E.V. Council considers rental ordinance, siren

The Eden Valley City Council will meet for work sessions the next few Wednesday evenings to review a draft ordinance for rental properties in the city. The purpose is to protect the public health, safety, and the general welfare of the people in the city. The council is starting with a draft that they can tailor to the City of Eden Valley?Äôs needs. 

Vicki Moehrle, who lives in the city and works at the elementary school, came again to the council May 6 to request installation of a warning siren in the northeast corner of the city, so it can be heard inside the school. Public Works director Jim Rademacher reminded the council that sirens are meant for warning people outdoors, not indoors. After Moehrle made her first request to the city (May 13 last year), they looked into it and found that a new siren, a rotating one, would cost roughly $15,000. At that time, they added a siren to their ?Äúwish list?Äù with the Meeker County Hazard Mitigation plan, for priority should FEMA funds become available. 

Rademacher also explained that there is a plan in place to notify resorts and the ballfields when Fire & Rescue is called out to be weatherspotters, as these locations may not be covered by sirens. 

The council will look into other grant opportunities to fund another siren. There currently are three sirens in Eden Valley, each pointed in a different direction to give the broadest coverage.

City engineer Kent Louwagie reported on progress with finishing up the Highway 22 Project. Final topsoil, bituminous (tar), and concrete work should be completed in the next couple of weeks. Perhaps the biggest part is replacing bad concrete in sidewalks and other places along the project.

The council also is considering recodification of all the city ordinances, at an estimated cost of $8,475. Police Chief Ernie Junker agreed that they are ?Äúin desparate need of an overhaul.?Äù The updated ordinances would make his job easier, and the council?Äôs too. Language will be clearer and up-to-date, and it will be easier to add new ordinances.

Eden Valley City Council meetings are viewable on Arvig cable (Thursdays).