The Preston City Council met for the first time in 2017 on January 3. Newly elected council member Holly Zuck and reelected Mayor Kurt Reicks and councilman David Collett recited their oath of office before addressing the evening’s agenda.
Public Works Director Jim Bakken lead a discussion on options for curbside snow removal. He noted that every year there are some complaints from business owners around the square. People have to climb over the snow at the curb and are forced to park further from the curb.
Bakken said they have usually removed the curbside snow two to three times over the winter during business hours. This practice gets some complaints from business owners for blocking parking in front of their businesses. Also, the equipment used to clean up the snow during the day combined with normal traffic leads to safety concerns.
There is no perfect solution. Bakken recommended an early morning schedule for clean-up, 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., before businesses open and traffic picks up. He said it would take two days to clean up around the square and nearby areas. There already is “no parking” from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
The only downside will be noise for those residents that live in apartments above the businesses. He estimated it will cost the city about $700 per clean-up in overtime pay. In an average winter this could amount to $3,000 to $4,000.
Collett commented that someone will be unhappy however the snow removal is done. Zuck maintained that safety should come first. There will be less safety risks in the early morning compared to business hours.
By consensus, the council left it up to Bakken to try the early morning removal.
City hall exterior project
City Administrator Joe Hoffman said he was still working on getting a canopy proposal. The council will have to decide if the canopy should be full length or just over the main city hall door and whether it should it be metal or fabric.
The council has been discussing the pros and cons of using a general contractor as opposed to individual contractors for each portion of the project. The project will involve the replacement of the roof, EIFS (exterior insulation finishing system), the canopy, footings and sidewalk, electrical/lighting, painting, a new sign and landscaping, and installation of the mural.
Councilman Robert Maust asked for details about the roof. After some discussion, he made a motion to request quotes for the roof, which was approved. A second motion to request a quote bond was also approved.
Other business in brief
• Approval was given to pay the annual membership dues to the Preston Area Chamber of Commerce, $110.
• A list of 2017 appointments to boards and commissions was approved. Councilman Charles Sparks is on the Parks and Recreation Board, Library Board, and Public Utilities Commission. Zuck will represent the council on the Tourism Board, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Economic Development Authority (EDA). Maust serves on EDA and expressed interest in attending Public Utilities Commission meetings (council members are non-voting on the commission). Collett serves on the Tree Board and as Street Commissioner. Reicks is on the National Trout Center board and the Fire Relief Association Board.
• A resolution authorizing Mayor Reicks, Mayor Pro-tem Collett, City Administrator Hoffman, and Deputy City Clerk Sheila Marzolf to sign checks for the city was approved. Two signatures are required on all checks.
• The city of Preston schedule of fees that was adopted in 2011 will continue to be in effect with no changes.
• The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, January 17.