This week in The Rooster Crows: Thunder strikes causing a fire at the elevator facility; Rutland Roosters start the Slowpitch Softball season with a win; Rutland Community Library meeting held; Construction improvements at the Post Office; storms bring welcome rain; Community clean up gets draws business to the landfill; local youth advance in rank at Tae Kwon Do; Sargent Central graduates include Rutland youth; Memorial Day observance on Monday and other items to connect you to Rutland!

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This week in The Rooster Crows: Veteran’s Memorial Committee project progressing; several residences start spring construction and improvements; Nordic Needle International design competition includes Cayuga native; families welcome newborns; City schedules Clean-Up Day; Rutland Cemetary Association holds annual meeting; RFL Antique Tractor run plans progressing for the June event; comments and a history lesson on Syttende Mai; and other area news.

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Minutes of the Rutland City Council, April 1, 2013 Regular Meeting        5:45 p.m.

Council Members Christensen, Christianson, Mahrer and Siemieniewski present; Mayor Narum presiding.  Also present – City Attorney Bill Anderson; Auditor Deborah Banish.

Agenda.  Christensen/Mahrer moved approval of the agenda.  Motion carried unanimously.

Minutes.   Siemieniewski/Christianson moved approval of the March minutes as submitted.  Motion carried unanimously.

Gaming Site Permits: The Council was informed that the City of Forman charges $100.00 for gaming site permits.  Rutland may want to consider a similar fee for next year.

ND Department of Health Contract:  Siemieniewski/Mahrer moved approval of the ND Department of Health contract for laboratory services through 2013.  Motion carried unanimously.

Alley Vacation:  The first reading was held for the Petition to Vacate Street and Alley described as follows:   Park Street from the east line of Ross Street to the west line of Forest Street; and the alley abutting Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 in Block 1 of Green’s Addition, also referred to as Green’s Addition of 1907, to the City of Rutland.

The petition for vacation is based on the following facts and reasons:

1.  The street and alley have never been used by the public.
2. The street and alley to be vacated do not serve as access routes to any other property.
3. The street and alley proposed to be vacated have never been maintained as a street and alley by the City of Rutland, and the maintenance of the street and alley proposed to be vacated would be a waste of public funds.

The effect of the abandonment of the property to the owners thereof will be:

• To improve the utility and value of the entire property and
• To remove any possible adverse claims that may diminish the value or usefulness of the property.

The final reading will be at the May 6 meeting.

Financial:  The City Auditor presented the Balance Sheet and Current Month Receipts for the month of March.  Siemieniewski/Mahrer moved approval.  Motion carried unanimously.

Current Bills:  Auditor presented the accounts payable through April 1, 2013. Christianson/ Siemieniewski moved approval of payment: USDA Rural Development. $ 632.00; B. Mahrer Construction.. $365.29; City of Fargo.. $14.00; City of Forman.. $48.67; Deborah Banish..$17.71; Delores Lysne  $52.50; DRN . $101.76; Jacobson Implement.. $444.57; Jim Brown $52.50; Martinsen Home  Center $10.17; Otter Tail Power $859.92; Quill $24.87; Ron Narum…$492.29; Waste Management (Hall) $ 77.69; Southeast Water Users .. $947.50; Waste Management (contract) $. 1708.65; Deborah Banish.. $323.22; Roger Pearson..$34.63. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Communications: Mayor Narum said he plans to attend the League of Cities Regional Meeting and the ND Rural Water systems Association session in Mapleton.  One is in the morning and the other in the afternoon on May 2, 2013.

Narum said the City needs some road patch material and he presented cost and purchase options for the patch and some ground sterilant.

Anderson informed the Council that the County will be doing some road work on the County Road by the Fust property. The City might also be able to coordinate with the County on some City road work when the contractor is doing the Highway 11 project.

Christensen/Mahrer moved and authorized the purchase two bags of road patch and ground sterilant.  Motion carried unanimously.

Narum said he is exploring the costs to get a GPS system for water shut-off valve locations.

The Council discussed the process for water shut off and agreed that any labor expense for shut off should be billed to the customer in addition to the City’s regular shut off fee.  That should be included when the Council adjusts its fees.

The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. and reconvened as the Board of Estimate and Taxation.