Harmony resident Julie Lau addressed the city council at their October 10 meeting during the public forum portion of the meeting. She asked who was in charge of enforcing the city ordinances and was told by Mayor Steve Donney that the local police would be the ones to call if she sees an ordinance not being followed.
Lau said that she had read the agreement that the City of Harmony has with its law enforcement officers and noted that it states there should be a liaison between them. She asked who that liaison is. City attorney Greg Scheiber wasn’t sure who, but agreed to look into it and be sure that the agreement was being followed properly.
“Rules are for everybody,” Lau stated. She feels that exceptions are being made for some people so they don’t have to follow city ordinances.
Mayor Donney said that if Lau or anyone else sees a city ordinance that is being violated, they should call the police to report it.
“Shouldn’t they be patrolling Harmony and watching for violations?” Lau asked.
Mayor Donney assured her that that’s what they do, but Lau didn’t agree, saying that she often sees them sitting in their parked squad cards. “I think our service stinks,” she said. She recommended that the council review the agreement the city has with law enforcement and make sure it’s being followed.
Mayor Donney thanked Lau for her input and assured her that it would be taken under consideration.
City administrator Jerome Illg updated the council on the street and utility project. The base layer of paving has been put down, and the final layer will be completed next spring. The water looping project at the wastewater treatment plant has been completed.
An assessment hearing was scheduled to take place during the November 14 city council meeting. The public is encouraged to attend.
City Maintenance Director Chris Johnson noted that the maintenance department has been working on street sweeping recently. A notice will be sent out in the utility bills soon to notify residents when leaf pick-up will take place.
The city’s water truck was sold for around $1,300 and the digger for about $1,100. Johnson pointed out that that’s more than they would’ve gotten if they’d been turned in for scrap metal.
Harmony’s water tower is currently being re-painted, although the recent rains have slowed down the progress. The new city logo, which was recently finalized, is being painted on either side of the water tower as well.
The EDA has been continuing to work for funding for the proposed trail extension project. Members of the EDA along with other Harmony residents presented a pitch for the project to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources or the LCCMR, which is composed of state senators, representatives, and citizens. The committee decides where proceeds from the Minnesota lottery will go. “It was a very encouraging trip,” Illg noted. The presentation was well received and the group is hopeful that funding will come through to cover the purchase of the corridor which would then be donated to the DNR.
Almost everything on the park board’s list of projects has been completed for the year. They found a UTV to replace the current one for $12,959.
The board asked the council to pay for half of it while they pay for the other half. The council approved the purchase.
An anonymous donation of $1,000 has brought the library closer to its goal of $5,000 needed to build the new patio.
The next Harmony City Council meeting will be held on November 14 at 7 p.m.