Lansing City Council approves loan agreement for Clear Creek project
by B.J. Tomlinson
The Lansing City Council met in regular session Tuesday, July 5. The Council’s regular meeting was delayed a day due to the Fourth of July holiday falling on the Council’s typical Monday meeting day.
Mayor Mike Brennan opened a public hearing to start the July 5 meeting, the hearing regarding a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Corporate Purpose Loan Agreement. The “not-to-exceed” $300,000 loan will be used to complete the Clear Creek water/sewer project. There were no comments from the public and Mayor Brennan closed the hearing.
The Council then approved Resolution #873 to move forward with the agreement. Bids will be accepted from Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank and New Albin Savings Bank. Brennan noted that water/sewer rates have already been adjusted so there will not be any additional increases in water bills for Lansing residents in regard to the loan agreement.
Boy Scout Scoutmaster Jerry Aperans asked the Council to waive the $100 pool rental fee for the Lansing Boy Scout troop for a July 15 training. The event will provide Scouts with an opportunity to earn merit badges. Parks Board representative Marlene Duffy questioned whether this decision would set a precedent that would invite other groups to expect similar consideration, which she felt would be detrimental to fund raising efforts. In addition, Duffy said the request should have been presented to the Parks Board before approaching the City Council.
Councilman Don Peters said the pool has never made money and wasn’t expected to. Mayor Brennan said it was important for the Boy Scouts, a non-profit organization, to provide lifesaving and other skills to benefit the community. The Council approved the request, subject to Aperans checking with the pool manager regarding possible scheduling conflicts.
Street Superintendent Ken Ripp asked the Council for feedback concerning repairs to Valley Street. Ripp said it may be more cost effective to redo the entire street from Blackhawk Alley to Front Street rather than end up with three separate patches. The Council advised Ripp to present bids at the July 18 council meeting.
The Council received two bids for tree removal on Dodge Street and approved a proposal from Brink’s Tree Service for $965. Other trees needing attention will be removed by City street crews when possible.
In other business, the Council appointed Kyle Walleser to the Parks Board. Approval was also given to a pay request from WHKS Engineering to pay Skyline Construction $89,503.54 for work on the Clear Creek Water and Sewer Project. A bid for the 1988 truck the City has been advertising was rejected.
The Council reviewed a contract between the City of Lansing and the City of New Albin for share Law Enforcement services, but postponed action on the contract until the next meeting.
No action was taken regarding purchasing an additional taser for Officer Lucas Inglett. Officer Conrad Rosendahl said this purchase could be postponed until Inglett is certified; in the meantime, officers could share the two available tasers. Rosendahl said the money could be applied to the purchase of needed electronic devices, and that a grant might be obtained later for the taser.
