Mayor Reed applauds city’s public works staff

• Council renews 40-plus malt beverage licenses for city

BROOKINGS – Mayor Tim Reed, away on city business, nevertheless delivered an “attaboy” to all the city workers at city council last week.

Reed, in a statement read by Deputy Mayor Jael Thorpe, proclaimed the week of May 20-26 Public Works Week, in recognition of the contributions of local public works officials who every day work to “improve our quality of life.”

This was the 52nd anniversary of National Public Works Week, the mayor said, and what better time than now – when the city will have more than two dozen major projects under way – to recognize the special efforts of the city’s many public works staffers?

Reed’s proclamation noted that “public works infrastructure, facilities and services are vital elements to the health, safety, comfort and sustainability of Brookings.

“These services would not be available to the citizens of Brookings without the dedicated efforts by the public works professionals, engineers, managers and administrators who must plan, design, build, operate and maintain the transportation, water supply, sewage and refuse disposal systems.”

As part of the public works recognition, City Engineer Jackie Lanning reported to the council that the city has again won national recognition for its Southland Lane storm water project, this time from the Excellence in Engineering Award Competition. Lanning traveled to Washington, D.C., in mid-April to accept a crystal plaque on the city’s behalf.

The project has earned national attention for its design challenges, storm water management, aesthetics and water quality benefits.

Tuesday’s meeting was brief, but the council dealt with a number of housekeeping issues. One resolution passed without debate was in keeping with the “public works” theme of the meeting – a hike in the escrow fund for the city landfill and a future greenhouse gas collection system.

The city will now be setting aside $100,000, to pay for those future projects, doubling the current $50,000 annual funding.

A dozen years ago, the council established an account to build up funds for a replacement for the landfill/solid waste facility. That escrow is required by the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources; it now has a balance of $500,000.

Additionally, the city is anticipating “large expenses” in building a greenhouse gas collection system. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will determine just when the facility must be built, but it will collect and store the methane and other greenhouse gases that are natural byproducts of decomposing organic materials at the landfill.

EPA already requires that the city report the tonnage of solid waste it receives at the regional landfill, and at some point in the not-too-distant future, waste increases will trigger the gas collection requirement.

Two other resolutions in the consent agenda passed without comment; both “surplus” city-owned property.

In the first case, the council declared as surplus a residential property at 304 W. 16th Ave. S. The property was purchased in anticipation of the Airport Runway Realignment Project and is no longer needed.

A second item surplused by the council has already found a new home. The City of Bruce Fire Department will pay $1,000 for one of Brookings’ fire trucks, a 1988 Ford F-350 that had been used as a department utility vehicle.

The council also took action on the 2012 sidewalk repair project, awarding the work to Concrete Contractors Inc. of Brookings for a bid of $103,100. Timmons Construction of Brookings was the only other bidder for the project, submitting an offer of $109,260.

The work includes repair of curb and gutter, fillets, valley gutters, curb ramps and homeowner trip-hazard sidewalks. Most of the work is north of Sixth Street.

And finally, the councilors renewed 41 licenses for malt beverage and wine sales, both for package and by-the-drink operations.

Two previous license holders did not submit materials for renewal, the Sun-Dried Tomato Pizzeria on Main Avenue and Taste of Europe on South Main. The Taste of Europe will open soon as the Italian Garden and will make application for a new beverage license.

Another business that did not renew its off-sale (package) license was El Tapatio Mexican grocery in the Village Square Shopping Center.

The council also approved a change of location for the on-sale malt beverage license held by Carpy’s Pub. With the remodeling of Eastside Commons (formerly the Brookings Mall), the tavern has moved to new quarters on the west side of the mall.



Contact Ken Curley at kcurley@-brookingsregister.com.