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More ice time at arenas sought BRAINERD CITY COUNCIL Senior Reporter More ice time is requested of the city of Brainerd.
Wayne Mooney, Brainerd parks and recreation director, reported ice time is maintained in the Brainerd Area Civic Center from June 9 to Sept. 7 in both arenas. Monday at the Brainerd City Council's Personnel and Finance Committee, the Vacationland Figure Skating Club and the Brainerd Amateur Hockey Association requested ice be maintained from Sept. 8 to Oct. 10, meaning ice would not be removed from the Gold Medal Arena between the summer and winter seasons. Mooney reported in the past the request for more days with ice was granted as long as $400 a day was paid to cover additional utility costs.
The Vacationland Figure Skating Club was proposing to use 42.25 hours of ice and BAHA was proposing to use 66 hours. Mooney said the proposal would not pay for all operational costs but would cover the additional utility costs to maintain the ice for the extended period.
The Personnel and Finance Committee recommended a two-week delay in making a decision noting the civic center discussion by the city council.
In other business, the council:
Voted to table the discussion of the Brainerd Mobil revolving loan until Nov. 21, which is the end of the redemption period, following a recommendation from the Personnel and Finance Committee and the Brainerd Economic Development Authority. Council President Kelly Bevans, Brainerd Mobil owner, abstained.
Granted a request for a one-year extension to Lexington Manufacturing to reach JOBZ compliance. Lexington is short of the agreement by two jobs at this time. In its business subsidy agreement, Lexington agreed to create 15 jobs at its JOBZ Brainerd site within two years. Lexington has invested in excess of $1 million more than the original commitment of $2,470,000.
Voted, with Bevans opposed, to adopt an ordinance creating a section of the city code related to vacant dwellings or buildings. The EDA requested a delay so a committee could look at changes in the ordinance language. Bevans said he would rather wait for the changes than altering the ordinance in two weeks time.
Voted, with Bevans and council member Bob Olson opposed, to redirect a Pine Street residence's sewer line to the city's main line and eliminate an old private line from service. Engineer Jeff Hulsether said the line was originally constructed by a group of homeowners to provide service to about seven homes. One home remains on the private sewer line. The city responded to blockages on the line for many years, which Hulsether said made the city at least partially responsible for maintenance. A claim for an April sewer backup was referred to an insurance adjuster who determined the city had some liability and needed to take measures to prevent future claims.
Hulsether said redirecting the home's service to the main line would solve the problem.
"I believe we are opening up a significant amount of claims from people who have already paid to hookup where they did not have a direct line to the sewer," Bevans said.
"I think we are opening up a can of worms," Olson said.
Heard there was a disturbance at the recent neighborhood cleanup between volunteers and a landlord. Council members were not present for the verbal exchange and reported hearing different versions of the event. Council member Kevin Goedker said the neighborhood groups behind the cleanups may be looking at changing operations in the future.
RENEE RICHARDSON may bereached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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