Backus: Business wants to move near old dump site

The Backus City Council decided to move forward cautiously when approached about selling property that once adjoined the old city dump site.

Micah Eveland approached the council Monday, Oct. 1, with a request to buy a 10-acre section of a lot the city once owned for dumping. The property is outside of city limits, but still belongs to the city. Eveland would also like to apply for one of the city's revolving loans to construct his building and get started.

Eveland's business, Black Line Conversions, customizes interiors of campers, fish houses, horse trailers and other enclosures. Eveland employs six full-time employees in the facility he uses on the Scamp property. The proposed building is larger and would employ 15 employees when fully staffed. Eveland also has a contract with Yetti fish houses and hopes to finish 400 fish houses every year in the new facility.

Council members first heard Eveland's request at the August council meeting, when they determined there may be some complications from attempting to sell a "brown field" that has garbage buried underneath it. The property Eveland wants to buy is on the front half of a 20-acre lot the city owns.

Council member Rae Borst and Mayor Kurt Sawyer do not remember garbage being buried on the front 10 acres of the property. Even so, there may be health concerns if the business intends to drive a well.

The city had previously sought input from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which shared some mixed responses, at first advising against construction on a brown field. Others from the MPCA later suggested construction in the vicinity of the field may be more reasonable than first estimated.

Though interested in the new business, council members agreed to act cautiously, seeking input from the MPCA, city engineers and city attorney to ensure the property is safe for occupants and surrounding properties and to ensure the city is free of liability. The council decided to seek quotes from three engineers for the project.

In other business Monday, the council:

• Authorized the fire department to hire a grant writer to make a second attempt at a grant to replace turn out gear and air packs.

• Learned that Richard Davis, a part-time maintenance department employee, died Sept. 25.

• Approved purchase of a garage door from Door Doctor for $465.

• Discussed issues with the recent street project. Some of the overlays have uneven seams, including the seams in the center of the road. There also appear to be low spots that hold water during a rain event.

• Approved an $11,900 payment to Rickard & Sons for construction of an airport helipad.

• Approved payment to Neo Electric for lighting at the airport for $144,191.48.

• Approved a change order for installation of a wind cone at the airport.

• Approved a request by a pilot to build a new hangar at the municipal airport.

• Approved a Cass County Housing and Redevelopment Authority request for a $25,000 revolving loan for construction of a new building for storage of vehicles, paint and other equipment. The council approved the building pending compliance to city codes.

• Approved putting $25,000 into the city water and sewer CDs.