"Where Olmsted County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Saturday, May 18th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 5:36:49, May 15th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Though I hated to see you reference Glenn Beck by name [Three Times ... [Read More]
- 11:42:07, May 10th 2013 - yenken - I feel very sorry for those who have commented do far, as when you stand fa ... [Read More]
- 12:10:25, Apr 26th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Mr. "Cabtrom's" garbage-out[burst]--in response to Ms. Reisner's w ... [Read More]
- 9:51:50, Apr 24th 2013 - jeff pischke - To Jerry Grehl, the number to the fillmore county sheriffs office is 7 ... [Read More]
- 9:27:24, Apr 22nd 2013 - Cabtrom - Blah blah blah, garbage in garbage out! ... [Read More]
- 7:00:49, Apr 11th 2013 - Donald Pierce - Col. Stan Gudmundson hit most of the important nails squarly on the h ... [Read More]
- 12:44:54, Apr 4th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - My compliments to Ms. Hammer for giving us well-crafted "Rachel Rea ... [Read More]
- 5:09:06, Apr 3rd 2013 - truthiness - I see this is dated April 1. That explains it! ... [Read More]
- 12:04:33, Apr 3rd 2013 - Frank W. Hawthorne - Say WHAT?!? Stan's American-Pie [In SKY] is Falling--Not Again? ... [Read More]
- 12:40:21, Mar 29th 2013 - Jacob - It's a shame that so few people care about making their voices heard. If we ... [Read More]
28
Should the Vikings be able to use the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium?
Trash hauler threatens to sue Pine Island
Mon, Oct 22nd, 2012
Posted in Pine Island Government
Posted in Pine Island Government
Comments
The Pine Island City Council, at its Oct. 16 meeting, again postponed taking action on the city’s solid waste collection quandary.
The main difficulties are with one of the three haulers licensed to work in the city.
Disregarding the fact that the license period is one year, the problem hauler persists in selling multi-year contracts to customers and then charging steep penalties for early termination.
In addition, that garbage collector’s rates don’t match those it filed with the city.
City Attorney Bob Vose has prepared amendments that would address the problems by strengthening and clarifying the city code.
One amendment states that the city could impose conditions, such as banning multi-year contracts. Another adds a bonding requirement, Vose said, “to give the city a tool to enforce the code.” A third amendment specifies conditions for the rates-filing provision.
The difficult hauler doesn’t like the proposed amendments, Vose said, and told him, “You can’t do that.”
“They made clear,” said Vose, “that if the city imposes a restriction on contract terms, they will sue you.”
He suggested seeking the state attorney general’s opinion. The council members agreed with the plan and postponed until next month their vote on the amendments.
Sportsman’s Club builds new clubhouse
Steve Tri, representing the Pine Island White Pines Sportsman’s Club, asked the council to approve city sewer access for the new and relocated clubhouse.
MnDOT’s decision to close the road to the old clubhouse will, Tri said, force shutdown of that building and redesign of the shooting ranges.
When councilman Rod Steele asked about noise mitigation, an asset the current layout lacks, Tri assured the council that the new arrangement will alleviate the racket.
The Sportsman’s Club opened 43 years ago. Its shooting ranges are used for gun safety training and by law enforcement agencies, the military and of course, club members.
The council voted 5-0 to approve club hookup to the city sewer system.
(For information on the Pine Island White Pines Sportsman’s Club and its new facilities, see www.piwpsc.org.)
Fire fighter blasts department
During the public input portion of the meeting, a member of the Pine Island Volunteer Fire Department presented a list of complaints against that organization.
“Our fire department is tarnished,” Al Jobes said. “We are below standards. We are cheating this community.”
He offered one example: At a training exercise, it took Pine Island firefighters eight minutes to get water out of a fire truck. “That’s horrible,” he said. “We are suffering in training, leadership ability, service. People are threatening to quit.
“Remove the leadership.”
Jobes wasn’t finished. “It’s ego,” he said, “punishment for people they don’t like.
“This can’t be discussed in public. It requires a private talk.
“The council needs to investigate this.
The council will. Mayor Perry, councilman Dean Weis and City Administrator Abraham Algadi had already discussed the complaints and will continue to investigate. They’ll report their findings at the next council meeting.
Asked if Jobe’s charges had any basis, Perry said, “That’s what we’re going to find out.”
Other business
•City Engineer Neil Britton recommended that the city consider buying and then moving a historic house that’s in the way of the proposed County Road 11 roundabout project. The council voted 5-0 to appoint Britton, Algadi and councilman Steele to discuss a purchase price with the owners of the house.
•The councilmen agreed to Lynn Glamm’s request that they discuss annexation of a lot so that the nearly completed house on the lot can get city sewer and water. The house currently lacks those appealing amenities, and without annexation, Glamm, former owner of the lot, will have to pay $34,000 for a well and septic system.
The council will meet next at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at City Hall.
The main difficulties are with one of the three haulers licensed to work in the city.
Disregarding the fact that the license period is one year, the problem hauler persists in selling multi-year contracts to customers and then charging steep penalties for early termination.
In addition, that garbage collector’s rates don’t match those it filed with the city.
City Attorney Bob Vose has prepared amendments that would address the problems by strengthening and clarifying the city code.
One amendment states that the city could impose conditions, such as banning multi-year contracts. Another adds a bonding requirement, Vose said, “to give the city a tool to enforce the code.” A third amendment specifies conditions for the rates-filing provision.
The difficult hauler doesn’t like the proposed amendments, Vose said, and told him, “You can’t do that.”
“They made clear,” said Vose, “that if the city imposes a restriction on contract terms, they will sue you.”
He suggested seeking the state attorney general’s opinion. The council members agreed with the plan and postponed until next month their vote on the amendments.
Sportsman’s Club builds new clubhouse
Steve Tri, representing the Pine Island White Pines Sportsman’s Club, asked the council to approve city sewer access for the new and relocated clubhouse.
MnDOT’s decision to close the road to the old clubhouse will, Tri said, force shutdown of that building and redesign of the shooting ranges.
When councilman Rod Steele asked about noise mitigation, an asset the current layout lacks, Tri assured the council that the new arrangement will alleviate the racket.
The Sportsman’s Club opened 43 years ago. Its shooting ranges are used for gun safety training and by law enforcement agencies, the military and of course, club members.
The council voted 5-0 to approve club hookup to the city sewer system.
(For information on the Pine Island White Pines Sportsman’s Club and its new facilities, see www.piwpsc.org.)
Fire fighter blasts department
During the public input portion of the meeting, a member of the Pine Island Volunteer Fire Department presented a list of complaints against that organization.
“Our fire department is tarnished,” Al Jobes said. “We are below standards. We are cheating this community.”
He offered one example: At a training exercise, it took Pine Island firefighters eight minutes to get water out of a fire truck. “That’s horrible,” he said. “We are suffering in training, leadership ability, service. People are threatening to quit.
“Remove the leadership.”
Jobes wasn’t finished. “It’s ego,” he said, “punishment for people they don’t like.
“This can’t be discussed in public. It requires a private talk.
“The council needs to investigate this.
The council will. Mayor Perry, councilman Dean Weis and City Administrator Abraham Algadi had already discussed the complaints and will continue to investigate. They’ll report their findings at the next council meeting.
Asked if Jobe’s charges had any basis, Perry said, “That’s what we’re going to find out.”
Other business
•City Engineer Neil Britton recommended that the city consider buying and then moving a historic house that’s in the way of the proposed County Road 11 roundabout project. The council voted 5-0 to appoint Britton, Algadi and councilman Steele to discuss a purchase price with the owners of the house.
•The councilmen agreed to Lynn Glamm’s request that they discuss annexation of a lot so that the nearly completed house on the lot can get city sewer and water. The house currently lacks those appealing amenities, and without annexation, Glamm, former owner of the lot, will have to pay $34,000 for a well and septic system.
The council will meet next at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at City Hall.
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