News

Aldermen hold March city council meeting

By Scott Wagar

03/12/2013

The Bottineau City Council held its March meeting this past Monday evening and discussed a variety of issues which included water rights, grant money, Gateway Fund requests, protest hearings and snow removal.

ALL SEASON’S WATER:

Dan Schaefer, manager of All Season’s Water Users, was present in reference to land being annexed by the city. Schaffer stated that the land being annexed is under a service of All Season’s and that the city and All Season’s Water Users would have to meet and discuss who would service this area.

CITY PROJECTS:

Matt Johnson of Wold Engineering updated the aldermen on future projects taking place in the community.

Johnson stated that the lift station for the preserve is completed with the exception of some clean-up of the site, which will take place this spring.

Johnson added that he is preparing a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for $200,000 for the 2013 Sewer Improvement Project, along with $150,000 low interest loan, which was carried by the councilmen.

Two Gateway requests came before the council. The first request came from St. Andrew’s Hospital for a $25,000 grant for physician recruitment and retention. The motions passed on a 5-to-2 vote with Jeff Hall and Harley Getzlaff voting no on the action.

The second request was from Dean Fix for a Gateway loan of $34,000 with three percent interest and a 10 year payment plan to assist him with rehabilitating the former VFW Memorial Hall into an apartment building. The council voted unanimously to approve Fix’s request.  

ANNEXATIONS AND REZONING:

From the Gateway request, the council held protest hearings for the annexation and rezoning on development projects for Gene and Clyde Kersten concerning Kersten’s 8th Addition from Agriculture to R-2 and for MGD Rentals concerning the Sunrise 2nd Addition from Agriculture to R-4. With no protests, the council passed approved the annexations and rezoning requests.

Alderman Fred Kainz, owner and operator of Premise Investments, made a formal request to the city to rezone 119 Sinclair Street from multiple R use to B-2 so he can construct a private storage garage. The council approved the request and the protest hearing will take place April 1, at the April City Council meeting.

SNOW REMOVAL:

The council then turned its attention to an issue on snow removal on East Street. The street is narrow and there has been an issue on snow removal and those residents who park on the street. A discussion took place in what would be best for everyone involved and it was decided for now that the city and local sheriff’s department would try to work together in making sure that vehicles parked in the streets will be moved when the city removes snow. If the entities involved cannot come to a workable agreement, the council will review the issue.

APRIL MEETING:
 
The next city council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on April 1 in the city office.