Grants Lake Commission the go-ahead on four projects
THE MOUNTAIN LAKE City Council. Seated front, from left, Council Member Dana Kass, Mayor Mike Nelson and Council Member Darla Kruser. Standing back, Council Member Andrew Ysker, left and Council Member David Savage, right.
The Mountain Lake City Council took under consideration the construction of an extension to Brad Avenue, located on the east edge of the city by Munson Field, at its Monday, September 19 meeting. Brad Avenue currently ends at the entrance to the football field parking lot.
Youth for Christ (YFC) was recently given a property parcel located outside the city limits, beyond the end of Brad Avenue. YFC is considering turning that property into a paint ball area.
YFC is asking that Brad Avenue be extended to their property parcel. The city owns a strip of land extending from the existing Brad Avenue to that property. However, the city has no plans to annex the property. The site will be served by city electricity, but will not be connecting to city water or sewer.
The estimate by Bolton and Menk to build a 24′ road extension from Brad Avenue to the YFC parcel was reviewed. The parcel is not landlocked because it includes a strip of land, which serves as a driveway and connects to 370th Street, a township road, to the north.
As the property is outside the city limits, there are no property taxes paid on it.
Council members agreed by consensus that YFC should build the road extension at its own expense – and to minimal standards determined by Bolton and Menk.
Mountain Lake City Administrator/Clerk Wendy Meyer was to contact YFC.
Lake Commission projects given go-ahead.
Lake Commission Chair Jim Peterson and Lake Commission Member Dave Bucklin attended the meeting, and the council gave them the go-ahead on four projects –
- The two presented a new engineer’s estimate to the Council for the cost of constructing a sediment basin south of the parking lot at Mountain Lake Golf Course. They met with the Mountain Lake Golf Course Board of Directors. Spoil from the basin will be spread on the golf course, which will significantly reduce the cost. The project is eligible for Soil and Water Conservation District State Cost-Share Assistance Program grant dollars.
- Additional drainage needs to be added along the Mountain Lake Trail in Lawcon Park, and the north side ofthe trail where storm water run-off is an issue.
- The plunge pool at the storm sewer outlet in Lawcon Park has a wall that needs reinforcing.
- Bucklin additionally presented a cost-share assistance contract for the removal of buckthorn, an invasive species, on public land around Mountain Lake.
In allowing the Lake Commission permission to move ahead with the projects, the council approved the agreement with the golf course, signed both of the cost-share project contracts and approved gathering quotes for the golf course, trail drainage and plunge pool repair projects.
In other business
+ The Economic Development Authority (EDA) has been negotiating the purchase of a 24-acre parcel just southwest of Mountain Lake (Parcel #12.004.0500), and has reached a tentative agreement price of of $14,250/acre with the owner. Because the property is outside the city limits, it must be purchased by the city. This change alters the method of financing, and the schedule to complete financing. Discussed were the tentative financing schedule, tentative debt service schedule, a revised resolution, other details of the purchase and financing and infrastructure costs. Council members approved the revised resolution calling for a public hearing on proposed tax abatements for the land purchase. The hearing will be held during the Monday, October 3 council meeting.
+ Approved the purchase of a 2016 John Deere 524K pay loader at a cost of $147,891, less trade-in of $74,500 – for an actual cost of $73,391. Prior to the vote, there was discussion on the city’s capital outlay plan, other brands of equipment, their cost and re-sale/trade-in value, the need to replace the pay loader, the street department equipment replacement policy, the policies of other cities, extended warranties and street department reserves that will be used for the purchase. The current state bid price ends Friday, September 30.
+ Reviewed the summary of the Preliminary 2017 Budget and Levy. It has been revised to reflect the 7% preliminary levy increase adopted at the council’s Tuesday, September 6 meeting.
+ Set Tuesday, December 6, at 6 p.m., as the date to hold a public meeting to discuss the budget as required by the state. The meeting will be held prior to the regularly-scheduled council meeting.
+ Appointed Dean Janzen, former mayor and council member, as an advisory member of the EDA.
+ Accepted the resignation of Mountain Lake Public Library employee Gloria Klassen, effective Saturday, October 1.
+ Reviewed a quote from Bargen Inc. of Mountain Lake to apply RePLAY to Prince Street East. RePLAY Agricultural Oil Seal and Preservation Agent is a patented solution that extends the life of paved asphalt surfaces when applied every three-to-five years. The 88% biobased solution is easily applied and cures within 15-to-30 minutes. Jerry Van Dyke of Bargen was at the meeting to answer questions. Applying the product in 2016, and making payment in 2017 was discussed. Council members approved the application of RePLAY to Prince Street West in 2016 at a cost of $10,934.
+ Reviewed a report on the Mountain Lake Comprehensive Project, monitoring of grantee performance. There were no findings or concerns identified during the comprehensive project (housing rehab and Well #7) monitoring.
+ Reviewed a report on the results of the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standard, and Training (POST) Compliance. The Mountain Lake Police Department passed the review of their mandated employee training, and department policies, conducted by the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).
+ Mountain Lake City Attorney Maryellen Suhrhoff updated council members on the status of the on-going public nuisance abatement at 1406 3rd Avenue.
+ Conducted a public hearing, and heard a final reading, on an ordinance on temporary family health care dwelling. There was no one present who wished to speak to the ordinance. The council adopted the ordinance and approved the publication of a summary notice of its adoption.
+ Heard a second reading on an ordinance amending the salaries of mayor, council members and members of boards and commissions. Changes made at the Tuesday, September 6 council meeting were noted.
+ Decided to discontinue the appointment of a local Blue Cross/Blue Shield agent beginning with the new plan year, and to notify the current local agent of the city’s decision. The local agent receives a $22 per month contract, but the first contact for city staff overseeing health insurance is a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Client Executive. Staff recommended to the council that the city no longer appoint a local agent.
+ Closed the open meeting, and opened a closed meeting, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 179.01 – 179A.25, to consider union contract negotiation strategies.
City of Mountain Lake Meeting Dates
+ Mountain Lake City Council meets the first and third Mondays of every month at 6:30 p.m.
+ Utilities Commission meets the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 7 a.m.
+ Economic Development Authority (EDA) meets the second Friday of every month at 12 noon.
+ Lake Commission meets the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
+ Library Board meets the second Wednesday of every month at 4:45 p.m.
+ Police Commission meets the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.
+ Planning and Zoning meets the last Monday of the month, if needed.
+ Tree Commission meets quarterly – January, April, July and October – at 7:45 p.m.
