State to honor Rainbow Gardens

With whisperings about a Japanese garden going through the “grape vine” it was finally confirmed at the Carrington City Council meeting last week.

During the meeting held on Monday, March 14, Laurie Dietz and Karlee Griffin of the CCEDC said that they had been approached by a few individuals from the community about plans for a Japanese garden.

At the last CVB meeting, that board also discussed a Japanese garden.

Apparently, the CVB was approached by the North Dakota Department of Commerce and Strengthen ND to create a garden space to honor Rainbow Gardens (Harry Hayashi), and that it would be a tool to enhance Japanese culture with regard to North Dakota trade relations.

More information will be available next month.

In other business:

• The Board learned that Whitney Carter has moved to start a daycare called “Milestones Early Learning Center” and is currently under a rental contract with the Nazarene Church with intent to purchase the building.

Carter submitted applications to CCEDC for assistance in purchasing the property.

The CCEDC agreed to ask the council to grant a three-year forgivable loan of $10,000 from economic development funds and a five-year forgivable loan of $23,650 from CDC funds, as well as a Bank of ND flex pace interest buydown loan for a seven-year term.

After the meeting, the applicant withdrew all applications due to wanting to purchase the property in partnership with the gymnastics club.

• The council voted to replat the GTA Elevator site. The site will lose Lots 5, 6 and 7. They will become Lot 2.

• The council heard from Kelly Hagel, who attended to discuss the development of his property near High Plains Equipment’s new building.

Interstate Engineering, according to Hagel, drafted a revised drainage plan for that area.

There was no word on what Hagel will be developing on his property.

Committee Reports

FIRE:

• Carrington Fire Chief Ken Wangen said the fire department responded to two accident calls and two rural fire calls involving a tractor and a semi.

• Wangen said he was voted president of the chief’s association.

• He reported that the new truck is 95 percent complete, and they will get it shortly.

He said they bought it “cheap”, and they knew they had to put money into it.

They are now looking at a new pumper truck.

FINANCE & LEGAL:

• Carrington City Hall will have an open house on April 6 from 2-4 p.m. for City Government Week. All department heads will be on hand and refreshments will be served.

• The committee discussed sanitation contracts. They rejected all bids at the last meeting.

• The Council discussed the water main project under Highway 281.

Dakota Water Resource will provide a 60/40 match grant with the city paying 40 percent.

• The city sales tax received for February was $4,000 ahead of last year.

CCEDC:

• Second Blessing LLC submitted a business improvement grant application to replace their broken boiler. The Council will approve 25 percent of the cost with a maximum of $10,000.

• Laurie Dietz of the Carrington Chamber of Commerce reported that she was contacted by the owner of the Pizza Ranch.

She said the property is currently for sale and he is struggling to find a manager and staff.

CVB:

• Apparently Birding Drives Dakota is interested in keeping BDD going.

They are working on a new website.

• Carrington Mayor Tom Erdmann is working on the new city signage for the east side of the city.

• A car show is planned for July 9 on Main Street with a band and vendors.

AIRPORT:

• Interstate Engineering updated the airport board on the progress of the 2022 taxiway and runway bidding process.

Bid opening will be on April 5 at city hall.

Currently they are repairing the taxiway and runway lights.

LIBRARY:

• The City Library earned $4,000 from the raffle ticket sale.

POLICE:

• Officers are participating in training.

• The new laptops ordered won’t arrive for about 10 weeks or more.

PUBLIC WORKS:

• A boring firm will come in to bore under CP Rail for the water loop project.

Bid opening is March 24 at 2 p.m. at City Hall with a completion date of November 1.

• There was a sludge study of the lagoon.

• The Main Street “roller coaster” is back. The city is talking to Interstate Engineering about the problem with the asphalt.

NO MEETING:

• Organizational Review

• Tree Board