Bids called to update three remaining power plant engines to requirements
Bids for the new electric sub-station were reviewed, discussed and awarded at the Monday, June 6 meeting of the Mountain Lake City Council.
Mike Thielen of Utilities Energy Services presented the bid summary documents, with the Utility Commission earlier recommending the contractors and bids that were advocate by Thielen.
The following bids were awarded:
+ 10/14 MVA Transformer to OTC Services at a cost of $439,088.46 (Minnesota sales tax included).
+ 5KV switchgear to States Electric at a cost of $333,984.50 (Minnesota sales tax included as well as Alternates A and B).
+ Circuit switcher to Ahlstrom Grid, LLC at a cost of $31,902.19 (Minnesota sales tax included).
+ 600 amp switch to Royal Switchgear at a cost of $7,641.56 (Minnesota sales tax included).
For a detailed report on the sub-station project components, go to: http://www.cross-countiesconnect.com/2016/06/recommended-sub-station-component-bids-presented-to-utility-commission/
Remaining three power plant engines to meet requirements
Two of the five engines in the Municipal Power Plant have already been updated to be brought into compliance with National Emission Standards Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE) requirements.
And now, Council members have approved the same work on the remaining three power plant engines, calling for bids on the project. The work will consist of removing the existing exhaust silencer for each engine and replacing it with a new exhaust silencer that reduces emissions to meet standards.
The bids will be opened at a 2 p.m. City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 12.
In other business
+ Approved an amendment to a City Code ordinance regarding residential district front yard encroachments.
+ Approved an amendment to a City Code ordinance regarding telecommunication towers.
+ Approved a resolution adopting the supplemental information to the Preliminary Engineering Report and Facility Plan for the Wastewater Treatment Project, and selecting alternative #4 as the City’s alternative. Adoption of this resolution was needed because the 2016 Minnesota Legislature failed to pass a bonding bill during its regular session, which, in turn, meant that the Public Facilities Authority was not funded. Due to this, the timeline for the Wastewater Treatment Project has been adjusted. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) had been requesting the formal adoption of the preferred alternative for the project.
+ Reviewed Dada Practices Policies, including – Data Practices Policy for Data Subjects, Data Practices Policy for Members of the Public and Policy for Ensuring the Security of Not-Public-Data. No action was taken.
+ Transferred $57,187.54 to Street and Related Department reserves and $21,815.33 to Police Department reserves.
+ Discussed Mayor and Council Member salaries. By state statute, mayor and council member salaries must be set by November 8 – General Election Day – but cannot take effect until January 1, 2017. The salaries of other cities’ mayors and council members were reviewed and discussed. No action was taken.
+ Approved a request allowing for the removal of sidewalk at 647 4th Avenue, the property of Timothy and Johanna Ruby. The sidewalk on their property is the only sidewalk on their block of 4th Avenue.
+ Reviewed Local Government Aid (LGA) under current law for 2017, and the LGA if Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signs the tax bill.
+ Agreed by consensus that contract negotiation preparation meetings be part of the regularly-scheduled council meetings.
+ Approved the list of election judges for the primary election on Tuesday, August 9 and the general election on Tuesday, November. That list of election judges includes Karen Bargen, Lynda Cowell, Barbara Crawford, Dawn Fast, Vern Goehring, Nathan Harder, Heidi Jahnke, Mary Jefferson, Bertha Klassen, Loyal Klassen, Lois Korns, Linda Letellier, Jerry Logue, Pam Logue, Wendy Meyer, Jill Pankratz, Pam Radtke, Miranda Stoesz, Grace Telles, Eileen Thiessen, Mony Vetsouvan, Jean Haberman and Marcia Fast.
+ Mayor Mike Nelson closed the open meeting to open a closed meeting to discuss pending litigation (as per Minnesota Statutes 13D.05 Sub. 3b) in Yoder v City of Mountain Lake. After 41 minutes, the closed meeting was closed and the open meeting reopened. During the reopened open meeting, the council approved a settlement agreement between the City of Mountain Lake and Kenneth and Rachel Yoder. Elements of that agreement included: 1.) City of Mountain Lake will redefine the legal description of its easement on the Yoders’ property on the northerly side of the Mountain Lake Trail to seven-and-one-half feet from the centerline of the existing paved trail. This redefinition is provided, however, that the northern boundary of the original easement remains intact in a defined area for maintenance of the existing drainage ways. The balance of the existing easement to the north is released from the easement. The southern easement boundary will stay at the 105 contour. The trail will remain in its present location. The City will hire a surveyor to prepare a new legal description of the northerly border and prepare an amended easement and release for recording. 2.) The City will design and install signage demarking “Private Property” at reasonable locations on the north side of the trail. 3.) The city will prohibit motorized vehicles on the trail consistent with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) grant. This provision does not apply to vehicles operated on official business for maintenance, law enforcement or safety and rescue purposes by or for the City – or by any other governmental entity. 4.) The City will compensate the Yoders a total sum of $98,000 inclusive of the $1,600 filed with the court. A draft in the amount of $96,400 payable to the Yoders and Kutak Rock LLP will be paid within 20 days of the settlement agreement.
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.
