Meeting Watch
Includes: Clarissa City Council, Eagle Bend City Council and Browerville City Council

Clarissa City Council

by Marlo Benning
 marlo@inhnews.com

A short meeting was held on March 18 lasting approximately 45 minutes.

Council Member Brent Line was absent and Deputy Jon Barber was the only guest.

Actions

• Approved to sponsor the 2013 promotion schedule in the Independent News Herald for both the city and the liquor store.

• Approved to install a street light on a pole behind the news office.  The pole is old and will be replaced by Minnesota Power.

• Acknowledged the board of equalization meeting which will be held on April 11 at 3 p.m. at the city hall.

• Approved the liquor liability insurance quote for $3493, noting just a $2 difference from last year’s amount.

• Approved a building permit for a privacy fence for D.J. Zephier on Leslie Street.

•  Approved to order new steel for the remainder of the maintenance building to match the grey siding that was put on last year.

Discussion Without Action

• City Clerk Sue Kent suggested a change in the language of the city’s ordinance on four wheeler and snowmobile usage, noting that the language is very restrictive.

Deputy Barber said that they’ve had minimal complaints about snowmobiles, but said it would be nice to have an ordinance to cite when issues arise.

He said that if these vehicles are going from point a to point b, that is acceptable, but if they are using the streets just to drive around, that is not.  

Council Member Mike Meiners also mentioned including golf carts in the ordinance.

The ordinance will be reviewed further at a future meeting.

•  Pro Ag (formerly Central Ag) is looking to build on an addition to their fertilizer plant in June.  They would encroach on the city’s easement by six feet.  The council agreed that once the snow melts, they will take a good look at the area and determine how deep the utilities are and review the building permit at that point.




Eagle Bend City Council

by Carolynne Bisel

All members of the council were present for the regular meeting held on March 18. Staff present were: Bobby Berndt, Sam Cossentine, Cory Soule and Kevin Hess. The meeting was approximately one hour long. 

Actions

• Approved the purchase of a new Grasshopper Model 930D lawnmower with snow blower and cab from Hess Equipment for the amount of approximately $22,400 as budgeted.

• Passed a resolution to accept the resignation of Mayor Tim Notch, and the new appointment of Brad Lorentz as the mayor. Also declared a vacancy of a council seat.  This change was made due to Notch moving out of the city limits.

• Agreed to hold off the decision of choosing an engineering firm for now.

• Police Chief Bobby Berndt presented the monthly activity report for Eagle Bend and Bertha, noting that the joint agreement was going well.

Discussion Without Action

• The council members discussed the choosing of Lorentz as the new mayor. The acting mayor usually steps into the spot, however, the acting mayor, Jeff Warren, declined the position. A brief discussion ensued as to how to find a volunteer to fill the vacant council seat now that Lorentz has taken the mayor position. 

• The possibility of flooding this spring was discussed and the need for more sand to fill sandbags. It was noted that the firemen will be filling the sandbags.

• Kevin Hess explained that the computers were down, therefore, he wasn’t able to have an accurate liquor store report this month.

Browerville City Council

The Browerville City Council met on March 13, with members Aksamit, Iten, Wieshalla, Santer and Heid present. 

Actions

• Approved a building permit for Jim Becker (Konetzko’s Meats, 516 Main St.) to add a 28’ addition, tying two buildings together and adding a new roof over addition with overhang.

• Accepted the bids for the can cooler at the liquor store in the amount of $105 by Ron Twardowski.

• Accepted the bid from Jim Jonckowski, in the amount of $2400, to refinish the six buddy bars and two doors at the liquor store. The bid includes sanding, sealing and installing rubber finish on the lower portion of the bars and refinishing two doors. 

• Ordered to include on the Highway 71 Feasibility Study as separate options: the addition of paving the alley on the east side of Highway 71, between 4th Street and 5th Street; and including the installation of water, wastewater and storm water in the half block of 5th Street, west of Highway 71. The purpose of paving the alley is to direct storm water runoff towards the storm water drains. The purpose of including the ½ block of 5th St. W. is to avoid having to redo piping during the next project that is done in the Highway 71 project.

• Accepted donations for Browerville Heritage Days from the following: Coborn’s $100; MN National Bank $100; Long Prairie Packing $500; Farmer’s COOP $100; Lakewood Health $1000; Browerville Lions $2500; Dan’s Prize $1000.

• Accepted the offer made by Dennis Hanson to provide the city with a one day recycling event. The city will send out flyers advertising the event. Mr. Hanson will pay all other costs associated with the event. 

Discussion Without Action

• Heard that the calculated rebate that the city may receive from MN Power for the updating of blowers at the Wastewater Treatment Facility is $11,061.01.

• Mike Iten reported that Ryan Spandl has been approved by the Fire Department for a one year probationary period. 

• Council member Santer asked that if the Clerk and Administrator leave City Hall to get mail and take care of banking that the front door be locked due to potential theft. A sign will be purchased for the door so residents will know when staff will return.

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Business Directory

Click above for Heartland Market Advertising.

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Eagle Bend Assemblies of God Church

Rev. Robert Bernard
P.O. Box 186, 
Eagle Bend, MN 56446
Phone: (218) 738-3332
Parsonage: (218) 738-3334

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N & S Baskets

Stop in at the Independent News Herald to see many different authentic, handmade Amish baskets.

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The Independent News Herald 

Copyright © 2012 Benning Publishing and Printing. All rights reserved.
The Independent News Herald, 310 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 188, Clarissa, MN 56440
Phone: 218-756-2131 or 218-738-2532  Fax: 218-756-2126  E-mail: news@inhnews.com 

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