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Editor
Gary W. Meyer
ALI NOBLE (at the microphone) and Allison Olson addressed the city council Wednesday (Photo by Gary W. Meyer)
March is Food Drive Month - and local food shelf officers took the opportunity to meet with the Big Lake City Council Wednesday and share information about their program.
Ali Noble and Allison Olson, co-chairs of the food drive, spoke of the continuing need for contributions.
Children from needing families remain the largest benefactor of food shelf provisions, they reported.
The totals of those served have come down a little bit in the past two years, but need remains high, they reported.
“Thanks for the support you have been giving us,” Noble said.
They promoted the March 11 “a taste of the red, white and brew” fundraiser at the Friendly Buffalo, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. They may be accessed throough www.biglakefoodshelf.org.
The council attended to a number of personnel actions at their meeting.
They recognized four staffers for terms of duty: Mike Goebel, public works director, 30 years; Chris Hoard, BLPD, 10 years; Dan Childs, public works, five years; and Lisa Miller, Assistant manager at Lake Liquors, five years.
Three persons were appointed to fill final positions on the city parks commission. They include Doug Peterson, George Quinn and Bruce Bates.
Officer Joshua Pester has tendered his resignation from the BLPD, effective Feb. 12.
Heather Thoe has resigned from the Lake Liquors staff. Hired to fill her position was Kristin Santelli.
The city fee schedule, including changes to water and sewer rates, were approved by the council. They will take effect March 1.
One change approved by the council was a $66 recording fee to developers of properties. Thus, the city will record paperwork on their behalf, ensuring that all required items are attended to. (The complete fee schedule is on the city’s website.)
Finance Director Deb Wegeleben in her aunadited End 2015 report noted the water and sewer funds both operated at a loss during the year, including depreciation. The sewer fund was at an $831,000 loss.
The general fund had revenues of $5,043 million and expenditures of $4,732 million, for a budget increase of $311,000.
Jan Muehlbauer, Lake Liquors manager, noted her staff will be working with teenagers in a substance abuse program to place labels on liquor at the store, notifying legal buyers of their responsibilities not to share it with minors.
New LED lights are going into her store, more outside and a full retrofit for the inside in the coming months.
May 6, they will host their annual spring winefest, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the friendly Buffalo. Eighty bottles of wine will be available for tasting.
Hanna Klimmeck, community development director, noted the city has secured a $2,000 grant to help pay for student intern costs in running the 2016 Farmers Market.
She reported four homes have been applied for, with total valuation of all permits at $851,600 through January.
The city acknowledged Spud Fest for providing $1,000 for materials for city public works people to build five picnic tables for placement at the softball fields on Co. Rd. 43.
The council approved a 3.2 offsale license to Super America; a taproom onssale license to Lupulin Brewing LLC, and full on-sale liquor and Sunday licenses to Tootsies, The Third Rail Bar, McPete’s, El Loro, Russell’s on the Lake, Friendly Buffalo and Trails.
In a final action, the council approved a lawful gambling license for AMVets at the El Loro Mexican restaurant on 198th Avenue.
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