Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday, November 8, with Mayor Engel and all Councilmen present. Others attending the meeting were Roger Swearingen, maintenance; Pete Paulson, Municipal Liquor Store; and Steve Louks, City Clerk.
During his monthly report, Swearingen informed the council there will be a new drop-off site for recycling. The council had been informed at its last meeting that the county would like to start using a larger container and that they would be in contact with the city about possibly changing the site.
Swearingen told the council that Waste Management and a person from the county had stopped by earlier in the week to look at possible sites. He said the group liked the advantages of the property next to the railroad tracks on 8th Ave.
The advantages are no overhead wires, easy access for users and easy loading and unloading for the haulers. Swearingen added that the county will pay for the site preparation and provide signage telling of the move.
Swearingen noted that the work on 2nd St. was complete and that the remaining work to be done on 3rd St. will be completed next week. Swearingen asked the council for approval to get a new cutting edge for the plow truck. A motion was made and passed.Swearingen reminded council members to stop at the County Building in Owatonna and have an emergency badge made. Everyone will need a new one.
Paulson was next on the agenda with his report for the Municipal Liquor Store. Paulson presented the council the numbers for the month on a handout.
Paulson told the council that business had been a little slow in the early part of October, but felt there had been more traffic and better numbers the last few weeks.
Paulson next asked the council about the Sunday liquor issue. Paulson was wondering how soon the MLS could be open on Sundays.
Mayor Engel explained to Paulson and the council that the next move is to amend the Liquor Ordinance to include Sunday liquor, then publish the ordinance in the Star Eagle. Engel thought if the council held a special meeting in the near future, the MLS could start on the 2nd of December.
Paulson said he would try to use the current staff to start with. Paulson stated he had a sales rep stop in to discuss the possibility of putting in a hard pipe for CO2 and the nitrogen. Paulson will bring the estimate to a future council meeting.
The council next canvassed the voting results for the city. Clerk Louks reported that a total of 384 people had voted, 41 absentee ballots and there were 90 new people registered for the day. The totals: Mayor, Roger Swearingen 270 and 88 write-ins; council seats, Duane Goebel 241, Dick Lassahn 215 and 62 write-ins; Sunday Liquor Question Yes 243 No 143.
The council approved the voting totals.
The council approved the claims for the evening totaling $31,935.43. The council also approved the minutes from the October 25, 2012 meeting.
Clerk Louks started his report by asking the council to approve the tort limit for the MLS at $1.5 million. This is done annually by the council. Motion was made and carried. Louks informed the council that a Truth in Taxation hearing needed to be set sometime in December. The council set the hearing for December 13th at 6:30 pm.
Mayor Engel started his report with a letter from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The MDH is taking applications for grants to seal up unused water-supply wells. The grant is for 50% of the cost to seal a well up to $50,000. The council will try to prepare a grant to seal off the well located next to the maintenance building. The council will make an application to the MDH.
During open discussion from council members, the council discussed the upcoming opening for the maintenance position. After some discussion the council tabled any action until its next meeting. The council also discussed the Country View Estates Development.
The next meeting of the Ellendale City Council is scheduled for December 13th at 6:30 pm. This early start will be for the Truth in Taxation hearing and also at 7 p.m. a hearing on the Municipal Liquor Store will be held. The regular meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m.