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*The council approved banning leaf burning within the city. The ban had been recommended by the city's environment committee.

According to public works director Ron Mergen, the city will extend the city's compost site hours in the fall to accomodate residents who wish to compost their leaves. In October and November, the site will be open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 pm. (regular hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Wednesday hours, from 6 p.m. to 8 pm., will be unchanged. The city will also try to schedule leaf pick-up by West Central Sanitation later in the season, after all the leaves have fallen, said Mergen.

*The council approved a payment of $288,430 to Dunick Brothers, Inc., for work completed on the street improvement project.

*The council also approved up to $4,000 for disposal of the grain elevator, which was removed from Railroad Street to make room for a stormwater retention pond.

*The council heard a report from city engineer Pete Carlson regarding the street improvement project. To date, curb and gutter work had not begun on Belmont and Hudson streets, though contractors were supposed to begin two weeks ago. Carlson was told that work should resume on Friday, July 16.

*The council approved a payment of $13,200 to Andy Winstrom for damage to his hanger at the old airport during construction of the Paynesville Municipal Airport. The amount was awarded by court-appointed commissioners.

*The council also approved a payment of $6,310 to Jason Mages for damage to an irrigation well on his property during construction of the Paynesville Municipal Airport. This payment was also ordered by court-appointed commissioners.

*City administrator Steve Helget told the council that the city has received a $100,000 grant from the DNR for the Kruger Lake Nature Preserve. According to Helget, the city now needs to finish negotiations with Mary Hahn, who owns the 119-acre parcel the city could purchase for $200,000 and restore as a nature preserve. Terms of the grant require that the property be purchased and open to the public (with at least a gravel trail in place) by December 2006.

A newly-formed ad-hoc Kruger Lake Nature Preserve committee will concentrate on raising money for the land purchase and for restoring the property, said Mergen.

Another grant request, for upgrades at Veteran's Memorial Park, was denied by the DNR.

*The council approved purchasing five sidearms, holsters, and magazines for the Paynesville Police Department for up to $1,730. According to police chief Kent Kortlever, the weapons currently used by officers are 12 years old.

*The council approved setting a variance public hearing for AMPI for Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m. AMPI requested the variance to install two silo pads and milk storage silos.

The heavy industrial zoning of the property limits structure height to 45 feet and the street setback is 25 feet. The proposed silos would be 54 feet high and would only be 11 feet from Railroad Street.

*The council approved dropping the requirement of holding a public hearing for a lot split and set a $20 administrative fee for a lot split permit. The council reserved the right to hold a public hearing in the case of a complicated lot split and set the fee for the public hearing at $80 plus the permit fee.

*The council approved raising the non-intoxicating (3.2 beer) license fee from $50 to $100 and the strong on-sale beer license from $50 to $100.

*The council approved a temporary on-sale liquor license for an outdoor event at Queen Bee's Bar and Grill, Inc., on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 12 noon until 12 midnight.

*The council also approved closing Augusta Avenue from James Street to the alley by Queen Bee's on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 12 noon until 12 midnight for the outdoor event.

*The council approved a temporary street closing for AMPI on Railroad Street from Washburne Avenue to west of the SuperValu parking lot, including the intersection with Augusta Avenue from Friday, July 23, to Monday, July 26. AMPI plans to remove their smoke stack and a section of the plant.

*The council approved a Tri-CAP deferred forgivable loan of $2,500 for Kelly Ann Esala to purchase a home in the Project 55 First Addition.

*The council approved a credit adjustment of $46,580 to Master Mark Plastics for its wastewater. Master Mark pays a surcharge for contaminated wastewater that must be treated by the city. The credit is for payment of surcharges for fresh water that made its way into the wastewater system due to an accident.