During Council review of Economic Development activities the Blight Assessment Report Sutherland was qualified as moderately blighted. City Clerk Amanda Vander Hof volunteered she would contact Ahlers & Cooney for any necessary amendments to the city’s urban renewal plan as a result of the assessment. Several items were addressed in the report including residential property condition or road width. The results may qualify the City of Sutherland for additional funds. More detailed information will be coming after discussions with the attorneys.
Community Fund funds to Jordan Bird were approved. Some discussion led to the need to replace 1 board member and other vacancies.
A discussion of year-end budget balance came up. Councilman Chase Cox, serving as mayor at the June 5 meeting and also one of the city’s economic development representatives, questioned that economic development doesn’t use all of its budgeted funds each year and the balance goes back to the general fund. Vander Hof explained that the city just did a budget amendment so economic development could pay for the new zoning books. She explained that ending balances were put into reserves for when larger projects could develop.
Cox also mentioned “Ripple Effect,” a program providing an assortment of funding options for communities from low interest loans to grants. The program is offered through telecom companies.
Nancy Hill gave the library report. The foundation repairs are complete. The trenching and waterproofing took about 5 days. She noted that the library won an O’Brien County Foundation grant to help with the flagpole hardware that sits atop the building and other property improvements such as cement replacement and signage letters. The summer reading program begins and the progress of “story hour.”
A request to dig a trench or do some work to minimize water infiltration into a building was readdressed. Ned Dau participated by telephone. Vander Hof informed him and the council that legal opinion was to do nothing. Dau asked if the city would be okay with private work to redirect high water that flows into the First Street building. He was advised it would be treated like any other private property work.
A resolution to transfer from the Emergency fund to the General fund was approved.
The next meeting date was rescheduled to July 10 due to holiday.
Bids were opened for the house at 210 W. 2nd Street. One bid was received for $500. The bid included a plan. The house would be torn down and a new building would be built to connect with Mark’s Pump, the bidder and adjacent landowner. Cox asked about zoning when the plan was explained. The rezoning process, including public hearings, would have to be followed. A motion and second to accept the bid was passed with Councilman Tyler Draper, employed by Mark’s Pump, abstained.
“Keep Aim” on West Second Street will host a food truck outside their business on July 25.
Rich Van Beek’s hiring to Sutherland was approved.
A long discussion of the water meter changes followed. The subcontractor for Ferguson is expected back the first week of July. That does not finish the changes in time for the next meter read. Vander Hof reported that the software still needs to be installed and training needs to take place. She cautioned that billing might be late. She also offered that the full transition may not be fully functional until the first of the year.