Winsted Town Crier for council meeting March 16

WINSTED, MN –The next Winsted City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 16th. The meeting will begin with a public hearing on the city’s Wastewater Facility Plan. The plan specifies impending improvements that need to be made to the plant that will be required by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The most significant of these new requirements will be the relocation of the city’s effluent that flows into South Lake from the wastewater plant. Effluent is the treated water that leaves the wastewater plant. This “effluent” water must meet very stringent treatment standards, which are enforced by the MPCA. In order to meet new treatment standards, the City Council will have to consider a variety of different effluent discharge locations, which include adding mechanical treatment at the plant to keep the existing location at South Lake or constructing additional piping to run to a nearby creek.

In another matter, the City Council will consider the adoption of a Special Assessment Policy. The purpose of a Special Assessment Policy is to establish a fair system to distribute the costs for public improvements (street, infrastructure, etc…) between the city and affected property owners. Although the city has used special assessments in the past, a formal policy has not been adopted. Adopting a formal policy will ensure that the city follows uniform and reasonable guidelines in its application of special assessments.

Special assessments are determined based on the amount of “benefit” that is received by a property in relation to a public improvement. The policy sets forth what improvement projects are eligible to be assessed, how projects may be initiated, and how assessment amounts will be determined. The proposed policy and reference guide can be found on the city’s website.

Under new business, the City Council will consider scheduling a public hearing for amendments to the Liquor Ordinance. The proposed language creates and amends a variety of standards within the ordinance including: regulations for the use of outdoor decks and patios, Sunday liquor to begin at 11:00 am and a requirement for liquor applicants to attend a forum on liquor licensing and standards. The proposed ordinance and reference guide can be found on the city’s website.

In other matters, the City Council will review a site plan application submitted by M&N Structures for their project in the industrial park. In addition, the Council will consider a request from Jerry Bisping, 111 Lake Avenue East, to have the city pay for costs associated to repair a sanitary sewer connection line.

The Winsted City Council will meet to discuss these items at their meeting on Tuesday, March 16th at 6 p.m. in the Winsted City Hall Council Chambers. If you need more information on an issue, call City Hall and ask for the City Staff Report (not all agenda items have a corresponding report) which will provide you with background and financial information on the topic. Meetings are broadcasted live on Winsted Channel 10 at 6 p.m. and replayed on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., 7 p.m., and 10:30 p.m.

The “Town Crier” is created by City Administrator Brent Mareck using the preliminary agenda for the upcoming City Council meeting. For a complete listing of all agenda items please visit www.winsted.mn.us or pick an agenda up at City Hall.