Ellendale City Council
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
The steam table is out. It would be much too expensive.
The big-ticket item for the Ellendale Community Building kitchen makeover at this point is the stove hood, currently priced around $20,000. But that could come down.
Mayor Russ Goette instructed city council member Steph Kibler to get another quote at last week’s regular council meeting.
Goette also asked when the project would get started.
“As soon as possible,” said Kibler.
“It has to be done by May 1,” said city clerk Tiffany Krueger. “We have rentals.”
It was one of many items discussed by the council Dec. 12. Only two people turned out for the Truth In Taxation Hearing prior.
Rick Johnson was at the meeting on behalf of the fire department’s relief association to make sure the department received its regular funding from the city, which hasn’t happened yet. The council voted to pay it.
Fire chief Logan Busho was happy to report the fire hall, with newly-installed doors, remained warm during the recent cold snap. One new member, Travis Ladwig, has joined the department, leaving it only one man short of fully staffed.
Busho said he hopes to get building committee meetings started soon.
Busho was contacted by the USDA, telling him of disaster relief grants which have gone unused, freeing up money for other projects, but he said Ellendale residents’ yearly average income is too high to qualify.
“If you don’t qualify for the grants, they are offering 3-percent, 30-year loans,” said Busho. “I just wanted to pass that along.”
“It’s something we should look into,” said Goette.
Busho said his department received another grant, this one for $500 for equipment.
Busho’s department spent $38 on an air valve for its tanker truck and $106 on a used refrigerator to replace the one that went out.
Kibler asked Busho if members of his department would be willing to donate labor to the kitchen project. Busho agreed.
Krueger said the owner of the “Leaning Tower of Pizza” property is willing to sign over the property to the city, which she called “a loss” for the city.
The city is still grappling with what to do about its contract with MnDOT for snow removal. So far they haven’t signed MnDOT’s agreement — which calls for much lower compensatoin for the city — and have no plans to do so at this point. The council agreed to send MnDOT a monthly bill for services incurred by maintenance man Josh Otto.
“I believe we are all in agreement to not sign the contract,” said Goette.
Krueger had some questions about employee reviews. It was agreed that a face-to-face meeting is not necessary unless desired.
The council passed a motion to begin a bi-weekly pay period in 2020. Plans are moving forward for electronic payment for utility customers.
Krueger said she received a complaint about the pine tree near city hall. Christmas lights on it apparently do not work properly. It was agreed to have Otto check it out.
“Josh will love this one,” said Engel.
The council discussed at length a request by Alex Bell regarding a sewer connection to the Sequoia Landscaping building. No official action was taken.
The council also talked about Russ Nelson’s request to combine four lots into one. It was agreed that Nelson should submit a building plan before an easement is issued.
The council said there were some things they didn’t like in the city’s proposed contract with RadioLink Internet.
“He wants free access to the water tower to come and go,” said Goette. “We can’t do that for anyone.”
“I think the annual rental fee is low,” said Kibler.
The council agreed to sign a five-year contract with Jaguar Communications, which Goette called, “The Cadillac of Internet in our area.”
A request by Frontier to lower its water bill because of a leak was denied.
The tax levy, with an increase of 12 percent, was approved for 2020.
The council talked about Otto going from a regular ATV to a “side-by-side.”
“I’m not going along with this,” said councilman Duane Goebel. “Every time he wants a new toy, the city has to pay for it.”
Engel said the biggest issue is probably notifying the insurance company every time Otto gets a new piece of equipment.
“We need to make sure we’re getting a good bang for our buck with this thing,” said Goette.
The meeting adjourned around 9:15.