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Shafer City council met May 5 for a regular meeting all members were present.  

The council began with approving a lawful gambling premises permit for the old Shafer Saloon.  The new owners will be changing the name to “The Saloon” and plan to open in June.  It is noted the new owners have returned to Shafer Franconia Fire for their charitable gambling operations. The prior owner had switched to an organization from out of the area over a year ago.  

Council member Nick Brehm then told the council the roads committee has decided that Buffalo Ridge first and second additions are in dire need of pot hole fixing.  Brehm and maintenance director Brad Swenson said the group would like to use a spray patch which would run around $20,000 to fix the major issues.  Swenson noted each load of spray patch (which is seven tons) costs around $4,850 and the project would require three to four loads.  City engineer Jake Guzik told the council the patch is good for 1-3 years and reminded council the Buffalo Ridge roads were part of the future road improvement project.  Council approved up to $20,000 for the spray patch unanimously.

Swenson then told the council his department would like to purchase a “hot box” which  holds hot asphalt while patching around the city.  Swenson found a used box for $10,000.  Brehm noted there is $138,000 in the city's equipment fund that could be used for the purchase.  Council approved the purchase unanimously.

Swenson then circled back to a prior conversation the council had about potentially purchasing or renting a street sweeper.  After researching the matter, Swenson told the council hiring a company to sweep the streets is considerably less expensive than either purchasing or renting a sweeper.  Renting a sweeper would cost the city around $5,000 while using the company the city has used in the past would cost $2,650 for the entire city.  

 City Clerk Valerie Fox told council the city sent out 92 late water bills with just over $25,000 owed.

Council adjourned at 6:14pm.

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