Moorhead City Council Meeting
March 23, 2015
Chuck Chadwick
Tobacco License Appeal Hearing – Hookah on Main, Inc.
Owner and operator of Hookah on Main, Daniel Omane redrew his request to appear before the Council. Omane has filed a formal complaint against the city with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights after being denied an application for a tobacco license renewal. Omane stated he did so because he felt that the City’s appeal process might have had a negative impact on that process. The Moorhead Police Department recommended the nonrenewal maintaining that there were a growing number of police calls to the business.
Omane contends that Moorhead Police Chief Dave Ebinger is opposed to his type of business and his dislike for minorities. Chief Ebinger stated that the department has had to respond to a number of complaints regarding crowds, noise, litter, drug use, alcohol use, and fighting at Hookah on Main. The chief also stated that the department did not receive cooperation from the company to resolve the issues. Omane maintains that the problems were caused by people in the parking lot, which is shared with other businesses.
City Roadway Improvements
Several public hearings were conducted. Assistant City Engineer Tom Trowbridge provided information on the following projects. Full project details are available on the City’s website.
1. Improvements along 29th Street from I-94 to 43rd Avenue South at an estimated cost of $3,869,730.80
2. Improvements to HWY 75 to accommodate a new access at 44th Avenue South at an estimated cost of $3 million
3. Final paving in various newer subdivisions: $689,362.94
4. Street Improvements on Main Avenue from 8th Street to 19th Street: currently estimated at $10,619,200. Trowbridge informed the Council that this project is the largest since the $10.5 million interchange project.
FM Flood Risk Management District No. 1 Ballot
The Council discussed whether the Cass County Joint Water Resource District (CCJWRD) should proceed with the creation of the FM Flood Risk Management District Number 1. Council Member Hulett explained that it has no effect on Moorhead. Mayor Williams agreed that it was strange to vote on a city’s assessment. However, as the City is one-third owner of the Metro
Transit Garage in North Fargo, it has approximately 88,000 votes out of approximately 759,000,000 total votes.
The Water Resource District informed the Council that it is proceeding with the creation of the district and the proposed assessment after receiving voters’ approval from Fargo and Cass County to finance the project from sales taxes. However, after further study it was determined that the cost of the project may exceed the revenues raised by the tax. Therefore, an alternative funding source may be necessary to complete the project. The local sponsors of the project are recommending a special assessment district in case there is a funding shortage in the future. The proposal must receive 50 percent support to be approved.
Council received an update on the EDA reorganization
The Council received an update from the Economic Development Authority. The Council approved a resolution to study the EDA organizational model and policy for the EDA Board to hire their own director and to relocate their offices from city hall.
Minnesota Legislative Forum in Moorhead
Moorhead, MN – The League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley will sponsor a MN Legislative Forum, Thursday, April 2, 2015, 6:30 p.m. at the Moorhead Public Library, 118 5th St. S, Moorhead, MN.
Minnesota State Senator Kent Eken and Representatives Paul Marquart and Ben Lien will be report on the current legislative session and will take questions from the audience. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Mary C Tintes at (701)238-0714.
Clay County is going Tobacco-Free!
April 1st, Clay County becomes a tobacco-free workplace. A comprehensive policy was passed December 2014 to provide a safe and healthy environment.
All County owned, leased or rented buildings, grounds and vehicles become tobacco-free. (Cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipes, electronic cigarettes and all other forms of smoked or smokeless tobacco products).
The policy prohibits the use of tobacco/nicotine while employees are providing services in a client’s home. If the client is unable to refrain from tobacco or nicotine use during a visit, an alternative location or format for services will be offered.
Concordia hosts 26th annual
Woodlands & High Plains Powwow
This is the 26th anniversary celebration of the Woodlands and High Plains Traditional Powwow sponsored by Concordia, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State), and North Dakota State University. It will be held 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, March 28, in Memorial Auditorium on the campus of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. This year’s theme is “Song and Story: Honoring Our Traditions.”
A traditional powwow is a time to celebrate and renew friendships. In addition, this powwow celebrates the educational experiences of American Indian higher education and the sharing of tribal cultures in the FM area. The powwow will feature many styles of dance and drum songs from the area tribes. The community will take part in the overall cultural experience, visit with many vendors that display and sell their wares, and enjoy an Indian taco.
The second Annual Hand Games tournament will be held during this year’s powwow. The hand game is a Native American guessing game. There are many variations of the game, we will be hosting the intertribal style. This will take place from 1-6 p.m.
Admission for the event will be free for children five and under; $3 for children ages six to 18, and adults fifty-five and over; $5 for adults 19-54. College Students (from Concordia College, M State, MSUM and NDSU) are admitted free with a valid student ID.
Day money will be paid for all registered dancers who remain in regalia until payout. Registration for dancers and drums (first 10 registered drums only) is from 10:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. No admission is charged for dancers in regalia and registered drummers.