The Wadena City Council dealt with Minnesota Investment Fund loans and other agreements and items during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday.
The council closed out a MIF grant for Homecrest.
Wadena Development Authority director Dean Uselman said that means the reporting requirement has been completed, and not that the loan goes away.
The grant went to the city and was then loaned to Homecrest Outdoor Living. It would then go to a revolving loan fund.
The requirements for Homecrest were to hire and retain 46 people for at least two years, and they are at more than 100 people.
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Another MIF loan, which had been to Oasis Spas, was approved to be written off since the business had closed.
After the third time being on the monthly city council agenda, Doug Carlstrom was granted his variance request to build an attached garage.
The variance was granted with a set of five criteria:
1. The project is in harmony with the general zoning code.
2. The project is in harmony with the comprehensive plan.
3. The proposal is to use the property in a reasonable manner.
4. The angle of the road is a unique circumstance to the property.
5. This project will not alter the character of the neighborhood.
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The council approved hiring West Central Community Action Council as lead inspector - that's lead as in the toxic metal - for the small cities grant to improve housing after the June 17, 2010 tornado. Twenty percent of the grant is designated toward administration costs.
Temporary liquor licenses were granted to two upcoming events at the Depot - a DFL fundraiser on Jan. 21 and the Feb. 11 Wine and Chocolate event by Partners for a Healthy Wadena.
A lease agreement with the Wadena Housing and Redevelopment Authority was renewed for the next seven years.
The council approved voting in favor of changes to bylaws in the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.
The council approved a fund balance classification policy by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
City Administrator Brad Swenson said he did not foresee a lot of difference, and said that in his opinion it is just changing a bunch of words.
The council approved a lobbying agreement with Ed Cain for six months. The lobbying agreement is for infrastructure projects on the south side of town, and Ulteig Engineering pays for 50 percent.
