The Becker City Council conducted business in 47 minutes Tuesday, discussing WWTF awards, wet well refurbishment, street improvements, zoning codes, building official contract and a lease for Charlie’s Bar & Restaurant.
Mayor Bertram also read aloud a document proclaiming May 5 and the month of May as Arbor Day and Month in the City of Becker.
Chief Brent Baloun also gave his annual report.
Wet Well Refurbishment
Chris Lisson with the WWTF said the industrial influent wet well at the WWTF is subject to constant exposure to industrial influent wastewater flow. Due to the nature of this flow, the current wet well coating has deteriorated over time. The wet well coating, he said, is vital as it protects the concrete structure from deterioration and possible failure.
Lisson said the WWTF fielded a couple quotes from qualified companies and suggested the city work with Innovative Foundation Supportworks to perform the refurbishment project. The quote offered for the work came in at $35,100.
Lisson said the proposed coating project has a 10-year warranty and would ensure the integrity of the industrial influent wet well for many years to come.
He also mentioned the project is budgeted in the 2018 industrial WWTF CIP.
Street Improvements
Streets Supervisor Joe Danielson said bids were opened April 16 for the 2018 street improvements for numerous street projects in the City of Becker.
A low base bid was submitted by Hardrives, Inc. of Rogers. There was a base bid and an alternative with a total cost of $1,651,389.04.
The base bid would include improvements for Club House Lane, golf course maintenance building area, Sherburne Circle, Fairway Lane, Fairway Circle, Eagle Circle, River Circle, Bradley Boulevard, Rye Street and the wastewater treatment facility.
The alternate bid would include Cottonwood Boulevard, Lee Street, Balsam Boulevard, Ash Boulevard, Willow Boulevard, Pineview Drive and Birch Avenue.
Danielson said public works has budgeted $921,800 for the base bid and $790,913 for the alternate, totaling $1.7 million, $60,000 under the original estimate.
Zoning Code
Community Development Director Marie Pflipsen presented a zoning code amendment to council amending the maximum height limits within two of the three industrial zoning districts.
Pflipsen said there was an oversight on the final draft that missed the general industrial (I-GEN) district.
The planning commission held a public hearing Monday in which no one from the public commented.
Mike Doering and Todd Hanrahan voted to accept the amended ordinance and it passed unanimously.
Building Official
Pflipsen asked council to adopt Resolution 18-26, authorizing the mayor and city administrator to execute a contract for building inspection services with Metro West.
RFP’s (request for proposals) were submitted to the city and Pflipsen says Metro Wests’ response was the “most competitive regarding fees and demonstrated the most experience with work in multiple communities.”
She did mention the fees for Metro West’s services is increasing from 30% to 37%.
Police Annual Report
Chief Baloun presented his annual report to council Tuesday and said he has printed copies available and has had it posted to the department’s website for viewing.
Baloun said the report has a couple new features including letters from Mayor Tracy Bertram as well as CA Greg Pruszinske.
Baloun pointed out that his department came in under budget by around $25,000 for 2017. He said revenues were up despite a smaller portion of state aid coming in. He noted a change to administrative fees due to monies being place in other categories.
Calls for service were down by 39 calls and serious and less serious crimes saw little change from the previous year.
Baloun said his department has just four volunteer officers in their unit, down from the usual eight. He is working hard to recruit new volunteers to fill those voids.
WWTF Awards
Some members of the WWTF were on hand Tuesday to be recognized for two awards given to the facility from the MPCA and MDH.
The first award, a certificate of commendation from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), was the city’s sixteenth such award and ninth in the last 12 years. The success has been the result of facility investment, excellent council/administration support, great departmental staffing and a good working relationship with Liberty Paper, Inc.
The second award was from the Minnesota Dept. of Health (MDH) for fluoridation quality. The award recognizes the public water systems that adjust fluoride concentration in drinking water and achieves a monthly average fluoride level that is in the optimal range for 12 consecutive months in a calendar year.
Staff at the WWTF consists of Dave Pesola, Chris Lisson, Jeremy Halvorson, Mike Barringer, Gerald Lanz, Robert Rierson, Hunter Breidenbach and Chris Kroll.
Other News
Council voted to table a lease application from Charlie’s Bar & Restaurant at 12287 Hancock Street. The current owners want to establish a lease with the city to utilize the patio area outside the building.
After a lengthy discussion, a question came up about who would be responsible for snow shoveling or plowing that area and how would that affect other businesses who have the same arrangements.
Council decided to table the subject for further investigation and clarification.
Up Next
The next Becker City Council meeting is May 1 at 6 p.m.
