Park Rapids Council approves belated signing of extension agreement

Beth McCandry

Park Rapids City Council on Tuesday May 11th authorized current city officials to sign an extension agreement with Lamb Weston / RDO that the City Council approved on July 9th, 2019.

The agreement covered the maintenance and operation of the wastewater treatment plant, which is required by the companies’ potato processing plant. The city funded the construction of the sewage treatment plant in 1995 and refinanced it in 2010 while Lamb Weston and RD Offutt Farms paid the principal and interest.

According to the 2019 HR report included in the council’s agenda package, the wastewater treatment plant’s debt was suspended in 2015, but the original agreement only ran until 2025. To ensure the plant’s ongoing operation, the companies requested an extension of the agreement until 2039 thereafter with two optional ones Extensions for five years.

City administrator Angel Weasner confirmed that the signing of the deal fell into a tear during the transition between former city administrators John McKinney and Ryan Mathisrud.

The item was removed from the assent agenda due to a conflict of interest for Councilor Tom Conway. Councilor Erika Randall approved the motion and the motion was passed 4-0, with Conway abstaining.

The council also commended David R. Konshok for more than 60 years of community service and accepted his recent resignation from the Park Rapids Airport Commission.

Konshok was not in attendance to receive the award, but Weasner noted that he was officially appointed to the Airport Commission on January 18, 1961 and was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2013.

In matters of consent and general matters, the Council shall:

  • Appointment of David W. Konshok to fill the position in the airport commission due to the resignation of his father.

  • The offer for the Career Path road project was awarded to J & J Excavating, Inc. of Staples for USD 470,873, pending receipt of the remaining easements. Other bidders included Central Specialties, Feldt Plumbing and Excavating, Gladen Construction, JR Ferche, Küchle Underground, RL Larson Excavating, Stellin Brothers and Utility Systems of America with bids of up to $ 664,942.

  • Approved career path facilitations to the city from L&H Lodging (AmericInn Motel), the Hubbard County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Meadow View Apartments), Galen M. Johnson (ReMax) and the Hubbard County Developmental Achievement Center (Salvage Depot) and ratified that Facilitation of the city’s career path to the city was approved at the April 27 meeting of the city council.

  • Pays Al Bellevue $ 6,000 for the “Ant Venture” sculpture for Deane Park as part of the city’s Sculpture Walk.

  • Paid $ 18,195 for first half property tax to the Hubbard County’s auditor and treasurer.

  • Paid Apex Engineering $ 17,164 to work on a variety of projects including the water treatment plant and fountain, tennis courts, and career path projects.

  • Pays Hawkins, Inc. $ 2,486 for water treatment chemicals.

  • Pays Dakota Fluid Power, Inc. $ 2,305 to repair the cylinders on the fire department truck.

  • Paid $ 1,702 to the Hubbard County Auditor for first half 2021 property taxes for the Armory Arts and Events Center.

  • Approval of a 3 percent increase in rent for airport hangars.

  • Approved a public facility permit for Amity Gray with Calvary Lutheran Church for a picnic on Wednesday May 26th in Deane Park.

  • Authorizes a 3.5 percent convenience fee for using credit cards to pay fees and bills over $ 500.

  • Designated City Clerk Beret Ramstad Skoyles as the authorized signature for the city.

  • Approved liabilities totaling $ 60,230 and prepayments totaling $ 110,113.

The next meeting of the city council will take place on Tuesday, May 25th, at 6 p.m. in the town hall.