With the rapid onset of the winter thaw, the City of Peterson is getting a keen view of its existing storm water issues, particularly on River Street. The area has been identified for some time, along with Prospect Street, as the next likely target of street and utility improvements. At the Wednesday, March 13 council meeting, Mayor Tim Hallum brought the council up to speed on discussions with WHKS engineers.
Representatives from WHKS held discussions with Public Works Director Rick Lee March 12 and were planning to get a first hand look March 14. “Last night, we had 80,000 gallons extra of water coming in,” cautioned Hallum. “We have to try and figure out the water flowage. Now, is a perfect time now to pinpoint it.”
Public Works is working to address street runoff. “He’s trying to keep up with it; to open up culverts,” added Hallum. “I just don’t know what we can do over there. The culvert was pumped today.”
The largest problem plaguing the work is that culverts are frozen, packed with snow and ice. “It’s difficult,” began City Clerk Chris Grindland. “We’re getting rain on top of snow. The culverts are frozen.”
Hallum indicated the city is considering putting a storm drain on River Street to catch and divert water before it ends up pooling. Another culvert uptown has to be replaced. “We’re going to have a lot of ditch cleanup this spring,” he noted.
Councilor Loren Rue questioned whether or not a larger culvert could minimize issues, but ditches are not low enough to accommodate them, according to Hallum. “I hate to say it, but WHKS… there’s a lot of stuff for them to look at.”
In other news, Lanesboro Chamber of Commerce Director Andrzej Zalasinski was on hand introduce himself. “I’m expecting to continue ties for both cities,” he stressed. “I’m committed to Peterson as well.”
Work for the city in the past includes coordinating with an artist on city banners, working to upgrade the city website, and assisting with Friends of Peterson. Plans for the website are to make it more mobile friendly, in addition to other improvements. Webivations, which the city had previously used for its campground reservations, is now obsolete and will be handled by other means. The website is now up to date with information for visitors, as well as detailed information for residents including meeting minutes, recordings, and documents, as well as forms and ordinances.
Zalasinski has other vested interest in the city, as he his wife will be running the Andor Wenneson Inn, near Peterson’s Root River State Trail, during the planned absence of owners John and Megan Boyum.
In old business, the council last month approved the ordinance on Discontinuation of Utility Services and the ordinance Regulating Public Vehicle Nuisances. Both issues have been discussed at length for months. It was determined that letters from city hall would go out to both residents carrying a balance that would warrant shut-off action and those with violation of the vehicle ordinance. Letters will be out prior to shut-off in April for the former.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m., at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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