Meeting Watch Includes Clarissa City Council and Bertha City Council

Local News

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Meeting Watch
Includes Clarissa City Council and Bertha City Council

Clarissa City Council
by Karin L. Nauber
Council Member Mike Rolfes was absent from the regular meeting on November 5. Mike Stormoen was a visitor. The meeting was 45 minutes in length.
Actions
Approved transferring funds from the general fund to various other accounts.
Reviewed four building inspection files with requests for extensions. Approved three of the extensions. A fourth request was approved with a date change to July 1, 2008.
Approved the first readings of two ordinance amendments (Chapter 91 Building Inspections and Chapter 110 Liquor Regulations). Also approved the first reading of a resolution for a liquor violations administrative penalty. There must be reading of each at three council meetings.
Discussion Without Action
Discussed the log cabins that will be constructed and displayed at the former gas station on Highway 71 and Bridge Street. Stormoen gave information about the size of the buildings as his father will be involved in the business. He said they were not sure when they would be starting the construction of the first model.
Learned that more trees must be cut at the airport. Discussed closing the airport for the winter.
The council has a request to rent some of the city property for farming purposes. Two of the parcels are regularly rented out and a third party has inquired about renting one or both. Along with this discussion was the possibility of using the property by the well house as a place to hold the rodeo if there is to be one next year. Mayor Nathan McLaughlin will try to have a more definitive answer at the next meeting.

Bertha City Council
by Carolynne Bisel
All members of the council were present for the regular meeting held on Thursday, November 8, 2007 rather than on Monday, November 12, due to Veteran's Day. The meeting was one hour and thirty minutes long. Guests present were: Treva Feezor, Doug Kapphahn, Gary Kleen, Mark Woelfel, James Gritz and Pete Wallner.
Actions
· Approved as one action under the consent agenda the 2008 Cigarette Licenses for Bertha Municipal Liquor Store, Seven Oaks Express and The Corner Market. Also, the annual donation to the Parade of Lights for $100 and $200 received from the Bertha Community Chest for the Ambulance Donations/Reserve Capital Fund.
· During open forum, the council heard from Doug Kapphahn, of Bertha, about his concerns with speeding traffic by the Bertha Post Office and The Corner Market. The council directed Officer Gritz to check into the possibility of a crosswalk or another solution that Todd County may allow to slow up traffic on the county road.
·Accepted the Mutual Aid agreement with Todd-Wadena Counties Fire Association.
· Opened the bids for the old lawn mower and accepted the bid of $165 received from Russ VanDenheuvel.
· Approved to accept the 2008 liquor liability insurance quotes from Capital Specialty.
· Tabled until the December meeting the renewal of the 2008 LMC Worker's Comp Insurance policy.
· Approved the resolution to allow the Todd Area Trail Association to sell pull tabs at the Bertha Municipal Liquor Store.
·Approved to adopt the Citizen Complaint Form for the city of Bertha.
· Approved to adopt the city of Bertha's Public Works Department Maintenance Policies concerning snow removal, pothole repair, street-sweeping and sidewalk maintenance.
· Tabled until the December meeting the 2008 Wages to give the council members time to review the current cost of living percentage adjustments.
· Granted the request to pay for the Christmas party for the ambulance crew that attend the event.
Discussion without action
· Mark Woelfel presented the maintenance report and voiced some concerns about safety issues on the Berndt property in Bertha.
· James Gritz gave the Police report and the end of the month of October incident report.
· The liquor store report was discussed noting that profits are running about the same as last year's figures.
· The council had a brief discussion about the outstanding ambulance invoices still on the books that need to be collected.
· Pete Wallner asked when would the new pole for the siren be shipped to the city of Bertha. The Council informed him that Minnesota Power and Light was going to ship it and that they would be contacted. Also, Wallner informed the council that Bertha was still in the running for the FEMA Grant and should hear a decision within six months.