March was declared Aviation Month at Monday’s Wahpeton City Council meeting.
Jim Aldrich, chairman of the city’s Harry Stern Airport, was on hand to accept Mayor Meryl Hansey’s proclamation, read by councilwoman at large Alisa Mitskog.
The proclamation states, “Aviation and the aerospace industry continue to play an increasingly important role as an economic catalyst in North Dakota, creating more than 32,000 jobs and contributing $3.6 billion annually to the state’s economy.” It also called the aviation industry a catalyst for economic opportunity.
“Being married to a pilot, I always have my ears peeled to the sky, but I’m amazed. (Stern Airport) is a gem in our community, so important for our local business community. Weekly, I hear the jet traffic that’s in and out of that airport. I’m very appreciative of the efforts of the Federal Aviation Administration and (manager) Cindy Schreiber-Beck,” Mitskog said.
Hansey began the meeting by acknowledging and thanking the law enforcement agencies who worked to fight the fire and control the scene at Wahpeton’s Community Homes development early Sunday morning.
“We need to recognize and show our appreciation that we have for the jobs that they do and their dedication,” he said.
City Attorney Steve Lies requested a referral to the Public Works and Safety Committee regarding the Old Armory building at 120 Sixth Street N. in Wahpeton. No further detail was given, but Hansey granted the referral. That committee next meets at 12 p.m. Tuesday, March 15.
A number of motions unanimously passed, 6-0. They include recommendations made during the city council’s recent committee of the whole meetings. In the first meeting, approval was given for an amended special property tax assessment policy. In the second, the commission approved applying for cost sharing with the North Dakota State Water Commission for improvements to the lime slaker and lime silo at the city’s water treatment plant. They also approved proceeding with a contract for those improvements with the design and consulting firm Stantec.
Motions also carried approving a counter offer for negotiating the lease for the Verizon/American communications tower located near the Northside Fire Department on 11th Street in Wahpeton and proceeding with raw water line replacement at the water treatment plant, with the cost being kept at $20,000 or below.
The next city council meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, March 21 at City Hall, located at 1900 Fourth St. N in Wahpeton.