Mound looks to regulate watercraft rentals

Businesses seeking to offer motorized watercraft rentals in Mound will now need to pay a $200 annual license fee for the 2024 boating season. The city council recently adopted an ordinance and fee structure to regulate boat rentals in the community.

The council initially deliberated on the ordinance during its March 26 meeting. Members subsequently ratified the ordinance, along with modifications to its fee structure, at its April 9 session. Deemed nominal by the council, the fee is not intended as a revenue source, but rather to defray administrative expenses.

Another city council item at its latest meeting was the March Orono police report. Calls for service were down year over year, although self-initiated field activity remains high, according to Sgt. Colin Hennessy. He also reminded that thefts typically rise in the spring and summer and that residents should be mindful about locking their vehicles and front doors.

Additionally, Sgt. Hennessy reported that the Orono Police Department received a grant to add a K-9 program to the department. The police dog will be used for non-physical apprehension, such as sniffing and tracking.

The council also awarded a bid for the 2024 lift station project to Widmer Construction. The low bid came in at just under $400,000, 29 percent below the engineer’s estimate and 37 percent below the high bid, according to Matt Bauman, city engineer. The bid did not include items that the city will need to purchase including pumping equipment, a control panel, a back-up generator, and a magnetic flow meter, which are estimated to cost an additional $153,380.

In addition, the council deliberated on the prospect of revisiting a storm sewer rate study conducted by Ehlers Financial Advisors, which comes with a price tag of $7,000. Last fall, the council opted to proceed with water and sewer rate studies, but did not include the storm sewer rate study at that time.

Maggie Reisdorf, deputy city manager, suggested that the council reconsider conducting the study. She cited the current $1.7 million deficit in the storm sewer fund, which is currently being covered by the general fund. Reisdorf emphasized the necessity of restoring the fund to a healthy state, and explained that a comprehensive study would offer a more accurate and fair rate structure based on factors such as property size and estimated stormwater generation. This approach, she asserted, would surpass the capabilities of the internal city staff in developing such a structure.

Reisdorf also mentioned that the council is scheduled to hold several workshops with Ehlers in May to discuss long-term financial planning. Given that a thorough analysis is already underway for all other funds, Reisdorf emphasized the benefits of including the storm sewer fund in the 10-year plan for the city’s overall financial stability. In the end, the council opted to postpone any decision on the storm sewer rate study until after evaluating the results of the water and sewer rate studies

The council also reviewed the progress it has made on its stated priorities for the year. One topic that was not initially included on the list was a transition plan for the Westonka Library project. Council Member Sherrie Pugh proposed that the council write to its Hennepin County commissioners to urge them to consider establishing a temporary location for the Westonka Library while the new building is under construction, emphasizing the need for residents to access computers during the 15-month closure period.

In his report, Mayor Jason Holt suggested selling the Centennial Building, reasoning that city staff already have offices at Mound City Hall. Presently, the Centennial Building hosts city council meetings, planning commission meetings, and parks and open spaces commission meetings, while also serving as the venue for the Westonka branch of the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society. The council intends to assess the potential sale of the Centennial Building, along with other city-owned properties, during an upcoming workshop.

The council also will meet with Mound Fire Chief Greg Pederson at another workshop on April 23 at 6 p.m., prior to its regular meeting, to discuss the future of the Mound Fire Department as it relates to duty crews, staffing, and recruitment.