By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
Five guests were present and one council member, Duane Goebel, absent for the Ellendale City Council’s regular meeting on Thursday, March 25. The agenda and consent agenda items were approved.
Present from the Fire Building Committee to discuss the fire building project was Jaclyn Froman. The possibility of hiring either an architect or general contractor/construction manager for the project was discussed, as well as grant options and donations to help cover the building cost. The item was tabled until the next meeting.
During the fire department report, Fire Chief Busho stated that an active fire department member of five years is currently on probation from a felony conviction that happened a year ago. Busho told the council that due to the conviction, which may be lowered to a misdemeanor if the individual completes probation, the individual cannot be an Emergency Responder and should not be allowed on medical calls.
The individual agreed to the terms, and Busho also stated that the member is “harmless” and should be allowed to stay on as a member of the fire department. Currently, no fire department policy is in place to address such a situation. The council recommended that Busho take the matter to the Fire Department Board for consideration on whether or not to allow the individual to remain a member of the fire department. The final decision regarding the individual’s fire department membership status will be made by the council. The report was approved.
The maintenance report, presented by Josh Otto, included a request for the purchase of rip rap for lagoons at a cost of $5,000, which was approved. Updates to the city clerk’s office building were discussed, including installing a planter, concrete walkway, a ramp, and general landscape work. Three quotes from Sequoia Landscape were presented to the council, one of which -- $1,197 for a concrete walkway – was approved.
Otto stated that town sewers were cleaned and televised, and a recommendation was made to get plugs for manholes to prevent backups. Next, the alarm system in the Treatment Plant was discussed, as it has not been working properly. A quote was presented for a new alarm system, and the council asked that another quote be obtained before tabling the item. It was also decided that an ad will be placed for a seasonal maintenance worker for mowing and miscellaneous tasks. The report was approved.
In the clerk’s report, a decrease in the Aramark bill was reported, and a brief update regarding changing the name of Klemmensen Court to Lerberg Court was given in which it was stated that the city attorney is working on an ordinance to address the change. It was also reported that a housing grant was denied, which will be looked into.
A sewer project with Sequoia was also discussed, as the project is currently on hold while the city determines whether or not CFS will continue to use their current septic system or hook into the city’s sewer line. The report was approved.
In unfinished business, it was stated that the Codification Committee is still looking to add another community member, and the next meeting of the committee has not yet been scheduled. A meeting for the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization has been scheduled for April 22 at 7 p.m. before the regular council meeting that evening, and a budget planning workshop to address water and sewer rates, special assessment payoff, bond debt, and pay equity has been scheduled for April 15 at 7 p.m.
Two city code violations in town were mentioned, with a letter having been sent to one of the locations regarding the violation. The meeting adjourned at 9:28 p.m.