July 20, 2009 Council Meeting
City of West Okoboji
Regular Council Meeting
501 Terrace Park Blvd
July 20, 2009 – 6:30 p.m.
Presiding Larry Traughber
Council Present Booth, Sieh, Petersen, Ladegaard, Paxton
Other Present Ray Cranston, Bernie Saggau, Virgil Van Beek, Alan Mores,
Galen Rozenboom, Jim Blum, Mike Hoien, Jan Larson, Don Larson,
Vernon Dykstra, Steve & Louanne Wedeking, Greg Ownes
Motion/Petersen/Ladegaard/carried to approve the Agenda
Motion/Paxton/Petersen/ carried to approve the June 8th & June 29th 2009 Minutes
Motion/Paton/Ladegaard/carried to approve the Treasurer’s Report
Motion/Paxton/Booth/carried to approve the Claims for the Month
NEW BUSINESS
Public Hearing for Okoboji Blvd Water Project opened at 6:30. Brain Schmidt from Kate Kruse and Neilson present the bids.
Motion/Sieh/Petersen/carried to except low bid of 53751.00 from Valley Contracting, Inc.
Aye: Sieh, Booth, Paxton, Petersen, Ladegaard
Nay: None
Traughber close Public Hearing at 6:40pm.
Rice explained to the Council the water problem the Minor’s had after the 4inch rain.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Rice presents an interest calculation sheet from Bank Midwest.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
The issues of concrete in front of the mailboxes near Jones Beach gates.
Bernie Saggau stated in 2006 he had spoke with the postmaster about moving the mailboxes inside the gate the reply from the Postmaster was they could. Currently the Postmaster stated the mailboxes could not be move inside the gates. Saggau stated if they would get the lock box style and move the boxes next to the gate walls it would give move room for a turnaround.
The Postmaster had stated to Alan Mores that the mailed boxes would not be moved inside the gates. Mores thought that the concrete would improve the area.
Susie Lany also thought that it would improve this area.
Ray Cranston stated that the residents of Jones Beach will get there mail, then set there and read there mail. Cranston stated this holds traffic up.
Vern Dykstra stated if the City could buy more ground from adjacent property owner we could have a nice turn around. This would improve it for both parties.
Virgil Van Beek felt that if we could not buy land from adjacent property owners that concreting both side of the road would help.
Ray Cranston felt that he would lose parking area by doing both side of the road.
Motion/Paxton/Ladegaard/carried to allow Jones Beach to concrete along the south side of Okoboji Blvd.
1st Improvements
Jim Blum explained the 2 Alternate plans he had done for the Banwart’s for the first street improvements. Alternate 1 would cut the hill by 5.5 feet. Alternate 2 would cut the hill around 3 feet. The cost to the City would be around $82000.00 for alternate 2, which would be about half the total cost of the project. Both alternates would make Larson’s driveway steeper than it is now. Earl Maahs, our City Attorney was unable to be at our Council Meeting but had sent Greg Owens to represent the City. Ladegaard ask Owens what obligations would we have to the Larson’s if we proceed with one of the Alternate Project? Owens said the City has condemnation power. Owens explained how that process would work. Wedeking stated that it would help his driveway, but by widening the road would, posting slower speed limit signs would help too. Jan Larson wanted to make sure all the Council and Mayor had received and read her letter. Mike Hoien, the contractor for Banwart felt this is the time to do this project.
Jim Blum also stated this would meet the urban design standards if we cut the 5.5 feet.
Don Larson stated this would make the back part of there lot unusable for a driveway.
Jan Larson stated there is no benefit to there lot at all. Galon Roozeboom stated his views on why not to cut the hill down. Petersen felt with the wider street and changing the speed limit would help. Booth agreed with that also. Sieh is in favor of making the road wider.
Motion/Booth/Sieh/carried to just widen the road and not to lower the grade.
Aye: Sieh, Booth, Paxton, Petersen, Ladegaard
Nay: None
Motion/Ladegaard/Paxton/carried to have the speed bumps issues removed off the agenda for now.
Motion/Petersen/Booth/carried at 8:45 to adjourn.
Unfinished Business