by April Scheinoha
Reporter
The City of Thief River Falls has said goodbye to a few employees over the past month. It began preparing to fill those positions at the Thief River Falls City Council meeting Tuesday, June 7.
As part of its consent agenda, the council approved beginning the process to fill a patrol officer position. This was the second time in as many meetings where the council approved filling a patrol officer position. Officers Jaden Hanson and Jarrin Gunderson have resigned from the police department.
Meanwhile, no decision has formally been made regarding a request to fill a firefighter position. At its meeting May 17, the council sent that request back to the Public Safety Committee for more discussion and more information. That vacancy will occur once Co-Fire Chief Marty Semanko retires Friday, Sept. 2. The Public Safety Committee was scheduled to meet Monday, June 13.
City Council approved the appointment of John Kinsman as interim electric superintendent, effective Sunday, June 12. Kinsman will serve in that capacity until the position is filled. He will be paid an additional $3.41 per hour.
Electric Superintendent Dale Narlock was set to retire Saturday, June 11 after working for the city for 44 years.
The council referred a question from the Thief River Falls Farmers Market to the Administrative Services Committee. The Farmers Market would like to host food trucks at its event, which is held at city-owned Floyd B. Olson Park.
Mayor Brian Holmer said the city has allowed food trucks on city-owned property during Crazy Day, RiverFest and street dances. He noted they were allowed to do so since the food trucks were operating as part of a community event.
Council members briefly discussed the possibility of charging a fee. Holmer said such a fee would be a burden to the city since staff would have to ensure the food truck was properly licensed.
Two council members voiced their thoughts regarding the matter. Council member Steve Narverud said it would be opening a can of worms to allow food trucks to operate in such a way. He also referred to the potential impact on The Line on 59, which recently opened across the street from the park.
Council member Mike Lorenson voiced concerns about where a potential fee would go. However, he said food trucks would entice more people to stop and see what the community has to offer.
In separate, related motions, the council approved amendments to the city’s Signs and Outdoor Sidewalk Zone.
The ordinances and permit process limit the city’s liability. They were approved after the Downtown Improvement Project was completed in 2019. That project increased the size of sidewalks in downtown Thief River Falls. Up until this point, the city hasn’t enacted or enforced the ordinances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Issues have since cropped up, leading to the proposed amendments.
Among other things, the amendments allow objects up to 96 inches on sidewalks in the Outdoor Sidewalk Zone, which includes the downtown section of LaBree Avenue. The ordinances don’t apply to sidewalks along state highways, such as Third Street and Main Avenue.
The amendments allow businesses to place clothing racks, umbrellas or sidewalk heaters, for example, on the sidewalks outside of their stores. A-frame signs are allowed under the sidewalk use permit, provided they are under six square feet, and at least 26 inches in height. Those signs and the other items would need to be removed when the business is closed. The sidewalk use permit is free.
If there were an issue, Public Works Director Travis Giffen would provide written notice to the owner, who would be required to rectify the situation in 10 days. If there were an immediate hazard, Giffen would have the right to immediately remove the items. In the event the owner doesn’t comply, an administrative penalty would be assessed.
Even though signs will be allowed on sidewalks in the downtown area of LaBree Avenue, the Minnesota Department of Transportation doesn’t allow signage on sidewalks along Third Street and Main Avenue. Giffen told the council that the state is unwilling to change its position. However, he indicated that it may look into the matter if there were complaints.
The next council meeting is scheduled Tuesday, June 21 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.