Walnut Grove council approves sale of 20-foot strip, adopts tree-pest ordinance and OKs equipment purchases

Walnut Grove 9— The City Council on May 12 voted to sell the west 20 feet of parcel 94-200-1500 at 691 Main Street to Knakmuhs Enterprises for $500 and adopted a city code change addressing tree pest control, among other routine actions.

Crystal Knakmuhs offered to purchase the strip of land to add a fire exit and an outdoor walkway for upstairs apartments and to create a fenced patio for the coffee shop on the ground floor. Councilmember Yeng Yang moved to approve the sale to Knakmuhs Enterprises for $500 with the condition that the buyer "promise[s] to maintain and improve the property within 3 years or the property will revert to the city." The motion passed 4-1; Mayor Ron Stubbe voted against the sale.

The council also approved Ordinance 192, which replaces City Code section 11.2 with a new section 11.3 to permit monitoring, treatment and removal of trees that become infested or diseased at the owner's expense. The city attorney recommended the code update; Councilmember Dale Shannon made the motion to adopt the ordinance and the council voted unanimously.

Maintenance staff reported several facility items requiring attention. Tom Hansen said the city has purchased multiple air-conditioner units and has replaced some at Country View, with additional replacements planned. Hansen also reported that the Country View stove and oven "is over 20 years old and has been fixed several times." Councilmember Sue West moved, and Councilmember Yeng Yang seconded, to order a Vulcan Range from Equippers to replace the appliance for approximately $4,6009-$4,800; the motion passed unanimously.

Consultant Bolton & Menk assisted the city in submitting an application for the PFA Intended Use Plan and additional applications to the Clean Water Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water Revolving Fund for the 8th Street sewer and water project.

Council reviewed a Bar & Grill roof repair, noting the contractor found warped sheathing that required replacement; that additional material and labor added $2,434.34 to the bill, bringing the labor-and-sheathing subtotal to $8,909.34.

Beth Bjorklund, the EMS coordinator, told the council the Walnut Grove Ambulance Service received a Certificate of Excellence from the State of Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services and that the ambulance licensing inspection is scheduled for May 13. Bjorklund and another service member plan to visit 4th graders during EMS Week.

Police Chief David Graham reported a burglary in town and described it as "a crime of opportunity." A resident who spoke during public comment said he has observed e-bikes failing to obey traffic laws and that he nearly hit a rider who did not stop at a stop sign.

The council also approved a peddler's permit for Troy Vang and Melinda Yang to operate a food truck and granted a land-use permit to Craig Kleven to add cement pads at 751 8th Street. Motions to approve claims numbered 45076999459 and to accept the April 14 and April 27 minutes were approved. A public hearing for the Board of Appeals and Equalization was opened and scheduled for 8:00 p.m.; the meeting was then adjourned.

The actions recorded at the meeting include the conditional sale of city property, adoption of Ordinance 192, procurement authorization for a replacement stove/oven, multi-agency funding applications for an infrastructure project, and routine administrative approvals. The ambulance licensing inspection on May 13 and the Board of Appeals and Equalization hearing at 8:00 p.m. are the next scheduled items noted by the council.