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Ellsworth council approves fee schedule and ordinances, awards sewer repair bid and declines FAA taxiway grant
Summary
At its Nov. 25 meeting the Ellsworth City Council approved the 2025 fee schedule, adopted two ordinances (meeting schedule and CMB distance waivers), awarded a septic repair contract for 1401 W. 11th to City Plumbing and voted not to pursue a proposed FAA taxiway grant for 2025.
The Ellsworth City Council approved a series of routine and policy items at its Nov. 25 meeting, including a fee schedule for 2025, two ordinances and several procurement actions.
Key votes and outcomes: - Septic repair contract at 1401 West 11th Street: Staff presented two bids. Council moved to accept City Plumbing's bid (reported at $9,750) with a not-to-exceed authorization of $10,000; the motion carried.
- Airport taxi lane design project/FAA funding: Staff explained the concept and noted an annual FAA grant program of roughly $150,000 for small projects. Councilors expressed concern that water and sewer infrastructure had higher priority; the council voted to decline the taxiway project/funding for 2025.
- Residential/property condemnation (304 North Douglas Avenue): The council reviewed a prior directive giving the owner 30 days to find an architect; staff and the building inspector reported continuing structural concerns. Council agreed to table further condemnation action pending architect/engineer review and additional staff recommendations.
- Fee schedule resolution (Resolution 2024-32): Council reviewed recommended updates (including fees tied to water meters and other user charges) and voted to adopt the 2025 fee schedule.
- Ordinances: Council discussed and adopted Ordinance 3162 (to align the code with the practice of meeting twice monthly) and Ordinance 3163 (to address cereal-malt beverage distance limitations and to formalize grandfathering for certain existing retailers). Staff noted the ordinance clarifies inspection and distance processes and permits the council to address close-proximity license issues consistent with state statute.
- CMB license renewals: The council approved cereal-malt beverage license renewals for Pizza Hut, Quick Shop and Casey's.
Several items were forwarded to staff for follow-up: codifying the amendment to city code 2.04.080 (mayor authority language), preparing a letter of support template for local businesses and scheduling a Dec. 9 public hearing on a budget amendment. Most motions were approved by voice vote; detailed roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.
Actions recorded at the meeting included formal motions to accept bids, adopt the fee schedule and adopt the ordinances; the council also moved into an executive session to discuss personnel matters and later authorized the mayor and city attorney to identify an interim administrator to serve through the administrator's departure.
The council set the next regular meeting for Dec. 9 and scheduled a public hearing on a budget amendment for that meeting.
