Enderlin City Council.... Clean-Up Day is May 14
At their May meeting, held Monday evening, May 5th, the Enderlin City Council set May 14 as the official Clean-Up Day in Enderlin. Residents are encouraged to check out the Clean-Up Day advertisement in this edition for all the rules involved.
The first order of business for the Council was the Public Hearing concerning the Payment-in-Lieu request from Mike Lemna. Lemna’s plan is to build a farm equipment structure on Lot 3 Block 4, Railroad Addition. The Council approved the following the Payment -in-Lieu request: Taxes will be paid at the pre-improved rate, plus amounts less than the full taxes, $300 in first year; $300 in second year; $500 in third year; $700 in fourth year; $900 for fifth year; $1,200 for sixth year and $1,500 for seventh year, and thereafter the payment in lieu shall end and full amount of taxes as determined by law will apply.
Moore Engineering engineer, Tracy Eslinger, reported to the Council that the State Water Commission will not be able to begin the search for another water source for the City of Enderlin until possibly the fall. They, apparently, are kept quite busy with the oil work in the western part of the state at this time.
Eslinger said that the City should be assured that the Water Commission is aware of the city’s intent.
Eslinger also reported that he is working on a lagoon report for the Council. He showed them a graph of how much water and who uses the water for a particular period of time. The report showed that the water use has increased considerably and the use and charges need to be re-evaluated.
City Auditor, Cyndee Chesley, told the Council that the City is allowed to take fifteen percent out of the water fund for the General Fund and can also use five percent of this fund for the purchase of equipment. She reminded them that the city’s primary income is from the water fund.
Rick Gillund, Public Works, reported that they have been working on the city’s mowers in preparation for the season. He had Jet Way come in and work at the city pool. He also informed them that he had purchased a pump at the surplus outlet and that it really worked good at the pool. They have been crack sealing on Fifth Avenue and Center Street. Evaluating of whether the slaker at the Water Plant can be moved to the ground floor is being considered. It could possibly be a savings on chemicals and efficiency.
Deputy Chris Sandvig reported to the Council that he would be attending the Enderlin School Fire Safety on Wednesday, May 7th at the Fire Hall. He reported that the sheriff’s department investigated four drunk drivers, a domestic violence, and a dog bite on 11th Avenue and Railway.
Sandvig also informed the Council that they found another Meth lab in the grasslands this past week. He asked that the public be aware and report any suspicious activities, no matter how trivial they think they are, to him or the department. He said that the department needs everyone’s help. He said that the department is going to have a helicopter up in the air, looking for other meth labs.
When asked, Sandvig said that there had been a bust of a juvenile party in Cass County that involved alcohol.
Sara Dixson, Enderlin Advocate, reported that the Enderlin Community Development Committee (CDC) had discussed information on a credit union locating in Enderlin. It was the decision of the CDC that it was up to the concerned parties to come to a consensus, without anymore input from them.
Dixson told the Council that she was working on the Hometown Magazine, which should be ready to mail by the end of May; was booking entertainment for the SunFest; needed new materials from businesses for the welcome packs; and was looking to apply for a grant.
Frank Egan, who is the chairman for the Enderlin Housing Authority, made his report and request for a loan to pay their expenses for the month of March in the amount of $1,041.99. In his report he listed issues of concerns which included launching of a Spring Fling which provides a rental incentive of one month free if a tenant pays a full-year’s rent up front. They have also lowered the rent for a unit to $600 a month and a $350 damage deposit. The Authority is also running ads on KQLX radio station in Lisbon in the amount of $60; play to host an open house later in May; and reported that they currently have three tenants.
Gene Johnson, representing the Enderlin Historical Society, attended the meeting and informed them that the Society once again has its non-profit status. Before there could be any council discussion concerning the disposition of the artifacts in the museum, Mayor Maasjo read a statement in which he said that he will not trade tit-for-tat in the newspaper concerning the museum. He said that a select few people are apparently unhappy and feel the city is bullying the Society. He commended the Society for applying and receiving their corporate entity status again and told Johnson that the City’s only concern was for the safety of the artifacts stored in the museum. He said that the City wants to help the museum society in any way that they can.
Johnson asked the Council if any of them had gotten any feedback on how to help the museum? To which, the council answered very little. Johnson asked if the community really wants a museum?
The City told Johnson that if the museum building was to be used it would have to be brought up to ADA standards. Johnson asked why this would have to be done as it was not a public building. Attorney Kelly said that as long as the building was going to be opened to the public for viewing, the state would consider it a public building and would need to conform to ADA requirements.
The consensus of the discussion was to set up a meeting of the historical society, asking for input from the public.The Council made a motion, giving the Enderlin Historical Society until the end of June to report back on what they intend to do with the museum and its contents.
Jerry Carlson attended the meeting to ask if he could purchase the locomotive that is housed in Baxter Park and give it to the Enderlin Lions Club so they could sell it on Ebay. Mayor Maasjo’s answer to Carlson was that the engine had already been sold to Iron Horse Museum in Minnesota.
Maasjo told the people at the meeting that it was never the intention of the City to scrap out the locomotive. It only wanted to find a home for it where it would be restored and run on a track again. Councilman Frank Egan said it was not the motivation of the City to turn a profit, but to see the engine restored and running. Engstrom said that she thought what they did was what people would want.
Johnson said that the City sold the engine too cheaply. He said they were selling off Enderlin’s history for $500. Maasjo said that we have history running through the City every day and night.
Maasjo said the removal of the asbestos would have cost the City more than it could sell it for as an antique on Ebay. Johnson said that the City should have sold it with the stipulation that the purchaser had to remove the asbestos as part of the deal.
Johnson suggested that the City would be better off if they just operated the City and left other stuff alone.
The question came up of what to do with the shed that the locomotive has been stored in all of these years. No decision was made.
Dave Lutgen reported on the Renaissance Zone progress. He said that Howard Rasmusson’s duplex project had been approved by the State and he would begin construction immediately. He also reported that in order to add three additional blocks to the Zone, a public meeting must be held, and approval by the CDC and the City, and the school and township.
Chesley announced that the City of Enderlin has once again been awarded a Tree City USA certificate.
Anthony Ernst did not attend the meeting as requested concerning the progress being made on his house on Fifth Avenue. Following discussion, it was decided to retain a certified building inspector to inspect the Ernst house.
Other properties around town were discussed that have derelict vehicles and junk on them. The City will have to document them and have the attorney send them a notification.
Chesley said that the City Auditorium had received $25 from the VFW in memory of Eddie Cole. She also listed the gaming permit applications received from the Enderlin Alumni Association and the Enderlin Rural Fire District.
Kelly produced a letter concerning holding a Texas Hold’em poker tournament at the city owned golf course. An attorney general opinion states that it is not legal for a city to hold games of chance to raise funds.
The City also received a letter from Thies & Talle Management that owns the Maple River Manor apartment building on Sixth Avenue. The letter had concerns about the home that is located behind their complex (the Ernst residence). The letter also stated that workers in the past came from the Ernst home and were using their guest restroom. Mary Will, the property manager, stated in the letter that the complex is private and the general public is not allowed to come and go in the building unless invited by a tenant.
The City approved building permits for Lester Rangeloff for a warehouse building, a bay window for Mitch Archbold, a patio for Don Pfaff, an enlarged driveway for David Pfaff, and the duplex for Howard Rasmusson.
The Council got a request from Ross Berglund to vacate the alley behind lots 8, 9, and 10 in Pierce’s First addition so he could build a garage. Kelly will draft a petition and bring back to the next meeting.
The Council approved an abatement for Dean Sandvig’s hotel property; approved a motion to allow Les Rangeloff to survey property by the city lagoon for a cement plant; and approved a draft to raise the deposit fee to $50 for connecting city water.