歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI 鈥� In a busy meeting, the Bemidji City Counci l approved a project for the Tourist Information Center on Monday to be remodeled beginning later this month.

The council approved a quote from Kraus Anderson Construction in the amount of $65,350 for the first phase of the center鈥檚 renovation, which includes improving workplaces, storage and security.

The project will eventually include a total remodel of the facility, at an estimated cost of $415,000.

Ward 1 Councilor Audrey Thayer cited concerns, however, with the project funding and the council鈥檚 current lack of direction on financial matters and priorities.

As it stands the cost for the first phase is being drawn from profits of Bemidji鈥檚 municipal liquor stores, something Thayer wanted more discussion on before approving.

鈥淚 am uncomfortable approving any project until our group gets together in determining the priorities for the city,鈥� Thayer said. 鈥淲e have not done that yet.鈥�

While understanding Thayer鈥檚 perspective, Ward 2 Councilor Josh Peterson and other councilors pointed out the time-sensitive nature of remodeling a building like the Tourist Information Center with summer visitors quickly approaching.

鈥淚 completely agree,鈥� Peterson said, 鈥渂ut we鈥檙e also against the clock.鈥�

When it came to a vote, the measure passed 6-1, with Thayer in opposition.

Construction is expected to begin on May 16 and should be completed by the end of June.

The council also discussed the potential of installing solar panels on the new water treatment plant, an idea that had some initial complications due to the facility's close location to the Bemidji airport.

When the possibility first arose in a meeting in January, a decision was made to conduct a glare study, which upon completion, found no major concerns. The project still requires approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

鈥淚鈥檓 encouraged that the airport sounds pretty favorable about this,鈥� said Ward 3 Councilor Ron Johnson.

During Monday鈥檚 meeting, the council was given cost and savings estimates about the solar panels. The total cost of the array would be an estimated $130,000, but with rebates from Otter Tail Power, the net cost would only be $70,000.

Additionally, the solar panels would save around $8,500 a year in electricity, which would mean a payback period of just over eight years. The panels would also supply most of the energy for the facility, except for powering the water treatment itself.

鈥淚t will pretty much supply all of the non-water-treatment energy,鈥� said City Engineer Craig Gray.

The council voted unanimously to direct city staff to acquire formal quotes for the project. The solar panels themselves, if approved, would not be installed until 2023.

The council was also tasked with making a decision regarding the damage City Hall sustained after the building's basement flooded in late April.

鈥淚 think everyone鈥檚 pretty well aware of the situation we have in the basement,鈥� City Manager Nate Matthews said.

When an inspection was done to assess the damage, several other concerns with the building also arose.

鈥淥nce we opened up the walls, I found some evidence of moisture problems not related to the flood damage,鈥� said City Facility Manager Matt Ridlon.

Ridlon shared that he had found problems with the roof and exterior drainage, along with cracks in the bricks and foundation.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 only what I can see, that鈥檚 not digging any deeper,鈥� Ridlon said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of potential for water intrusion.鈥�

The council was presented with three options: repairing the flood damage, repairing and remodeling City Hall or constructing a new building entirely.

鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 pretty safe to say just doing repair and replace is not going to address a lot of the issues,鈥� said Ward 4 Councilor Emelie Rivera.

Other council members agreed, and a consensus grew that the latter two options should be examined.

鈥淏oth of these (options) are very important for us to consider,鈥� Thayer said, with the caveat that whichever was the least costly should be the final decision. 鈥淪o let鈥檚 look at what it might cost.鈥�

Throughout the discussion concerns over cost were repeatedly brought forward.

鈥淚 have a hard time passing any additional costs onto the taxpayers,鈥� Peterson said.

The council voted to conduct an evaluation of the building along with what any repairs and remodels might cost, and to have it done at the same time as the possibility of new construction was also examined.

Also during the session, the city council approved a 鈥淣o Mow May鈥� exception to city ordinances, allowing residents and other property owners to let their lawns grow throughout the month of May to promote pollinators and local plants.

Anyone interested can register their lawn in the program. Registration is free and available at the Tourist Information Center or online at . Yard signs are also available for pick-up at the Tourist Information Center, located at 300 Bemidji Ave. N.

Signs will help explain to neighbors what the initiative is all about and to identify residents' yards as participating in the program.

Residents who register are given a two-week grace period to get their lawn back into compliance by June 13, as the city code requires property owners to not have grass growing in excess of six inches.

"The month of May is an important period for many pollinators in our region. This is when they emerge from dormancy or migrate back to this area and begin searching for flowering plants," Parks and Recreation Director Marcia Larson said in a release announcing the initiative. "Early-blooming flowers like violets and dandelions provide food for hungry pollinators."

Available nectar and pollen sources are dramatically reduced with early spring grass-mowing. In addition, by allowing the grass to grow out, the grass can develop a stronger root system, which improves water retention and drought resiliency, Larson added.

For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (218) 333-1859 or parks.recreation@ci.bemidji.mn.us.