Gast returns to auditor position

Just two weeks after she announced her resignation, Jennifer Gast has asked to be reappointed as auditor.

At the Carrington City Council meeting held Monday, September 9, the council moved to reappoint Gast as city auditor.

She will resume her position on Monday, September 16.

In other business:

Committee Reports

FIRE:

• Carrington Fire Chief Ken Wangen reported the fire department received two calls for service within the city limits in the month of August, as well as one call within Foster County.

• He reported that Canadian Pacific has donated a 2012 Ranger 6x6 to the fire department. It will hold 85 gallons of water and will be invaluable when the department needs to get to places that most vehicles cannot.

Wangen also said he sent a list to CP Rail, including the hazmat items the fire department can use.

Finally, he told the council that the bill for the derailment cleanup has been sent to CP Rail.

FINANCE & LEGAL:

• Carrington Mayor Tom Erdmann reported that the city employee wage study is ongoing.

CCEDC:

Erdmann listed several grant applications and requests for reimbursement the CCEDC received within the last month, including:

• A job credit grant from Gussiaas Electric for an apprentice electrician. Motion passed.

•An application from Pat Biel for a Uniting for Ukraine Sponsorship/Supporter Grant. This is for a family of four. Motion passed.

• An application from Randy Stedman for a Uniting for Ukraine Sponsorship/Supporter Grant. This is for the wife and young son of an employee of Stedman Farms. She will be employed at Golden Acres Manor and Estates. Motion passed.

• An application from Grant Stangeland for a Uniting for Ukraine Sponsorship/Supporter Grant. This is for a family to relocate here with Oleksandr Kosenko to be employed by Stangeland on his farm, and his wife Vita would be employed by Small Steps Childcare, as well as daughter Bohdana part time. Their children Bohdana, Vladyslav and Sofiia will attend school in Carrington. Motion passed.

• Lucy Long, mother of current Pizza Ranch manager, Greg Carmona, submitted a grant/loan request from the CCEDC for assistance with expenses related to the purchase of the Carrington Pizza Ranch.

A $25,000, three-year forgivable loan at 4% interest will come from CCEDC funds, not city funds.

• Leah Carr, owner of Studio Five, has submitted an application for a Commercial Building Improvement Grant for the new location of her business. The cost share on this application is for 25% up to $30,000, thus qualifying for reimbursement of $6,258.13. Motion passed.

• Kelly Hagel, owner of the Small Steps Childcare building, provided receipts for the heating and cooling system installation at the childcare. This grant was previously approved on August 6, 2024. The cost share on this application is for 25% up to $30,000, thus qualifying for reimbursement of $5,123.25 of their $20,493 total expense. Motion passed.

• A financial report of income and expenses related to the Carrington Swimming Pool upgrades completed this summer was submitted. A Community Connection Grant application for the swimming pool was previously approved in October 2023 for 10% of the project, or a maximum of $20,000. A motion passed to disburse $20,000.

• Finally, Tammy Sorenson of Carrington Gymnastics provided receipts for the Commercial Building Improvement Grant application approved August 6, 2024, related to the electrical work completed. The cost share on this application is for 25% up to $30,000, thus qualifying for a reimbursement of $6,733.67 of the $26,934.69 total expense. Motion passed.

CVB:

• A meeting will be held to share information about a Japanese garden planted in Costa Rica with the assistance of the Japanese Embassy. The CVB will follow through with seeing if they can obtain financial assistance for the Rainbow Gardens project on Main Street.

AIRPORT:

• Carrington Public Works Director Jason Wolsky reported that since there is a waiting list of pilots who want to store airplanes in a hangar in Carrington, the airport board is considering whether to erect another hangar to accommodate those on the list.

POLICE:

• It was reported that there were 208 calls for service in the month of August.

PUBLIC WORKS:

• The city's crosswalk painting machine will be getting repairs.

• New armory hours are in effect starting October 1. The armory will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• An engineering study on the city's storm sewer is in the works at a cost of $169,000, but there could be grant funds to help with those costs. A motion was passed to hire Nexus to apply for grant funding for the storm sewer study.

• Wangen reported that the Haunted Armory will take place the Friday and Saturday before Halloween as well as on Halloween and is sponsored by the Carrington Fire Department and the Carrington Lions Club.

BUILDING OFFICIAL:

• Wolsky reported that 11 building permits were issued in the month of August.

NO MEETING:

• Organizational Review

• Library

• Tree Board