City council also removes cap on payments to annexation lawyers
RANIER — The Ranier City Council Monday agreed to send a letter to the U.S. Coast Guard requesting a bridge tender at the international rail lift bridge owned by Canadian National Railroad.
Voyageurs National Park Facility Manager Raoul Lufbery and Ranier Mayor Ed Oerichbauer described previous action by area governments and organizations to deal with complaints of the bridge not being lifted in a timely manner for boats too large to pass underneath.
The bridge being lifted when needed will be crucial next year when the park plans to pick up passengers with its tour boat at the park’s headquarters being constructed along Rainy River west of the bridge.
Bob Hilke spoke about his experiences with the bridge and how he has, on many occasions, been unable to traverse the water that connects Rainy Lake and Rainy River near Ranier due to the bridge being in its down position and not being lifted. He explained that even after calls to the number listed on the bridge for assistance, he has had to turn around and not make scheduled trips due to the lack of timely response.
Other Ranier residents echoed his comments, saying they, too, have been left without the bridge being operational.
Earlier this month, Oerichbauer and Lufbery went to the Koochiching County Board to update them on the matter.
Originally, a motion was made by Ranier Councilor Brenda Bauer to ask CN to leave the bridge in its lifted position. However, Councilor John Walls, the only other councilor attending the meeting, disagreed due to noise made by a bell when the bridge position was changed. He estimated the bridge would be lifted and lowered fewer times per day if it changed with boat, rather than rail, traffic.
A second motion to ask for a bridge tender was made and seconded by Bauer and Walls.
Forms are available at various locations around town, including Ranier, county and park offices to alert the Coast Guard to issues with the bridge. Lufbery noted that even receiving three or four such complaints in the next month would help bring attention to the issue.
Lawyer contract
The Ranier Council also agreed to amend its contract with law firm Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A. for services rendered in an ongoing, contested annexation petition.
The firm was hired July 1, 2008, by Ranier to petition to annex French and Jameson additions, other nearby unincorporated areas and a foreign trade zone into the city. Oerichbauer contends that annexation is one of the most effective ways to get jurisdiction of ailing water lines in the area. The city of International Falls later filed a counter petition to annex the FTZ and areas around the site where International Falls could build a road. A July hearing with the state Office of Administrative Hearings is still awaiting judgment, which is expected in October.
Because the petition went to a contested hearing with International Falls, a maximum amount of $10,000 in fees was to be removed from the contract between Ranier and its law firm in order to pay for services rendered, the council said in voting to amend the agreement.
Ranier resident Bernie “Spike” Woods interrupted action on the motion and chastised the council, saying that the original contract with the law firm dating back to July 2008 was illegal because the council had taken no action related to annexation and had not yet held a public “visioning meeting” (Aug. 5, 2008) that would be even the first hint at annexation plans.
“This is outrageous,” Woods yelled at the council. “Now you’re trying to give them more money on what amounts to malfeasance.”
The motion to remove the cap on payments to the law firm passed unanimously, with councilors Fred Woods and Dan Klocek absent.
Other business
• The council passed the 2011 tax levy of $32,050. Oerichbauer noted that the levy would likely decrease after a final calculation of the city’s tax capacity was made. The levy can decrease, but not increase, after Sept. 15. The 2010 tax levy was $30,850. The city also passed a proposed 2011 budget that had been recommended in committee.
• The city of Ranier will try, on a six-month trial basis, electronic payment of water bills. City Clerk Kim Nuthak said the clerk’s office has had several requests from area residents asking to pay the bills electronically, especially from those who only spend one season in the city. The council also agreed to limit late notices for water bill payment to one notice before water is turned off at a residence.
• The council made two retroactive motions related to last weekend’s Ranier Days festival, including turning power on a light post and $100 for advertising for the festival.
• The city agreed to allow Northstar Hospice to borrow city flower planters for a butterfly release Sunday at Smokey Bear Park. The planters are expected to be returned to the city the same day.
