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*The council approved requiring a petition to put Sunday on-sale liquor on the ballot for the November general election on a 3-2 vote. Doris and Tom Wendlandt, owners of Queen Bee's Bar and Grill, requested that the council put the issue on the ballot without requiring a petition.

Council members Harlan Beek, Dave Peschong, and Dennis Zimmerman voted for requiring a petition. Council member Jean Soine and Mayor Jeff Thompson voted against requiring a petition.

The Wendlandts also requested that the city issue their business a 3.2-liquor license and a set-up license, which would allow the bar to sell 3.2 beer, wine coolers, and set-ups on Sunday.

While the city does issue these licenses, it has never issued either of them to an establishment with a regular liquor license, and council members fear regulation may be difficult if Queen Bee's has more than one license. The council instructed city administrator Steve Helget to research the issue before the council votes on it.

*The council approved a $954,170 bid from Duinick Brothers for the 2004 Street Improvement Project.

The council approved a 15-year bond repayment schedule for the project on a 4-1 vote. The $990,000 bond issue will be repaid with special assessments and with annual increases in the city's levy. The average annual increase in property taxes will be approximately $13 per year for property valued at $100,000.

Peschong voted against the 15-year repayment schedule. He preferred paying the bond off in 10 years to save interest expense.

*The council approved setting a special city council meeting for Monday, March 29, at 5:15 p.m. for a public hearing regarding applying for a DNR grant to purchase 119 acres of property from Mary Hahn. The property, located on Highway 55 around Kruger's Pond, could be developed by the city as a park with trails, shelters, an observation deck, sliding area, and skating rink, and it could be linked to the Lake Koronis Recreational Trail on Old Lake Road.

*The council approved a lease agreement with Paynesville Area Schools for property to build a proposed aquatic park.

*The council approved a $69,800 bid from Double Check, Co., for a fuel system at the Paynesville Municipal Airport. According to Helget, the city received notice that a state grant has been awarded for the project that would pay 50 percent of the costs.

*The council approved a $10,250 bid from Sy/Com, Inc., for a new control panel at the water plant.

*The council approved $2,280 to rent cracksealing equipment for street repairs.

*The council approved $2,000 to purchase a defibrillator for the Paynesville Police Department. According to police chief Kent Kortlever, the police department has applied for a grant that could reimburse the city for the purchase.

*The council approved renewing the city's contract with Alpha Video for $1,840. Alpha Video provides the city's cable access channel with its NewsJet, Pro Weather, and Scala services.

*The council set a variance public hearing for Avon (MasterMark) Plastics on Wednesday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m. Avon Plastics requested the variance to extend an existing silo from 50 feet to 74 feet at its Paynes-ville plant. Because the property is zoned light industrial, a variance is required for a structure over 45 feet.

*The council approved rezoning two properties on River Street from light industrial to single and two-family residential because the properties are used as residences.

*The council approved a condominium declaration for Lake Land Villas, a development proposed by Viking Land 'n' Lakes, contingent on including a provision for garbage collection. The new development would include townhomes and adult condominiums on Co. Rd. 34.

Approving the Lake Land Villas development agreement was tabled until changes in the condominium declaration are made.

*The council approved setting a special city council meeting for Tuesday, May 25, for a training session called Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials, which will train community leaders in protecting water quality while determining land use. Council members, members of the planning commission, members of the local lake associations, and Paynesville Township officials will be encouraged to attend the training.