Lansing City Council considers continuation of City’s ATV/UTV Ordinance after one-year trial, accepts resignation of police officer

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council meeting was held Monday, July 1, nearly a month since the council last met due to schedule conflicts with the council’s regularly scheduled June 17 meeting. Discussion centered around adoption of the consent agenda, a Clear Creek Crossing Project update, a splash pad update, amending the City’s ATV Ordinance, setting a public hearing date, accepting an officer’s resignation and advertising a police officer position, permission to fundraise for the City swimming pool and closing part of South Front Street October 12.

The consent agenda consisted of council meeting minutes from June 17, payment of claims, Park and Recreation meeting minutes from May 21 and the transfer of $15,000 from Trust Fund Savings to General Checking for a police vehicle. A motion was made and approved with minimal discussion.

The council looked at various bids for the Clear Creek Crossing Project, ultimately approving the recommended bid, which was Bacon Concrete out of Postville for the estimate of $277,620. The next step is for the Fehr Graham engineering firm to send out contracts and wait for permits to be approved.

The various pieces for the splash pad planned for the City park have been delivered, and there was some concerns expressed regarding the splash pad wasting too much water. Project organizer Arlen Wonderlich answered concerns by saying that the amount and pressure of water is fully controllable and the City can adjust the water level as it gets used.

A motion was made and seconded to amend Ordinance #197 ATV and UTV by removing the one-year clause in place as a trial period. Lansing Police Chief Conrad Rosendahl provided his input by saying that the year of trying the new ordinance went well, and he does not have a problem with continuing the ordinance. A motion was also made and seconded to waive the second and third readings of Ordinance #197.

A motion was made and seconded to approve Ordinance #920 setting the public hearing date to vacate and convey a portion of a City alley behind South Front Street to property owner Les Askelson. That public hearing has been set for the council meeting July 15.

The council accepted Police Officer Ross Kolsrud’s resignation and made a motion to advertise for his Police Officer position. Kolsrud has been hired as a deputy by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department, effective July 14. A motion was also made to purchase a squad car for the Police Department from the Kansas Highway Patrol for the amount of $19,000.

A motion was made and seconded to give permission to fundraise for the pool. The council also gave its approval to the City closing South Front Street from Wall Street north to the Fire Station for the Driftless Half Marathon that is scheduled to be held Saturday, October 12.