City, Airport Commission to explore upgrade options

In the summer of 1995, I worked a three month internship at The Warroad Pioneer, which I'm sorry to say has since ceased operation. This was the first professional newspaper that I worked for in my career, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. I had only worked at Bemidji State University's newspaper for about a year and half before landing the internship. At The Pioneer I gained experience in sports, feature, beat and government reporting. I designed pages, took and developed photographs and was responsible for community relations. The best part is that I remain friends with the owners nearly 30 years later.

July 18, 1995

By Devlyn Brooks

At the Monday, July 10, City Council meeting, the possibility of upgrading the amount of money received from the state for the airport was discussed.

Currently, the state pays two-thirds of the cost of maintenance of the airport up to $12,000. With an upgrade the state could be paying up to $22,500.

To receive this upgrade, there are certain requirements that would have to be met, Mayor Bob Marvin said.

For example, one requirement would be that there would have to be a designated snowplow for airport use only.

A second requirement is that one city employee would have to designate half of their time to the maintenance of the airport.

Marvin said that the Council was going to have the airport commission study and review the proposal. The Council would then ask the airport commission to make a recommendation.

Marvin said that the biggest concern presently is if the airport has enough storage room for equipment such as the snowplow.

"On the surface," Marvin said, "it looks like a heck of a deal."

The Council also discussed a land purchase request from Dick Roberts.

Marvin said that when the Burlington Northern railroad pulled their tracks out of Warroad, the city was left owning the land where the tracks were. This land runs in a curvy line from Main Avenue back toward Taylor Road.

This old railroad line runs through two different pieces of property that Roberts owns. Roberts has requested to buy the little pieces of land from the old railroad line that cut into his property. With the purchase of these pieces, Roberts is looking to square off his property, Marvin said.

Marvin also said that Roberts would probably be looking to change the zoning laws on the property.

City Clerk Dale Zaiser said the plans for the proposed bath house and public toilet were completed, and the City is seeking bids for the project.

Zaiser said that the Council would like to see the new facility constructed by this fall, and the old structure could be torn down this winter.

The Council viewed the Firemen's Relief Association annual report, the police chief's monthly report and the city superintendent's report. The superintendent reported that there are several electrical and sewer projects the city is currently working on.

The Council heard a request from a manager of a couple of apartment buildings asking if the city could help police his parking lots. He told the Council that people who are not authorized to park in his lots are doing so.

Zaiser said that the Council felt that it was not the city's responsibility to patrol the manager's lots. Zaiser said that the Council thought it was a private matter and suggested that the manager post some signs or start towing unauthorized vehicles.

The Council also received a letter from Acting Community Education Director Dick Myers asking if the city would agree to pay for four loads of aglime for the softball fields. In the letter, Myers said it cost $200 for each load of aglime, and it costs $350 for the freight to haul it to Warroad. The approximate cost would reach $2,200.

Zaiser said the Council tabled the discussion on this matter because they "wondered if the school shouldn't participate in the cost."