Breitung neighbor objects to city utility charges
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 — In the absence of Mayor Josh Carlson, Acting Mayor Kevin Fitton called the regular Monday, August 10 city council meeting to order. The first order of business Fitton addressed was a call for a motion to approve the council’s September 10, 2018, Special Meeting minutes, canvassing the 2018 Minnesota Primary election ballots. Hearing no calls for amendments, upon motion and support, the city council unanimously approved those minutes as presented by City Clerk-Treasurer Linda Keith.
The city council turned its attention to two of the correspondences the city has received since the council last met.
Jim Battin wrote to challenge the city’s billing a $15.00 monthly charge on his water bill. Late last year, the city council imposed the charge upon all customers noting that the increase would be utilized to offset wastewater treatment debt. The issue arises, Battin maintains, is that while he is a City of Tower water customer he has no sewer hookup and he is a Breitung Township seasonal resident residing at 5479 Hwy 169, east of the Tower city limits.
“As a non-resident of Tower, I am not subject to resolutions or ordinances on my property passed by the city council,” Battin wrote the council seeking time on this meeting’s agenda. A lengthy discussion ensued with Battin citing Minnesota statute, however Fitton said that he was reluctant to act presently and preferred to wait until there was a full city council before any consideration was given on Battin’s request. The issue was tabled until September 26.
D’Erick’s Tower Liquors wrote the city seeking permission to install an exhaust fan and vent in the space it leases from the city to operate its liquor store. The liquor store coolers generate a lot of heat and that has damaged some of the inventory causing the business to seek a solution to the problem. The city council unanimously approved authorizing D’Erick’s to install the exhaust fan.
Ambulance Supervisor Steve Altenburg presented the city with a request to purchase a new ambulance cot at a cost of $15,345. The dealer is offering to sell Tower a demonstration model cot, allowing the city to save about $4,000. The council was unanimous in its vote to move forward with the purchase.
In other action, the Tower city council:
• Tabled any action on replacing a section of sidewalk on South Second Street until the city completes a review of other necessary sidewalk repairs throughout the city
• Approved paying $32,210 and $16,926 to Lenci Enterprises, Inc. for work completed on the Lamppa Manufacturing building currently under construction. The first amount was for site preparation work and the second was for work on the building
• Approved the final payment to Utility Systems of America for the work completed at Hoodoo Point Campground. The total project cost just over $412,000
• Approved the transfer of hangar leases from Richard Anderson to David and Michelle Anderson and from Timothy Harty to Brian Schanche
• Appointed Terri Joki-Martin and Mandy Northrup to serve as the city’s Absentee Ballot Board and Morgan Carlon as an alternate judge
• Appointed Linda Keith as Head Election Judge; Terri Joki-Martin as Deputy Head Election Judge; and Morgan Carlon, Julie Johnson, Carol Pratt, Margie Johnson, Robin Majerle, Sheldon Majerle, Jeff Mattson and Mandy Northrup as election judges for the upcoming November 6 federal mid-term, and state general election
• Accepted the finalized airport improvement grants noting that the airport would receive $85,563 from the federal government, $4,753.50 from the state and spend $4,753.50 allocated in the city budget for the airport.