City to wait on public works

Talk about it

The Two Harbors City Council officially approved the hiring of a police officer Monday but tabled hiring an employee for public works.

The council also voted to increase the transfer of funds from the utilities operating revenue, from the current 7.5 percent rate to 10 percent. The city could get about $40,000 to help pay for the new position. Council members Mary Henjum Rosati and Steve Detlefsen voted against the transfer change.

Council member John Dover and Rosati voted against a delay in obtaining a public works employee. Rosati was the only council member against hiring a police officer.

The council will review the public works situation in March with the possibility of hiring in April.

“I am against spending money we don’t have,” Rosati said, stressing she is not against hiring employees.

Dover said not hiring a public works employee could be “adding fuel to the fire,” while the city gets more and more complaints about upkeep.

Council member Jason Kuettel suggested contracting out for some public works. “It’s a contract, not an employee we have to let go of,” he said regarding future budget cuts.

Mayor Randy Bolen said the city is trying to be proactive in lieu of local government aid cuts.

Liquor store move?

Greg Borash, of Miner’s Inc., which owns Super One grocery stores in the region, met with the Two Harbors City Council Monday about changes at the city’s municipal liquor store. The council has been talking about moving the liquor store out of its crowded Highway 61 spot and possibly leasing out a space to be built at Super One.

Borash did not sound interested in that set-up but would bring the idea back to his company.

Current plans are to keep the liquor store as a municipality.

“We’re trying to find a different facility to maximize the potential in the city,” Bolen said. A key to any move is an increase in parking.

Tags: two harbors, city council, news