Trending
CEYLON -- Ceylon City Council met Tuesday evening. After a report from Councilor Perkins the council approved continuing to demolish the buildings on Main Street that are not habitable and finish the sidewalk in front of that property. Perkins reported that the owners have not paid taxes since 2018 and that she could not contact the owners, Northstar LLC. The City attorney agreed that action needs to be taken. The MMinnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the county met with her and MnDOT has offered $50,000 to help with the demolition and get the sidewalk project done. There currently is no sidewalk in front of the buildings since it is not safe to walk there. The engineer from Bolton and Menk should contact companies that can demolish the buildings safely and thoroughly. The city clerk will contact MnDOT about the money to help.
Further business included the 2023 budget which needs to be finalized in December.
Representatives from Portage Bank in Ceylon were at the meeting to explain the Interfi and Cedas account management services at the bank. The Federal Reserve board is asking all banks to hold in reserve the bonds they have. They send the amounts to the interfi
and they are credited back to the bank each day. This is the way the FDIC insurance can be held on the Ceylon City accounts. The auditor advises to join these account management groups. The representatives assured the council that the groups do not affect the rates on CDs at the bank.
The City Works employee reported that the large garage door on the city shop needs repaired or replaced since the opener is broken. The council approved getting bids and also suggested sending the claim to their insurance company. He also reported that the
company that the City leased the tractor and mower from wants to lease only a tractor and wants $10,000 for a mower. The council declined that proposal. The City employee is looking into other offers for leasing a tractor and mower since they do not use it more than 100 hours. The council asked that he look into a lease agreement and report back with quotes. He reported that the properties that had large brush and other vegetation have been cleaned up by the Sentence to Serve group from Martin County and that they did a very good job. There was a hydraulic leak on the payloader and he is looking into that.
The grant writer to help get monies for the locating of underground wires, etc., will be contacted by the mayor.
In other news:
-- The CEDA grant must have a public hearing regarding broadband internet in Ceylon and the public hearing was scheduled for the next council meeting on Nov. 14.
-- Councilor Oelke asked about the progress of the cleaning up of ordinance violations. The owners were sent a letter in April and the Sheriff's Department was to check on the progress each property has made. Citations need to be given to those who have not cleaned up the junk. Councilor Perkins volunteered to contact the Sheriff's Department for a report on the progress.
-- A discussion about the City owning the cemetery and gift cards being given to the officers was held. A question as to where the money came from was asked.
-- A discussion about the council members working for the City and being paid was held. A resolution for one job was passed and resolutions for any further work was requested to be in compliance with City policy. City policy about social media was reviewed and the council agreed to not put council business on social media.
The next meeting of the Ceylon City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov. 14, at Ceylon City Hall, beginning with a public hearing about the broadband internet in Ceylon.