City Garbage Rates Studied
By Jessica Wald
Garbage rates were discussed during the regular Napoleon City Council meeting last Monday, October 7.
Garbage officer John Wald said he is presenting figures as a FYI and for the council to ponder. He said the city could charge for garbage by the yard of the dumpster or garbage can, even if the container isn’t full, a bill would still be issued, as the service is provided. For an example, he noted the 95-gallon garbage cans the city sells is a half yard and they could charge $8.92 per yard. The cost per yard would be the same for residential and commercial rates, and in turn this would help generate an additional $69,000 to the garbage fund. The garbage committee is not exactly sure how residential rates would be charged to make it fair, but are pondering a few options. They also mentioned a possible increase of $3 per quarter, compared to a per yard rate. All councilmen were present including Mayor Todd Moos, Rod Kleppe, Bob Humann, Rich Bjerklie, Mike Heying, Clark Haas and Wald. Moos noted they usually figure out increases by the end of the year.
City engineer Jerod Klabunde, with Moore Engineering, was on hand to discuss the engineer’s report. He said he met with a group of property owners from 4th Street West and if they would like to do water and sewer extensions, there would need to be a petition for improvements. He also noted another part of town may want to do a couple water/sewer improvements and he would suggest packaging the improvements together in one plan, as it would be more cost effective than doing four separate projects.
Klabunde also gave an update for the Napoleon Pedestrian Trail and said Crow River Construction should break ground this week and it is projected to take four weeks, (1-2 weeks of dirt work and 1-2 weeks of concrete work). Klabunde also said they learned the county doesn’t own the land around the projected trail and an agreement contract is no longer needed. Humann said he is disappointed with the county, as a lot of time and money was wasted, as they could have looked who owned the land sooner and not have gotten the city attorney involved to help with the paperwork for the agreement that is no longer needed. Klabunde said they learned the ND State Highway Department owns the land, as the old Highway 34 road crossed the current West Lake (years ago when the water was down and a road was there).
Street officer Haas said they may need to gravel roads on the east side of town soon and also mentioned the new tar kettle should be delivered next month.
The council noted there have been complaints how cars are parked by the Downtowner all the time and they aren’t moved. Even if people are living there and need a place to park, the council said there is still an ordinance to move vehicles and this could pose a problem in the months with snow. Action may be needed they said.
Approved zoning permits include:. . .