Gonvick City Council has organizational meeting

The Gonvick City Council met for the first time in 2017. The first order of business was the Oath of Office to the council members that were elected in November. Newly elected Susan Sims and incumbents  Mayor Lauris Krogstad and Vice Mayor Corrine Richards were sworn in by City Clerk Stacy Halvorson.

Darren Matetick and Maureen Stay presented the Electric Franchise Ordinance for the City of Gonvick. This ordinance granting Otter Tail Power Company a nonexclusive franchise to construct, operate, repair and maintain in the city the electric distribution system and transmission lines. To do necessary work with poles, lines, fixtures and appurtenances for the furnishing of electric energy to the city inhabitants. This ordinance is done every 20 years and was last done in March of 1997 when Ken Gunvalson was the Mayor of the city. Ordinance No. 73 was passed.

Representatives from Widseth, Smith and Nolting, (WSN) Jordan Lee, Steve Emery and Dustin Fanfulik presented to the council the best available funding option for the Gonvick Water System. It takes a few years to get on lists for grants and loans through USDA Rural Development, MN Public Facilities Authority and MN Small Cities Development Programs. WSN will be doing some research with the current system to determine what needs to be done. Maps of the city will be sent to them for location of lines and fire hydrants. Their firm offers coordination of the necessary paperwork, grant application administration, knowledge of the funding process details, technical advice throughout the application and design process. They will be presenting more information to the council at a future meeting.

Ken Djernes, from Main Street Service has paid off his Commercial Loan that was used for upgrading his building. He requested another loan to update some of his equipment.

2017 Annual appointments were made with everyone staying the same except for Susan Sims taking over the appointments that were held by Gary Quern, who is no longer on the council. 

Police Report from Dan Gazelka was given with only 7 incidents. They included Alarm 1; City Ordinance Violation 2; Drug Related 1; Public Assistance 1; Theft 1 and Traffic Stop 1.

There were no maintenance issues except for all the snow that had to be removed. Joe Amundson is doing a great job of keeping up.

No Fire Department issues for the meeting. Their calendars were sent out in the mail to all box holders in Gonvick, Trail and Gully.

A three percent cost of living adjustment for all employees was approved for the year.

Expenditures were approved for General $18,699.99; Water and Sewer $4,071.54, Fire $3,138.39 for a total of $25,909.92.