CityHallVCValley City, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Monday evening at City Hall.  Commisisoner Luke was not present.

A swearing in was held for new Valley City Police Office, Major Hopp, given by Mayor Wekrhoven. 

Police Chief Fred Thompson then pinned the badge on the newest police officer.

Officer Hopp  graduated from Valley City State University and he’s a graduate and a native of Minnesota.

Police Chief Fred Thompson says the police department will be fully staffed by the end of the year. Over the last 15 months since Thompson has taken over as the new Chief of Police he’s hired four new police officers.

Approval of Consent Agenda items included:

A Game of Chance Raffle Permit for NDSU Judging Club, Mercy Healthcare Foundation, Express Wrestling, and Trinity Lutheran Church WELCA, and others as they appear on the agenda.

Public Forum:  No one spoke.

A Public Hearing was held for Application for Property Tax Incentives for New or Expanding Businesses for Valley City Developers LLC  Bridges Bar and Grill (five year PILOT program).    The public hearing was closed.The Commissioners unanimously approved a Resolution approving Property Tax Incentive Payment In Lieu of Taxes to Valley City Developers LLC.

 A Public Hearing was held, Regarding Special Assessments confirmed by the Special Assessment Commission for Paving Improvement District No. 101. Following the hearing, the City Commission unanimously approved Special Assessments as Recommended by the Special Assessment Commission for Paving District No. 101.

New Business

The City Commission approved the BCBS Contract for 2014.  City Auditor Avis Richter said the 2014 premium will increase by 8%.  BCBS said the average increase is 14%.  The cost is shared with the city and employee participation.

Approved the renewal of Recycling Contract with Valley Recycling for a 2 year period.  City Administrator Schelkoph said clothing has been added to recyclable items.

The City Commission considered moving the Commission meeting day to first and third Tuesday of the month, at 5-p.m. Placed on agenda by Commissioner Nielson, who said many State Water Commission meetings and other meetings are held on Mondays.  Mayor Werkhoven said Commissioners should be in attendance at state water meetings, representing the city. The Commissioners voted unanimously to make the change, effective January, 2014 and to have the City Attorney draw up an Ordinance.  City Attorney Russell Myhre said any changes would need to be indicted in the City Code, by a Resolution.  Two readings  of the Ordinance will need to be made, with the plan to take effect in January 2014.

The Commissioners unanimously approved  a Conditional Use Permit for Jan Baumann dba Roby’s Restaurant to operate as a restaurant in an I-1 zoned area.

The City Commission unanimously approved preliminary and design engineering with KLJ for 4th Street SW Mill & Overlay in the amount of $18,000.

The City Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the preliminary and design engineering with KLJ for 9th Street NE Shared-Use Path in the amount of $16,000.

City Adminstrator’s report, David Schelkoph said with the AMI utility meter update, officials will meet with Barnesville, Minnesota officials, on the project there. He said the Cooper Power meter Installation has 60 Valley City meters installed, with load control boxes installed, starting in November.

He explained the next steps in the budgeting process.

He noted the change in the size of garbage containers, going to 32 gallons. He said the size will help prevent messes, and littering with animals getting into the receptacles.He noted the city’s web site has items listed that will NOT be picked up that are placed in garbage reciptacles. He said the city is doing this on an educational basis.

City Updates and Commission Comments.

Commisioner Mary Lee Nielson read from an E-Mail from Edwin Curry from the North Dakota Department of Health.

It stated that west end outlet on Devils Lake is no longer operating because of a problem with the Round Lake stand pipe tank.

 Curry says it will not be possible to resume pumping from the west end outlet again this year.

The east end outlet continues to flow into the Sheyenne River. Curry says the river is flowing high for this time of year and there is sufficient dilution to continue operating the east end outlet at full capacity.

 Officials will monitor the downstream water quality and adjust discharge with the goal of maximizing the amount of water removed from the lake while not exceeding 750 mg/l sulfate level in the Sheyenne River.

 Nielson says if the sulfate levels exceed 750 milligram per liter downstream near Valley City the new water treatment plant will be able handle the higher sulfate levels to keep the city’s drinking water safe.

City Attorney Myhre said the city is reviewing and amending the traffic code (recodification.)

City Police Chief Thompson said remodeling is continuing at the Police Department.

Chad Peterson of KLJ said the ribbon cutting ceremony at 9th Avenue, Northwest with local and state officials, including Governor Dalrymple, and NDDOT officials is now tentatively set for Friday, October 25, 2013 at 1-p.m., weather permitting.

 

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