RANIER — The Ranier City Council Monday approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the East Koochiching Sanitary Sewer District and the Vity of Ranier, clarifying the handling of sanitary sewer service if a pending annexation agreement is approved.
According to the memo, if annexation is completed there will be no change in the current arrangement between the EKSSD and Ranier. Specifically, all assets currently owned by EKSSD will remain owned by the EKSSD, and current and future levies collected by the EKSSD will remain payable to EKSSD.
The memo also states that the North Koochiching Sanitary Sewer District will continue to provide maintenance to the sewer system in Ranier and the proposed annexation area.
Ranier Mayor Ed Oerichbauer said that thE memo serves to clarify questions brought forth regarding the ability of Ranier to take escrow funds from the EKSSD if the annexation pact was finalized.
“It was not our intention to do that,” Oerichbauer said.
The joint annexation agreement between the city of Ranier and Koochiching County, which is currently pending the completion of a hearing by the Office of Administrative Hearings’ administrative law judge, includes details about who would provide sewer service, among other necessities, to the area proposed for annexation. This memo serves to clarify that agreement.
Ranier councilors approved spending $19,665 for Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.SEH Engineering to complete a topographic survey as part of the city’s ongoing water line replacement project. A letter from the company states that it proposes to do the work prior to the winter snow cover to avoid weather-related delays. In addition, the city can defer payment to SEH until the funding for the project has been secured.
The board also supported Koochiching County’s all-terrain vehicle ordinance, which would open all county roads to ATV use.
The board also:
• Approved the purchase of one “No Dumping” sign to be placed near the Ranier Rink.
• Noted that four employees have worked enough hours at the Ranier Municipal Liquor Store to begin selling pull tabs and earning a wage for doing so.
• Hired two seasonal employees, plus the continuation of one part-time employee, to work at the Ranier Rink this winter.
• Renewed the on-sale liquor license for Barry “Woody” Woods for 2010.
• Agreed to a wage increase for liquor store cleaner J. Rosten, who has finished the city’s six-month probation period.
• Heard from Ranier resident Arden Barnes, who questioned progress on a lighting issue in the city. Oerichbauer said that progress had been made.
• Oerichbauer ensured Ranier resident Marjorie Brenning that the city would look into a hole in the road near her home, after she inquired about the issue.
• Councilor John Walls remarked that the municipal liquor store was doing better financially this September than last September.
