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Spirits were high at Center City's monthly meeting February 1. The Center City Volunteer Fire Department received a $285,000 grant to purchase a new truck, and the council was anticipating opening bids for a rear mounted pumper truck during the meeting. The fire department received notice of winning the Assistance to FireFighters Grant, a 10-year old program funded by FEMA. Assistant Fire Chief Travis Greene has been the point man on the three-year project to obtain the grant, determine the specifications for the new truck, and, after receiving notice of receiving the grant, he solicited bids for the council's consideration.

Despite Greene's research and preparation of detailed specification sheets which he sent to five local and out of state fire apparatus manufacturers, there were only two envelopes on Mayor Behnke's desk at the bid opening, last week. The first bid, from Southern Fire Service & Sales, Inc. Jasper, Georgia, was a disappointment. It was only a sales brochure inviting potential customers to send specifications to the company.

The second envelope, from CustomFIRE Apparatus, Inc., Osceola Wisconsin, contained a detailed bid according to the specifications the Center City Fire Department included in its RFB. CustomFIRE proposed to deliver the truck within three months for $349,390 with a required downpayment $104,817. The fire department could shave $4,390 from the purchase price if it paid for the truck up front. Council member Lloyd Vetter wondered if $350,000 was a good price. Center City Fire Chief Bob Bray said he had priced a similar truck at $425,000. During the council's discussion on the details for completing the purchase with the grant, Chief Bray reported that the department's equipment fund balance of $70,000 is adequate to cover the match required by the grant. "The city has a year to take delivery on the truck, and we are 60 days ahead of schedule on this project," Greene added. The department will retire its old pumper, and expects some income from the sale of the 1978 rig.

Council unanimously approved Vetter's motion to accept the bid from CustomFIRE, contingent on review and approval of the specifications by the fire department and the contract by the city attorney.

Greene was thanked for his dedication and work in obtaining this grant.

The city is waiting for delivery of its new dump/snowplow truck. The truck is at Midway Ford in Saint Paul, where a plow will be added. It will be delivered next month.

By unanimous vote, the council put the 1983 Chevy C-60 diesel dump truck and plow up for sale. Sealed bids can be mailed or delivered to city hall.

The council decided not to sell the city's 1942 portable generator just yet. Mayor Jill Behnke will check with a repair services that can determine if it is feasible to repair the war surplus generator. City engineer Les Mateffy advised that a new portable generator costs $15,000 and is an important piece of equipment for the city maintenance department.

Two action items were on the agenda for the County Seat Business Park. The council followed the Planning Commission's recommendation and approved the preliminary and final plat for the development after the city attorney reviewed the conditions. Likewise, the council unanimously approved an amendment to the Conditional Use Permit for the monopole radio tower and emergency communications building at the site.

The council resolved the question of who will pay for the removal of brush and debris at the Business Park that was tabled from last month's meeting. The $200 will be paid to Larsin and Son Tree Service from the city-held County Business Park Development Fund.

Attorney Grundhoefer reported that the city has received an offer from the county to buy a small lot on Summit as part of the County Road 9 Improvement Project. Grundhoefer said he would step back from legal advisement on the offer because his office is located on Summit Avenue. Grundhoefer referred attorney Thomas Scott to the council to review the offer. The council unanimously approved Behnke's motion to that effect.

Mayor Behnke also reported on the city's salt purchases. The council briefly discussed Lindstrom's proposal last year to collaborate on constructing a salt shed. The council concluded that its current arrangement to get salt from Lindstrom directly is working satisfactorily.

The council took some time to dream and imagine what downtown Center City could look like in the future. Mateffy presented blueprints of his initial design for the city's Downtown Business District Improvement. (Summit Avenue) The council discussed paving, lighting and miscellaneous improvements to Summit Avenue, Triangle Park, Schultz Avenue, additional parking and the lift station area behind the Porter House at a base cost of $240,000. Mateffy had estimates and ideas for other amenities. The council discussed costs of different solutions to Schultz Avenue drainage dependent on whether the excess water is coming from a leaking water line or a natural spring. Curbing of Triangle Park will lend it importance and distinguish it from the roadway, but adding a retaining wall is a consideration that the council and staff will have to weigh against the ease of snow storage. There are possibilities for improvements such as parking space redesign downtown and traffic-calming bump-outs. Possibilities for aesthetic improvements include landscape plantings, colored stamped concrete and tactics for hiding service areas such as the lift station between the Porter House and City Hall.

Mayor Behnke said the city is resubmitting an application for an $80,000 grant. The council briefly discussed other financing options. Behnke predicted that the improvements would be done in stages as funds become available. She asked the council members to start prioritizing projects with consideration for integrating each element of the design towards efficiently accomplishing the final design.

Will Pennings reported that safety workshops he attended stress that city employees wear DOT reflective vests at all times outside their vehicles, and that he was mentioning this to remind Center City employees of these safety guidelines. The council also renewed the contract with Hennepin Technical College to provide OSHA required training for city employees.

Rick Beeksma has been hired as the new part time on call maintenance assistant. Norma Anderson is filling in at city hall while clerk Terrie Trudeau is on vacation.

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