Mountain Lake City Council learns about EDA’s Downtown Redevelopment Project
Following an wide-angled review, the Mountain Lake City Council, at its Monday, Monday, June 1 meeting, authorized the hiring of a fourth officer for the Mountain Lake Police Department, following the resignation of Officer Ken Bradford.
Council members reviewed police department call summaries for 2012, 2013 – and the first 10 months of 2014 – along with three- and four-officer schedules and the cost of each schedule over an actual eight-week period. Additional discussion centered on the scheduling of, use of, turnover of and the cost of hiring, equipping and training part-time officers – along with workload, training, vacation and overtime for full-time officers. Also touched on was a 2009 survey that included the cost of police department staffing options, in which residents completing the survey supported a four-officer force. (Mountain Lake City Administrator Wendy Meyer completed an e-mail survey of similar-sized communities in southwest Minnesota, with four responding after the council meeting date. The information from those cities cited included – Slayton with four officers for 20-hour coverage; Sleepy Eye, six officers and 24-hour coverage; Madelia, four officers, 20-hour coverage and Springfield, five officers, 24-hour coverage.)
EDA Downtown Redevelopment plans
Mountain Lake’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director Rob Anderson presented to the council the EDA’s intention to create a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District for the redevelopment of four parcels at the corner of 10th Street and 4th Avenue.
As part of the process, a public hearing is required.
Council members adopted a resolution calling for a public hearing on the proposed modification of Redevelopment Project #1 and the proposed establishment of Tax Increment Financing District #1-8 within Redevelopment Project #1. The adoption of both proposals is related to the approval of business subsidy.
In other business
* Accepted the resignation of Travis Smith from the Planning and Zoning Commission, effective May 18, 2015.
* Approved the January-to-May Building Permits granted by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
* Approved to contribute $4,000 in the development of a new city website at a total cost of $8,000. The creation of a new website was a proposal by the joint city/utility/EDA/Chamber website committee. Developers for the new website are The Untamed Mouse and Webicine. The EDA and Utility will each contribute $2,000 to the project.
* Discussed the mowing of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) property below the 105 contour and on the sides of the Mountain Lake Trail with adjacent landowners Ken and Rachel Yoder. Also discussed was the action regarding mowing taken by the Lake Commission at its May 11 meeting. Council members approved the motion that mowing would be done no close than 10 feet to the south side of the Yoder driveway below the 105 contour, as well as the motion to mow five feet on either side of the trail on the Yoder easement, as is done on the rest of the trail.
* Learned that the city’s first quarter contribution (January-March) for the support of the Mountain Lake Public School indoor swimming pool is $5,842.64. Council Members David Savage and Darla Kruser will serve on the joint school district/city pool committee.
* Discussed the procedure for dealing with some types of constituent concerns with Mountain Lake City Attorney
* Authorized engaging Northland Securities as underwriter as a first step to refunding. Northland Securities had prepared a refunding analysis to call and reissue three city bonds, and to call a fourth with cash was discussed.
* Approved disbursements for the 2012-2014 Utility and Street Project through June 30, 2016 for Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) Bond Purchase and Project Loan Agreement.
* Approved the purchase of a new furnace for Mountain Lake Public Library after learning that the current furnace is in need of significant repairs.
* Accepted the 2014 audit of the city and utility by Dennis Oberloh of Oberloh and Associates. This is the first year of a three-year contract with Oberloh and Associations. Prior to accepting the audit results, the council reviewed the auditor’s report, financial highlights and findings sections. The single audit required for Public Facilities Authority loans funds, used to fund portions of the 2012-2014 Utility and Street Project and the Well #7 project were explained. Results of the audit show the city and utility are in sound financial shape.
* Reviewed the 2014 Drinking Water Report.
* Reviewed the tentative agenda for the June 18 Capital Improvement Plan.
* Extended the clean-up deadline for 736 9th Street North to the Monday, June 22 council meeting and to reconsider the request at that time after reviewing photographs of remaining nuisances with the property owner. Also reviewed sections of City Code with the owner.
* Extended the clean-up deadline for 1406 3rd Avenue to the Monday, June 22 council meeting and to reconsider the request at that time after reviewing photographs of remaining nuisances with the property owner. Also reviewed sections of City Code with the owner. The owner stated that everything on the yard would be removed by June 22.
* Learned that the removal of public nuisances had been completed at properties at 710 3rd Avenue and 1203 Boxelder Street.
* Held a public meeting on a variance petition for property at 721 Basinger Memorial Drive. Reviewed were the petition, map and resolution. The public was provided an opportunity to speak. The Planing and Zoning Commission recommended the variance be granted. Council members approved the variance.
* Mayor Mike Nelson closed the open meeting and opened a closed meeting on the topic of Kuechle Underground, Inc. v. City of Mountain Lake, per attorney/client privilege. When the closed meeting ended and Mayor Nelson reopened the open meeting, it was learned that no action was taken.
