Debbie Slais, director of the Williston Community Library, was given consent to seek bids to replace the library's roof at Tuesday's Williston City Commission meeting before a session led by Elk's Youth Day participants.
In recent City Budget Committee sessions in the last two years, she has asked unsuccessfully to replace the top of the structure, but said now the building's condition is much worse.
"We've had a leaky roof situation for the last few years," Slais said. "Friday, the roof fell down. I'm asking the commission give me approval to seek bids to get the roof replaced. We got less than half an inch of rain Friday. It soaked all the ceiling tiles in the meeting room, and they all fell down. I think the time has come to replace the roof. They tell me it's outlived its usefulness by 10 years. We want to protect everything that's in the library."
She was asked if financial assistance also had been sought from the Williams County Commission. "At that point, it wasn't so urgent, but they were involved in building a new jail," Slais said. "I will gladly go there and ask for help."
Being it is a city-county building, Slais said the roof replacement should be a joint venture.
Williston City Auditor John Kautzman said they would look at options for financing the repairs, including the penny city sales tax and general fund reserves.
Commissioners gave Williston Public Works Director Monte Meiers approval to advertise for bids for a new half-ton pickup with a topper as a survey vehicle for that department. Those bids will be open 3 p.m. May 27 at the City Auditor's Office.
Meiers also was given the nod to advertise for anyone interested in haying large tracks of city-owned parcels. Area I will include property near the East Bypass and Williston Basin Industrial Park. Area II entails property south of the railroad tracks.
Commissioners voted to request that the Burlington Northern Sante Fe company have railroad crossing signing located on the First Street truck route removed due to trucks needlessly stopping at the crossing. A memo from City Street Commissioner Frank Underhill stated there is no indication this spur rail has ever been used by train cars past the First Street truck route.
Bruce Conway and Dennis Omvig were approved to be election inspectors.
Commissioners agreed to continue an original PACE buy-down to owners of Safflowers Technologies International. The company, owned by Mike and Jerry Bergman, is in the process of purchasing the Montana and North Dakota elevators in Fairview. The elevators were formerly owned by Mon-Dak Seed and Grain. It is now called Fairview Ag Processing Inc. Mike Bergman, president of Safflower Technologies International, requested that $30,000 be used on an interest buydown on the new $150,000 capital line borrowed to finance final ramp up capital expenses. This will be used to complete the electrical construction and finalize ramp up expenses to bring the production line on board for specialty seeding processing.
On Nov. 9, 2007, the City Commission approved up to a $20,000 buy down on a $100,000 note, but since that time, more definitive bids have come in on the project, and the actual loan amount is $100,000 in buy down. A request for an additional $10,000 in buy down would provide the same interest rate as the same buy down as previously contemplated with the $100,000 note.
The board approved a proclamation declaring May 18-24 as Salvation Army Week in the spirit of the organization's centennial observance. May 18-24 also was declared Emergency Medical Services Week. Tuesday was declared Elk's Youth Day.
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