A write-in council race is decided by chance

ORR- The ballots had been counted, but Orr still had one more piece of election equipment to put to work Monday: a coin.
With two city council seats on the ballot and incumbent Bruce Black the only candidate who filed, the write-in line offered voters an opportunity to fill out the council.
They supplied plenty of possibilities. Eleven names collected a combined 18 votes. What they didn’t supply was a clear winner.
Ericka Cote and Vondalee Carr finished at the top with three votes apiece, leaving the city’s Board of Canvass with a tie to settle before the regular council meeting could begin.
Mayor Robert Antikainen handled the flip. Cote got heads. Carr got tails.
“Tails,” came the call, confirmed by council member Melissa Wright.
With that, Carr had won a council seat on a night when the final result depended on something other than a ballot. The board certified her election along with the re-elections of Black and Antikainen, then adjourned to move on to regular city business.

Water meters
A possible replacement of the city’s water meters remains a question of how to pay for it, but Bollig Engineering representative William O’Halloran reported that financial help could be available.
O’Halloran said a discussion with Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation indicated the agency would consider supporting the project, but would first want to see the city commit financially, such as by applying for a loan.
“They’d want to see the city put a little skin in the game,” he said.
A preliminary estimate put the project at about $220,000, including meters, reading equipment, software, and contractor installation. The city could reduce that cost by handling installation itself.
O’Halloran said his understanding was that assistance could involve a 50-50 match, although no specific funding offer had been made. The council took no action to move ahead with the project.

Budget outlook
The city’s budget outlook could allow the proposed property tax levy increase to come down to 5 percent, City Administrator Angela Fabish reported, with hopes of reducing it further before the budget is finalized.
The budget also could provide room to begin setting money aside for a replacement city truck.
Meanwhile, the maintenance truck is out for repairs following an oil pressure warning. Staff are using the backup airport truck while it is in the shop.

Airport projects
O’Halloran reported that construction on the airport hangar and apron project has largely wrapped up for winter, although monthly meetings will continue to review materials and coordinate with the contractor ahead of work resuming.
Council members approved the project’s first payment request. O’Halloran said moving topsoil to the airport’s weather observation system site is expected to wait until spring.
A separate airport lighting project still requires tree removal and a MnDOT flight check before it can be closed out, he said.
The council also approved seeking statements of qualifications for professional airport consulting services, a process required every five years.

Wastewater work
Council members approved final acceptance of the Imhoff wastewater project and a final payment of $11,194.60, including previously approved changes and release of money held back from the first payment.
Discussion of the improvements prompted Black to ask about the condition of the building itself, including deteriorating concrete and exposed reinforcing material.
Black said he had been inside the building periodically for at least 15 years and had noticed what appeared to be additional deterioration.
O’Halloran said his preliminary assessment was that the building had about 10 more years of use, with no immediate major repairs anticipated. Black inquired about the condition of the roof, but O’Halloran said he had not been up to inspect it. He acknowledged that its age remained a concern.
“The clock’s ticking on it. That’s for sure,” he said.
In other business, the council:
• Approved reinvesting a $100,000 certificate of deposit for six months at 4.1 percent.
• Heard that a $15,000 grant falls short of an estimated $26,000 cost for well drilling, with additional funding still being sought.
• Heard that city payroll will shift to Friday paydays beginning Jan. 8, followed by a biweekly schedule, giving staff more time to process payroll.