At its Jan. 12 meeting, following the oath of office by newly re-elected officials (mayor Frank Eder, and council members Brenda Carlson and Marc Wirz), the Watkins City Council approved the 2017 appointments. These included Acting Mayor Kathleen ?ÄúTootz?Äù Tschumperlin, Water Commissioner Brenda Carl-son, Sewer Commissioner Brenda Carlson, Police Commissioner Sue Unterberger, Shade Tree Commissioner Marc Wirz, Animal Control Officer Meeker County Sheriff?Äôs Office, Emergency Management Director Meeker County Sheriff?Äôs Office, depositing bank Farmers State Bank of Watkins, city attorney Daniel Zimmerman and Boe Piras of Willenbring Law Office, official newspaper Eden Valley-Watkins Voice (alternating each year with the Tri-County News), prosecuting attorney Meeker County Attorney, Election Clerk Deb Kramer, Weed Inspector Frank Eder, Watkins Board of Adjustments Marc Wirz and Sue Unterberger (from 1/1/17 to 1/1/20), and Watkins Planning Commission Jason Laumer (1/1/17 to 1/1/20).
The fire department will finish two walls in the ambulance garage with steel; they are currently covered in pressed wood, and the other two walls have already been done. The cost will be about $1,700 at Faber?Äôs Building Supplies. The fire department will pay for it. The new garage doors are installed and working fine.
Deputy Ernie DeFries had nothing to report. He said that overnight parking is currently not a problem, although it had been; he will ticket as necessary. The city?Äôs ordinance dictates that rental property owners must provide two off-street parking spots per apartment in the city.
The city will submit a letter of interest (due Jan. 13) to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for funds to upgrade the city?Äôs warning siren. It would cost about $20,000 to replace the current siren with a rotating one. The funds will provide 75 percent of what is needed, with 25 percent needed from local funds. Other possible projects for future years include soil erosion behind Host?Äôs Stainless, securing the city?Äôs water tower, and doing something about the city?Äôs current storm shelter (which is the old Village Hall).
City plans for street improvements in 2017 include seal-citing streets after the storm damage, and paving around the trailer court (which would be assessed to the trailer court owner); the city?Äôs engineer will be enlisted to help with this. Anything to repair storm damage can be reimbursed at 75 percent.
The council tabled discussion of the School Ave./Highway 55 intersection. This will not be part of the planned MnDOT work on Highway 55.
The city has implemented a credit card payment system, available on the city?Äôs website (www.cityofwatkins.com) and in the city office. (There is no cost to the city for this service.)
There is discussion about what to do with McCarthy Park after the tornado damage last year. Mike Lease and other business owners have indicated they will donate to new construction in the park: possibilities include an old-style bandshell, and water for kitchen and bathroom facilities, both projects beyond simply replacing what was there before the storm. The council and fire department will meet with these business owners at a future date to discuss this project.
Tornado-twisted street signs are still available for $10 each at the city office; new ones have replaced the damaged ones around town.
The city?Äôs Board of Review will be held from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, April 12, with the next regular meeting of the council to follow.