Construction is expected to begin soon on a building at the Staples Municipal Airport to house snow removal equipment.

The bid of $275,157.73 was awarded to Srock Construction, Inc., Alexandria, at the Aug. 24 meeting of the Staples City Council. They also approved a $41,000 architect/engineer agreement with Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc.

The city is actually responsible for only five percent of the cost of the project. A Federal Aviation Administration grant administered through the Minnesota Department of Transportation office of Aeronautics will cover 95 percent of the cost. The grant agreement was also approved.

The city’s portion of about $16,000 will be paid out of hangar rental income and fuel sale profit.

The 45 ft. by 50 ft. building will be just north of the arrival and departure building on the east side of the apron. Currently the equipment is being stored at the city’s street shop off 12th St. NE.

The council voted to send a public works issue to the city’s attorney Joe Krueger, Long Prairie, for an official legal opinion.

Jesse Goff is appealing a decision by the Public Works Commission regarding the payment and/or assessment of costs related to upgrading a water service line at his home on 8th St. NE. Goff and his mother Mary Jo Goff appeared at the meeting and distributed documentation and a statement about the issue.

City Administrator Nate Mathews and Public Works Director Doug Bendorf were at a Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association conference and could not attend the city council meeting. However, Mathews had prepared a statement on the issue.

Apparently when that street was improved in 1991 the owner of the home at that time chose not to upgrade water service to the house.

Jesse Goff has owned the home for about six years. When he decided to upgrade his water service this summer, it was discovered some pipes from the main to the curb stop that should have been replaced in 1991 were missed. Had they been replaced, the cost would have been assessed against the property.

The city administration feels that, according to state statute, they cannot agree to pay for what is defined as a private service line.

The Goffs say they aren’t asking for anything other than what people got in 1991 and any assessments shouldn’t be more than that.

Council member Roy Miles said he doesn’t think the Public Works Commission had all the information they needed to make a recommendation.

“I’d like to get a legal opinion and go from there,” Miles said.

Mayor Chris Etzler also advocated to get a legal opinion, “not just for your situation but for the future.”

In other business the council:

o APPROVED the second reading and adopted a city ordinance to amend the city code to allow issuing on sale liquor licenses to theaters providing live performances.

o APPROVED a resolution ordering the abatement of public nuisances. The list included 25 properties. If they weren’t cleaned up in five days of receipt of the order, the city would clean it up and assess the cost against the property. All properties on the list had received letters and had not yet complied.