The Whalan City Council approved several business licenses at the regularly scheduled meeting held on April 11 at the Whalan Town Hall.
Present at the meeting were Mayor Marlys Tuftin, council members Owen Lewis, Thore E. Johnson and Kim Berekvam. Councilmember Sheila Higbe attended via Zoom. City Clerk/Treasurer Michele Peterson was also present.
The meeting agenda was approved, as were the Minutes and the Treasurer’s Report.
Visitors’ comments
Resident Dale Peterson shared his thoughts about the current moratorium on short-term rentals in Whalan. The moratorium was put in place over a year ago and the Zoning Committee has been working on the issue, however, the city is having trouble appointing and retaining zoning committee members.
“I’ve got a lot to say about this,” stated Peterson. “I think it did good things for the town,” he said, adding “From what I can see they have left a gentle imprint (on the town).
“I’ve got that place over there and I would like to do something with it,” Peterson stated.
“I don’t think anybody was saying they were bad,” stated Tuftin. “We haven’t been able to resolve it, Zoning has been working on it” she said, adding “we are not the only community dealing with this.”
“This has been going on for three years,” noted Berekvam, who was on the Zoning committee for some time and worked on the short-term rental issue.
“Zoning is continuing to work on it,” Tuftin said. “That is sort of the situation we are in now.”
Tuftin read an email the council received from Scott Kurl in regards to erosion taking place on the north and south sides of the church hill. The council will take a look at the erosion in that area during their walking tour this month.
New Business
The council approved 2022 business licenses, as well as the 2022 DNR Maintenance Agreement.
Council members will conduct the city walking tour on April 27 at 2 p.m. The council did not conduct the tour as a group in 2021 due to COVID precautions. Council members will take note of any issues or concerns they may notice on the walking tour.
The council reviewed bids from three refuse and recycling companies for pickup in Whalan. They approved contracting with Harter’s for refuse and recycling collection for a period of five years.
City Clerk/Treasurer Peterson gave the council an update on the MPCA Audit. She has created a necessary report requested by the MPCA listing equipment owned by the city that has PCBs in them.
Miscellaneous
The council decided to remove Andrej Peterka from the Zoning committee. Peterka has not attended a meeting since being appointed to the committee.
The next regularly scheduled Whalan City Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 9 at 5 p.m. at the Whalan Town Hall. For more information phone the Whalan city office at (507) 467.2212 or visit www.cityofwhalan.weebly.com.
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