(Spirit Lake)– With the exception of the latter portion, Tuesday’s Spirit Lake City Council meeting was fairly routine.
The council awarded the low bid of 744,487-dollars from Alig Construction of Charles City for infrastructure improvements in the Pointe of Pines First Addition and 36th Street of Southern Hills Subdivision. The bid came in below the engineer’s estimate of 927,962-dollars.
September 23rd was set as the date for a public hearing on a proposed change to the city’s zoning ordinance pertaining to accessory buildings.
The council also approved a Utility Committee recommendation to purchase a back-up lime machine for the water treatment plant at a cost of 32-thousand dollars. The money is to come out of the water fund.
The meeting concluded with resident Jackie Olson addressing numerous issues with the council. Among them is one that in the past hadn’t gotten anywhere: a call for the city to open its committee meetings to the public. Olson made the request again Tuesday, and this time it caught the ears of council member Barb Ricke. She told fellow council members maybe it is time to open the proceedings, saying it would do away with any perception that the city may be trying to hide something. Council members Pat McNorton and Duane Yager agreed. Council members Terry Yarns and Bob Cosens were present for Tuesday’s meeting. The matter will be put on the agenda for the September 23rd meeting. It was pointed out that portions of the Administrative and Public Safety meetings could still be closed when dealing with issues such as personnel, litigation or special investigations.
