Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening, at City Hall.

Commissioner Powell was not present.

PROCLAMATION FOR MAY AS STROKE AWARENESS MONTH

Read by Mayor Carlsrud on behalf of the city commission, staff and citizen of Valley City, regarding stroke prevention education.

PROCLAMATION FOR ARBOR DAY, May 4, 2018

Read by Mayor Carlsrud noting Valley City is a Tree City USA, city, and urging citizens to plant trees.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDED:

Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.

Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $2,884,496.63

Electrician and/or Plumber Licenses for Tim’s Plumbing, Valley Electric

Raffle Permit for Sheyenne Valley Bowmen, Valley City Fire Department

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Attorney General’s “A Citizen’s Guide to North Dakota Open Records & Open Meetings Laws” *A member of the public does not have the right to speak to the governing body at an open meeting. The public is only entitled to see and hear what happens at a meeting, and to record or broadcast those observations.

No personal attacks to persons present or not

No inflammatory language used during time that you have the platform

5 minute maximum or as directed by the chair

Thank you for participating in City Government.

A speaker was Lloyd Nelson concerning the StreetScape Project, concerning city funding sources.

He said downtown businesses should be assessed for the costs, and funding not come from other city funding sources.

Former Mayor Robert Werkhoven agreed that the local share of improvements should come from business owners.

Nelson added a petition to have the project put to a vote,  has been rejected twice.

 

Also speaking was Gary Schelagel, who addressed street repair costs, and the method of repairs, siting full depth repairs, and removing drainage.  He pointed to the StreetScape Project.

 

ORDINANCE

The City Commission approved the  second and final reading of, an Ordinance Amending Title 4, Alcoholic Beverages.  City Attorney Mertins outlined changes, including employees attending server training, time period, plus items removed concerning a roster of employees, along with adjustments to application of license requirements, and the license payment schedule.  Plus penalties if the license is not renewed or the payment is not received, on time.

NEW BUSINESS

City Commissioners, approved a Recommendation from Renaissance Zone Board for 523 Legacy Lane for a 5 year income tax exemption and a 5 year property tax exemption up to $250,000 for purchase of a new home, and designate it as VC-84 (pending receipt of Certificate of Good Standing).

Approved a Recommendation from Renaissance Zone Board for 1036 7th Avenue NW for a 5 year income tax exemption and a 5 year property tax exemption for new construction, and designate it as VC-108 (pending receipt of Certificate of Good Standing).

From the audience Lloyd Nelson suggested that when the tax exemptions are approved that assessments for other properties in town by reduced by  five percent for five years.

 

Approved was a Special Alcohol Beverage Event Permit for Hi-Line Hospitality at VCSU on May 10, 2018 for Employee Recognition Dinner.

Approved a Construction Engineering Services with KLJ for Paving Improvement District No. 116 in the amount of $56,500.

City Commissioners approved a Construction Engineering Services with KLJ for Sanitary Improvement District No. 62 in the amount not to exceed $6,700.

The City Commission approved a Construction Engineering Services with KLJ for Storm Sewer Improvement District No. 51 in the amount of $10,900.

Considered was implementation of Request For Proposal process for two 2019 Construction infrastructure projects that have not been assigned engineering firms.  City Administrator Schelkoph said the RFP will be sent to contractors, and the replys reviewed by a committee, including two city commission members, before coming for recommendation by the City Commission.

City Commissioners in favor with Commissioner Pedersen voting in opposition.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

David Schelkoph reminded citizens that next week is citywide cleanup week, with items being collected during the regularly scheduled garbage pickup day.

He outlined other items such as what will be picked up and not picked up.

He asked that bags containing items not be excessively heavy, so they don’t break.

 

He pointed out that Main Street will be closed, possibly up to November this year, in addition to other street projects.

 

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS

City Attorney Mertins said, Robert Drake has served the city with notice to provide a review of the rejection of the petition to put to a vote the scope of the proposed StreetScape project.

Also, Drake has issued a restraining order, that bids for the project not be advertised for the project, until legal avenues have been addressed and decided.

Mertins says a court date has been set, to hear the restraining order.

City Fire Chief Gary Retterath said a Burn Ban is in effect for Valley City until further notice, due to the dry conditions, which includes all outdoor recreational burning.  It does NOT include the use of gas fired grills.

He added that officials continue to plan for Valley City hosting the  State Firefighters Convention this summer.

Mayor Carlsrud pointed out that city alleys will be addresses with maintenance, of the muddy conditions, after citywide cleanup week is over in two weeks.

The meeting was shown live on CSi 68 followed by replays.