SE OKs dredge purchase

Windschitl casts

dissenting vote

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- The third time was a charm, at least to most of the Sleepy Eye City Council Tuesday night.

The council approved the third version of a purchase of a dredge from Brown County by a 4-1 vote.

Councilor Harry Windschitl cast the dissenting vote, claiming the purchase is not as good as it might sound. The City of Sleepy Eye does not have a dredging permit for Sleepy Eye Lake and an Environmental Assessment Worksheet has not been done.

Windschitl talked about the dredge purchase after the council meeting.

"It'll help for a while, but it will cost much more than they think," Windschitl said. "It'll be very spendy, if it ever runs. We aren't on very good terms with the Department of Natural Resources." (The City of Sleepy Eye recently enlisted the services of St. Cloud attorney Kurt Deter to deal with its issues with the DNR, hoping it would speed up the process).

The dredge purchase comes after several months of negotiations with Brown County Commissioners regarding who would pay for moving it.

The 1984 Billy Goat dredge and related equipment currently at Lake Hanska was purchased for $85,000. Equipment included 5,000 feet of 10-inch HDPE discharge pipe; a work boat; 1968 GMC 6-wheel drive truck; 1998 Alumacraft Jon boat with 25-hp Johnson outboard motor; and a portable work station.

Under the agreement, the county agreed to allow rent-free use of its fusion machine and generator by the Sleepy Eye project with the understanding that Sleepy Eye would be responsible for maintenance and operation costs; and only qualified, trained individuals would be allowed to operate the fusion machine.

The county agreed to retain $70,000 in its County Park Fund for appropriation to Sleepy Eye if dredging operations proceed as contemplated including moving costs. County funds would be distributed as a 50 percent revenue match for dredging costs.

Sleepy Eye assumes management of the dredging project, but the county will provide staff assistance for development of DNR, MPCA, and COE permit applications.

Sleepy Eye City Manager Mark Kober said more lake bed test borings will be done this year before a dredge permit application would be made.

The council also:

* Approved a resolution for new building permit requirements and fees by a 4-1 vote. Windschitl cast the dissenting vote. Zoning permits costing $20 will be required for small, portable structures, less than 120 square feet not requiring an inspection. Permits will be required for siding, based on value as all other permits. Demolition permits will cost $45.

Windschitl said the fees are not needed in a small town.

"We've got lots of do-it-yourselfers here," Windschitl said after the meeting. "We'll have issues and no recourse."

* Approved $421,265 in general funds and $26,300 in EDA 2002 budget carryovers from 2001 for future expenditures. Amounts included $94,000 in the street department truck reserve, $16,700 for street lights, $68,100 for reserve improvements and $23,200 in EDA demolition and miscellaneous costs.

* Approved Mayor Jim Broich's appointments for the charter commission, pending district judge approval -- Loren Blick, Rex Beech, Gerald Plahn, Gary Windschitl, Mark Bruggeman and Judith Ristau.