M State students can continue to receive a discounted membership to the Maslowski Wellness and Research Center but the cost is slightly more than last year.
Wellness center facility director Eric Robb was asked to look at the fees and come to a new proposal at the council's previous meeting.
The Wadena City Council approved a fee of $75 per student plus $10 for an all access pass at its Tuesday, Aug. 11 meeting. M State student government can decide how much they will kick in to help students with the membership, the council agreed.
The fee is more than students paid during the spring semester but the city had received complaints from other members who didn't think it was fair to those who paid full price for memberships. An adult membership is $400 per year and a young adult membership (ages 19 through 22) is $350 per year.
During the spring semester of 2015, The Mas received $2,500 from M State's student fees, paid for by the student government. During that time, 220 M State students received a membership at The Mas, averaging $11.36 per student for the six months, Robb said. Some students decided to purchase the aquatic option add on for $25.
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• In other business, the council:
• Approved two Eagle Scout projects to be completed in the city of Wadena.
Wyatt Fitzsimmons is working to improve the disc golf course at Sunnybrook Park. Tyler Scott is working on improvements to the Pete Resch Memorial at Black's Grove Park west of Wadena. Both projects were recommended for approval by the Park Board.
• Approved a new joint powers agreement with the National Joint Powers Alliance. The new agreement includes adjustments to language to make sure the board is in compliance with certain rules.
• Heard an annual update and overview of Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities legislative activities. Bradley Peterson from CGMC attended the council meeting and talked about Local Government Aid.
"We set it as our goal to get back to 2002 levels but we're still short," he said.
Legislation was introduced to increase LGA during the last session. It had bipartisan support, however the House went a different direction and it didn't pass, Peterson said.
He also mentioned a one time bump in transportation funding for cities under 5,000 people. Wadena received roughly $52,000 that is appropriated for 2016. The city council will discuss that money at an upcoming budget meeting.
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• Approved a plan for a tranquility garden near the Maslowski Wellness and Research Center entrance. The Wadena Rotary Club applied for a grant and was looking for the council's blessing on the project.
• Approved the sale of the former water plant lot on Second Street northwest to Jim Kraemer.
• Approved an agreement for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to put a monitoring well next to the old airport on the east side of Wadena.
• Approved a change to the franchise agreement with Charter Cable due to a name change.
