WILLMAR -- An agreement that lets the city acquire a farm site in the clear zone for the new airport west of town was approved Monday night by the Willmar City Council.
Under the agreement between the city and landowner Phillip Kvam, the city will acquire Kvam's 5.3-acre site along state Highway 40 where his farm shops and grain bins are located.
In return, Kvam will accept a 5.3-acre site in the proposed new industrial park (the present airport) as the site for his grain bins. The bins and grain conveyor system at Kvam's present site will be removed by the city.
Two Butler steel buildings will remain on the present site and Kvam will be entitled to rent those buildings for $100 per month through Dec. 31, 2015.
The settlement ends a disagreement between Kvam and the city over the value of his property.
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During the Finance Committee report, the council voted 7-1 to approve an increase of 50 cents per hour in first-year salaries paid to part-time employees in 2006. The increase was recommended by the committee.
Voting in favor were Denis Anderson, Ron Christianson, Bruce DeBlieck, Rick Fagerlie, Steve Gardner, Doug Reese and Cindy Swenson. Voting against was Jim Dokken.
The council approved a recommendation from the Public Works/Safety Committee to increase towing fees from $100 per vehicle in 2005 to $120 per vehicle in 2006.
The higher fee covers an increase in the Police Department's administrative fee charged for enforcing compliance with local and state laws, and covers the increase in fees charged by Ed's Service Center of Willmar, which was the only vendor to submit a price quotation for towing vehicles.
Also Monday, members of the Willmar VFW Post 1639 presented about 40 flags for outdoor use to the city, and presented a special flag for indoor use in honor and remembrance of emergency service personnel who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The flags were presented by 5th District Commander Les Kaenel, Quartermaster Dave Radabaugh and Commander Brian Gislason.
"Part of being in the VFW is we're not only here just for veterans. We're here for the whole community, and we have a lot of programs that are in the community, and we're glad to help the community,'' said Gislason.
In other business, the council:
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- Approved a request from Mills Ford to remove snow on 40th Avenue Southwest near the new Mills dealership building. The request was recommended by the Public Works/Safety Committee. The city has not accepted the new street, but it is substantially complete, according to Public Works Director Mel Odens.
- Approved a request from J & C Enterprises of Willmar to rezone property south of Valley Brook Estates and west of Vos Park from agriculture to single-family residential for residential development. The Planning Commission approved the request. No one spoke during a hearing either for or against the rezoning.
- Approved a request from Koosman Construction of Willmar to rezone property south of Welshire Addition and east of the YMCA from agricultural to one-family and two-family residential for residential development. The Planning Commission approved the request. No one spoke during a hearing either for or against the rezoning.
- Approved a Sunday on-sale liquor license for the Willmar Elks Lodge.
- Approved renewal of Sunday on-sale liquor licenses for the American Legion, Eagles, VFW, Applebee's Neighborhood Bar and Grill, Blue Heron on the Green, El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant, Grizzly's Grill N' Saloon, Hi Tops Bar & Grill, Holiday Inn/Green Mill and Vannandy's Restaurant & Night Club.
