Mountain Lake City Council holds hearing on animal regulation during meeting
An update on the private sewer line replacements connected to the 2012-2014 Utility and Street Project were heard during he Monday, March 3 meeting of the Mountain Lake City Council.
The private sewer lines of 115 properties in the project area were inspected by camera in 2012, with 33 meeting city ordinance and not needing replacement. Of the remaining properties, 21 received a recommendation to replace the line and 68 did not meet city code and were given one year – to the fall of 2013 – to replace the line. Of those 68, 29 have had their line replaced, 12 are on a contractor’s waiting list to have the line completed in 2014, three have had the deadline extended – and 17 have taken no action.
At its Thursday, February 27 meeting, the Utilities Commission directed that those 17 property owners be sent a letter giving them 30 days to notify the city of their plans, specifically if they have contacted a contractor to replace the line in 2014. If the city is not contacted, the city will hire a contractor and either bill or special assess the costs to the property owner.
In 2013, 139 private sewer lines were inspected, with 80 of those properties needing to replace their lines – and must do so before the end of the 2014 construction season.
Animal regulation public hearing
A public hearing was held as part of the regular council meeting on changes and additions to animal regulation ordinances in the city code.
Following the hearing, council members voted to establish an animal overlay district, add an ordinance pertaining to animal regulation and regulation of potentially dangerous – and dangerous – dogs and amend those sections of Mountain Lake City Code those changes to relate to.
Following is a map marking the new animal overlay district.
In other business
* Learned about the re-alignment of the Mountain Lake Ambulance Squad’s primary service area. As the Jeffers Ambulance Service is no longer in operation, that service area was divided by the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulation Board (EMSRB) among neighboring services. The council also held discussion on other services in the area experiencing a shortage of personnel. At this time, the Mountain Lake Ambulance Service does have an adequate number of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) on its roster, but could use more. Following is a map of Cottonwood County displaying the new division of service areas.
* Learned that the Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) is requesting arbitration for a grievance filed by a LELS member and denied by the city.
* Reviewed the wastewater treatment needs of Milk Specialties and the city’s plans to address these needs.
* During Public Forum time, heard from John Oeltjenbruns and Allen Coners who were on hand to discuss the problems they have had with the public access channel provided by Mediacom. Discussion was held on moving the equipment, now housed at Mountain Lake Public School, to Mountain Lake City Hall.
