The Whalan City Council approved several agenda items, continued work on other items and also brought up new items to initiate during the March 2021 regularly scheduled Whalan City Council meeting.
All council members were present at the council meeting including Mayor Marlys Tuftin, council members Kim Berekvam, Thore Johnson, Owen Lewis and Tanya Cook. City Clerk Michele Peterson was also present. The meeting was held via Zoom.
The meeting agenda was approved with two items added to the agenda; electrical work notification and Disaster Preparedness, both under Miscellaneous.
Minutes of the February 8, 2021, regular board meeting were read aloud by Tuftin and approved by the council.
Tuftin also read the minutes of the October 26, 2020, Budget Workshop and the council approved.
The Treasurer’s Report was also approved.
Visitors comments
Diane Snyder, who joined the meeting after additions to the agenda, inquired as to whether their electrical notification had been added to the agenda. She was informed that it had been added.
Continued business
The Whalan brochure has been completed. Tuftin commented that it looks nice, and thanked the committee that worked on the brochure. Cook noted that although everyone on the committee gave their input, Jane Lewis did the majority of the work on designing the brochure. “She did a great job,” noted Cook, as other council members agreed. The completed brochure design will be sent to the printer and will then be distributed.
Peterson informed the council that the town hall has a capacity of 46 people. A sign with this information will be posted in the town hall.
Reservations for renting the town hall should be made as much in advance as possible. The town hall rental would end by 10 p.m., including clean-up time. The rental fee for residents and property owners will be $50, all others will be charged $100. The Town Hall Rental Agreement was approved.
The discussion on sales tax project ideas was tabled until the April meeting.
After speaking with Whalan Museum Director Donna Novotny about shared internet service between the museum and the city, a recommended agreement was brought forth. In the agreement, the six months that the museum is closed the city will pay the $70.26 internet fee, and the six months the museum is open the city and the museum will each pay half of the fee. The council approved the cost sharing agreement with the museum.
Dust control will be done this spring in the same areas that were done two years ago. A magnesium chloride treatment will be used. Peterson will contact Bluff Country Brine for this service. Council will coordinate with Dan Sveen to make sure his grading work is done before the dust control application.
Signs and caution tape will be put up to inform residents that the brush dump is closed. The council is still working on another possible location for the brush dump.
Road repairs for 2021 are still on schedule.
As a part of COVID response the council has put a hold on late fees. The council will reassess this hold at the April meeting.
Starting April 2021, the Whalan City Council will begin holding in-person council meetings once again and will also offer the meetings virtually through Zoom.
New business
Peterson will establish a business license list for the City of Whalan. The council will review the list and approve it at the April meeting.
City rounds will be done on April 24 at 10 a.m., weather permitting.
Other business
Steve and Diane Snyder contacted the council as an informational courtesy to report that they will be burying their electric cable.
Lewis noted that the city should have an Emergency Preparedness Plan. Peterson will research what other cities use and will also talk to the Fillmore County Emergency Management Director. She will report back to the council at the April meeting.
The next regularly scheduled Whalan City Council meeting will be held in person on Monday, April 12, at 5 p.m. The meeting will also be available through Zoom. To find out more information, visit the City of Whalan website at www.cityofwhalan.weebly.com.
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