Local News

Wednesday, January 16, 2008 Meeting Watch Includes: Hewitt City Council and Clarissa City Council Hewitt City Council by Karin L. Nauber All members of the council were present for the 56 minute long meeting. Several visitors arrived at various points of the meeting. Actions Reviewed the settlement agreement with the Stampede Saloon and Grill which has been accepted by owner Casey Nash in the amount of $500. Approved Maintenance Head Blayne Brisson to sponsor a Minnesota Rural Water Association class in Hewitt on the proper methodology of waste water discharge. Brisson/the city will ask the county for some reimbursement on their civil defense/fire siren when it needed repair last year. The county had changed the sequence for canceling the monthly tests which caused the motor to burn up in the first place. Once the code was correctly entered, the city has had no further trouble with the siren. Approved the official newspaper as the Independent News Herald and the acting mayor as Lyle Spencer. Discussion Without Action The work on the city garage is completed as far as putting in the correct trusses and other reparative work that the city requested of the contractor. Discussed the wellhead protection plan. The city is entering phase two of the plan. On January 22, a representative from the Minnesota Department of Health will be at the city office to explain this next phase. Brisson asked that homeowners/renters keep a path cleared to their water meters. He fell last month trying to read one at Council Member Lyle Spencer's home. Spencer said he has never shoveled a path. The city ordinance states the homeowner is responsible for keeping an open pathway for the meter readers. Spencer told Brisson to stand on his steps to read the meter. There has been no response from Rick Sullivan regarding letters the city sent to him about his business. There was a boisterous discussion about newspapers that should print a retraction about the purported $5000 that had been reported to be missing the day former City Clerk Cedric Haugen left employment with the city. The money has all been found (it was not really missing, just dispersed in different accounts). The Independent News Herald had previously reported this and that the money was all found. Gerald and Diana Chromey as well as some others in the audience said that it was also in the Wadena and Verndale papers. They felt that the city should send them something letting them know it has been taken care of. Clarissa City Council by Karin L. Nauber All members of the council were present for the 58 minute long meeting held on January 7. Actions Made the committee appointments for 2008. The only change was that Fire Chief Doug Turner was named as the defense director instead of former Chief of Police John DeCock. Approved the fee schedule for 2008. The changes included raising mileage to 50 cents per mile and raising the cost of digging permits to $600 minimum plus additional costs as incurred. Changed the date of the next meeting to February 4. This will eliminate the regular meeting on January 21 which is a holiday. Approved sending 45 day notices to Al Holmquist on two properties he owns within the city limits. The vacant farm property located at block 4 on Frank Street North must have all the buildings removed as they are unsafe and are considered fire hazards. While the buildings must be removed, Mayor Nathan McLaughlin wanted it to be clear that the property remains Holmquists. He has 20 days to file an answer with the city's attorney. The other property is the old meat market on Main Street. A walkthrough was done on this building with the building inspector on December 11. McLaughlin presented many photos which showed roofs that needed to be completely replaced, black mold throughout the building and many other dangerous or hazardous conditions and unknown materials. McLaughlin said that the roof would have to be completely replaced and that everything inside the building would have to be removed so that the black mold could be removed. Only then could it be remodeled to meet state building standards. Another option is that it be totally removed. Again, there is a 20 day time period within which Holmquist may file an answer to the city attorney. "It can't just be cleaned. It has to be gutted, the roofs removed and replaced and the place sealed so that there are no rodents in there," said McLaughlin. Discussion Without Action The council received copies of the new rental agreements that will be given to landlords in the city. At some future time there will be a public hearing regarding the rental agreements.