The council was offered a triangular piece of property adjacent to the new well site on the south side of Highway 55. The council rejected the purchase price of $2,500. The land is about an eighth of an acre.
Councilman Dave Peschong asked that the area be defined better as to its size and dimensions.
"I'm not comfortable paying $2,500 for a piece of land that has limited value," he said. "Why should we pay twice the value of what we paid for the other land?" he asked.
In November, the council purchased four acres for the new well site at a price of $10,000 per acre.
The council asked their attorney, Bill Spooner, to renegotiate the price tag for the triangular piece of property.
2000 Street project
Pete Carlson, city engineer, informed the council the 2000 street project plans have been completed. "Ron and I are in the process of reviewing the plans to make sure everything is covered," Carlson said.
Carlson will bring the plans to the council in January for their final approval. "We are anticipating letting bids in late January and opening them at the first meeting in March," Carlson added.
Streets included in the 2000 Street project include:
• Augusta Avenue from James Street to Railroad Street;
•Railroad Street from River Street to Washburne;
•Pomeroy from Highway 23 to Railroad Street;
•James Street from Lake Street to the Garfield Street;
•Garfield Street from Highway 23 to Railroad Street;
•Mill Street from Stearns Avenue to Lake Avenue;
• Koronis Avenue from Main Street to Mill Street; and
•A short piece of Richmond Street from Highway 23 north to the entrance of Crow River Nature Trail.
In other business:
•The council approved the proposed city budget of $1,280,493 for 2000. This is a 6.1 percent increase from the previous year. The council also approved the net tax levy of $443,701 for 2000 as explained at the Truth and Taxation hearing on Dec. 8.
•The council approved raising the bulk user water rates 11 cents per 1,000 gallons. Homeowners, based on 17,000 gallons of water, will see an increase of $1.65 per quarter or 55 cents a month on their water bills next year.
Typical industrial users will see their bills increase about $18 per month. AMPI, the city's largest water user, will have an increase of about $660 per month.
•The council approved the following cigarette and liquor licenses for 2000: cigarettes: Corner Drug, H&L Express, Casey's General Store, G&T Foods, Joel's Jack and Jill, Paynesville Farmer's Union Co-op, Paynesville Municipal Off-Sale, Denne's Dog Haus, Jim's Standard Service, American Legion Post 271, and Koronis Lanes; liquor license: Denne's Dog Haus and the American Legion.
•The council approved hiring Allen Zschokke as a part-time liquor store clerk.