The rules of decorum for Alexandria City Council meetings are back.
Based on a handout produced by the League of Minnesota Cities, the rules used to be placed as a reference item at the front of packets council members receive before their meetings.
The rules were officially adopted at the last council meeting on December 8 with a unanimous vote. Some highlights:
Neither the mayor nor any council member shall engage in conduct that delays, interrupts or hinders honest and respectful discussion or debate.
Engaging in private conversations or passing private messages is not allowed in the council chambers.
No members shall use profane or obscene words or threatening language.
During debate, council members may only speak when called upon; comments must be directed to the mayor; no disruptions are allowed; and the mayor may interrupt council members but not vice-versa.
Following are some other issues the council addressed during the meeting.
Loan program extended: Downtown businesses will have more time to apply for loans to fix up their storefronts and building exteriors.
The council voted to extend its Downtown Redevelopment Revolving Loan Fund program through the end of 2015.
Firefighter pensions: The pension for Alexandria volunteer firefighters was set at $6,766 per year of active service for 2014, a 2 percent increase from the $6,633 pension the previous year. The city contributed $32,602 to the pension fund, known as the Fire Department Relief Association.
In 2015, the city will not have to contribute to the fund because its investments from this year earned enough to pay for the pensions, according to City Administrator Marty Schultz.
Annexation approved: The council gave final approval of an ordinance to annex two parcels of land, totaling 0.93 acres, along West Meadow Lane in LaGrand Township. The residents, the Nokes and Fransons, requested the annexation in order to receive city water.
Licenses approved: The following licenses were approved: on-sale and Sunday liquor licenses – Alexandria Elks Lodge; charitable gambling – Alexandria Youth Bowling Alliance for raffles at the Broadway Ballroom on January 30 and May 8, and the Minnesota Darkhouse and Angling Association for a raffle at the Runestone Community Center on March 21; sign hanger permit – Scenic Sign Corp. of St. Cloud; and license renewals for dozens of businesses in the city.
