Ellendale City Council
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
As promised, Marie Jorissen was back to see the Ellendale City Council.
She still wants to know if the city will forgive taxes she paid for two years on a property she did not own — an issue the council thought it had settled years ago.
“We had a public meeting at that time,” said council member Steph Kibler. “The city council took a vote and determined the assessment would stand. I really think it should stand.”
Jorissen disagrees.
“It’s because a city employee messed up, right?” said Jorissen. “One thing that struck me is, I was told, ‘If we do that for one, we have to do that for everyone.’ If you screw up, you should have to pay.”
In the end, the council decided to turn the matter over to the city attorney — though council members noted it will be taxpayers who foot the bill.
The discussion came at the beginning of the Oct. 24 council meeting. All council members were there, as was city clerk Tiffany Krueger, while mayor Russ Goette was absent. Jorrisen and Donovan Eaker, owner of Steve’s Meat Market, were the visitors.
Eaker said she plans to demolish the Miller building on main street within two years and will no longer be renting a second apartment there, so she asked that the utility bill — previously split between two apartments — be cut in half. The council agreed.
The building, which Eaker estimates is at least 119 years old, was moved to its current location from Cooleyville.
“The building is in tough shape,” said Eaker. “When we demolish it, we’ll probably put up a building there for storage. I don’t think we need an empty space downtown.”
“Thank you,” said Kibler.
Krueger opened sealed bids on the city’s 2002 Ford F150 pickup, and agreed to sell it to Matt Sommers, who bid $4,151; the other bid was $3,850.06.
The council again discussed the city landfill, an issue because too many non-residents have been using it. They agreed that locking up the facility is not the answer.
“If we do anything, it’s just going to cause a lot of hate and discontent,” said councilman Duane Goebel.
“I know of a number of people willing to pay (to use the facility),” said Kibler.
“I was told Berlin’s declining (to pay) was not an official board decision,” said councilman Steve Engel.
Kibler volunteered to attend Berlin Township’s next meeting to make an official request.
The council agreed to move forward with a plan for electronic payments for utility customers.
The second meeting in November was set for the 26th, since the 28th is Thanksgiving. The Truth in Taxation Hearing was set for Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. prior to the council’s regularly schedule meeting. Krueger said meetings still need to be set up to discuss water and sewer rate increases.
The council approved the placement of the Ellendale Community Action Group sign along Hwy. 13.
The council gave Krueger the green light to purchase three new voting booths at a cost of $170-$190 apiece.
Engel questioned the city’s agreement with MnDOT for snow and ice removal, stating they want to pay the city a flat rate of $1200 for the winter.
“That’s one month for last year,” said Engel, who plans to look into the matter further.
Krueger again brought up the issue of water build-up outside the city office. Apparently, the council budgeted around $14,000 to have it resolved, but it’s not done yet.
The council agreed to make it a top priority for city maintenance man Josh Otto.
Krueger displayed letterhead with the city’s new logo.
Krueger said she’s “gotten a ton of phone calls” regarding recycling bins on 8th Ave.
“They said there were contaminants in them,” said Krueger. “People have been putting things in garbage bags and putting them in there.”
It was noted that no plastic bags — garbage or grocery store — can be placed in recycling bins.
Krueger said a written contract is needed regarding the ECAG sign.
The paperwork on the transfer of the city’s liquor license is about a week behind schedule, according to Krueger.
The council talked about the city’s policy on comp time, an issue that’s come up before.
The council agreed that doing an audit on water, sewer and garbage service in town would be a good idea.
Groth said a citizen asked him about removing a sidewalk and replacing it with grass. It was approved.
The meeting adjourned around 9:30.