WESTBROOK, Minnesota (STPNS) --     Westbrook  —  Mayor Rocky Kolar told the council Skyway Towers sent the city a new offer for a permanent easement for the cell phone tower.

    The new easement offer is $75,000 for a 30 year easement and $80,000 for a 35 year easement. Currently the city receives monthly payments of $618.

    The council did the math for the course of the monthly lease. At the current rate the city would receive about $260,000 over the 35 year lease period. The tower company said it would be about half of the amount they were offering.



    Kolar commented, currently the council is using the monthly payments in their budgeting.

    The council felt they should wait for an offer closer to half of the amount they would receive over the 35 years.

    The contract is set up for review every five years, and the city is only two years into the contract. So they felt there is no hurry to accept an offer from the company.

    Council person Dave Moriarty asked city  clerk Katie Steen  to make a couple of corrections in the official minutes of the last regular meeting. He wanted to go on record as bringing up posting reduced speed limit signs around the city park.

    Recently one of the three pool filter housings split open. A new filter housing will cost $640.00 to replace, plus it will have to be replumbed. The council decided to purchase replacements for all of the filters. Since the filters were as old as the pool. Funding for the project will come from a $5,000 donation from Bank midwest.

    The council approved changes in the City Code Number 5 regarding allowing Sunday liquor sales. The council approved the change.

    The city approved a donation of $2,000 from the Fire Relief Fund to the Fire Department.

    The council approved a resolution to update the signatures at Bank Midwest for city employees. The resolution passed with Dennis Phelps abstaining.

    Street supervisor Carl Conrad told the council the city’s welder has broke down. In checking around he was not able to find parts for it. If parts can not be found it will have to be replaced. The council will look further into the matter.

    Brad Knakmuhs requested to hold an outdoor  dance at the Loose Moose Saturday, July 14. The council ok’d the measure, but noted he would have to fence off an area where liquor is being served.

    Election judges were named by the clerk: Head judges, Katie Steen and Rob Adams; judges - Sharon Timgren, Gwen Kvilhaug, Marlys Erickson, Sue Olsem, Helen Peterson, Daryl Hrdlicka, and Nicole Elzenga. Health Care Judges: Katie Steen, Helen Peterson, and Sharon Timgren.

    The following building permits were approved: Ethel Madson to build a handicap ramp at her home on First Avenue; Gary and Kathy Phillips to pour a concrete patio at their residence on Bell Avenue; Alan Cohrs to build a small shed on his bin site on Davis Avenue; Craig Noding to build a garage at his home on Adams Avenue; Brenda Bunker to build a back yard fence at her home on Cedar Avenue.

    June Police report

    Two funeral assists;  three accidents;  eight open door checks; two tickets issued; two Air ambulance assists; one County assist; one case of unwanted phone calls to juvenile; three  incidents at the Fun Days street dance; two domestic calls. one animal bite case; removed skunks from property.