Lanesboro City Council Report

By News Team
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Fri, Feb 7th, 2003
Posted in Features

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Editor�s note: Due to inclement weather, the Journal�s reporter was unable to attend Monday night�s meeting. The following article is based on an interview with City Administrator Barbara Hoyhtya.By John TorgrimsonIt wasn�t that long ago that the Lanesboro City Council decided to rescind its contract with Church Hill Properties, which would have upgraded an alley-way between the old elementary school and Bethlehem Lutheran Church. But on Monday night, after researching documents related to this issue going back 10 years, the council, by a three to two margin, voted to void that earlier action, thus making the contract between the two parties a workable agreement once again.Dan Anderson of Church Hill Properties would like the city to wait until after May 1 before taking any action on the project as he hopes to have design work and budget figures completed by then. According to Anderson, Church Hill Properties hopes to develop the old elementary school into 14 condominium style units, with the developer providing each owner a shell that they would finish out. This development style is popular in Europe and in cities throughout the world, where the owner of a building is different than the owner of each living unit.Under the agreement, the city of Lanesboro will assist Church Hill Properties with removing an annex on the elementary school and upgrade the present alley-way.Mayor Steve Rahn joined Council members Jerome Halvorson and Joe O�Connor in supporting the measure. Council members Kevin Drake and Peggy Hanson opposed the motion.Transition TeamA transition team made up of Joe O�Connor, City Adminis-trator Barb Hoyhtya, Fire Chief Keith Eide and Medical Director Steve Clotz are looking into policies that will deal with the separation of the Ambulance Service from the Fire Department. It is hoped that by separating the two bodies into individual departments, recruitment for each service will become more effective. It also takes into account the fact that there are specific training requirements for each service. The transition is expected to be completed by December 31, 2004.In the meantime, Lee Peterson has taken the EMT training at RCTC and was accepted as a member of the Ambulance Service. An EMT training class is being planned for April in Lanesboro. For more information, contact Eide, Clatz or the city clerk�s office.Clinic BidsThe council opened bids for the purchase of the clinic building located at 104 W. Sheridan. The city received two bids for the property: Lee and Charlene Draper ($70,000) and Walter Bradley ($60,001). As specified in the bid specifications, both parties will be invited to sit down with the city attorney in an auction style arrangement and make final bids for the property. The real estate is appraised at $106,000.Spring Clean-UpThe Park Board is planning the City-wide Spring Clean-up for April 12. They hope to expand the project this year to include a new facelift for Sylvan Park. The group hopes to get the gazebo, shelters, and picnic tables painted at that time. They also hope to make repairs to a number of shelter roofs. Volunteers will be needed for this event. Other business�Roger Hegland presented the city with a plaque from the MS Tram program for hosting the organization and its riders last summer. �Public Utility Commission: Council member Kevin Drake reported that Tri-County Electric will upgrade the grid from the Peterson substation to Lanesboro. It was earlier believed that the city would have to bear this expense.�Planning & Zoning Commission: Council member Jerome Halvorson reported that the commission is reviewing the city�s ordinances and has approximately 30 pages to go. The group is updating the ordinances and looking into changes to the fee schedules. �Tom Manion was the only area attorney to apply to be Lanesboro�s city attorney.�Wine & 3.2 liquor licenses renewals were granted to the Das Wurst Haus and Sojourner Cafe. �Because of the President�s Day holiday on February 17, the city council will meet on Tuesday, February 18.

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