WESTBROOK, Minnesota (STPNS) --     westbrook —  The council discussed cleaning deposits for the community center. In the past the council has been fairly lenient in withholding money from the deposit.

    But in the recent past there have been a couple of incidents where various liquids were splashed on the walls of the halls and bathrooms requiring extra cleaning.

    The council said they are going to have to begin taking a harder line when these things occur, withholding all or part of their deposit. They also realize when private parties rent the center the persons renting can not always control what their guests might do. But the renters should check to see what condition  the bathrooms are in before leaving.



    Street supervisor Carl  Conrad reported the street patching and seal coating the patches has been completed.

    He also told the council the person that winterized the pool said they should leave the cover off of the pool as it was not designed to be used with a stainless steel sided pool.

    Librarian Kari Ourada requested additional hours for the library. She explained that they would like to have additional  hours which would be added on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to accommodate more after school use by students.

    The council decided to add the extra hours until the end of the year, and asked Ourada to track the usage of the additional hours. Then the council will review the tracking and determine whether or not to continue with all or a portion of the new hours.

    The new hours will be Monday and Tuesday from 10-6, Wednesday from 1-6, Thursday and Friday 10-5 and Saturday from 10 - 2.

    Ourada noted it would also help working people to have more access to the library. The council suggested they ask users their preference on opening hours.

    The council reviewed license renewals. The following licenses were approved: Loose Moose, and VFW On Sale $1,200 each,  Off Sale

$100 each. These licenses can be paid quarterly.

    Off  Sale 3.2 Beer  $105 per year for ExpressWay.

    Cigarette license: Maynard's, and ExpressWay $20 each.

    Games $15 per game, Loose Moose and VFW.

    The council briefly discussed fire and ambulance contracts with the townships. Currently they are paying $45 per section for ambulance coverage, and $115 a section for fire coverage. The council tabled the matter to get more information as to what other cities are doing in regards to the contracts.

    The VFW post asked the council to approve a Sunday liquor license for the establishment.

    The council tabled the issue to check with the League of Minnesota Cities about  the requirements  to have a Sunday liquor license. VFW representative Dennis Jutting told the council it would only be used for special occasions.

    Two building permits were approved. Sharon Timgren for a deck at her home on Birch Street. Dave Beaty for a utility shed at his home on First Avenue.

    The council voted to apply the city street assessments to a tax forfeited property on First Avenue purchased by Astrid Kruezek.

    Merlyn Kvilhaug asked to purchase the land on the north end of Bell Avenue adjacent to the Westbrook Apartments. The council voted to keep the property for utility access and access for emergency vehicles.

    The council approved a utilities contract with WAPA Western Power Assn. extending the contract until the year 2050.

    Council person David Moriarty informed the council the red slides in the park are not draining water properly, and he noticed a broken water shut off on  Seventh Street near the football field.

    Moriarty also submitted a letter of resignation effective December 31, 2012. He stated he wanted his replacement to start with the rest of the newly elected council members.

    The council decided to fill the vacancy with the person who receives the third highest number of votes in the general election.