Ellendale City Council
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
The Ellendale City Council held its first meeting of the month Thursday, April 11. All council members and mayor Russ Goette were there. No visitors were present.
Some of the most interesting discussion came in the waning moments of a long meeting, when Goette suggested tax breaks for those building new homes in Ellendale.
“It’s delayed gratification,” he said. “We’re waiting 10 years to get full taxes. I think it’s something we need to do to encourage construction. Two or three new houses a year just won’t cut it.”
No action was taken at this time.
Municipal Liquor Store manager Ralph Diaz gave his monthly report.
Diaz said the bar received a surprise inspection from the health department, resulting in nine mostly minor violations. The most serious, preparing food from scratch, requires the Muni to purchase a license costing an additional $140. The council approved it. Diaz said the inspector will be back in six months.
Diaz requested $150 to cover the cost for a Muni pool team to compete in a year-end tournament in Rochester. It was approved.
Councilman Scott Groth asked Diaz if he had bands lined up for Ellendale Days.
The answer was yes, for Friday and Saturday.
“Any polka bands?” Groth asked.
Diaz said he would try to line one up. He also said he may pursue a motorcycle event for Thursday of Ellendale Days.
“I would encourage it,” said Goette.
Josh Otto presented his monthly report on the maintenance department.
He said a bid for street repairs has been received from Ulland Bros. Construction, whom the city has used in the past. There was some feeling that other bids should be sought, but in the past when that was done Ulland submitted the lone bid. And Ulland wants the work on its schedule as soon as possible.
Otto said it has not been a good year for roads.
“It’s bad,” he said. “It’s from the garbage trucks.”
After discussion, it was agreed to have Ulland Bros. perform the work provided it can be done by June 1.
They’ll submit bids for other required street work.
Otto asked how much money is in the fund for patch work.
“At this point, zero,” said Goette.
The council approved Otto’s request to purchase a used sand spreader for $900. A new one would cost $3600.
Otto said he’s already gotten offers on a city truck and tractor, but the new truck won’t arrive until June and additional bids must be sought for the tractor. The council agreed to put the tractor up for bids.
Otto said Steele-Waseca County Electric will install 16 new poles and street lights in town — free of charge.
“The only thing Ellendale is in charge of is taking the old poles out,” he stated.
It was pointed out that at this time no Christmas decorations may be placed on the poles, a situation that will have to be addressed if Steele-Waseca replaces light poles along Hwy. 30.
Coucilperson Steph Kibler asked Otto why street sweepers were out at 5 a.m.
“It’s when he showed up,” said Otto.
City clerk LeeAnn Hojberg said she talked to community emergency manager Jerry Ibberson and learned that several locations were open in the area for those without electricity.
Goette said despite daily phone calls for four weeks, he’s gotten no response from Jim Senske, who previously agreed to donate a building to the fire department.
Councilman Steve Engel questioned whether the city really wants to put emergency vehicles inside a pole building.
Goette said he talked to a couple people in town who wanted to do some exterior work on their business but were told it would require a commercial engineer costing $5,000-10,000.
“Is this reasonable?” asked Goette. “How do we fix the problem?”
Engel said not much can be done because it’s all regulated by state code.
In other action, the council:
• Officially accepted a $50,940 grant/donation from the Otto Bremer Trust to the Ellendale Fire Department for use in purchasing a grass fire truck.
• Passed Resolution 4-11-19-02 designating Ellendale as a pollinator-friendly community.
The meeting adjourned at 9:35, after which the council went into closed session to discuss the sale of the Municipal Liquor Store.