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SE City Council OKs rental inspection publication

SLEEPY EYE — The Sleepy Eye City Council unanimously approved publicizing a rental inspection ordinance Tuesday.

City Manager Alissa Fischer said the action would save local taxpayers nearly $2,000 by posting it on the city website and at Dyckman Free Library.

Under Ordinance 147, $500 fines would be assessed to property owners operating without a license and willful neglect of a licensing application. Two-year rental license application fees including inspections range from $100 to $700 for two years, depending how many rental units are included. Renewal rates are 40 percent less, from $60 to $420 if applied for prior to expiration of previous licenses.

The city council approved:

• Presenting a $1,403.23 check to the Sleepy Eye FFA for July 4th fireworks fundraising efforts at Sportsmans Park.

• A $500,000 line of credit at First Security Bank for Sleepy Eye Municipal Hospital on a motion by councilor Nate Stevermer, seconded by councilor Doug Pelzel, The hospital already has an account at the bank. The line of credit will be used to enable the hospital to meet financial obligations for brief periods of time at a three to four percent interest rate.

• Tabled an amendment to the dangerous dog ordinance to the September meeting.

• By a 4-1 vote with councilor Larry Braun dissenting, expanded on-street parking by removing 15 feet of yellow curb at 541 3rd Avenue N.W., motion by Pelzel, seconded by Gary Windschitl. Braun said he hoped the council would give every resident the same consideration it allowed in the resolution for the property (owned by Mark Kober).

• Heard from City Manager Bob Elston that the Brown County Highway Committee denied placing a stop sign at the intersection of St. Mary’s Street and 3rd Avenue N.E. because stop signs are not intended for speed control.

• By a 4-1 vote with Windschitl dissenting, purchasing $3,256.71 worth of sound improvements and buying a new high-resolution, digital camera for $2,957 from Morcom to improve city council meeting viewing on cable television. The resolution came on a motion by Braun, seconded by Stevermer. Windschitl said it “was a lot of money for sound quality.”

• At an open forum prior to the meeting, Mark Beito read a statement about the City of Sleepy Eye’s new no alley pickup rule.

“It was explained to us in December that the new garbage trucks would be too big to go down an alley. Actually they are not,” Beito said.

In addition, he said Sleepy Eye alleys are the same width of New Ulm’s and that the new Sleepy Eye garbage trucks are not automated, which he said was a reason given to not do alley pickup.

“Winter is tough enough without the no alley pickup rule… and it makes our City look trashy. Please fix the no alley pick up rule. You can do it,” Beito said.

• Also at the public forum, Sleepy Eye resident Reg Wick praised the work of Dyckman Free Librarian Andrew Kelton. She complained about horseplay by children at the Sleepy Eye Water Park.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.

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