News

Bottineau City Council holds its July meeting

By Scott Wagar

07/09/2013

Summer utility projects were the primary discussion of the Bottineau City Council’s July meeting.

CITY AND WATER LOOP

Although the city is currently working through the eminent domain process concerning the sewer line project with Clayton Gagner family over the amount of money the family wants to receive to allow the city to lay sewer pipe on their property, the city has been awarded $160,000 Emergency Impact Grant for the sewer line project and an additional $160,000 Emergency Impact Grant for the water loop project.
The city was highly praised for not requesting the full amount of the two projects, planning ahead with the plans and saving money over time for the developments.

The council voted in favor of accepting the two grants. With the grants secured, alderman Diane Lorenz made a motion to expand the sewer line project one block north of its completion location to the corner of Eighth and Park streets, which was seconded by councilman Greg Bernstein. The council passed the motion.

KERSTEN DEVELOPMENT

Concerning the Kersten Development, Matt Johnson of Wold Engineering stated that Gene Kersten is aware of the costs of the project which are his responsibility. However, Kersten feels that the city should share in the cost for the storm sewer in his development because it benefits residents outside of his proposed new addition.

City auditor Penny Nostdahl explained that Kersten had not turned in the developer agreement for Kersten’s Eighth Addition, along with the platting for his current appropriation of the property, which the law states needs to be completed for the annexation process.

Johnson explained that the cost for storm sewer is expensive and considering it does benefit other areas of the city, the town should share the cost.
With that, Nostdahl explained the city’s developer policy strictly states that it is the developer’s task to care for the cost. She added that if Kersten wasn’t prepared to develop such a large area the council should consider de-annexation of the property and start over with a smaller plat of land.

No other action was taken by the council on this matter, and the city moved forward in the meeting to the committee reports.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

City Property:

The first order of business in committee reports was for new council chairs, which was moved by councilman Harley Getzlaff and seconded by councilman Gary Mortensen, and was approved by the council.

Street:

The city approved a rolling six foot apron curb for the west side of the Farmer’s Union Lumber property. The council did so to assist the lumberyard with better parking. Farmer’s Union will care for the expense of the project.

Pool:
 
In recent months, Bottineau’s public pool has seen a number of operation problems concerning the pool, which has caused the pool to be closed for the majority of the summer so far. To date, the primary issue was keeping water in the main pool due to the fact there was a leak in the pool, draining the water out.

Bernstein, who represents the city on the pool board committee, asked the council for comments about whether maintaining the pool for an extended period of time or consider constructing a new pool. The council made the decision to discuss this issue next month after researching the issue.

Tax Exemption:

Tractor Supply Center, which is planning to construct a Tractor Supply Company store west of Walmart, requested a five year tax exemption.

Getzlaff made the motion to deny the tax exemption to Tractor Supply Company, which was seconded by Lorenz and was passed by the council.

CITY APPRAISAL

In other city news, Vanguard Appraisals has completed its first phase in the city wide appraisal project with finishing its inspections of the residents’ property and homes. The next phase is to conduct the financial appraisals in the projects.