The March meeting of the Garretson City Council contained a long discussion regarding camper/RV/trailer parking requirements, an update to the streets project, and a vote for a contractor on the Industrial Park water project.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and approval of the consent calendar agenda. All council members were in attendance. They then moved into committee reports.
Natural gas prices were down $.02, and the council voted to approve prices as recommended. City Finance Officer Anna Uhl wanted to remind the community and the council that the City does not upcharge for natural gas, but stated it was possible people didn’t realize that prices do increase each year during winter months. The average natural gas price for winter months since 2007 has been $.93 to $1.34, and January’s prices were at $1.11 and February’s at $1.09, which does put the price well within the average, though it is higher than it was last year. The council noted that it has been a very bad year temperature-wise, with a long cold spell that didn’t seem to be abating.
Jeff Frerk then presented for the Garretson Fire Department. He noted that in 2018, there had been a total of 135 calls, with 87 in town, 43 rural, and 4 search and rescue operations. So far in 2019, they’ve had 7 calls. The option to purchase a new fire truck was pursued, and a demonstration model was purchased.
“It is virtually a brand-new truck,” said Frerk. The truck had only been used to showcase what the company’s trucks could do. But because it was a demonstration model, “we saved 25% on a 2000-gallon truck.” The fire department is using grant funding for part of the purchase price.
Frerk then mentioned that he has been in contact with City Maintenance Officer Craig Nussbaum, as the water pressure at the fire hall and across the street at Alliance Communications had been poor since the construction project on 3rd Street had wrapped up. Nussbaum speculated that it was likely a valve issue, and could be corrected once the snow melted. He had not heard any complaints from residents.
Kurtis Nelson with the Ambulance then presented. In 2018, the Garretson Ambulance serviced 189 calls, which was their second-highest total ever. They currently have a roster of 23 volunteers and paid staff, and are currently holding an EMT class with 10 participants. However, only 2 participants looked likely to join the roster.
The ambulance recently purchased a power load system that is 75% funded through grant monies. They too are looking at a truck replacement. The current truck has had some recent issues come up. Only one impacted a service call where another ambulance was needed to finish a transport, but due to this, they are hoping to replace the truck sooner rather than later. He did note that the last time the truck was replaced, only the chassis was updated.
The Parks Board then gave their update. They are currently looking at working with the Garretson High School Horticulture class for landscaping around the JC Complex sign on the corner of Dows and Center, and were asking if the City could contribute some funds toward the project. The council agreed that approximately $5000 could be made available, but would have to be split between the sign, the bathhouse landscaping, and landscaping around the welcome rock on Dows and the Valley Springs road.
The Winter Park Rules were then read and approved.
The Parks Board is also in the process of getting bids for tuckpointing of the bathhouse and pond wall in Splitrock Park. Because the bathhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, certain protocols must be followed. One estimate that had been received was for $25,000.
The council then moved on to the Industrial Park water project bids that had been received. A grant of $1.4 million had been applied for and approved, and the city is responsible for paying 60%. The lowest bid was from First Rate Excavation for $883,318, which left a $100,000 contingency for the project. The council asked Chad Hanisch of Infrastructure Designs (the lead engineer on the project) if this was enough, and he agreed it was appropriate. The bid was approved after some discussion about whether the river rock had been taken into consideration for the project (it was). The company is hoped to be scheduled for a start date as early in May as possible.
The Equalization Meeting was then scheduled for March 18 at 6:30 pm at City Hall, then the Council moved on to Streets.
City Maintenance Officer Nussbaum noted that the construction company had finalized their plans for how to proceed with this season’s construction. It had been initially hoped they could start in mid-March, but due to the snow they have moved their start date to April. The company is now going to focus two crews on Main Ave and on 3rd Street west of Main with highest priority of getting them done as quickly as possible. There is also a plan in place to finish the rest of 3rd Street, as it had only been 75% completed before snows fell. After Main is completely finished, the two crews will then begin on the truck route. Garretson is the only project the construction company has this year, to ensure the project is completed in a timely manner.
The Capital Improvement Plan, which was finalized last month, was then fully approved by the council. It was suggested the council review it yearly with the budget in a special meeting, as things will change. After some questioning by Council member Richelle Hofer, Hanisch recommended the City budget a cost of $5,000 per year to keep the CIP up to date.
The council then moved on to a final review of the Campers and Trailers ordinance. In February’s meeting, it was brought up that some community members may require exceptions to the ordinance, which the council was hesitant to approve. Council member Greg Franka, who had initially brought up the issue from one of his constituents, said, “If you start to make exceptions, where do you stop?”
Community member Dale Myers then presented on his property. He noted that his is a corner property, with a 50 foot-wide, 100-foot long lot. He noted that he does not have a front or a back yard due to house additions that had been placed by a prior owner, and was ensuring that his camper would be in compliance if he parked north of the driveway on the east side of his house along Center Avenue. He did state that he was planning to lay gravel in that area if it was approved. The council agreed that because of the layout of his property, his wasn’t technically an exception. However, community member Stacey DeBates was also in attendance, and she asked how a resident could be in compliance if they have a small lot and not enough area to place a camper. Council member Hofer responded that Garretson had been one of the only communities in the area without a camper ordinance, and the council took a hybrid approach that attempted to be as reasonable as possible. Council member Dave Bonte then spoke on plans of an RV storage lot that is being built this summer in the Industrial Park. (Continued on Part 2)
