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Paynesville Press - July 30, 2003

Paynesville City Council Meeting

The Paynesville City Council took the following actions at their meeting on Wednesday, July 23.

•City engineer Pete Carlson gave a verbal report on the status of the street and stormwater improvement project on Lake Avenue. The street portion of the project should be completed by the end of the week. The stormwater pond works well but is in need of some fine grading, said Carlson.

A public hearing for assessments for the project could be scheduled for September.

•The council approved an aquatic park feasibility study submitted by the ad-hoc pool committee.

The study - presented by engineers from USAquatics - recommends building an outdoor aquatic park with two pools, in an effort to attract patrons and keep them entertained. The facility could cost between $1.3 and $1.4 million, which likely would need bonding and would require a public vote.

The pool committee recommends a site for the aquatic park on school property between the student parking lot at the high school and the armory. The pool committee approached the school board last winter and asked about using this property, but no permission was given at that time. The pool committee plans to approach the school board again.

The city and the township paid for the feasibility study, which cost nearly $6,000.

•The council approved proceeding with orderly annexation of airport property making the airport part of the city. When an orderly annexation occurs, the city usually reimburses the township for a portion of the township's lost property taxes, but this may not be the case for the airport property, which was acquired through land condemnation and is public property. If the city became the owner of record before 2002 taxes were tallied, then there will be no tax on the property.

It is unclear what date is on record for the city's ownership. City attorney Bill Spooner and city administrator Steve Helget must find that information before an orderly annexation can be done.

•The council approved the plans and specifications for a tee hangar at the Paynesville Municipal Airport. The city is scheduled to receive bids for the hangar by Tuesday, Aug. 12. Bids will be taken for a steel-framed building and for a wood-framed building.

•The council approved a perpetual easement agreement with Dennis and Catherine Rothstein, who own a parcel of land that borders the airport but is only accessible from city property.

•The council approved new "Paynesville Welcomes You" signs that will be posted at the city limits. The blue and green signs will be made by Winslow Woodcarving Studio at an estimated cost of $14,960. This will be paid from the EDAP fund.

The council also approved an initial payment of $7,400 for the signs. •The council approved the Fire Relief Association report for the local fire department. According to the report, 23 firefighters have earned $332,000 in lump sum pension payments to be paid as each firefighter retires.

•The council approved changes in the terms of the members of the human rights commission. The terms now will run for three years and will expire at the end of August to accommodate student members of the commission.



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