Council acts on Rib Fest changes, motorcycle ride, assessor report

Talk about it

Besides hearing from Alexandria Police Chief Rick Wyffels, the Alexandria City Council acted on several other items at Monday’s meeting.

The council:

• Approved a request from Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce to close 2nd Avenue to accommodate Awake the Lakes events on Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28. Chamber Director Coni McKay noted a couple of changes for this year: The Rib Fest will take place Saturday night instead of Friday night to accommodate out-of-town travelers; and a big tent will be set up outside instead of having several small tents so the event can be held even in a downpour.

• Approved a request from the Montevideo American Legion Riders, which will hold a motorcycle/car ride through Alexandria on June 2. An expected 100 to 170 participants will meet at Carlos Corners at 1:38 p.m and proceed on County Road 42 and Nokomis Street before heading east to Osakis on Highway 27. The group asked for traffic control help. It’s a fundraising event for the American Legion Legacy Fund.

• Approved the annual report from City Assessor Reed Heidelberger. The estimated market value of all property in the city in 2011 was $1,102,821,900 – which is down less than 1 percent from the previous year. New construction accounted for $33.78 million of the value, down from 2010’s total of $45.42 million. The value of tax-exempt property (schools, churches, government buildings and non-profits) was $291 million. As was the case in 2010, the city comprises 22 percent of the total estimated market value of Douglas County, just under $5 billion.

• Approved a second and final reading of an amended nuisance ordinance. The changes add a “responsible party” section identifying whom the city could send the complaint notices to, such as property managers, deed holders or others having an ownership interest in the property. They also allow the city to post a notice on the property.

• Approved the following appointments: Keith Dougherty, Wayne Farnberg and Lennie Murray to the cable TV commission; Bradley Forbrook to the economic development board.

• Called for bids on a waterline project Alexandria Light and Power is doing on Jefferson Street between 12th and 15th Avenue. Two waterlines are under the road. An older one will be abandoned and services will be switched over to the new line.

• Approved a request from Douglas County Abstract Company to clear the title on property being purchased by Conlin’s Furniture along 34th Avnue, the site of the old SAVE grocery store. Conlin’s is moving into the space.

• Approved a $9,040 state grant for a forklift that will be used at the Runestone Community Center and other departments. The city agreed to match the grant.

• Listened to concerns from Dan Thorud of Thorud Auto Sales in Alexandria. He said that someone is using the former name of his business to redirect potential customers to another website. City Attorney Tom Jacobson advised Thorud to pursue a civil suit and to seek an injunction. Police Chief Rick Wyffels said he would meet with Thorud to discuss the matter.

• Revised the date of a public hearing on proposed improvements to 50th Avenue. It will take place May 14 at City Hall at 7:15 p.m.

• Was informed that City Administrator Jim Taddei scheduled a joint work session of the council and Douglas County commissioners for April 25 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Douglas County Courthouse.

• Was informed that a joint meeting will take place between the council and the Alexandria Housing and Redevelopment Authority sometime in June (no date is set yet).

• Proclaimed April 27 as Arbor Day in Alexandria, urging citizens to support efforts that protect trees and woodlands.

• Proclaimed May 31 as Thrivent Financial Day in Alexandria, urging citizens to be aware of the importance of local partnerships with non-profit organizations. Thrivent Financial has contributed $100,000 to Grand Arbor’s healing gardens, more than $700,000 to Douglas County Habitat for Humanity and $1.2 million in the last 10 years to other community causes. Members of the company also contributed many volunteer hours to local fundraising projects.

• Approved the following licenses: peddlers – The Country Stop; off-sale beer and tobacco – Pilot Travel Center (formerly Pipleline Travel Plaza); sign hanger – Rose City Sign Company; excavating – Stennes Excavating; charitable gambling – Parents Advisory Committee to conduct bingo at Woodland Elementary School on May 4, Knights of Columbus to sell raffles for a May 5 event at the Broadway Ballroom, and Pheasants Forever to sell raffles on September 1.

Tags: local news, news, council, ribfest, assessor