BAXTER-An auxiliary kitchen in its second season and the city's first mobile vending license were both approved by the Baxter City Council Tuesday.
Morey's Seafood Markets, Audubon Way in Baxter, requested seasonal approval for its external kitchen or mobile vending trailer, which it first unveiled in 2016. The trailer sits just north of the building and was approved for 150 consecutive days beginning May 10. Morey's prepares and sells ready-to-eat foods from the mobile unit it reports are primarily from its fish and seafood business. Two people are expected to staff the unit with hours anticipated to match the store's.
Log Home Wood Fired Pizza of McGregor sought and received a mobile vending permit to operate at Jack Pine Brewery on Edgewood Drive. Products expected for sale include wood-fire pizzas, breakfast pizzas, dessert pizzas, soda and water.
The city allows applicants to rotate at up to 10 different sites in the city and be at one a maximum of two days per week. Initially, the request is to be present for Jack Pine's grand opening on May 27. Log Home Wood Fired Pizza proposes operating until October or November and opening from noon to 8 p.m. at Jack Pine. City staff noted in a report to the council, the full 2017 schedule needs to be submitted to the city prior to issuing the permit.
The city noted four to six employees would be part of the pizza operation, which includes a truck, open trailer with oven and sales tent.
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There is a $300 permit fee for the applicants.
In other business, the council:
Scheduled the 10th annual stormwater public information meeting at 7 p.m. or shortly thereafter on June 6. A short presentation will be followed by an opportunity for public feedback on the importance of stormwater management.
Approved a temporary liquor license for the Northland Arboretum for an April 28 event.
Authorized renewal of an Esri small municipal and county government enterprise licensing agreement in coordination with Crow Wing County and Brainerd. Previously all three government entities maintained individual license agreements with Esri, a GIS software vendor, with limited programs because of the cost. But the agreement gives each one unlimited Esri software licensing and use a similar cost to the individual limited versions.
Approved hiring seasonal park attendants this summer at $10 per hour. The attendants will assist the city's parks and trails division. Tuesday the council approved hiring Dustin Stark and Dalton Jobe as seasonal park attendants.
Approved hiring Zach Vogt and Sam Selisker as seasonal employees making $11 per hour for public works maintenance positions.
Appointed Shane Rauen to a public works maintenance position to fill a vacancy following a retirement. Rauen's appointment creates a vacancy in the parks and trails division. Staff reported the process will begin to fill Rauen's former position in parks and trails maintenance.
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Approved an agreement with Richard Dean to allow two temporary structures-an 8-foot-by-42-foot recreational vehicle trailer and an 8-foot-by-40-foot shipping container-and allow an extension of a legally non-conforming status for Dean's Auto Salvage on Evergreen Drive. A Nov. 17 fire destroyed the office building on the land. The state allows 180 days to rebuild after such a loss.
Dean previously asked the council if the city would be interested in buying the property. City staff reported the agreement extends the time frame allowed before rebuilding by another 180 days to give the city a chance to consider the purchase.
The city noted the agreement for the temporary structures gives the Deans the opportunity to continue the auto salvage business in the meantime. The Deans said they'd use the temporary structures while a new permanent commercial building is constructed, but would delay construction until the city determines its decision since the city would tear down the building if it purchased the land.
Approved the July 5 Music in the Park Event at Oscar Kristofferson Park with a $200 musician fee. Lakes Area Music Festival co-founders Scott Lykins and John Taylor Ward are scheduled to provide live music for the event. Founded in 2009, the annual summer music festival brings world-class musicians to the lakes area for free concerts, open rehearsals, pre-concert lectures, educational opportunities with children and students, as well as community outreach to bring classical music to the jail, the women's shelter and area nursing homes.
Previously scheduled a public hearing for certification of delinquent utility bills, invoices and abatements at 7 p.m. May 2 at city hall.
As the meeting began, Mayor Darrel Olson did his regular check of the audience to make sure all the caps were removed-a standard practice that this time caught a student with baseball cap still atop his head. After a short pause when the student realized the reason people were turning to look his way, the cap was removed and the pledge commenced.
The short meeting duration had the students scrambling for more information from the printed agendas.
In council comments, Mark Cross, council member, urged people to watch out for motorcycles and bicycles and children who are now out with the spring weather.
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