Pre-meeting treats Cliff and Lydia Goodwater, Motley, enjoyed a Dairy Queen treat before heading into the regular Motley City Council meeting Aug. 25. The Goodwaters rarely miss attending a council meeting. Cliff also serves as a member of the Streets Committee. (Staples World photo by Dawn Schimpp Timbs) The City of Motley is moving forward with its Beaulieu Street Area Project; and it looks like commercial properties will be assessed at a much lower percentage than was previously discussed.

Plans to have curb and gutter along portions of Beaulieu Street, Third Avenue and Main Street are also in the works.

At a special work session held prior to their regular meeting Aug. 25, the Motley City Council spent about 45 minutes discussing the project, including assessment structure; curb and gutter versus ditches; and the project's time line.

Varying opinions were expressed as to the percentage rate that commercial owners in particular should be assessed.

Both council member Duane Solga and project committee member Cliff Goodwater expressed concern that the city's current assessment policy was tough on businesses.

Visit from Doty Representative Al Doty (DFL District 12B) stopped by the Motley City Council meeting Aug. 25, to discuss a variety of issues, including administration fines; and the country's current financial situation and how it affects rural Minnesotans. Pictured, from left, are Doty; Mayor Konrad Alexander; and council members Rob Sampson and Bruce Mills. (Staples World photo by Dawn Schimpp Timbs) Currently, in a commercial project area, the city would pay 30 percent of the project cost and property owners would be assessed 70 percent of the project cost on a front footage basis.

T

his rate could force

business owners out of business, Solga said.

Council member Bruce Mills, on the other hand, said he felt that that rate

was pretty reasonable. "We're losing 40 percent

from commercial properties," Mills said; adding that he felt going 30 (percent) across the board was frightening.

City engineer Aric Welch said he believes commercial owners should pay more, because they are getting more.

Council member Rob Sampson said he felt that the city needed to start somewhere. Because the city hasn't had an assessment policy for the past 100 years, this would be a good starting point, he said.

After a short break, the council reconvened for their regular meeting on Aug. 25.

Mayor Konrad Alexander made a motion, which was approved by all members of the council, that property owners would be assessed (across the board) 30 percent of the project cost, with a 30/70 split between commercial project costs and city costs.

In laymen's terms, Welch explained in a later e-mail, "Commercial properties will be assessed 30 percent of the commercial project costs and commercial assessments will be based on front footage."

Welch said the assessment policy will be amended so commercial project costs are 30 percent assessed and 70 percent city costs, instead of 70 percent assessed and 30 percent city costs as was originally proposed. He will bring this back to the council for their approval.

Commercial and residential project costs will be calculated separately, Welch explained in his email.

"Residential properties will be assessed a set rate for water, sewer and roadway improvements," Welch said. "All residents in the project area will be assessed the same amount per lot. Some lots can be split and some property owners own more than one lot, so they will receive more than one assessment."

Although a formal vote was not taken in regard to 'curb and gutter versus ditches,' for the streets project, the consensus of the council was to add curb and gutter; and storm sewer, along portions of Beulieau Street, Third Avenue and Main Street. The remaining streets in the project area will be 26-feet wide bituminous roadways with ditches.

At their meeting, the council also set a preliminary assessment hearing (in regard to the Beaulieu Street Area project) for Monday, Oct. 12, 6 p.m. This needs to take place before they can make a decision to move forward with the project.

"At the hearing," Welch said in a later e-mail, "the council will present the project information in the same format it was presented at the public informational meeting. They will then take public comment and close the meeting."

At this point, Welch continued, the council can either decide to move forward with the project or stop the process.

In addition to holding the assessment hearing, Welch told the council that a new design will be needed for this particular project.

If all goes as planned, Welch said he hopes to see bids go out next spring.

In other matters the council:

o HEARD from Lee Miller, with Region Five Development Commission, in regard to a grant application he is preparing on behalf of the city. The city is requesting $900,000 for an estimated $2.9 million wastewater treatment facility project. The application will be submitted to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), a branch of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce.

Miller reported on the eligibility requirements of the grant, citing the city is eligible to apply because it meets EDA's economic distress criteria.

o DENIED the preliminary plat of 'Motley Business Park' as presented with a three-way split.

o HEARD from Representative Al Doty (DFL District 12-B) who discussed a number of issues, including his desire to see Motley become a "Community for a Lifetime." Motley is a "Senior-friendly area," Doty said, mentioning Sunny Pines and Harmony House.

Doty also stressed to the council that, although the economy seems to be on the up-swing, the state of Minnesota's

budget is about

one - two years behind. "Don't expect money in the

next few years," was Doty's message. "There's just not enough money to do all that needs to be done." He urged everyone to work together through these tough times. "We'll do what we can to help out."

o ACCEPTED the layout of the proposed Motley Fire Department office renovation; and granted the MFD authority to move doors and windows as needed, as long as there weren't expenditures for materials (labor only).

o SET next regular council meeting for Thursday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m.