CityHallVCVallley City (CSi) The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall.  Commissioner Luke was  present, via telephone conference call.

Commissioner Nielson presented Commissioner Magnuson with a plaque on behalf of the North Dakota League of Cities as he has completed the first level of a program study, with the Municipal Government Academy as they celebrated the leadership achievements of commissioner Magnuson.

 

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Renewal of Heating license for K & K Heating & Cooling Inc, new plumbing license for The Rite Temp LLC.

A Game of Chance Raffle Permit for El Zagal, Barnes County Wildlife Federation and Chamber of Commerce (2).

Approved blocking off street request for Prom Drill on April 24, 2014, at 1:30-p.m.

Approved blocking off Central Avenue from 8th Street to 4th Street for the Soap Box Derby June 6-8, 2014.

PUBLIC FORUM  No one spoke

ORDINANCES

Approved the first reading of an Ordinance a recodified Traffic Ordinance. City Attorney Russell Myhre said the city worked with the Police Department in reworking the language and adopted current state laws, and existing city Ordinances.

 

RESOLUTIONS

Approved a Resolution n increasing the water rates.  City Administrator David Schelkoph notes that the new water treatment plant consumes more electricity treating Devils Lake water coming into the Sheyenne River in the summer and fall.  Schelkoph says most Valley City residents will see a $7 per month increase on their monthly water bill after May 5th.

Approved a Resolution approving final plans and specifications and authorize advertisement for bids for Paving Improvement District No. 106 SU-CPU-2-990(045)049. The area includes Southwest and Northeast Valley City. The projects were combined.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Approved a customer exchange between Barnes Rural Water and Valley City water customers. City Administrator Schelkoph  said the agreement initially includes three hookups and will eventually include 14 new units, in coming developments.

City Commissioners considered moving the Beautification Committee from the Chamber of Commerce umbrella to the Visitor’s Committee umbrella. Visitor’s Committee spokesperson, Commission Nielson explained funding. The City Commission approved the action.

Approved a Retail Image Enhancement Grant up to the amount of $2,963.00 for My Bar Valley City LLC signage.

A Renaissance Zone application for a 5 year income tax exemption and 5 year property tax exemption for Summit Properties LLC on improvements only, and designate it as VC-80. (RZ Committee) was approved.  Commissioner Pedersen abstained from voting.

A Renaissance Zone application for a 5 year income tax exemption and 5 year property tax exemption for John and Diane Hill and transfer it to VC-74, was approved.

A Renaissance Zone application for a 5 year income tax exemption and 5 year property tax exemption for George and Mary Ann Stack and transfer it to VC-75 was approved.

A Special Alcohol Beverage Event license for Boomer’s Corner Keg for the Dakota Raiders Hill Climb on June 15, 2014. (Boomer’s) was approved.

City Commissioners approved transferring Refunding Bonds of 04 Debt Service Fund 355 fund balance of $17,932.28 to City Financed Projects Fund 105.  Auditor Richter said the bond was retired in 201.

Approved was engineering for final design of Permanent Flood Protection in the VCSU district. Chad Peterson of KLJ said the project moves from the preliminary to final design phase.

Approved the State Water Commission $60 million water project plan for the 2015-17 biennium.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

David Schelkoph said 40% of the AMI Meters have been installed, at 2,775.

He added that a meeting will be held between CHR and the city.

He said the city and street department met concerning the removal of snow from the April 1, 2014 blizzard.

Items discussed for the future includes:

No Parking on Emergency Routes after snow begins falling, and vehicles will be towed if they are parked on the designed routes.

With residential snow removal routes, vehicles on those streets should be removed as soon as possible for proper cleaning.

He said the city will issue a total no travel advisory when necessary during a snow storm.

He reminds residents that a fine of $100 to $1,000 can be leveled to anyone pushing snow onto city streets.

 

CITY UPDATE & COMMISSION REPORTS

Valley City, City Wide Cleanup is May 12-16, 2014, and City Building Inspector Dave Andersen reminds residents of the City Code concerning keep yards picked up.

City Fire Chief Gary Retterath reminds residents to pull over their vehicles when the fire sirens sound.

Commissioner Nielson said the 9-1-1 Phone System is operating under a deficit, adding more on the subject will be forthcoming.

Commissioner Magnuson said the meeting concerning snow removal was fruitful, and information on behalf of the city street crews on snow removal was useful.

Mayor Werkhoven said the snow wind rows of snow during removal of the blizzard snow occurred due to some equipment failure. He added that about 14 and a half inches of heavy wet snow was difficult under any circumstances.

He reminds motorists to use their vehicle’s directional signals when turning.

He pointed out that the rise in the Sheyenne River is due to water coming down from the north, due to melting of the snowpack, only.

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