(Spirit Lake)– With two of five members on vacation along with the Mayor, the Spirit Lake city council Tuesday evening tabled several items until a full council could be present to act on them. One of those was a professional services agreement to have a consultant review the city’s solid waste and recycling programs. One councilman, Jerry Harbst, questioned the scope of the services through the study, saying an outsider may not be the best to decide what’s the most efficient when it comes to routes…(click here for comment from Harbst.)
Another councilman, Steve Balm, questioned whether recycling should be included, saying he’s happy with how that program is currently operating. He suggested to wait to take any action on the scope of services until a full council can be present. Clyde Ihrke agreed to withdraw a motion he made previously to approve the study. The matter was then tabled.
Action on a proposal for professional services for improvements to the police station was also tabled. Balm said he wanted clarification of language in a memo written by the city’s Public Works Director, who also was absent from Tuesday’s meeting due to a family emergency. The memo states “Once this project is complete and $80,000 is spent, the police office building will still be a decrepit facility.”
A resolution to accept a bid to install pedestrian traffic signals on the stop lights at the intersections of Hill Avenue and Highways 9 & 71, Gary Avenue and Highways 9 & 71, and Hill Avenue and Lake Street, died for lack of a motion. Councilman Clyde Ihrke, however, said he could understand the reason for concern…(click here for comment from Ihrke.)
Steve Balm said he feels the problem lies more with motorists trying to run red lights…(click here for comment from Balm.)
Discussion on the East Lake Business Park was also tabled to a later meeting when more council members could be present.
