City leases light dam section for two years

For another two years, Frenchman Valley Ranch LLC, operated by Scott Clements, will hold the pasture lease on the city’s light dam section.

Clements was the only bidder at the March 16 city council meeting. That meeting was the last one until April 20.

The council decided to call off its first meeting in April due to the growing coronavirus concerns.

The council approved the light dam section lease of $8,000 per year for 2020 and 2021, the same Clements paid the past two years. The vote was 3-0-1 with Johna Jablonski abstaining.

The lease runs from May 1 to April 30 each year.

Clements said the actual grazable area on the section  is 500 acres. He’s held the lease the past 22 years.

At Clements’ request, the council will consider extending the lease to a five-year term in future auctions. The council plans to address whether to extend the current lease another three years at their April 20 meeting.

Other business

A grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association of $3,500 will pay the majority of a new in-car camera for a city police car.

Sgt. Chad Ostmeyer reported on the grant award March 16. He said the grant will pay all but $1,520 plus installation for the unit.

Ostmeyer said the new camera will provide a wider view and better quality visuals.

Three of the four police cars will now be equipped with the newer camera system, he said. He hopes to apply for another grant next year.

Council members approved the additional expenditure beyond the $3,500 in grant funds.

In other business, an updated section of the city’s governmental structure document was approved, increasing the amount from $20 to $25 for meals at the annual city appreciation dinner.

The update also included recent changes to the city’s employee retirement plan, allowing a higher contribution from employees.

The city’s wage ordinance was approved, adding changes in library per-hour pay that were inadvertently not included in the last approved wage ordinance.