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Deadline for Harris income survey looming

By Danielle Strenke
The deadline to complete mandatory income surveys of Harris residents is fast approaching, and city engineer Chuck Schwartz urged the city council Monday to come up with a list of volunteers to deliver the surveys to residents.
The city is facing a $1.2 million project to improve the current water system and construction of a drinking water treatment system. The work is mandated through MN. Dept. of Health regulations to remove radium from the cityís drinking water.
The cityís engineering firm, Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik & Associates, is working to obtain up to $600,000 in grant money to offset the costs of the project.
One of the grant requirements is for the city to complete an income survey of all residents on the water system, about 100 households. A median income will then be determined and used as a basis for eligibility for the grants.
ìThey need to know this isnít a wish list, these projects have to be done,î councilor Lyle Holmstrom said.
Schwartz asked at the July 15 meeting for the city to establish a list of 10 volunteer residents, who would hand-deliver the surveys.
These volunteers would then explain the process of the survey and why it was necessary for all residents to complete them.
Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the process, Mayor Richard Hanson assured the council and audience. ìThe volunteers will hand them the survey to complete, along with a stamped envelope to return it. No one else will see it,î he said.
The volunteers who deliver and explain the surveys will never see the completed surveys, nor will anyone at city hall; the surveys will be reviewed by an independent firm.
Schwartz said he was hopeful that the process could begin this week, with the surveys completed by the end of the month so data could be collected and reviewed by mid-September.
Meeting days to change
The council discussed changing the regular city council meetings to Thursdays instead of the first and third Mondays.
Mayor Hanson said the reason was to be able to have city attorney Kevin Shoeberg attend the council meetings. ìRight now he has township meetings on Mondays so he isnít available,î Hanson said. ìOnce the moratorium is lifted, we will want to have him here to deal with issues.î
The council approved moving the meetings to Thursday nights, but will wait to decide whether the first and third or second and fourth will work best for council members, city staff and Shoeberg.
The first September meeting will be either Thursday, Sept. 5 or Sept. 12. Look for the date in next weekís edition.
Fall Festival plans continue
The city is continuing to receive requests for craft booths and vendors for the Fall Festival scheduled for Oct. 12. Some of the events and vendors possibly scheduled include bingo, a VFW food booth, street dance with a live band and kidís activities. An informational meeting about the festival is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to help with the festival or set up a craft or food booth is encouraged to attend.

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