The 2015 legislature passed a law that allows a city to
raise the filing fee for those interested in running for city council. For many decades the filling fee had been set
by statute at $2 for a city our size.
The law now allows Breezy Point to set a fee by ordinance for up to
$15. The city council adopted an
ordinance setting the fee at $10. Starting with the election in 2016 those who
wish to run for city council will be required to pay $10 to file as a candidate
for city council.
Another action taken by council was to build a larger
impound lot. Minnesota statutes provide for
the impounding of vehicles when certain alcohol and drug related citations are
given. With an impoundment, the vehicle
is held until the infraction clears the court system. This can take a considerable amount of time,
sometimes a year or two. During that
time the vehicle needs to be held by the jurisdiction that issued the
citation.
With these types of time lines the number of vehicles held
can stretch the limits of available space for storage. This has become a problem in Breezy Point and
a larger impound lot was needed. The city owns property adjacent to the Public
Safety Building that was suitable for an impound lot. The area selected is relatively flat and
cleared of trees. It is set back far
enough from the highway that it should not be seen, even during winter months.
The impound lot as proposed would be a fenced in area of 60
by 60 feet. It would be graveled, gated
and have motion detector solar lights.
The lot should be able to hold 10 vehicles. The cost of fencing and gravel is about
$5,000. Funds will be taken from the
alcohol forfeit fund to establish the impound lot. This will be installed in the fall.
