Becker City Council met Tuesday to discuss a swimming pool violation, a BNSF agreement and a master agreement with MnDOT.

 

Council heard from City Administrator Greg Pruszinske as he presented two actions for council to act upon in regards to a swimming pool violation within the city limits of Becker.

 

Pruszinske said early last month, the city was informed that Kevin and Andrea Wilson of 13825 Parkview Drive SE, were utilizing an in-ground pool prior to the installation of a five-foot perimeter fence required by city code. The Wilsons received a notice of violation and were instructed to drain the pool immediately.

 

A pool, Pruszinske said, without a proper fence presents a safety hazard for anyone who comes upon the pool. 

 

“It becomes a safety issue above all else,” said Pruszinske.

 

Ten days later, an inspector with Metro West (Rob Douglas) returned to the property to see if the request had been honored and found the pool to still be filled with water and no indication of a fence being planned for.

 

Pruszinske said the city had been notified that the pool had been observed being used by the resident’s children.

 

A second violation was drafted, instructing the homeowners to drain the pool and build the fence.

 

June 28, Pruszinske said a video was posted by one of the property owners that showed the pool full of water with no fence installed. Pictures were taken the following day showing evidence of the ongoing violation.

 

Pruszinske said in the second violation notice, the Wilsons were notified that if they did not correct the violation by July 5, the city would proceed with legal action and a fine.

 

Pruszinske said although the property owners as of Tuesday of this week had submitted a site plan and a receipt of materials purchased for the fence, he asked council to approve the actions of fining the Wilsons and proceeding with the legal action just in case they again fall out of compliance.

 

Council Member Todd Hanrahan asked Pruszinske if he knew if the pool was still full of water as of Tuesday and Pruszinske said, “yes.”

 

Council voted to proceed with the two actions against the Wilsons.

 

Pruszinske asked council to approve changes to the city’s track agreement with BNSF that had not been modified since December of 1995.

 

Pruszinske reminded council and those in the audience the City of Becker owns and operates a rail spur in the Industrial Park. He said during the 2015 BNSF mainline project, the switch (owned/operated by BNSF) had to be relocated to accommodate the new set of tracks. Due to this relocation, the city's spur also had to be moved to realign with the new switch location.

 

Pruszinske said as part of that process, the city made changes to the original Industrial Track Agreement.

 

Council approved the changes.

 

Pruszinske presented council with three documents — a master partnership cover letter, a master partnership agreement and a master partnership resolution — authorizing a renewal contract with MnDOT for the next five years.

 

The agreement is a basic agreement, Pruszinske says, required to do business with MnDOT, capturing their purchasing power and taking advantage of negotiated goods and services. The signed agreement gives the City of Becker and MnDOT permission to exchange services and purchase goods back-and-forth.

 

Pruszinske says, in the city’s case, one of the items staff needs in the agreement is to be able to purchase tack oil from MnDOT to be used by city crews to fill pot holes, seams and cracks in roads and streets.

 

“Basically, the agreement helps us capitalize on the state’s buying power,” Pruszinske said.

 

Council approved.

 

• Jeremy Halvorson of the WWTF is celebrating his 20th anniversary with the city;

 

• Roger Bettinger from the WWTF is celebrating his first year employed with the city;

 

• Council voted to approve the disposal of assets (vehicles) through the Becker Police Dept.;

 

• Los Ortizes — a mexican restaurant soon to open along Bank Street — was approved for a liquor license by the city;

 

• Justin Robinson was named to fill a vacant seat on the planning commission.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is July 18 at 6 p.m.