Tower approves transfer of harbor land to developer for condominium project
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 — Immediately prior to Monday’s Tower City Council meeting a Tower Economic Development Association public hearing was conducted to receive comments on the proposed transfer of lands to Tower Vision 2025, LLC. This development company, headed by Oryln Kringstad, is proposing to build a 20 unit townhouse project adjacent to Tower’s East Two River harbor. Only one person attending the hearing commented. Kevin Fitton, Vermilion Country School, (neighboring the proposed project) voiced his concerns about the land transfer. The current proposal would cut off part of the school’s parking lot according to Fitton. “If (the project) does happen we would like to get some more land. It’s needed for parking and (access) for fire and safety equipment,” Fitton said. He added that he thought the city should also consider looking at the proximity of the new city road and the schools existing driveway.
“Our long term goal is to build a new building and relocate,” Fitton said, suggesting that his concern was not just for the current school facility but for any future use of the city’s property which neighboors the town home proposal. It should be noted that Fitton has recently filled as a candidate for Tower’s city council and will be on the November 8 ballot.
Concluding the public hearing Supervisor Lance Dougherty moved and Supervisor Brad Matich supported accepting the public comments, adjourning the hearing. The regular meeting of the city council was then called to order.
East Two River harbor land transfer approved
The city council unanimously voted, at the end of its regular meeting, to approve the transfer of land for the Tower Vision 2025, LLC 20–unit townhouse development. The transfer of land was approved subject to the city and the charter school coming to an agreement over Fitton’s concerns about part of the school’s leased land.
The city will be paid one dollar for the 2.376 acre riverfront site. Although some details remain to be determined, City Clerk-Treasurer Linda Keith reported, on Wednesday, that the transfer of land was subject to a performance deadline at the end of next year, and if suitable progress is not achieved the property will revert back to the city. The pay-off will come when the project is complete and the city’s tax base increases, Keith said.
Alderman Dougherty made the motion, with support from Alderman Joan Broten, to transfer the land. The motion was passed with the unanimous support of the city council. “Orlyn (Kringstad) is very anxious to hear that this is happening as he is in Brainerd, meeting with potential investors,” Marshall Helmberger said.
City continues negotiations with Ambulance Director candidate
A lengthy negotiation session was conducted between the city council and Steve Altenberg, the only applicant the city received for Ambulance Director. Altenberg announced his plan for updating the service and has insisted that the city agree with his requests before he will accept the position. One of the city’s concerns is that Altenberg would like to modify the city’s requirement that the director conduct regular Monday office hours. “The director needs to be flexible. You don’t want to pay someone just to sit at a desk, you want them to be able to be flexible,” Altenberg maintained. Alderman Broten agreed with his request. “I don’t have a problem, as long as he keeps track of his hours,” Broten said. Mayor Carlson insisted that there be some scheduled office hours. “There should be a specific time where personnel can meet with the ambulance supervisor,” Carlson maintained.
“This requirement has not worked and I just don’t want to agree to something that won’t work. It’s still a random job,” Altenberg said, explaining that ambulance personnel can not plan for anything as calls for service are random, and often in the middle of the night. The cell phone has made it possible for anyone to get a hold of him at any time, and he is open to that kind of working arrangement, Altenberg suggested. “We need to get better care to people sooner. We have always been a leader and we need to keep going forward,” Altenberg said.
Another sticking point for the council was Altenberg’s request for a pay increase to $1,800 monthly. The current supervisor receives $1,300 in monthly compensation, although the pay has varied over the years depending on the different levels of responsibility other directors have undertaken. Alderman Lance Dougherty said that he could support a progressive move to the $1,800, but wanted it to be scheduled over time. Altenberg is entering a program to become a paramedic, a program which will take two years, and the pay can be increased as he progresses towards this goal, it was suggested.
Mayor Carlson admitted that if the city looked at the hours of commitment, versus the pay, “It would make us blush.” He explained that he could support the pay increase if another job on the service could be eliminated, perhaps one of the assistants. “I would need to meet with all the other personnel,” on this idea Altenberg maintained.
“With the changes put forward on Steve’s sheet, I can’t agree to this. I’d need to sit down with Steve and talk further,” Carlson said, suggesting that the council table the issue until its September 12 meeting. The council was in agreement and determined that Carlson and Dougherty would meet with Altenberg prior to the next council meeting.
Proposed campground Environmental Assessment Worksheet rejected
The city council was not satisfied with the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) submitted by Dave Rose as partial fulfillment of his conditional use application to build a recreational vehicle campground on the East Two River. The EAW was rejected because the lack of details it provided.
Earlier this month, at its August 8 meeting, the city council informed Rose of Power Sports of Minnesota, Inc. that he would need to put money into escrow before it would consider calling for the creation of the EAW. Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) estimated that the EAW might cost as much as $39,000. Instead of putting money into escrow Rose completed his own EAW and submitted it to the city. Clerk Keith said that after reviewing the document with SEH, it was found largely incomplete and suggested that the council should reject it. “The construction of buildings is stated, but details are not provided. It discusses proposed roads but it does not detail any construction materials,” Keith reported. These details are necessary and important, because the EAW will be submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), which it will then publish it, providing an opportunity for all concerned regulatory agencies and the public to make comments on the proposed project, according to Keith.
“This looks like it was cut and pasted,” Alderman Dougherty said. Rose is entitled to create his own EAW, without the aid of an engineering firm, but the city council requires that its engineers review the document before they will give approval to submit it to the MPCA. The city is responsible for protecting its wetlands and a group of citizens has already petitioned the city to make sure that any environmental impact is seriously considered before a conditional use permit is issued for the proposed campground.
The city council was not happy that the campground project is costing the city money in engineering fees and is utilizing a considerable amount of the city clerk’s time. Including the review with SEH, Clerk Keith reported that she had several hours invested in reviewing the EAW document, however she said that she believed the city should pay the current SEH review costs.
“We have made it very clear that we won’t bear any cost of the EAW,” Mayor Carlson said. “If he wants us to move forward he needs to put money into escrow. This should not be addressed any further until the money is in escrow. A considerable amount of money,” Carlson emphasized.
Alderman Brad Matich moved to reject the EAW as submitted and Alderman Dougherty supported the motion. The EAW was rejected by unanimous vote.
In other action, the Tower City Council:
• Discussed a request from Walt Moe to replace city lighting with new light pollution reducing lamps. Moe provided the city council with a New York Times news article detailing the importance of preserving darkness. The council does not have funds available to address Moe’s concerns, however it will keep his concerns in mind on new development projects and be on the look-out for outside funding opportunities.
• Approved spending $8,645 on software and computer hardware to convert the Tower Ambulance Service’s paperwork system to an electronic process. In addition to the initial investment it is expected that the annual software licensing and updates will cost $600
• Approved purchasing a new emergency civil defense siren at a cost not to exceed $3,150, the anticipated expense of repairing the existing non-functioning siren
• Reinstated Jason Picard to the Tower Fire Department following his approved leave of absence
• Unanimously approved canceling the city’s request to AFSCME to consider a four day work week for the deputy city clerk position
• Approved withdrawing a request to AFSCME to consider negotiating paying unused sick days for the former deputy city clerk. The contract provides for the pay of sick days only after ten years of service and negotiating any pay for the former deputy clerk to receive sick day pay after her three years of service would open the door for all employees to make similar claims. The vote passed with Alderman Broten, Alderman Dougherty and Alderman William Hiltunen voting in support of the motion to withdraw the city’s request. Alderman Matich voted against the motion and Mayor Carlson abstained
• Certified the August 9 Minnesota Primary vote. Tower had a total of 17 ballots cast. Recent Supreme Court appointee Natalie Hudson received 10 votes in her bid for a six-year term, Michelle L. MacDonald received 4 and Craig Foss received 3 votes. Both Hudson and MacDonald will be advance to the November 8 general election.