RANIER — The Ranier City Council voiced its support Monday for Koochiching County Engineer Doug Grindall to seek bids for rock blasting at the foreign trade zone.
The county sought the council’s approval to begin the process because the area was earlier annexed into the city limits of Ranier.
Grindall provided updates on the FTZ and what is needed for site development. The FTZ is owned by International Falls and Koochiching County, and is managed by the Koochiching Economic Development Authority.
“There will be 70,000 cubic yards of rock to be blasted,” Grindall said. Grindall said local contractors will be allowed to bid on the project.
“I want to reiterate I’m not here tonight to talk about a quarry,” he said. “I’m talking about site development that is needed at that location. Approval from the city of Ranier is the first step.”
He added that a conditional use permit will be sought in line with the county’s zoning ordinance.
Grindall also outlined that necessary precautions will be taken for residents who live within one-quarter of a mile of the blasting.
“Wells, if residents have them, will be tested as well as a survey of their home,” he said. “That is for the county’s protection as well as the land owner and the contractor.”
After the rock is blasted, crushed materials will be used for roads in the area to benefit taxpayers, Grindall explained.
Grindall was unable to give an exact cost to the project. He said that information wouldn’t be clear until the bids were awarded. He also said rising fuel costs could impact the price tag of the project.
“Tonight is the first step in what is going to be a couple-month procedure at the very least,” Grindall said.
In other business, the council unanimously agreed to allow Short Elliot and Hendrickson, the engineering firm replacing the city’s water lines in the French and Jameson additions, to conduct a feasibility study to add water lines to Three Points North and Riverside Park.
Should the project progress following the study, Ranier would gain 33 new water customers. The study would cost the city about $10,000.
Don Zierke from Miller McDonald reviewed the 2010 draft audit with council members.
He explained that the city had “a pretty healthy fund balance” and that Ranier was “in good financial shape.”
Resident Arden Barnes questioned how the liquor store was doing overall.
“For a city of this size, it is doing well,” Zierke said. “It is generating a profit which is a primary concern of the state.”
In other action Monday, the council approved a pay request of $250 to the Garden Girls to purchase flowers and planters to beautify the city.
The liquor store’s year-to-date net profit is $10,030, which is down from last year’s profit of $13,335.
