By Jolene Farley
Representatives of the Beaver Creek Sportsmen and the Hills Lions Club attended the Hills City Council meeting Monday to request permission to clean up the Rez.
In recent years the condition of the Rez has deteriorated. "We've always had activities during the summer down at the Rez," Roger Jackson told council members. "The Rez is just a slop hole it looks terrible."
The clubs are researching the best route to clean the water and remove the weeds that have overgrown the five-acre pond.
The Southwest Minnesota Fisherman's Club, Worthington, has also pledged to help cleanup efforts.
The clubs hope to treat the water earlier in the year with chemicals that reportedly don't harm humans or fish. They may also purchase an aerator.
"We need to get the water moving in there somehow," said Jackson. Club members pledged to help with the removal of the aerator in the fall and installation in the spring.
"I see what your groups do down there for the kids and the youth," said Mayor Jim Jellema. "Pursue it and we will support you wholeheartedly."
Jackson said the time is now to get started on the project.
"We used to have kids down there on the beaches all the time now you don't dare go near it, it's so messy," he said.
Possible new
restaurant in Hills
A new restaurant may open in Hills. The interested parties will be invited to the next council meeting to discuss a location.
The potential owners currently run the Garden of Eat'n in Canton, S.D., which serves sandwiches, soups, deserts and coffee.
"I would really like to see something like that come back on Main Street," Jellema said.
American Legion Hall
During the course of budget discussions, council member Wendell Bengtson questioned whether the council should continue allocating funds for the American Legion Hall without asking the voters what they want to do.
"We need some public input," said Bengtson "If we could get some input no matter how small É"
Bengtson said bond interest rates are so low right now maybe the city should consider a bond issue rather than budgeting money each year for improvements to the building.
The Legion Hall has many repairs left. "We could look at $80,000 bucks real quick," said Jellema.
The council tossed around sending a survey to each home or holding a public meeting with residents but decided to table the matter until a later meeting.
In other business
Jellema initiated discussion about whether council members who attend every meeting and arrive on time should be paid the same as whose that miss meetings or arrive late.
The current policy is all council members are paid the same, no matter how many meetings they attend.
"I've tried to change the meeting date," said Council member Dana Dahlquist, who frequently arrives 15 to 20 minutes late because of golf league. "I've tried to change the time."
"Do you think you should be paid as much as the rest of the guys who show up," said Jellema?
In the past regular meetings were held at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month. But several months ago, the council voted to change the meeting time to 6 p.m.
Dahlquist has periodically asked to change the 6 p.m. meeting time but his request has been voted down by the rest of the council. Council member Arlen Leenderts wasn't present at the meeting.
Water rates were raised by $1 per 1,000 gallons, with the minimum charge increased from $9 to $10. Sewer rates were also increased from $12 to $14 per household.
The council reviewed preliminary budget figures. The budget will be finalized at the next council meeting on Monday, Sept. 9. The date of the next regular meeting was rescheduled from Tuesday, Sept. 10, due to Primary Election day.
The council set Fall Junk Pickup day in Hills for Saturday, Sept. 21.