News

Council holds March meeting

Scott Wagar

03/11/2014

Bottineau’s city council held its March meeting this past Monday and spent the majority of its time focused on development projects within the city.

BIDS

Matt Johnson of Wold Engineering discussed with the council a number of projects the engineering firm is preparing for this spring and summer.

Feasibility Study:

Johnson presented two feasibility study bids for a new arena, fire hall and pool. The studies will include such items as locations, costs, scope of project and functionality.  

The two firms who provided bids included JLG with a bid of $5,000 and Nostdahl-Liptack Architects at $30,000. The council members chose JLG’s bid at $5,000 along with Wold Engineering’s fees of $24,700.

Water Line Loop:

Bids were also opened for the water line loop project where six companies presented bids, which included:

  •  Naastad Brothers - $289,350
  •  Crow River Construction - $426,525
  •  Utility Systems of America - $315,665
  •  Mikkelsen Aggregates at $270,703
  •  Wagner Construction – $286,865
  •  Pinky’s Aggregate - $394,930

 
The council approved Mikkelsen for the project.

Sewer Lift:

Bids were opened for the west sewer lift upgrade, with four firms presenting bids, which included:

  •  Kemper Construction - $216,680
  •  Naastad Brothers - $149,782
  •  Crow River Construction - $167,400
  •  Wagner Construction at $148,000

 
The council approved Wagner Construction for the project.

EASEMENT
 
The city received information from Utility Systems of America about dirt work that was not completed due to weather with the sewer expansion project concerning an easement with the family of the late Clayton Gagner. The correspondence from the company stated that they would address the city’s concerns.

Utility Systems of America was supposed to be paid for its work in December, but the money was held until the company stated they would address the issue at hand with the easement.

The company sent the letter in recent days stating they would address the city’s concerns, so the city sent the company the money owned to the firm.

DAMAGED LAND
 
City attorney, Swain Benson III, presented an affidavit to the councilmen from the attorney representing the family of Gagner with a list of concerns in regards to damage on their property when the city placed in the sewer line this past summer.

Benson stated that he didn’t believed the two parties could come to an agreement for a settlement and recommended to the council to hire an appraiser to value the land. The aldermen agreed and approved to hire Rhonda Knutson to conduct the appraisal.

GRANTS

Wold Engineering has placed two requests for the city for energy impact grant funding for the upcoming lagoon expansion the water line loop phase III.  

ZONING REQUEST

Ryan and Roberta Brossart submitted a rezoning request at 720 Railroad Avenue from an R-1 and R-2 to M. The council approved the Protest Hearing, which will take place on March 28 at 6 p.m. in the city office.

This is the second request by the Brossarts. Their first request was turned down in November when a number of property owners filed protests against the rezoning and reached the legal percentage protest for the rezoning requests to fail. However, on Monday evening the council approved for a second protest hearing because they felt the Brossarts did not get a fair hearing due to the fact the council had a vacancy at their table during that time.

KERSTEN ADDITION

The final hearing for platting and zoning for Kersten’s Ninth Addition from Ag to R-4, and Kersten’s 10th Addition from Ag to R-2 took place, which the aldermen approved.

PRESERVE DEVELOPMENT

Roger Riley, owner of the Preserve Development, made a request to the council to vacate part of a street in his development so he can replat the area for the purpose of laying out the lots in another manner.  The council passed Riley’s request.

Riley also requested that the preserve be paved by 2015. The council stated that several issues had to be addressed with Riley before the paving could take place. It was decided by the council members that Wold Engineering and Bottineau superintendent Keith Fulsebakke would monitor these issues.

STATE BANK

In other city news, the State Bank of Bottineau has offered the city its building at 514 Thompson Street free of charge. The bank placed one stipulation on its offer which was the city could not utilize the building as a financial establishment. The council approved to accept the bank’s offer.

ARMORY GYM

Ryan Henry made a request to the council that the gymnasium in the armory be rehabilitated so that it can be utilized for recreational activities. The council turned Henry’s request over to city property committee to study.

INSURANCE

Blue Cross and Blue Shield sent a notification to the city stating its rates will increase 29.5 percent.

CLEANING STATION

Clint Reinoehl, director of the Bottineau Chamber of Commerce, requested from the city $7,280 to assist with wages for a new maintenance person for the game cleaning station for one year. The council voted in favor of the request.