As the Whalan City Council met on January 8, 2018, one of the most pressing items on the agenda was setting the Slate of Office.
Mayor Marlys Tuftin and council members Kim Berekvam, Everett Johnson and Wyatt Berekvam were present, along with City Clerk Lolly Melander. Council member Owen Lewis was absent.
The Slate of Office included depositor (Merchants Bank, Lanesboro), attorney (Terry Chiglo), auditor (Pam Ristau), acting mayor (Everett Johnson), local paper (Fillmore County Journal), monthly council meeting (second Monday), monthly council meeting time (5 p.m.), Zoning schedule (quarterly meeting).
Motion by W. Berekvam, second by K. Berekvam, to approve the Slate of Office as listed. Motion carried.
Minutes from the previous month were read by Melander. With no additions or corrections requested, motion by K. Berekvam, second by Johnson, to accept the minutes as read. Motion carried.
Melander read the Treasurer’s Report and Bills Due. With no additions or corrections requested by the council, there was a motion by K. Berekvam and a second by W. Berekvam to accept the Treasurer’s Report and Bills Due as read. Motion carried.
Visitors’ comments
A resident attended the meeting to respond to a letter he received from the city about an issue with a temporary fence that has been constructed. According to the council, the fence posts and roped off area are located on the city right of way and in accordance to zoning regulations must to be moved back 10 feet from the property line.
The resident commented that he gets frustrated when vehicles are parked on the property in the summer, as it makes it difficult to mow.
“Maybe zoning could look at parking policy,” stated Tuftin, “and have certain areas where we don’t allow parking,” but at the same time there is limited parking in town. “We still need to be able to park our vehicles and visitors need to be able to park as well,” said Tuftin.
The zoning committee will look into possible solutions to the problem including no parking signs.
Wes Harding with the Root River Trail Towns Committee attended the meeting to remind the council and local residents that the Candlelight Ski will be taking place on February 3, 2018 from 5-9 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend.
Old Business
Michelle Peterson, Lanesboro City Administrator, and Cheryl Krage with the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce, attended the Whalan council meeting to discuss the Lanesboro Lodging Tax documentation renewal and answer any questions the council had.
The Whalan council tabled the matter at the December 2017 meeting in order to find out more information about the agreement.
The previous agreement expired in 1998 and no contract has been in place since. The contract is between the City of Lanesboro, Carrolton Township, Holt Township, the City of Whalan, Pilot Mound and the City of Fountain.
There is a 3% tax applied to lodging facilities under the agreement.
The 3% tax is administered by the City of Lanesboro and 5% of the total revenue is retained by Lanesboro for the administration of the program and the remaining 95% is administered by Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce to promote tourism.
The agreement would be renewed every five years. Mayor Tuftin requested the City of Whalan be able to review the program every year and to be able to see how the monies are being spent, such as an annual financial report and an annual report of activities of the organization.
As the agreement states “equality of distribution of the funds,” Tuftin was interested in how the funds are distributed and who makes that decision.
Krage encouraged the council to have a liaison from the City of Whalan attend the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce meetings in order to have an open line of communication.
The City of Whalan is having the city attorney review the agreement at this time. The council tabled the matter until they speak with the city attorney regarding the matter.
Resolution for city insurance coverage
Motion by Johnson, second by W. Berekvam, to approve a resolution for city insurance coverage through the League of Minnesota Cities with Krage Insurance of Lanesboro. Motion carried.
Motion to adjourn by W. Berekvam, second by K. Berekvam. Motion carried.
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