Among notable action taken at the Bemidji City Council meeting Monday:
Condemned structure
The council considered a resolution to condemn a building at 321 Central Ave. S.E. The reasons for the condemnation were inadequate maintenance of the structure, abandonment, fire hazard, dilapidation, and other conditions that are hazardous to public safety and health.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Permit fees waived
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The council considered waiving $2,733.50 in building permit and mechanical permit fees for Habitat for Humanity. The organization plans to build two new single-family homes at 718 Ninth St. N.W. and 1412 Park Ave. N.W.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Engineering agreement
The council considered hiring Widseth, Smith and Nolting for engineering services on First Street through Fourth Street in Nymore. The services are estimated to cost $111,985.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Contract awarded
The council considered awarding a contract to Christiansen Industrial Developers Inc. for water and sewer work at in the Bardwell Park area. The contract will cost $1,043,142.60.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
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HRA Board appointment
The council considered appointing Tim Flathers to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Authorizing use of waterfront
The council considered a resolution authorizing use of the waterfront area for the 2006 Kraus-Anderson Walleye Classic on June 17.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Feasibility report resolution
The council considered a resolution accepting the feasibility report and calling for a public hearing on the reconstruction of 24th Street, east of Hannah Avenue to Pine Ridge Avenue.
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ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
24th Street project
The council held a public hearing and considered a resolution ordering improvement, designating a project engineer, calling for preparation of plans and specifications, and authorizing advertisement for bids on improvement on a project to reconstruct portions of 24th Street.
ACTION: the council voted 7-0 to approve.
Authorize architectural report
The council considered authorizing a preliminary architectural report for the proposed public works facility by TKDA for a fee of $7,500.
ACTION: The council voted 4-3 against the recommendation. Councilors Barbara Meuers, Roger Hellquist and Onen Markeson voted in support of the recommendation.
Pinnacle agreement
The council considered terminating the developer's agreement for the Pinnacle Village Outlets project. Terminating the agreement will allow the developer to continue grading the site, which was not allowed under the agreement. The city staff and developer will meet to discuss conditions of the agreement termination.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Interim team compensation
The council considered authorizing compensation to the interim city manager team of City Attorney Al Felix and Finance Director Ron Eischens in the amount of $1,500 per month until a new city manager is hired.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Archaeology services
The council considered spending $6,280 to hire The 106 Group Ltd. to conduct archaeology services during the Diamond Point redevelopment planning process.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Accept feasibility report
The council considered a resolution to accept the feasibility report and call for a public hearing on street improvements on cross streets Eighth Street to 14th Street from Bemidji to Irvine Avenues.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Accept feasibility report
The council considered a resolution to accept the feasibility report and call for a public hearing on improvements to Comfort Drive.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Committee compensation
The council held a final reading on an ordinance establishing compensation at a rate of $45 per meeting for city representatives on the Bemidji Area Growth Management Committee. The city has six members on the committee, while Bemidji and Northern Townships have three members each. Committee members who represent the townships have been receiving compensation of $35-$45 per meeting since the committee was formed last year, while city representatives have received no compensation.
ACTION: The council voted 7-0 to approve.
Planning case no. 2006-03
The council held a public hearing and second reading of an ordinance amending the city's zoning map. The Bemidji Development Corporation requested to rezone a recently annexed 66-foot-wide strip of public right of way from its current classification of Agriculture/Open Space to I-1 Industrial Park. The property is located south of Carr Lake Road Southeast and east of Washington Avenue South. The Planning Commission recommended approval. No one spoke at the public hearing.
ACTION: No action was necessary.
Present: Mayor Richard Lehmann; Onen Markeson, Ward 1; Roger Hellquist, Ward 2; Ron Johnson, Ward 3; Jerry Downs, Ward 4; Nancy Erickson, Ward 5; and Barbara Meuers, at large. Absent: none.
For more information on City Council actions, call the city clerk's office at 759-3570 or the city manager's office at 759-3565.
