Mac Council agrees not to raise utility rates for next year

The McIntosh City Council met in regular session on Thursday, October 13th at the Community Center.

Present at the meeting was resident Melford Grundyson who expressed his concern over the on-going issues with the road in front of his home. The road, he feels, is not the correct height or graded to the proper angle to keep water from pooling in his yard. Mayor Strom sympathized with him, but stated that the City has done what it can do to correct the issue by raising the height of the road and grading it to slope away from his yard. The Council will have Maintenance Supervisor, Larry Hedlund look into a sink hole that Melford said was developing.

The Mayor also informed the council that the Fire Department donated money to Poplar Meadows for the purpose of purchasing a lift for the Assisted Living Facility to use for the purpose of helping residents who have fallen.

There was new carpeting installed at the Community Center in the auditorium last month and new heat vent covers will be ordered to replace the old ones.

Building permits were issued in the City for Lance Erickson for a garage addition and Mary Mellgren home to be placed and a garage addition to be added.

The City Clerk, Melissa Finseth, asked the council to allow the City to have a credit card for small, online purchases. The council agreed with the request. 

The City Clerk also received the abstract and title opinion from the City Attorney for the property adjacent to the water tower. She will contact the City Attorney to confirm the next step in the process for the City to purchase it.

The Council also agreed with a request to consider allowing direct deposit of payroll for City employees.

Maintenance Supervisor, Larry Hedlund, suggested that the City take over the snow removal with the walk behind snowblower. He said that it is easier to clean the entire length of sidewalk, than for individual business owners to shovel in front of their buildings. Mayor Strom asked the City Clerk to talk to Peter Tranby about taking on the job.

The Council reviewed the City utility rates and unanimously agreed not to raise rates for 2017.

Due to a lot of waste and household items being discarded recently at the green dump on the south side of McIntosh, the City Council had a request to install a trail camera to discourage people from throwing prohibited objects at the dump area which is only for yard waste such as grass clippings and tree trimmings. Mayor Strom asked that Maintenance employee Peter Tranby look into the proposal further and report back his findings to the Council.

The Council asked if the bank has made any new decisions on what they intend on doing with the B-B Cafe. The City Clerk was asked to write a letter to David Beito stating that the City cannot move forward until the bank makes a decision regarding their part in the debt owed by the Cafe.

Mayor Strom asked that Heidi Lewis receive a letter to clean up her property at 305 Second Street. He also stated that the Avangeline Lewis property needs to be cleaned up as well.

The Council adjourned and the next regular meeting of the McIntosh City Council will be on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 5:30 pm at the Community Center.