City will ask county to be wetlands governing unit
The city of Littlefork will get a new mascot, a fresh look for its water tower, and stage its annual citywide clean-up, just in time for the All Class Reunion and Fourth of July 2010.
These topics and others were discussed at the regular meeting of the city council last week.
City Administrator Mike Fairchild reported that a bid was approved Wednesday from the Fast Corp company for the replacement of the city’s Jackpine Savage statue. The cost quote for the fiberglass statue, which is expected to endure the elements better than the currently decaying wood statue, is $19,836 and the project will take 12-16 weeks to complete. The statue is set to be erected by the Fourth of July.
People within Littlefork’s city limits can expect information in the mail regarding several items, Fairchild said. One of them is the announcement of the citywide May 3-16 clean-up when property owners may dispose of their bagged leaves, bundled branches and brush with a free pick-up by city maintenance workers.
Also in the mailer will be the announcement of the planned restoration of the city’s water tower with an opportunity for residents to pick the color of paint that will be applied. Color choices include blue, orange white or tan, Fairchild said. Bids are currently being let for the project which will restore the surfaces of the tower, inside and out.
Residents will also receive information on Littlefork’s new all-terrain vehicle ordinance, which was adopted at the last council meeting. The ordinance spells out proper usage of ATVs in the area, Fairchild said, and allows the city, versus the state, jurisdiction over that usage.
In other business, the council acknowledged the receipt of a Littlefork Medical Center, a city entity, press release which responds to the recent finding by the Minnesota Department of Health that one of LMC’s employees acted with neglect in the care of a nursing-home patient, who later died (see Journal story March 20).
After many months of wetlands discussion and visits with pertinent agencies, the council passed a resolution to ask Koochiching County to be the wetlands legal governing unit for Littlefork.
And after a lengthy period of production plans, the construction of the city’s new ambulance facility which will be adjunct to the Littlefork Fire Hall, is on the horizon, Fairchild said. The council and the taxing district board will soon review a final plan with a call for bids expected soon.
A meeting on the paving of Unorganized Township Road 168 is scheduled for 4 p.m. April 6 at City Hall, and is expected to include the council, the county board, the county engineer and environmental services director at the table. The county road is also a township road and involves properties both within and outside the city.
Fairchild reports that the February mock Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection in Littlefork went well, was very informative and identified helpful improvements within the city. The council awaits the OSHA report.
Fairchild said he and the maintenance department along with Mayor Shane Williams will be reviewing generator needs as it regards the water tower, water plant, city wells, city sewage lift stations, and the fire department and ambulance service.
The council also approved a resolution which will grant the county highway department permission to rebuild County Road 33 which falls into Littlefork’s corporate limits. The bidding process for that project will be underway within the next 60 days, Fairchild said.
The hire of an individual for a 40-hour summer maintenance position was approved.
Fairchild said will write a letter, as requested by councilors, to legislators and county commissioners in support of the Sentence to Service program which is in danger of being eliminated. The council also agreed to publicly recognize the importance of the ongoing U.S. Census Report and ask that citizens submit their information in a timely fashion.
