Accept Audi Nickel’s council resignation; vacancy to be filled at next regular city election in November
The Mountain Lake City Council learned at their Monday evening, June 23 regular meeting that it is anticipated that Kuechle Underground, Inc., the general contractor for the 2012-2014 Utility and Street Project, will be requesting a completion date extension. By contract, the work must be substantially completed by Tuesday, July 15. The council took no action.
Discussion also centered around the information that sidewalk replacement will not take place until all the effected properties have had their private sewer lines replaced.
Council members directed Mountain Lake City City Clerk/Administrator Wendy Meyer to request quotes from real estate appraisers to view a sampling of the properties that will receive special assessments due to the project. By state statute, the property cannot be assessed more than the increase in market value due to the improvement.
Audi Nickel submits resignation
The resignation from Council Member Audi Nickel was reviewed and accepted, effective at the conclusion of the council meeting. Nickel will be moving from within the city limits to rural Mountain Lake.
The council also decided to fill his vacancy by special election at the next regular city election; Tuesday, November 4, 2014.
In other business
* Adopted a series of policies and authorizations required by the Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) for the grand dollars for housing rehabilitation and construction of a new well. Those actions included: the adoption of the Prohibition of Excessive Force Policy (which will prohibit law enforcement agencies within the City of Mountain Lake’s jurisdiction to use excessive force against individuals engaged in non-violent civil rights demonstrations, including State and local laws against physically barring entrance to or exit from a facility of location that is the subject of the demonstration within the city’s jurisdiction), allowing for Steve Moline of Pettipiece and Associates to submit and sign SCDP payment requests, the adoption of the Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan Under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as amended by the City of Mountain Lake and adopted a resolution establishing a Program Income Policy as well as Revolving Loan Fund Policies and Procedures for 2014 SCDP: CDAP-13-0062-O-FY14.
* Issued a criminal citation to the owner of property at 2101 3rd Avenue. The owner had received an administrative fine issued for violations of Mountain Lake City Code, Section 8.01, including junk vehicles and storage of refuse in August 2013, and had requested the fine be waived. At that time, the council did not waive the fine. The owner then agreed to construct a fence by June 1, 2014, and move the items inside the fence. The fence has not been constructed, and the fine has not been paid.
* During the Public Forum, Vern Peterson, owner of Peterson Drug and Gifts, addressed the council on Mountain Lake City Code, Section 8.05, Subd. 5 – Sale of Fireworks. Peterson told the council that his business tries to offer a wide selection of items to encourage Mountain Lake residents to shop locally. He would like to sell legal fireworks, but felt the $25 fee was too high for a product sold seasonally. The ordinance, state statute and the reasons for the local fee amount were reviewed. Council members unanimously agreed to lower the fee to $5.
* Approved the May shingling, siding and building permits. These included:
Tyler Stamp, roof house with steel.
John Ysker, shingle garage.
Wade Nelson, shingle garage.
Adam Hovdet, shingle house and garage.
Midway Farm Equipment, re-tin metal building.
Bruce Prachomphonh, shingle house and garage.
Jason Kamolz, shingle house and garage.
Lorraine Adrian, shingle house and garage.
Sangvane Thammavongsa, shingle house and garage and porch addition on front of house.
Waldo Stoesz, shingle house and garage.
Mark Hanson, fence.
* Meeting was closed for attorney/client privilege to discuss Mountain Lake Trail litigation. No action was taken.
CAP meeting
The Capital Improvement Plan (CAP) meeting was held Wednesday evening, June 25. Each Department Head presented a list of items for the next 10 years, the priorities and costs are discussed and a plan is formulated. No action was taken, but the plan will be reviewed at a future council meeting.
