Two vehicle crash in Motley Three people were transported to Lakewood Health System Hospital, Staples, following a two-vehicle crash in Motley Oct. 28, at the intersection of Hwy 10 and Hwy 210.The accident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. At the scene were the Motley Police Department, Motley Fire & Rescue, Motley Fire Department; Staples ambulance and State Trooper Jason Brown. A number of accidents have occurred at this location in recent years; and this latest confirms that the stoplights (slated to be installed by MnDOT this spring) are badly needed. (Staples World photos by Dawn Schimpp Timbs) Jon Alexander, owner of Big Boyz Truck & Tire in Motley, is hoping the city can help him make a go of his business, which opened Aug. 4.

Alexander spoke to the Motley City Council at their regular meeting Oct. 27; and asked them to consider reducing his company's water and sewer rates by one third for the next three years.

"I'm requesting that you give us a break," Alexander said, adding that he's new in town; and that he has encountered severe road blocks since opening his business in Motley.

Alexander said he believes the city council is there to help bring new businesses to town; and to help those businesses succeed. He believes, in return, that this will only benefit the town.

Council member Duane Solga said he feared that if the council gave a break (regarding rates) to one business, it would set a precedence and soon all other businesses would also want a break. "I've been in business here for five years," Solga, owner of Tire Auto Lodge in Motley, said. "I'm hanging on by a thread myself. If I read that you got a rate change, then I'd want to ask for something as well."

Mayor Konrad Alexander said that there is no revenue generated from water and sewer. "It's a wash," he said to Jon.

The mayor also said that the city has had to raise all of their water/sewer rates in order to qualify for funding for a new wastewater treatment facility. He feared that if they lowered their rates for Big Boyz Truck & Tire, they might lose funding.

Both the mayor and council member Rob Sampson mentioned that they would like to help Big Boyz out in some way...they appreciate having the business in town.

Perhaps the city could explore another option for helping Big Boyz, Mayor Alexander said, other than reducing water and sewer rates, which he believes is not an option.

Is there some other 'new business incentive plan' available? Sampson asked. City Clerk/Treasurer Terri Smith was not at the meeting (due to sickness) and Sampson felt the council needed her input in this matter.

Jon Alexander said he feels that without help, Big Boyz will go under. If that happens, he cautioned, the city will lose another business; and they will lose tax dollars. He also feels it will lose new people coming to town; and it will lose a 'Good Year' store. "They don't give 'Good Year' dealerships just to anybody," Jon said. "That is a big deal."

Jon said he felt the council needed to look at the bigger picture...look down the road a bit and give his store a chance.

In addition to asking the city for some sort of financial break, Jon requested, at the meeting Oct. 27, that the city be in favor of a two-lot split on the former El Ray property currently being leased by BRICKS Travel Plaza near Hwy 10.

He has run into problems putting up a 'Good Year' sign on his property because there is not a twolot split.

Although Jon has a signed purchase agreement with the current owners (American National Bank in Brainerd); he explained to the council that the bank is wanting to 'get out of the purchase agreement' unless the council will approve a two-lot split.

Previously, there had been a proposed three-lot split for a preliminary plat of the above-mentioned property.

At a council meeting Aug. 11, however, a representative from American National Bank said the bank would like to resubmit its application and redraw the plat, amending it to a proposed two-lot split. The bank believed this would eliminate the need to build an additional roadway; and that they would not need to extend utilities at this time.

Council member Rob Sampson explained to Jon Alexander, at the meeting Oct. 27, that the original three-lot split had been voted down and that the council had never received any information on a proposal for a two-lot split.

Ben Oleson, with Community Growth Institute, said that the council wouldn't be able to approve a two-lot split unless the owner (the bank) is the one asking for it. If the bank is willing to sign off on it, Oleson said, Jon Alexander could be the applicant.

Jon would also need to get the okay from the Planning and Zoning Commission before it (the two-lot split proposal) could move forward to the city council, Oleson said.

Oleson told Jon that he would be willing to help him figure out what steps he needs to take to move forward with the two-way split.

Jon said he's willing to work with the city, if the city's willing to work with him.

"Walking away from it isn't an option," Jon said to the council.

Sampson said he hoped

that it wasn't an option. "We really appreciate the

business in town," he said to Jon.

Discussion then moved to the issue of billing policies with Community Growth Institute (CGI).

Per the request of council member Solga, Oleson provided the council with a summary of the work that CGI has done on behalf of the city in reviewing recent applications for subdivision approval and the placement of signs on the former El Ray truck stop property.

Motley has a base monthly payment of $550 to CGI for their services. This past June, their invoice was $1,189; and in July, it was $2,014. Both invoices, Oleson explained, were significantly higher because of conversations and meetings with American National Bank in regard to the proposed subdivision.

Who should pay these extra costs? was a question asked during the council meeting. Greg Weber, with Motley's Planning and Zoning

Commission, felt somebody

should be responsible. "It's unfair to the tax-payers,"

he said.

Although Jon Alexander said he felt that the bank should be responsible; there was not a clear directive from the council about this matter.

Per request of council member Nancy Nieken, Oleson said that he would attempt to keep track of the hours spent working on this particular case; and keep Jon's hours separate from the bank's hours.

In other matters the council:

o APPOINTED a committee to look over quotes from the various solid waste and recycling service providers interested in negotiating a contract with the City of Motley. Committee members include Mayor Alexander, Council member Bruce Mills, Maintenance Asst. Bruce Brotherton; and City Clerk/Treasurer Terri Smith. They hope to have information available at the next council meeting Nov. 10.

o LEARNED, from Fire Chief Dave Greig, that the new firetruck is due to arrive Nov. 2; and

o APPROVED, pending the fire chiefs' inspection and approval, issuing a check for $117,523 for the new truck.

o APPROVED putting the old #3 firetruck up for sale by sealed bids, with the deadline to bid Nov. 30.

o LEARNED that the recent remodeling project in the city's fire station went very well. "It's all done, except for the reorganizing of the new office," Greig said.

o HEARD concerns from Motley resident Nancy Nieken (who left her council seat during the public forum) about pot-holes in the city streets. Maintenance Asst. Bruce Brotherton said he would try to grade the streets again. The excessive amounts of rain lately have made it difficult to work on these streets.