police report included in the packet. Administrator Don Solga announced that part time police officer Travis Macleod has resigned to accept a full time position with the Wright County Sheriff’s Department. Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier presented his report. Well No. 12 was treated chemically and recovered pumping capacity. Northstar Drilling has drilled test wells for Well No. 15 and it will be about three weeks before the company will be back to drill the production well. During the 72 hour pump test, the water will be pumped into the street in the Industrial Park. Superintendent Frazier said Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has submitted an amendment to the joint powers agreement which extends the agreement to August, 2009, agreement between the parties that the City agrees to pump Well No. 14 to full capacity and to arrange and pay for any repairs to keep the Well No. 14 operational if MPCA determines it is necessary. MPCA will reimburse the City for any repairs to Well No. 14. The amendment also increases the total cost to the MPCA to $50,000. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to authorize the amendment to the joint powers agreement with the MPCA. Motion passed unanimously. Street and Park Superintendent Brian Olson reported that dust guard was applied in June, prior to dry weather. He reported that an 18 in. storm drain runs from 3rd Ave. SW north to the new Fire Hall and he recommends that the City replace the manhole and storm drain lines before paving the area around the Fire Hall. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Gottenborg to approve replacing the storm drain manhole and line from 3rd Ave. SW as recommended. Motion passed unanimously. Olson discussed storm drain retention and various park items. Library Director Annie Wrigg reported on various library items. Liquor Store Manage Bob Leslie reported on the Liquor Store. He said they were very busy the week of July 4th and had a very good June as well. Council Member Woessner congratulated Leslie for getting the inventory down to $91,000 in July. Mayor Runningen asked about transferring the remaining $10,000 to the City and Administrator Don Solga suggested transferring additional monies. Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert reported on the 06-30-07 Financial Reports. Ehlert also serves on the Chamber of Commerce Pelican Statues Committee and requested information for catalog and map of location of statues. The Council confirmed display of the City’s statue at City Hall, 315 N. Broadway, and Karl Grefsrud Construction’s statue at Historic City Hall, 25 N. Broadway. Grefsrud was a contractor for restoration work at Historic City Hall in 2004. Council packets included an invitation to the unveiling of the statues on Sunday, 07-22-07, at 2:00 p.m., Pelican Rapids High School. Administrator Don Solga and Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert reported on the League of Minnesota Cities Conference in June. Each thanked City Council for the opportunity to attend the conference. Solga attended small cities tracks and those dealing with business retention. He was pleased with the wealth of information from the Minnesota Extension Services to share with the Economic Development Corporation. He also attended a workshop on what makes cities cool: what attracts people to communities. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to certify an unpaid utility bill in the amount of $386.75 to parcel no. 76000990534000. Council Member Peterson questioned the City’s ability to require property owners to repair their shut-offs. City staff will check on the ordinance and procedure. Motion passed unanimously. Otter Tail County Household Hazardous Waste Collection day will be 08-15- 07 from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m. A retirement party will be held on Thursday, 07-12-07, for Wes Binner of the West Central Initiative Fund. Meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer