Water projects, fire district, and home improvement grant, slated for discussion

Littlefork Fire Chief Dan Wendt is scheduled to reappear before the city council after it instructed him to examine the Fire Department’s own budget further before Littlefork disperses additional funds for the final completion of the remodeled Fire Hall.
Littlefork council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in City Hall.
City Administrator Mike Fairchild reports that the Maintenance Department continues to gradually install the city’s 300 new water meters, with a projected completion date of January 2009.
Bid quotes on the city’s sewer main project are expected to be opened at the meeting. Discussion is still needed with property owners on their property portions, said Fairchild.
Just how Littlefork will proceed in terms of how its wetlands will be governed is still undetermined. Fairchild said the council will have further discussion with the city’s attorney Joe Boyle whose advice, as well as other consultants, will weigh heavily in its decision.
The council plans to meet with county engineer Doug Grindall on Wednesday for discussion on the exact placement of the city’s Aspen Street water main. Koochiching County will pay over 90 percent of the cost of the storm sewer portion. Littlefork will be assessed for the portion of its water that travels through it and is responsible for the new water line. June is the projected time for bid letting on the project.
Approximately 10 property owners on the south side of Pelland Junction are requesting inclusion in Littlefork’s fire district. Letters of support from the council and the Fire Department will be forwarded to the public but the city is not “out to recruit expansion of the district,” said Fairchild.
Also planned for discussion is a preliminary letter granting $395,000 from the Minnesota Small Cities Grant Program to be split between International Falls and Littlefork. The funds will be dispersed “first come, first served,” to people with low-to-moderate incomes who qualify for home rehabilitation projects such as roof and window replacements.
The Littlefork Liquor Store showed a substantial gain in March, according to Fairchild. A March profit of nearly $6,500 brings the year-to-date profit to $2,731.
The council will also discuss the future of a snowmobile trail and bridge at Beaver Brook which was constructed approximately 10-12 years ago. There have been several problems surrounding the damaged bridge, Fairchild said. Richard van Druenen has approached the city with a request to take down the bridge and sell it for scrap.
A date for Littlefork’s city-wide clean up is scheduled to be set at Thursday’s meeting.
Council will also discuss a request for the possible usage of the Lofgren Park Baseball Field as a venue for community education’s t-ball and other youth ball games.

L-BF Board meets tonight
The Littlefork School Board will meet tonight in Big Falls at the City Clerk’s Office beginning at 7 p.m.