Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday May 24 with Mayor Engel and all councilmen present. Also attending the meeting were Clerk Louks, Roger Swearingen, maintenance, and Pete Paulson, interim manager at the Municipal Liquor Store.
Clerk Louks passed out the fire department’s monthly report. The department submitted $2,414.26 in bill requests. The council approved the report and requests.
Paulson was next with a report for the Municipal Liquor Store. Paulson said he was still trying to get the feel for the everyday happenings at the MLS. Paulson also said he is currently working with the staff to adjust some hours that will in the long run save the MLS some money. Paulson also told the council he was reviewing the food prices and making adjustments up or down. The council will be meeting with Paulson next Thursday evening to go over things at the MLS.
Swearingen was next on the agenda with some prices for road repair within the city. Swearingen stated that Ulland Bros. was going to be in town next week and that he received some prices for fixing some streets. Part of the work to be done will be reimbursed back to the city from FEMA. The FEMA work will be done on mainly on 2nd St. intersections. Total repairs that were approved will be around $11,000.Swearingen also brought to the council’s attention a water line break going out to Central Valley Co-op. A new line will be installed by Central Valley. Swearingen reported that in about two weeks the driveways on 2nd St. will be repaired. The council reviewed some prices Swearingen had gotten for some wood chips in the park. The council asked Swearingen to look for more prices if possible.
The council reviewed the claims list for the evening. The combined MLS and city claims totaled $36,174.37. The council, after some questions, approved the list as presented.
The council next went over the Cash Control, Financial, Disbursement Register and the minutes from May, 10, 2012. All were approved as presented.
Clerk Louks started his report with prices on gutters for the clinic building. The approved bid of $740 from Braaten Siding was approved. Louks next presented the council with bids for a new door on the east side of the clinic building. The side window on the current door is broken and the framework around the door is decaying. The bid for $778 from Brekke Construction was approved.
Mayor Engel told the council he had checked into a plan for two cell phones for city employees. Engel noted that the plan would run $70 a month for 700 shared minutes. After some discussion, the council tabled the matter. Engel reported he had been in contact with OSHA about training meetings and learned there are regional meetings that can be attended and are less costly to the city.
Engel next informed the council of the resignation of Gwen Reiss as consultant at the MLS. The resignation was approved and it was noted the council would like to thank Mrs. Reiss for everything she did to get the food at the MLS going.
During the council’s discussion time, it was noted an air purifier should be looked into for the clinic building. It was also discussed about the selling of vehicles sitting on yards in town. The council will look at ordinances for suggesions of what homeowners can and cannot do. The council approved trying a different provider for TV service in the MLS.
The next regular meeting of the Ellendale City Council will be on June 14 at 7:30 p.m.