.jpg)
The Babbitt city council discussed the problem of people feeding deer in town at Tuesday’s study session prior to the regular meeting.
Also discussed were policies on dress code and phone stipends.
Putting a ban on feeding deer was brought up by Mayor Andrea Zupancich.
“Thisisjustfoodforthought… on implementing a ban on feeding deer in town. It’s not that I’m against feeding deer or I don’t like deer or anything like that,” said Zupancich. “My concern is more so for the wolves coming in. I know other towns are and have put deer feeding bans in place. Some even have bow hunting in town.”
Lassi asked for the issue to be put on a future agenda.
“Perhaps we should get something in place for the fall,” said Lassi.
Zupancich also pushed for a dress code policy for office workers. The library already has a policy in place and the council will take a look at it.
Clerk Robecca Jaeger talked to the council about a presentation made by Bollig Engineering.
Jason Chopp and SEH Engineering has been the city’s engineering firm for some time. Bollig came into the picture after Jaeger arrived.
A one page chart was provided with three options for city buildings.
Concept A was to fix what the city currently has at the Municipal Center and the fire hall.
Concept B would remove the north wing at the Municipal Center and add on a fire hall.
Concept C was to build a completely new building with the same square footage as both buildings have now.
The one page handout had little for details but appeared to show a roughly $8.5 million cost for concepts A and C and a cost of $6 million for B.
Zupancich asked Chopp if he had provided input to the Bollig presentation.
“No, I was not asked,” said Chopp.
Street supervisor and fire chief Tony Chamberlin said Bollig made a “free sales pitch.”
Chopp pointed out the one page handout did not provide cost estimates, only comparisons.
Zupancich questioned where the Bollig presentation initiated and if the previous council had requested the proposal.
“They had been asking questions,” said Jaeger.
Council member Jim Lassi said, “It was just left there. There was no commitment on our part, there was no financial obligation, just info.
They offered to do something for nothing and we took them up on it.”
Jaeger said a possible location for a new facility would be in West Babbitt.
During the study session Zupancich brought up how the city would price lots in the new West Babbitt Development. She said that would have been beneficial for the city’s presentation for a CDBG grant. Lassi said no dollar figures have been set. Zupancich said lot sales would help with matching funds for grant applications.
Chopp said the funding for a housing development would likely include a combination of grant monies and a loan the city would take out to pay for the improvements. He said lot sales would reduce the loan balance.
Chopp said the city has $2 million in state bonding and is pursuingCDBGandIRRRBgrants.
Following the study session, the council wrapped up a regular meeting in under an hour.
City attorney Joel Lewicki asked the council to review the current ordinance in response to garbage pick up. He said residents need to remove garbage cans from the curb by noon.
With Joe White absent from the meeting, in other business the council:
• Heard Zupancich question $13,000 in bills for work on flooding problems. Jaeger said $100,000 in bills have been submitted to FEMA for possible reimbursement. She said that included work at the golf course as well.
• Questioned Jaeger on why city fund balance sheets weren’t included in the packet.
• Was unable to approve a contract with the Babbitt Blue Line with White absent and both Duane Lossing and Zupancich unable to vote since they are on the Blue Line.
• Authorized soliciting bids for the removal of the building at the softball field. The fields will be re moved as part of the West Babbitt housing project.
• Waived the annual highway sign fee for the Babbitt History Center.
• Accepted Cathy Hoheisel’s resignations from the Library Board and West Babbitt Development committee.
• Appointed Kathleen Graber to the Library Board.
• Approved the Babbitt Conservation Club’s gambling license.
• Hired Cody Rassmussen as a casual labor employee for the Street Department.
• Voted to remove Nick Arntz from the fire department roster.
• Increased ambulance department on-call wages for Monday-Friday day shift from $5 to $10 per hour with back pay for January. Previously the city had authorized paying $15 an hour.
Approved a 10-year extension to the city's non-exclusive franchise contract with Midco.
• Withheld approval for Sarah Powell and Jaeger’s request to attend a training conference.
• Will have Lewicki look into three loans the city has with the Junction Inn and Junction Bar. The owner has passed away.
