Changes in Liquor Regulatuions

With the 2015 legislative session the state typically passes a number of laws that go beyond budgeting, bonding and project approvals.  For cities each year this typically brings a new approach or mandate that we need to address.  There are also items of change whereby the state allows for the loosing or tightening of restrictions on certain activities.  In the Omnibus Liquor Bill the state authorized cities to change ordinances that allow for sales of alcoholic beverages under loosened restrictions. 

Breezy Point has made two changes that may be of benefit to customers and vendors alike.  Although Breezy Point does not yet have a brew pub the ordinances allow for them and the off-sale of growlers.  With the change in statute, cities are now authorized to allow for the sale of growlers at off-sale on Sunday.  Someday this will be appreciated in Breezy Point. 

The other change that was made is that of allowing for the early on-sale of beverages on Sunday.  Formally on-sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday stated at 10:00 a.m.  With the change in law, serving can now commence at 8:00 a.m.  The bill was affectionately known as the “Bloody Mary” bill.  I’m sure those who enjoy Mimosas will also be pleased with the change.  This change has been made at the local level to provide for early sales.  It is now authorized for vendors to serve and customers to purchase these beverages staring at 8:00 a.m. in the city. 

Although this is available to establishments to serve early it isn’t required.  Some establishments may not be interested in early serving.  With the change in local regulations it is now up to the vendor to determine what works best for them.  

No Parking

Most of the roadways in Breezy Point are relatively narrow.  They support two-way traffic but were not designed or built to provide for on street parking.  In general this hasn’t been a problem as the amount of traffic is rather low.  Drivers can simply go around a parked vehicle. 

Breezy Point Drive coming from the resort gates is probably the busiest street in the city.  Along this roadway are Breezy Point Inn and Suites, the resort boat launch, numerous housing options, Breezy Point Resort, and connections to other streets.  With all the activity using this roadway it is important that the roadway function as a two-way street.  That being said we have had some vehicles with boat trailers parking along the roadway partially blocking a lane making it difficult for two-way traffic. 

With this recognition it was felt there needs to be areas posted as a no parking zone.  The City Council agreed to post the area between Clubhouse Lane and the east entrance to the Breezy Point Inn and Suites as No Parking.  Signs will be installed in the near future.   

Working Towards 2016 Road Improvements

Road paving is something the city has been striving to accomplish for all the gravel roads in town but given the extent of needs it gets difficult to accomplish.  In the past the city had developed several five year road improvement plans.  The goal was to pave all the roads in the community.  The plans were very aggressive in that many street improvements were being built at the same time.  To finance them the city was required to bond, incurring debt service to accomplish the projects.

Not only was this disruptive, it carried with it a cost that the city would need to absorb.  Bonding requires fees and charges in issuing a bond.  With a bond you have interest expense.  Administration incurs expense in putting together the projects as well as the project administration through construction.  There are the oversight costs incurred by public works staff with inspections and coordination.  There are also the costs associated with tax forfeitures.  This last item can be significant.  For every road improvement that abuts a tax forfeited property the city has to finance that improvement until the property is sold.  Until that sale, the city not only incurs the expense of the project cost, it also incurs the expense of interest payments on the debt incurred to finance the project. 

To address some of these challenges the city has been looking to accomplish a small number of projects on an annual basis using funds on hand. This slower approach doesn’t make a huge dent in the needs but much like the tortoise and the hare we eventually get there.  Without bonding, costs are reduced and debt service isn’t an issue with repayment of the bonds.  The projects are assessed and the payments received support future road improvements.  With an annual appropriation of funds we’ll be able to support some paving while also addressing some drainage issues along the way.  There are still costs associated with the project but on a much reduced scale.

For 2016 the council has approved a feasibility study to determine project details and costs for the paving of a couple of street sections.  Winter Trail between Logging Lane and Shady Trail and Scenic Overlook between Shady Trail and White Overlook Drive are being considered. Both of these road sections have portions of roadways that have been paved.  These sections are the gravel portions of the roadways.  Starting this process earlier in the year gives us a better handle on the needs of the project and allows for early bidding in the spring. 

Fire Contrract Renewal

Annually the city enters into a contract with Pequot Lakes to provide the city of Breezy Point with Fire Service.  Pequot Lakes hosts the Pequot Lakes Fire District.  The district is composed of the cities of Pequot Lakes, Jenkins, and Breezy Point.  Townships of Jenkins, Loon Lake, Moose Lake, Pelican, and Popular are also involved. 

The fire contract uses a formula to share the costs on an equitable basis. It involves the use of the service averaged over a 10 year period by each jurisdiction and the total market value of structures in each jurisdiction.  These factors are a percentage of the whole.  The use percentage and the value percentage are then added and divided by 2 to come to a percentage that is applied to the annual budget of the operations of the Fire Department. 

As Breezy Point has a high structure value and receives a good deal of call volume our share of the costs of the department are relatively high. Pequot Lakes is also relatively high and currently paying the most under the agreement for fire service. For 2015-2016 the cost of fire service for Breezy Point is $76,027.66.  This is slightly higher than 2014-2015 contracts at $74,335. 

The fire district operates a sub-station in Breezy Point.  This is manned by volunteers of the Pequot Lakes Fire Department from residents that live in Breezy Point.  This sub-station is located in the Public Safety Building just north of City Hall.  Having this facility allows some property owners to get a lower rate on their fire insurance.  It also has led to better response times than was previously available.  Breezy Point provides the building facility however the equipment housed is part of the Pequot Lakes Fire Department.  Overall this has been a good relationship for the city and serves the city well.