City of West Okoboji
Regular Council Meeting
501 Terrace Park Blvd
June 8, 2009 – 6:30 p.m.
Presiding Larry Traughber
Council Present Booth, Sieh, Petersen, Ladegaard
Council Absent Paxton
Other Present Ray Cranston, Bernie Saggau, Virgil Van Beek
Motion/Petersen/Ladegaard/carried to approve the Agenda
Motion/Ladegaard/Booth/ carried to approve the May 13,2009 Minutes
Motion/Booth/Sieh/carried to approve the Treasurer’s Report
Motion/Booth/Ladegaard/carried to approve the Claims for the Month
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Parks & Rec
Petersen would like Rice to paint a “No Parking” sign on the asphalt in front of the Old City Hall. Petersen would like Rice to check on a bike rack also. Rice report that the grass area is done and now waiting for the wild flower seed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Saggau was present to give reasons not to grant Jones Beach’ request for improvement by the mailboxes. Saggau referred to a letter that he had received from Alan Mores, a resident of Jones Beach. Some of the areas of the letter Saggau referred to are as follows:
1. “You mentioned in 1972, Wyatt didn’t want the boxes on her property because it may be sold. That is 34 years ago and the land has not been sold”.
2. “I also contacted two different postmasters. I received the same answers from both. Mail will not be delivered if the road is not maintained. I asked the Milford Postmaster again, and she gave me the same answer”.
3. “The same day I went to the Mayor and told him what the postmaster said. Titterington immediately said, ‘the road is maintained by the city’”.
4. “Alan (Mores), one Sunday I counted 37 cars used my driveway for a turnaround. I don’t know if that is a concern of any of the Jones Beach property owners, but if your driveway were used like that, I can assure you there would be some concern”.
The rest of the letter is on record.
Rice stated to the Council that we only pick up trash and plow snow and do not maintain the road. Rice stated that if the road would need repair, it would be at Jones Beach expense, not City expense.
Cranston stated that there is a problem when people get their mail, because they hold traffic up by sitting at the mailboxes. Cranston feels it should be a City street and that both gates should be opened.
Van Beek feels that if the mailboxes were inside the gates, it would make it a better turn around which would be better for all citizens.
Ladegaard wanted to know that if the mailboxes were inside the gate, would that make a better turnaround?
Rice stated that the road right-of-way is only 40 foot.
Saggau stated that people are afraid of hitting the mailboxes so if they were moved, it would help the turnaround.
Ladegaard stated that by the letter marked April 20, 2009, it sounds like it takes a simple majority vote by Jones Beach residents to move the mailboxes. Ladegaard stated that if we didn’t pick the trash up at each home on Jones Beach and just had a collection point at the gates, it would be a problem with smell and animals getting into the trash.
Council at this time would like to table the mailbox issue until the July 20th meeting.
Council agreed to wait on speed bumps and have the Milford Police start issuing tickets for speeding and see if that would help the speeding problem.
The Council slightly addressed the 1st Street improvements, but would like all parties involved to be at the next Council Meeting.
Ladegaard suggested that due to the impact on the Larson’s property, that it would be good to have the City Attorney present. Rice was directed by the Council to have the City Attorney at the July 20th meeting.
NEW BUSNIESS
Motion/Petersen/Sieh/carried to Adopt an Ordinance amending the traffic code by adding a new section 62.12 concerning golf cart operation on city streets
Aye: Sieh, Booth, Petersen, Ladegaard
Nay: None
Motion/Petersen/Booth/carried to have the Council Meeting on July 20th. Rice will be gone to Clerk’s school the week of July 13th.
Motion/Sieh/Ladegaard/carried for renewal of Cigarette Permit for Oh Shucks
Aye: Sieh, Booth, Ladegaard
Nay: Petersen
Motion/Booth/Petersen/carried for renewal of Off-Premise Beer License for Oh Shucks
Aye: Sieh, Booth, Petersen, Ladegaard
Nay: None
Drainage bid for Milford Street came in at $2980.00 from Sullivan Construction
Motion/Petersen/Sieh/carried to except Sullivan Constructions bid.
Motion/Petersen/Booth/carried at 8:30 to adjourn
Unfinished Business