By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
New and old city of Ellendale representatives took the oath of office during the regular meeting of the city council Thursday, January 12, 2023.
Mayor Matthew Bartsch began his second term and was first to be sworn in by city clerk Kim Zimprich, followed Jon Asplund, who begins his first official term, and Scott Groth, who begins his 8th term, serving all but four years on the council since 1998.
Preceding the swearing in was an hour-long, well-attended codification workshop reviewing city ordinances related to dog kennels, fencing, landscaping, building materials, and lot designs.
Logan Busho presented the fire department report. The unit responded to 167 calls, 124 of which were medical in 2022, the most the department has ever responded to, a trend which Busho expects to continue to rise.
In the ever-changing plan to build a new fire hall, the hurdles continue. APEX, the contractor for the project, had a change in their contact person with the city. A meeting between the city and the new individual was scheduled and the city is confident they won’t miss a beat.
More updates were provided on the project, including a proposal from APEX to provide the basic drawing of the fire hall project for $5,000. The alternative would be hiring a professional architect for more than $30,000, but, because this is as basic as it gets in terms of ad esign, Chief Busho believes using APEX is the best route. “It’s a pretty down to earth design.”
The upcoming meeting with APEX was scheduled for Feb. 9 at 6 p.m., prior to the next regular meeting of the city council.
The department is still looking for one more member, and interested persons are encouraged to contact city hall and/or chief Busho.
The council approved the fire department report.
Misc.
The consent agenda included the accounts payable, the Dec. 8 meeting minutes, and the financial reports.
Three items on the agenda went by relatively uneventfully. The maintenance report was skipped due to lack of news or updates worthy of a report. In parks and trails, councilperson Jackie Froman was “pumped” (very excited) to be appointed to the committee this year. She was less excited to be on the Buildings Committee, but clerk Zimprich assured her the two assignments go together.
The Steele Suites apartment project is still underway and the next meeting with Stadheim properties is scheduled for next week.
An update from the codification meeting was provided in addition to updates on numeral ordinance violations in the city. Councilperson Froman asked if the council can consider providing a one month “free pass” for new homeowners on ordinance violation. “It’s not very nice to welcome new residents to town with a letter saying, ‘Hey, you’ re doing this and this is wrong.”’
Clerk Zimprich reported that the fee for the city Attorney Council meetings is rising because the lawyer’s are charging by the hour as opposed to $150 per meeting. On a lighter note, Zimprich determined the smell in the city clerk’s office was due to a dead animal under the building and not a gas leak. “I guess I’ll just continue diffusing,” she joked. (Diffusing means spraying scented mist into the air.) Councilperson Froman joked she could bring her dog, Velma, up to sniff out the problem.
In unfinished businesses, councilperson Asplund, mayor Bartsch, and others completed FEMA training, as well as Board of appeal and equalization training.
A board of appeal and equalization meeting was moved to April 13 at 7 p.m. and a CEDA Strategic planning work session was scheduled for Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
In new businesses, the city appointments were set for 2023:
Depository: Keen Bank; Official Newspaper: NRHEG Star Eagle; Mayor Pro Temp: Scott Groth; Fire Commissioners: Bartsch, Groth; Water and Sewer: Asplund, Councilperson Derek Bartness; Streets: Asplund, Bartness; Maintenance: Asplund, Bartness; Building and Grounds: Groth, Froman; EDA Board: Bartsch, Groth; Ambulance board: Bartsch; Clerk/Treasurer: Zimprich; City Attorney: Mark Rahrick; Animal officer Josh Otto; Emergency Management Jerry Ibberson; Fire Chief: Busho; Fire Relief Association Trustees: Bartsch, Groth; Weed inspector: Otto; Codification Commissioners: Council; Parks and Trails: Bartsch, Froman (very excited about this).
The clerk/treasurer was authorized to pay utilities and other various miscellaneous expenses. The master fee schedule was approved for fines, permits, etc. Automated wire, bank payments, their annual renewal, was approved. The Master Fine Schedule was approved.
An ordinance was approved officially establishing a new street, Lagoon Road.
The first of two steps for a new
garbage ordinance was approved. A public meeting will be held at the next council meeting in order to hear input. The main change is to allow garbage containers to be placed within five feet of residential structures. Currently, the city ordinance states containers shall not be stored in the front yard. Also included in the proposed change are to require garbage cans be removed from the street/curb within 12 hours after being emptied by the sanitation company; all garbage must be contained inside the container and no garbage bags or garbage items be laying on the ground. To clarify, what was approved was the official posting of the proposed ordinance update.
The debate continues on how many meetings the city council will have per month. Councilperson Froman remains adamant there should be two. She appears to be in the minority as everyone else thinks one meeting per month is almost sufficient. Councilperson Groth suggested quarterly workshop meetings. No action was taken and the topic will be debated further at the next council meeting.
In updates from council members, Froman suggested the council participate in the Ellendale Days parade this summer with a float. The city’s 125 year celebration is two years away and the theme of this summer's Ellendale Days shirts are, “Two to go.”
An idea of a natural snow fence, by leaving two rows of corn, was suggested along Brad Hagen’s property running along the city border. The council did not decide if they would ask Hagen if he were open to the idea.
The council extended thanks to the city staff, which purchased flowers for Larry Otto’s funeral.
In the public comment portion of the meeting, Star Eagle Publisher Eli Lutgens asked for any input from the council about stories they would like to see in the paper. Groth suggest more business features and all were in agreement.
The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.