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Paynesville Press - May 18, 2005

City council nears agreement with Lakedale Communications for cable

By Bonnie Jo Hanson

The Paynesville City Council took the following actions at their meeting on Wednesday, May 11.

*The council approved authorizing mayor Jeff Thompson and city administrator Steve Helget to sign an amended agreement with Lakedale Communications for an open video system that would provide cable television service. The city has negotiated with Lakedale for eight months and was expected to sign the agreement early this week. (See related story.)

*The council set a public hearing for Wednesday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m. regarding a concept plan and proposed future annexation proposal by Dan Binsfeld for the development of a subdivision immediately east of the Industrial Park. The hearing will allow the community to express their opinions about changing the city's future land-use map to allow residential development in an area intended for industrial use.

Binsfeld has proposed developing about 22 acres of the 68-acre parcel with single- and two-family homes. The property is currently in Paynesville Township, but if Binsfeld is allowed to develop it, he would request that it be annexed to the city.

According to the city's comprehensive plan, the property is an area tha earmarked for future industrial use. In addition, PayDelCo has expressed interest in purchasing about 50 acres to expand the Industrial Park. This property - which Binsfeld has not yet purchased - could be of interest to them. The city will notify PayDelCo for their input at the hearing.

The planning commission recommended that the most appropriate use for the property would be industrial, but if it is not going to be developed as industrial, then residential would be appropriate.

*The council approved allowing the EDAP board to move forward with essential-function bonds to construct 16 housing units in the WilGlo Acres Addition. Tom Serie of F&L Management and Develop-ment, Inc., explained to the council that he, on behalf of EDAP, has an agreement to purchase five acres in WilGlo Acres. On that property, EDAP wants to build 16 two- and three-bedroom rental units.

The bonds would be paid from rent collected or from the sale of the rental units to a private party, which is one option EDAP has considered. EDAP would be solely responsible for the debt repayment; the city would only need to commit to help out with maintenance on the units if EDAP is unable to afford it.

*The council approved appointing Helget and Thompson to the orderly annexation joint planning board. The board, which will consist of two city members, two township members, and a fifth at-large member, will establish an orderly annexation agreement between the city and the township, including identifying properties that abut the city limits and are most likely to be annexed.

*The council approved adding a trail from Lakeland Villas - a new development of townhomes and condominiums on Co. Rd. 34 - down Lake Avenue to First Street as part of the 2006 Street Improvement Project at an estimated cost of $37,000 for asphalt or $33,500 for concrete. As part of their development agreement, Lakeland Villas will pay about a third of the costs.

*The council approved a payment of $15,144 to Randy Kramer Excavating for work completed through April at Ridgeview Sixth Addition.

*The council approved purchasing 4,000 gallons of aircraft fuel for the Paynesville Municipal Airport at a cost of $2.26 per gallon.

*The council approved authorizing sealcoating Diekmann Drive and First Street for $9,500.

*The council approved declaring a stockpile of about 3,500 yards of topsoil, left over from various city projects, as surplus property and advertising it for bids with a minimum bid of $1 per yard or $3,500 for the entire pile. The pile should be removed by Tuesday, Nov. 1.

*The council approved a temporary street closing from noon Monday, June 20, through midnight on Wednesday, June 22, on James Street - from Washburne Avenue to Stearns Avenue - and on Augusta Avenue - from the alley behind Queen Bee's Bar and Grill to the alley behind Paynesville's Total Entertainment Center - for the Town and Country Days' carnival.

*The council approved a temporary street closing on Saturday, June 18, from 12 noon to 12 midnight on Augusta Avenue - James Street to Highway 23 - and the alley behind Queen Bee's Bar and Grill. These streets will be closed for a street dance at Queen Bee's Bar and Grill in conjunction with Town and Country Days.

*The council approved a parade permit for the Town and Country Days' Kiddie Parade on Tuesday, June 21. Washburne Avenue, from Washburne Court to the Gazebo Park, will be closed from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the parade.

*The council approved a liquor garden and band on Friday, June 17, at the Paynesville American Legion from 12 noon to 12:30 a.m. with the band to quit playing at 12 midnight. *The council approved a liquor garden and band at Queen Bee's Bar and Grill from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. with the band to quit playing at midnight on Saturday, June 18.v *The council approved sending Helget and any interested city council members to attend the League of Minnesota Cities 2005 regional meeting on Thursday, June 30, at a cost of $35 per person plus mileage and per diem.

*The council approved sending Helget to a the "Beyond the Basics" workshop on Wednesday, May 18, at a cost of $125 plus per diem.

*The council approved a series of budgeted fund transfers.

*The council approved a budgeted bond levy transfer of $111,500.

*The council heard a verbal report from Joe Voss, representing the Paynesville Lions Club, and Pam Williquette, director of the Paynesville Area Community Service Center, regarding building a new foodshelf facility in downtown Paynesville.

Voss explained that the Lions have raised about $61,000 and a matching grant from Lions International should provide enough funding to build the facility. However, land and assessments cannot be paid with the grant, said Voss, so the Lions will have to pay those expenses from other sources.

Property for the new facility - at the corner of Lake Avenue and Railroad Street - will be purchased from the city for $9,000 plus $8,500 in assessments. The city is required to sell the property at a fair market value, but the city will search for other ways to help the Lions cut expenses for the project.



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