Lonsdale Council receives update on waste contract

Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

The Lonsdale City Council received an update on Novak Sanitation at its Thursday, Dec. 29, meeting.

The city had entered into a five-year contract with the area business earlier in 2005. As part of the contract, Novak was to provide residents with carts. He contacted the city saying the carts would be available between December 1 and January 1.

Kent Harrell of Waste Management, Inc. was at the meeting, explaining that the company is interested in purchasing Novak Sanitation. He was at the meeting to provide information about their business to the council. He said that Waste Management would honor the contract the city currently has with Novak and can offer different sized carts.

Mayor Tim Rud asked if they offered recycling and if they would continue to honor the rates currently set up with Novak.

Harrell said they do offer carts for different recycling or one that all recycling materials are put in and they separate at their facility. He said the business would honor the rates the city has with Novak.

The council unanimously agreed that if a purchase agreement between Novak and Waste Management was reached in the next month then the council would act on a contract at its January meeting.

Payment for treatment plant

The council unanimously approved the final payment for the upgrade of the Lonsdale Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Bill Chang of BDM Consulting Engineers, Inc., presented the final payment of approximately $76,983 to be made to the contractor Madsen-Johnson Corporation.

Cigarette licenses

The council unanimously approved cigarette licenses to five area businesses.

Originally, there were eight businesses up for the licenses. Lonsdale City Administrator Joel Erickson said since the paperwork went out three of the businesses have decided not to renew. They were the South Forty Pub & Eatery, Flicek’s Sports Bar and Grill and Lonsdale Country Market.

Those businesses that were approved for licenses are Railway Liquors, the American Legion Club, Casey’s General Store, Jessy’s Food Mart and Fred’s IGA.

Dols for fire captain

The council unanimously approved Dave Dols as a captain in the Lonsdale Fire Department.

The request was presented by the fire department with Dols chosen from a group of candidates by a selection committee. Dols, who is also a member of the city council, has been on the fire department for five years.

The council approved the appointment, with Dols abstaining from the vote.