Majority of new sub-station bids awarded; Alternate plan to increase project bond if necessary approved
The City of Mountain Lake took steps to grow a little larger during the Tuesday, January 17 meeting of the Mountain Lake City Council.
The city intends to annex 10 parcels – a total of 87 acres – in southwest Mountain Lake. Those parcels are located in the northeast corner of the intersection of Minnesota State Highway 60 and Cottonwood County Road 27. Land for a new industrial park in that same area was recently purchased by the city.
Mountain Lake Township requested compensation for lost tax revenue at a rate of $500 per year for 10 years. Council members approved that request.
Mountain Lake City Attorney Maryellen Suhrhoff is preparing a joint annexation resolution for review and adoption by the city and township.
Action on new sub-station being constructed
The council reviewed the results of the Friday, January 13 bid-opening for the new sub-station located northeast of the intersection of Cottonwood County Road 1 and First Avenue North.
Project Engineer Mike Thielen of Utilities Plus Energy Services (UPES) presented a recommendation to the group that four of the five items be awarded, but that two be held under review as they came in significantly over the engineer’s estimate.
Bids awarded included:
- Steel building to MJ Electric for $182,084.
- Steel structure and static pole to Galvanizers, Inc. for $29,035.23.
- Transmission pole to Galvanizers Inc. for $16,911.99.
- Substation rencing to MJ Electric for $33,763.
All of these bid figures do not include Minnesota Sales Tax.
In addition, council members approved an alternate procedure to increase the amount of the project bond, if necessary. The procedure approved would allow Mountain Lake Mayor Mike Nelson and Mountain Lake City Administrator/Clerk Wendy Meyer to increase the maximum size of the bond by $500,000, if necessary, without a special council meeting.
When updated project costs are available from Thielen, Meyer will meet with council and Utility Commission representatives to review the bond amount.
In other business
+ Hired Mark Pankratz as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) with the Mountain Lake Ambulance Service, effective January 10.
+ Reviewed, discussed and accepted the 2016 Work Plan of the Mountain Lake Economic Development Authority (EDA). EDA Director Rob Anderson was at the meeting to cover those 2016 goals and accomplishments of the EDA with the council. Anderson noted that the EDA prepared a 10-year strategic plan in late 2016 that will guide community growth through 2026. Briefly discussed were Mountain Lake Area Chamber of Commerce activities. Anderson is also the director of that group.
+ Ended the city’s participation in Guaranteed Energy Savings Program (GESP) after discussing sections of the final report prepared by McKinstry. Ed Zepeda represented the engineering consultant group that creates and maintains spaces that cut waste, save money and assure comfort at the meeting. McKinstry is recommending replacement of the street lights with LEDs and the replacement of some interior and exterior lighting in some of the city’s facilities. Funding mechanisms, including a city inter-fund loan, and the requirements of the GESP program were also discussed. Consideration was given to waiting to include bonding for the LED street light bonding for another city project at some time in the future. Also participating in this discussion was Tammy Omdal of Northland Securities, the city’s financial advisor and consultant.
+ Agreed to participate in the Cottonwood County Home Initiative. This participation will provide a 5-year, 100% tax rebate on the city’s share of increased real estate taxes when qualifying new housing is built in the city. EDA-owned properties, including lots in the Lakeview Estates Subdivision, would not be included in the initiative because there are currently other incentives available for those lots. Also agreeing to participate are Cottonwood County and the City of Windom.
+ Approved charging $150 for each “lift-assist” call of the Mountain Lake Ambulance Service when there is not transport. The service had not billed for such “lift-assists” – incidents when someone has fallen and needs help getting up, but is not transported to a hospital. Prior to making the decision, council members reviews the policies of area cities.
+ Authorized the signing of the 2017-2019 Union Contract with Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS).
+ Waived the rental fee for the Mountain Lake Community Center for the Sunday, February 12 Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Boy Scout Troop. Funds raised are used by members to attend Boy Scout Camp. Presenting the request to the council was Boy Scout Michael Watkins.
+ Discussed an eclectic array of topics – the 2015 October-to-December Mountain Lake Public School swimming pool bill, the Small Cities Development Program Final Report, the 2016 City of Mountain Lake Building Permit Summary and a “Thank-You” that was received.
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.
