A committee is making recommendations to allow use of Utility Terrain Vehicles in the city limits of Wadena.
The committee has met and is proposing ordinance changes involving work-related use of UTVs and ATVs along with recreational use.
Police Chief Naomi Plautz told the Wadena City Council last week the committee has outlined certain areas in the city that would be off limits to these vehicles, along with maximum speeds and permitted times of day to use the vehicles. UTV use will be prohibited along streets in the downtown corridor, for example.
City administrator Brad Swenson said he didn't think the changes should be approved yet because the existing ordinance should be repealed at the same time. That wasn't ready by the time of the council meeting.
The UTV ordinance will be put on the February council agenda for approval.
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In other business, the council:
• Set the day and time for monthly council meetings as 5 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month for 2016.
• Appointed Don Niles as acting mayor if George Deiss is not present at a meeting for 2016.
• Designated the Wadena Pioneer Journal as the official newspaper for 2016.
• Designated official depositories for city funds and collateral for 2016.
• Designated the firm Pederson & Pederson as prosecuting attorney for 2016.
• Approved city council board appointments for 2016. Deiss will be on the Wadena Development Authority, Business Subsidy/Tax Abatement/TIF Committee and Memorial Auditorium Committee. Niles will be on the Wadena Development Authority, Library Board and Kitchigami Regional Library Board. Bruce Uselman will be on the Community Education board, Business Subsidy/Tax Abatement/TIF Committee and Memorial Auditorium Committee. Gillette Kempf will be on the CVB Board, Housing and Redevelopment Board, Planning Commission and a Kitchigami Regional Library Board alternative. Deb Wiese will be on the Park Advisory Board and CVB Board.
• Reappointed Maria Marthaler to the Wadena Library Board.
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• Reappointed Toby Pierce to the Housing and Redevelopment Board.
• Reappointed Robert Grendahl to the Planning Commission.
• Approved a temporary liquor license for the Partners for a Healthy Wadena for an event at the Depot Feb. 13.
• Approved change orders of $28,698 for the SE infrastructure project.
• Approved amendments relating to the Missouri River Energy Services contract. The amendments are tied to legislative changes associated with electric service.
• Approved a recommendation to advertise the tax-free tornado lots with a sign on the side of the Electric and Water building on Highway 10.
• Approved employee step increases for Brandon Pearson and Evan Lachowitzer.
• Renewed a contract for Security Benefit, the city's retirement plan provider.
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• Approved a project at the airport for just under $2,000. The money can be taken from a fund budgeted toward a fence project at the airport.
• Approved an amendment to the AT&T water tower lease.
