Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Montrose water use up three times as usual



Water use jumped in the City of Montrose recently, reported
Public Works Director Del Haag during the council meeting Monday.

Haag stated that the city has recently been pumping 282,000
gallons per day, when the 100,000 per day is typical.

The Montrose City Council approved a motion authorizing
staff to impose odd/even watering restrictions if necessary.

In order to conserve water, residents are encouraged to
think about their own water use, and to take steps such as watering lawns
during the evening hours rather than during the day.

Evening watering is much more efficient, since 10 percent
of the water used to water on a hot day can be immediately lost to evaporation,
according to council member Jeff Mattson.

City staff will monitor the situation, and residents will
be notified if a watering ban becomes necessary.

In other matters, the council awarded a low bid for completion
of the Phase II utility improvements for Wright County Road 12.

The city has received three bids for the work, said City
Engineer Brad Dewolf.

The project consists of constructing a 10-inch sanitary
sewer forcemain from Third Street to the Rolling Acres Lift Station, and
constructing a 10-inch watermain to the north end of the County Road 12
project.

DeWolf stated that since all three of the contractors who
submitted bids are already under contract with the City of Montrose to complete
improvements on other projects, the city can complete a Change Order for
the Phase II of the County Road 12 improvements.

The council approved DeWolf’s recommendation and accepted
the low bid of $417,591.85 submitted by LaTour Construction.

Mattson reported that the Park and Recreation Commission
had discussed moving ahead with a skateboard park, which would be located
at the current lift station site on Buffalo Ave. S.

Keith Roseen will contact someone who designs skateboard
parks to get drawings and quotes.

In a related matter, the council discussed some damage
that has been caused by youths who have been skateboarding in the city hall
parking lot.

It was reported that there have been instances where boards
and nails have been left scattered in the parking lot, along with beverage
containers and other garbage. There has been damage to the outside of city
hall and to a church window, and nails have been dropped into the air conditioner.

Mayor Charlie Nelson said that he has no objection to young
people using the parking lots as long as they clean up after themselves.

Other council members agreed that they do not want to punish
all of the young people for the actions of a few, but they noted that this
kind of activity has to stop.

City Administrator Barb Swanson asked, “How can we
stop it?” Nelson suggested that one step would be to strictly enforce
the curfew. It was also suggested that the city could look into implementing
a neighborhood watch program.

The key to this kind of program is that when residents
observe someone committing an unlawful act, they must then be willing to
stand up and identify the person when the sheriff arrives.

City staff will contact the sheriff’s department to get
information about implementing a neighborhood watch program.

During the open forum, Mike Neumann expressed frustration
about a variety of issues between himself and the city.

The largest grievance concerned a difference in understanding
about an assessment agreement.

Neumann indicated that he had signed the agreement based
on misinformation that he received from the city approximately two years
ago.

Swanson stated that the agreement had been signed by Neumann,
the council and a judge, and was a matter of record. Nelson stated that
Neumann had been represented by council at the time that the agreement was
signed, and that if Neumann felt that his attorney had advised him inappropriately,
he should go back to his attorney.

Nelson said that the city would have their attorney look
up the statute that Neumann requested.

In other business, the council:

· approved implementation of a fence permit system
and processing fees

· authorized staff to go back to a 60-day disconnect
policy for past due water bills.

· approved purchase of a new printer for city hall.

· agreed to purchase a tee and staff a table during
the Wright County Scramble 2003, a golf event sponsored by the Wright County
Economic Development Partnership, which will allow them to promote the city
to some 300 contractors, developers and realtors who are interested in doing
business in Wright County.

· noted that the Montrose Fire Department was approved
for a $43,596 grant from the Federal Emergency Response Agency (FEMA).

The cost of the approved project is $48,440, reported fire
chief Mike Marketon at last Monday’s council meeting. The federal share
of this is 90 percent, or $43,596.

The fire department’s share is 10 percent, or $4,844. Marketon
stated that the department has included this amount in their budget.

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