City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-08-13-07 The City of Pelican Rapids City Council met in regular session at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, 08-13- 07, in Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Ben Woessner, Richard Peterson, David Gottenborg and John E. Waller, III, were present. No one was absent. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Police Chief Scott Fox, Utility Superintendent Brent Frazier, Street and Park Superintendent Brian Olson, Library Director Annie Wrigg, Liquor Store Manager Bob Leslie, Commissioner of Health Dianne Mandernach, Janet Lindberg and Joan Ellison of the Community Health Coalition were also present. Mayor Runningen called meeting to order. There were no additions or deletions to the agenda. Commissioner of Health Dianne Mandernach presented the City of Pelican Rapids with the Governor’s Fit City Award. Community Health Coalition members Janet Lindberg, Joan Ellison and Administrator Don Solga joined Mayor Runningen and Council Members in accepting the award. Pelican Rapids joins 37 other cities as a Fit City. Commissioner Mandernach congratulated the community for the Biggest Mover Program. She said the Fit City Program is part of a response to the concern with rising insurance costs and the need for people to become more active. “I arrived a little early and walked the Suspension Bridge, and found Historic City Hall. This is a very, very nice community; I found a gem,” she commented. Police Chief Scott Fox presented the Police Department Report. Utility Superintendent Brent Frazier presented his report. Frazier reported that they were unable to discharge the EQ Pond due to the algae. City staff treated the pond, but the algae grew back before it could be discharged. He said Well No. 15 has been drilled and it is being developed now. Next Monday the drilling company will conduct a 72 hour pumping test. West Central Environmental Co. has also drilled a number of monitoring wells relating to the Well No. 14 benzene contamination. Mayor Runningen said he has been working with staff and engineer Pat Risenour of Interstate Engineering, Inc., and they are pursuing an extension with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regarding implementation of phosphorous treatment standards. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Peterson to approve the minutes of 07-09-07 and 07-31-07 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to approve the payment of the 08-13-07 Accounts Payable Listing as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Street and Park Superintendent Brian Olson presented his report. This summer the City accomplished tree trimming and removal of a couple of dead trees. West Central Turkeys, LCC, has requested permission to install an additional storm drain manhole near their truck stop and drain the water north west of the water tower. This will provide two storm drain manholes to drain the water faster to the field. No additional water will be drained; all the water presently drains to the field. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Waller to authorize West Central Turkeys, LCC to install an additional storm drain manhole as proposed. Motion passed unanimously. Superintendent Olson said summer park workers Matthew Wright and Benjamin Woessner, Jr. have completed their work for the City and will be going back to college. He discussed moving trees as recommended by Department Natural Resources and the Park Board. The Park Board and School would like to move the Skating Rink to the Chauncy Martin Field parking lot. The school will pay for new lighting at the parking lot. Motion by Waller, seconded by Woessner to accept the recommendation and move the skating rink as discussed. Motion passed unanimously. Superintendent Olson is requesting permission from the Department of Transportation to install a sign on the Hwy. 59 Bridge about the Pelican River eventually flowing into Canada. The Park Board recommended removing the brick walls at the approach to the Peterson Park. This would open up the park and parking lot. A business owner has offered to install the flag poles on the east side of the walk way by the dam. Motion by Woessner to remove the wall and posts. Motion died for lack of second. Council Member Peterson said, “I think we’re diving in without enough information.” “I think we should have a plan for creating a new display for the sign identifying the park and a better idea of where we’re going to create an attractive entrance,” continued Council Member Peterson. Superintendent Olson will go back to the Park Board to revisit the plans. The Eagle Scout Project to re-shingle the E.L. Peterson Park Shelter has been completed. Library Director Annie Wrigg said the library assistant, custodian and volunteer coordinator position is being restructured and is open for applications at this time. The current employee, Tess Erickson, is leaving for college and will return as a summer employee. Director Wrigg reported on several items concerning the library. Liquor Store Manager Bob Leslie presented the Liquor Store Report. Mayor Runningen questioned if the Liquor Store facility committee has met to consider building options. The committee has not met but they are checking on properties. Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert presented the 07-31-07 Financial Reports. Administrator Don Solga and Superintendent Brian Olson met with Otter Tail County Engineer Rick West regarding the replacement for the culvert bridge. The City Council previously decided they wanted to replace the bridge. Administrator Solga recommends that the City Council authorize the county engineer to design replacement bridge plans. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to authorize Otter Tail County Engineer Rick West to proceed with design plans for replacement bridge west of Hwy. 59. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Don Solga said the Old City Garage Limited Site Investigation has been completed by Terracon with their report submitted to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The City is waiting for a response from MPCA. He recommends that the City authorize submission of the Limited Site Investigation costs to the Petrofund for reimbursement. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to take necessary steps to submit the Petrofund application for reimbursement. Motion passed unanimously. Street and Park Superintendent explained that water and sewer service is not stubbed from Hwy. 59 to the property the City of Pelican Rapids sold to Robert Perrin. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Gottenborg to permit Robert Perrin to be serviced by the neighboring property owner. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Don Solga asked Council Members if they had a chance to review the available tax forfeited properties. Council Member Peterson couldn’t see any reason why the City would want to obtain these properties except for a couple of them for green spaces. Mayor Runningen said he was concerned about storm water and thought a couple of these would be important. Wednesday, 08-15-07, the Household Hazardous Waste Day will be conducted at the City of Pelican Rapids lower garage in cooperation with the Otter Tail County Solid Waste Department. Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer