Ellendale City Council

By SCOTT GROTH

Contributing Writer

The Ellendale City Council met Thursday October 9 with all members present. Also attending the meeting were Eric Hefner, engineer with Bolten & Menk; Russ Goette, maintenance department; and LeeAnn Hojberg, city clerk.

Mayor Roger Swearingen informed the council that FEMA may be helping the city with the pumps in the main lift station. During the rain event this past June the city pumps were overworked. During the annual inspection of the lift station, the firm doing the inspection informed the city that the main pump needed to be rebuilt. The estimate to rebuild the main pump came in around $7,000. Swearingen gave the information to FEMA and they responded that they will either pay for the rebuild or might spring for a new one. FEMA will also help with the second pump in the lift as soon as the diagnosis is done on the pump.

Hefner was present to go over the proposed water and sewer extension along Highway 30. Hefner went over the plan to get water and sewer east past the new Casey’s site. This would allow the current property and any further hook-ups across Highway 30 to connect. Hefner would like to see the city get some price quotes and get started as soon as possible before the Casey’s project gets too far along. The council decided to get quotes and have them ready by the next council meeting.

Goette was next on the agenda. He asked the council to consider the purchase of a small tractor to use mainly around the treatment ponds. Goette passed out some information to the council to look at. The tractor that he would like the council to consider is a ‘49 Ford 8N, with five different attachments including a 5’ Kingkutter brush mower. The asking price is $5,000 for everything. Goette noted that during the recent visit by the MPCA they suggested mowing at the ponds at least twice a year. The city has gotten price quotes on mowing the area and it ran about $1,200. Goette felt that the purchase wouldn’t take long to pay for itself. The council moved to inspect the items before purchasing. Goette told the council that he would inform the seller that the city is interested. Goette told the council that he and Josh Otto have getting some work done at the ponds as the fence is down and the trees around the pond are cleared. 

The claims were presented for approval. The council moved to approve the claims total of $40,850.44.

The minutes from the two September 23 hearings and the September 25 regular meeting were approved as amended. 

During open discussion the council brought the items noted by the MPCA when they were here in July. One of the concerns the MPCA had was letting outside companies dump into the ponds. Their suggestion was to not allow any outside dumping into the city ponds. This suggestion also came from the city’s engineering firm, Bolten & Menk. The council moved to not allow any further dumping into the city’s sewer ponds. 

Clerk Hojberg reminded the council of the assessment hearing that will be held on October 16 starting at 7 p.m.

The next meeting of the Ellendale City Council is October 23 at 7:30 p.m.