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| Emily City CouncilWeb posted February 21, 2012 (Editor’s Note) The following article was written using the unapproved summary of action taken at the February 14, 2012 Emily City Council meeting provided by the City clerk. The Emily City Council unanimously passed a resolution awarding the sale of General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan and Improvement Refunding Bonds, Series 2012A at their regular monthly meeting held Tuesday, February 14. Bruce Kimmel of Ehlers, Inc. explained that the sale of the original aggregate principal amount of $930,000 would finance the City Hall project ($585,000) and refund the 2004 Road Bond ($345,000) with a lower interest rate. The city will save approximately $149,000 over the next eight years by refunding the 2004 Road Bond. The report included that the City of Emily received a Standard & Poor A+ rating. The lowest offer received was from United Bankers Bank at an average interest rate of 2.15 percent over the 16-year term. The interest rate begins at .55 percent and increases to 2.75 percent, compared to the 4.75 percent the city was currently paying for the Road Bond. The Council also approved Resolution 12-09 Resolution approving post-issuance compliance procedure and policy for tax-exempt governmental bonds. The City Hall Project estimate includes demotion of the old hall, paving, and a contingency of 15 percent. • A petition with 261 signatures was presented to council during public forum. Though not binding due to missing the cutoff date, the petition requested “the City of Emily to immediately cease and desist and table its actions resolutions, binding commitments, etc. affecting all nonessential financial commitments by the City that are (in part or in total) paid for by the taxpayers and/or the people of Emily”. The petition also asked for a long-range capital investment and maintenance plan detailing all future expenses and how they will be paid for concerning all existing infrastructure including roads, wastewater and buildings. Residents spoke both positively and negatively regarding the bond and future City Hall, future road projects and manganese mining project. Crow Wing Mineral Resources (CMR) has not approached the city regarding its commercial operation as of yet and the city will discuss the mining when that happens. • A motion was passed, though not unanimously, to table road projects for two (2) years. City engineer, Jeff Ledin of S.E.H., requested a March 12, 2012 at workshop with council to discuss a policy for the roads and objectives. The workshop will be held at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall and is open to the public. George Pepek was approved to be a member of the Road Committee and the city will advertise for three additional members for that board. • The Council set a public hearing and ordinance amendment date of the March 13, 2012 Council Meeting due to the request by Jerry Anderson on behalf of Lake Country Foods to add on to their building for an offsale liquor store, which would increase the allowed number of off-sale liquor licenses from four to five. • The wastewater ordinance amendment regarding billing for apartment buildings and multiple family rental units will be revisited by the wastewater committee. At this time all combination commercial/residential properties will be billed as commercial. Public Safety The Fire and First Response contracts for Little Pine Township and Fairfield Township will increase from 2 percent to 2.2 percent of their respective tax capacity. Phil Yetzer and Jon Friesner were approved as fire fighters pending passing the drug test and physical. Pat Redding, Yetzer and Friesner will attend a Firefighter I class and will be reimbursed mileage. The Police Chief was approved to attend the MN Chiefs of Police Conference in St. Cloud and will be paid time and travel not to exceed 30 hours and a registration fee of $325. A 25 cent pay increase for the Police Officers was approved since they did not receive a raise in 2011. Two First Responders were approved to attend an EMS Conference at the Mayo Civic Center March 8-10 at the cost of $450 for the conference and no reimbursement for mileage or hotel. In other council action: • Gambling resolutions were passed: to waive the 30-day waiting period for raffle permit for the Celebrate Emily Day Committee so they may start selling tickets as soon as permit arrives; for the Outing chamber of Commerce at the premises of Barrett’s Log Cabin, Inc. and Granny’s; and for the Emily Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association at the premise of Bungalow Supper Club/Emily Inc. • The Council determined that Denny Honsa is entitled to a Cartway; that his property is five acres in size and landlocked. The Council will perform a site visit to verify the location of the Cartway and discuss location at the March meeting. • A Resolution adopting the Crow Wing County All-Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved. • Crosslake Community School will be allowed to rent the crosscountry skis and poles for the rest of the season at $150. • The Planning & Zoning Administrator was approved to write a Water Inspection grant for the City. • The Council approved spending up to $300 per quarter to reimburse Planning & Zoning Commissioners mileage and $10 per inspection of properties that applied for a permit and variances. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northland Press | P.O. Box 145 | Outing, MN 56662 | (218) 692-5842 Email: news@northlandpress.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
