News

City Council holds January’s meeting to discuss projects

By Scott Wagar

01/13/2015

January’s city council meeting in Bottineau took place on Jan. 5 with the councilmen discussing issues on policing, development of NAWS and the welcome sign west of town that is currently under construction. 

Sheriff Steve Watson of Bottineau County stated that 50 percent of the yards that were requested by the city to be cleaned with unsightly vehicles and items had been completed. Watson estimated the remaining yards should be completed by the end of this month.

Watson added that the sheriff’s department is also ticketing vehicles in association with snow removal.

Gary Mortensen, chair of the police committee, discussed with the council that the police committee would like to see parking tickets increased from $20 to $50 to stop traffic violations in Bottineau, which are being ignored by drivers because the committee believes drivers do not care about getting a $20 ticket.

The council members all agreed that it was a good idea, but encouraged Mortensen to change all city fines to $50 to cut down on heedless violations on the street. The issue was sent to ordinance committee to study.

Matt Johnson of Wold Engineering was present to inquire about the city entering into contracts with the engineering firm for the projects of the lagoon expansion, water line loop phase three, chip and seal and 2015 paving plan. The aldermen approved the request.

The council members also carried a motion on accepting Wold’s plat plans for the land purchase in connection with lagoon expansion project. 

When it came to the frontage road that would run out front of the Cobblestone Inn and Suites, Johnson stated that there might be a problem considering regulations state that a frontage road should have allotted number of feet from the primary road, which at the present moment the frontage road does not meet. 

To add to the problem, if the city follows regulations there will not be enough square footage left to conduct proper developments on the property remaining. 

It was decided that the issue of the frontage road will be studied by the street committee.

In committee reports, Greg Bernstein of the city property committee requested a list of projects the other council members would like to see happen in the Bottineau area.

Bernstein also discussed NAWS, which he stated that NAWS is still waiting on environmental studies to be completed before the organization can move forward in the project. 

In the trails committee, Tim Sanderson moved to approve a maintenance contract with the Bottineau Park Board to maintain the city’s trail system.

The last item on the agenda was the welcome sign for the city of Bottineau that stands just west of town. The city is concerned about the sign because it has been in the construction process for four years, but has yet to be completed.

The sign was created by Northern Exposure Sign Co. of Bottineau and was subcontracted by the company out to Whetter Masonry. Joe Whetter, owner of Whetter Masonry, has had a lot of projects to care for in the past four years and has worked on the sign when he has had time.

Mayor Ben Aufforth stated to the council that he has spoken to Whetter who has agreed to enclose the sign and complete it this winter. However, Aufforth stated that he has been checking the site, but has not seen an enclosure constructed at the site. 

It was decided to give Whetter a deadline of the end of January to complete the project, or they would hire a new company to finish the job.