Return to Archived Stories

•The council approved sharing the maintenance costs with Paynesville Township for a self-service oil recycling center. Township supervisor Don Pietsch told the council that the facility will be built near the township office or garage and will accept used oil, oil filters, and antifreeze. A change box will be in place for residents who want to dispose of antifreeze at $1 per gallon and oil filters for 50¢.

The facility will be built, largely with S.C.O.R.E. funds for recycling, at no cost to the city and township, but maintaining it could cost approximately $2,000 per year. The facility will be open to city and township residents.

•The council approved a permit allowing the Paynesville American Legion to have a liquor garden and dance on Friday, June 20, from noon to 12:30 a.m, and on Friday, Aug. 15, from noon to 12:30 a.m.

•The council also approved a permit allowing Queen Bee's Bar and Grill to have a liquor garden and dance on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 3 p.m. to 12.30 a.m..

The council also approved closing Augusta Avenue by Queen Bee's Bar and Grill on Saturday, Aug. 2, from noon to 1 a.m. for a street dance. Police chief Kent Kortlever reviewed the request and approved it, but council member Jean Soine was opposed to the closure. Soine is concerned that the street closure will hurt downtown business.

In response, the council approved a moratorium on street closure permits in the downtown business district until the appropriate committee could investigate the impact of such closures on businesses.

•The council approved closing Washburne Avenue, from Mill Street to Main Street, on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Fun in the SonFest, sponsored by Crystal Hills Assembly.

•The council approved a parade permit for the annual kiddie parade on Tuesday, June 17, down Washburne Avenue - from Washburne Court to the Koronis Manor - beginning at 2 p.m. Parking along the route will not be allowed.

•The council approved building a BMX facility on the city well site between Highway 55 and Spruce Street. The council also approved spending up to $1,000 on the facility.

•The council heard a verbal report from public works director Ron Mergen on the park and tree committee's idea of creating a dog park and a wayside rest in the city. Council members agreed that a dog park may be a good idea but asked Mergen to do more research on the costs and the need before taking any action. The council agreed that a wayside rest in the city would be a good idea but felt it should probably be addressed when plans for Highway 23 are more solid.

•The council heard a verbal report from Mergen about the refurbishing of the water tower, which should be finished soon. The city could be able to begin using it again late next week. In the meantime, residents can expect some discoloration in their water and some fluctuation in water pressure.

•The council set a public hearing on a variance request by Chuck Koshiol, owner of Zap Leather & Cycle, for Wednesday, July 9, at 7 p.m. Koshiol wants to add to his building on West Main Street. The addition will only be 4.5 feet, in order to be flush with the original building. City zoning requires a 20-foot setback from the property line.

•The council approved a payment of $125,446 for work completed at the Paynesville Municipal Airport. The state will reimburse the city 60 percent of the payment. The council also approved a change order for increasing the size of a stormwater pipe and adding sedimentation basins to the airport.

•The council heard a verbal report from city engineer Pete Carlson about the Lake Avenue street and stormwater improvement project. Lake Avenue resident Jackie Braun said she was concerned that sidewalk construction could kill mature trees by disturbing their roots. Carlson said he would examine trees along the street and determine if any are at risk and what steps might be taken, either by the state or by homeowners, to save them.

•The council approved a variance for Cory and Nancy Schlangen. The Schlangens, who live on Augusta Avenue, want to build a garage with a three-foot setback from an alley. The city's zoning ordinance requires a setback of five feet.

•The council approved a gambling permit for the Paynesville-New London-Spicer Hockey Association for pulltabs at Queen Bee's Bar and Grill.