The August 3 Fountain City Council meeting was one of the longer meetings in recent months as the city dealt with a number of minor issues and requests. Up first was discussion of a noise ordinance. While the city does not have one, the county does. However, if a city adopts its own ordinances, they can be more restrictive than the county’s, not less.
Section 713.01 of the county’s ordinance simply references noise within the general characteristics, noting, “No noise, odors, vibration, smoke, air pollution, liquid or solid wastes, heat, glare, dust, or other such adverse influences shall be permitted in any district that will in any way have an objectionable effect upon adjacent or nearby property.”
Noise control was also discussed at the April meeting and at the time it was noted that there was no city ordinance, so enforcing it is out of the city’s hands. “Do we agree that’s a reasonable thing to look into?” asked Councilor Collen Foehrenbacher. The council will investigate further and bring back findings to the next council meeting.
The city was contacted by First State Bank of Fountain, who will be paving their parking lot area, questioning whether or not the city wanted to pave the alley extension past the lot. The council opted to not fund the $6,099 cost.
They just thought it would make it look nice,” said Councilor Dave Gudmundson. “He said he might just do it himself. 99% of traffic comes from that one spot,” he added.
“I just wish they’d have said something when we were doing the streets,” stated Mayor Jim Schott.
The city was also contacted by four-plex apartment landlord Gary Walsh requesting that individual water meters be put on each unit. Other apartments in the city have already switched to individual meters. “Everyone will get their own separate water meter? It’s about time,” said Gudmundson.
While Public Works will install the meters, the work comes at the expense of the property owner. “In the long run, it’s gonna save him because right now he’s paying for it,” noted City Clerk Mary Tjepkes.
Resident Richard Kujath requested one of three speed bumps on Cedar Street be moved. Currently, two of the three are located on the stretch of road between Third Street and County Road 11 intersections, where his residence is located.
“We don’t have the drill [sic] no more,” said Councilor Terry Hanson. The drill was taken during a break-in at city hall in June. While everything has been submitted to insurance, the city hasn’t received payment yet. “We could just take it out and leave two in,” he further suggested.
“Nope!” responded Councilor Ron Reisner and Tjepkes almost in unison. Reisner, who also lives within the same stretch of road, said speeding and traffic in general have been greatly reduced.
“I think it sets a bad precedent to move them,” said Councilor Colleen Foerenbacher. “They’re there. It’s done. We can’t keep moving them whenever people want.” The council opted to leave the speed bumps where they are.
Other meeting topics included two citizen comments with various concerns. One citizen questioned whether the large, obstructive suckers could be removed from an oak tree north of the Highway 52 and Second Street intersection so there was a clearer view of traffic. The tree is on Minnesota Department of Transportation right-of-way, however, and the state will need to be contacted about it. she also asked whether or not she could be reimbursed for the cost of a recent water shut off replacement at her residence. The replacement was done with Public Works’ John Hanson there, but being inside the home it is therefore homeowner cost and responsibility.
Resident Sandy Gillard also addressed the council about the Lilac Street sign. According to Gillard, while there are just two houses on the dead end street, 108 and 109, delivery drivers have been delivering her packages to the neighbors, at 108 County Road 8, for years. She requested the sign be moved or for permission to attach some sort of metal sign below the street sign with address clarification.
Public Works will be consulted about the area and a recommendation brought back to the council. “We just need a way to make it more visible,” added Gillard. “I do want to thank the city for being really on top of the streets. That’s great,” she enthused, noting the recent resurfacing of Lilac Street and other streets.
Lastly, on the last stop of their visit to all municipalities within Fillmore County, Sheriff John DeGeorge and County Commissioner Mitch Lentz told the council that the recommendation has been made to county commissioners by the 15-person Jail Needs Study Committee. Four options were studied, including closing the jail and outsourcing, using the jail as a 72-hour lock and hold, maintaining the current 90-day lockup status, or returning to a 365-day facility. According to Lentz, the overwhelming recommendation was to return the jail to its former status. Citing the higher up front capital required to make this happen, DeGeorge stressed that the operational and social cost, extrapolated over 20 years, was the lowest.
An analysis and comprehensive plan for the jail will now be developed by the Fillmore County Commission. Lentz recommended that if the council or citizens of Fountain had an opinion, they should let it be heard now, particularly to their district representative, Duane Bakke. “We don’t want a sunset date. We want to work with the Department of Corrections,” he added. “With the study being done, if the county commissioners sit on it, it’ll come to a head.”
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, September 1, at 7 p.m., at city hall. It is open to the public.
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