By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
At its Oct. 11 regular meeting, the Watkins city council unanimously agreed to take the next steps in abating a property on Central Avenue that has been a nuisance for years now. A special hearing was held, and the property owner notified, during this meeting; the property owner did not appear. The council would serve the owner with a notice that he has seven days to clean up the property to the council’s satisfaction; after such time, the council can give 24-hour notice before removing the items that are causing the nuisance. Removed items will be inventoried and stored for a fixed period of time, at the city’s expense, and the property owner will have a fixed period of time in which to reclaim the property. The cost of removal would be assessed to the property. Councilmember Marc Wirz will investigate businesses that do this type of removal and abatement so that the council is ready following the seven-day notice. The items specified in the Sept. 17 letter from the city to the property owner include: “ladders, windows, old fuel barrels, screens, tires, pallets, wagons, traffic cones, poles, scrap metal, scrap lumber, rubber/plastic hoses, pails, old lawnmowers, blue barrels, appliances, exercise equipment, storage tanks, trailer full of junk, propeller, and all other miscellaneous junk and scrap in the yard.”
Greg Jodzio of the Southwest Initiative Foundation came to the meeting at the council’s request to explain what benefit SWIF could be to the city and its residents and businesses. These benefits include small business loans and education, up to $400,000 in gap financing, early childhood education, and establishing community foundations. The request from SWIF was for a $350 contribution this year, and the council voted unanimously to do this.
The Watkins Fire Department has purchased new extrication tools for $22,090. There may or may not be value to the old tools. (The older extrication tools cannot cut through stronger metals used in newer cars.) The extrication tools are the same as what Kimball has, but a size or two bigger.
The Fire Department is waiting on grants to get a $18,110 washer and dryer for turnout gear. Washing the gear eliminates carcinogens from fighting fires, and can extend the life of the gear. This washer requires special detergent for turnout gear.
The Fire Department has also suggested lock boxes on businesses in town, where a master key would be kept in the fire truck and another in the ambulance, and keys to the business could be kept inside the box. The cost of $135 each ($175 including installation) would be paid by the businesses. Such cost would be much less than repairing a battered-down door or smashed window if the Fire Department needs to access the building.
The council decided to wait on the LTD Broadband request to place their satellite wifi dishes on the Watkins water tower in exchange for free wifi to all city buildings. LTD Broadband has not followed up on their request, there was some concern about availability to all residents of this proposed new service, as well as concern about its quality, and the council is unsure of the comparative value to the city. Because it would require a five-year commitment by the city, and there are more private carriers coming to the area, the council will not take action at this time. “I don’t think they’re bringing enough to the table to consider it,” councilmember Wirz commented.
Gas service to the Village Hal had to be shut off by CenterPoint Energy because of ongoing gas smells in the building. Leaky gas pipes in the false ceiling have been repaired, and gas service restored. There is concern about leaving the gas on when the commercial stove in the kitchen (from sometime in the ’80s, although no one has any record of it) has 12 pilot lights running, but turning off the gas between uses means that someone using the Village Hall kitchen would need to light all 12 pilot lights to avoid possible dangers. The council again discussed replacing the stove. It needs to be a commercial-grade stove, and the council’s preference is for one with electronic ignition; quoted price so far would be $10,456. But use of the Village Hall has diminished greatly now that St. Anthony Church has opened their Parish Center. The council will continue to research their options, including looking for a refurbished stove.
The culvert and ditch along Highway 55 in front of Jack’s was again flooded after days of rain. It is the responsibility of MnDOT to clean out the culvert.
The next regular meeting of the Watkins city council will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. Note the date change to allow for canvassing of elections at the regular meeting.