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City Council Minutes Page 15 <br /> January 21,2014 <br /> Mayor Dietz stated he liked the presentation and felt the city needed a signage plan, <br /> but wasn't comfortable with the cost of$65,000. <br /> Councilmember Motin agreed that a signage plan is needed but wasn't comfortable <br /> with the cost. <br /> Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmernber <br /> Wilson to approve the hiring of Visual Communications to create a <br /> wayfinding signage program for the city as outlined in the staff report. Motion <br /> carried 4-1 with Mayor Dietz opposing. <br /> 8.4 Draft Letter for Houlton-Olson Farm Property Assessments <br /> Mr. Portner handed out and explained the details of a letter reviewed by the city <br /> attorney,which outlined the agreement between the city and the Houlton-Olson <br /> family with regard to the deferred trunk water and sewer assessments. <br /> Mayor Dietz expressed concerns with the possibility of failing to ensure a guaranteed <br /> return to recover the rest of the assessment, and asked what would happen if the <br /> current farmer would decide to stop farming the land. <br /> Councilmember Wilson stated he understood his concern and given the current <br /> farming market, felt there would be enough interest in someone continuing to farm <br /> the land should the current farmer decide not to farm. <br /> Councilmember Motin stated he agreed with Mayor Dietz and felt unnen7-ed by not <br /> ensuring any guarantee of recouping the assessment cost. He asked if a contingency <br /> lease could be entered into for decreasing in covering any shortfall. <br /> Mr. Portner stated these parameters reflect negotiations with the Houlton-Olson <br /> family in the simplest way to recapture the property assessments. <br /> Mayor Dietz stated he would like to see if there were other sources of revenue to <br /> offset any shortfall. <br /> Councilmember Motin asked if the current lease rate could ever be increased. <br /> Mr. Portner stated as of result of the conversations with the Houlton-Olson family <br /> and the current farming operating conditions,both he and the Houlton's feel the <br /> price per acre could be increased more than what's currently charged. <br /> Councilrnember Burandt stated given current conditions at this time, she felt the risk <br /> was low. <br /> P 0 N E 8 E 0 0 T <br /> NATURE] <br />