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Harris will conduct income survey for grant applicationBy Danielle Strenke In order to qualify for the maximum amount of grant money to complete water improvement projects within the city, Harris residents will need to tell the Office of Rural Development how much money they make. The city council was told Monday that an income survey was a critical component in obtaining grant funds for improvements to water lines within the platted city limits. ìIf the survey is not done, it means less grant money and more money your city will have to come up with,î Chuck Schwartz of the cityís engineering firm Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik & Associates said. He said the survey could be completed by 10-15 volunteer residents, who would simply drop them off with residents and come back to pick them up. Schwartz said they should assure residents that the surveys would be confidential, and only read and tabulated by his engineering firm. ìNo one from the city will be seeing them,î he said. Once the survey is completed, Schwartz said, a median income for residents within the platted area would be submitted on the grant application. The city is seeking grant money for improvements to its water lines. In a separate project, the city is also seeking grant money to assist with the construction of a drinking water treatment plant. The plant is required because the cityís drinking water has been found to contain more radium than the new maximum limits established by the Mn. Dept. of Health. New councilor appointed After receiving only one application to the vacant city council seat, the council unanimously approved the appointment of Dan Cardinal. Councilor Lyle Holmstrom was absent from the meeting Monday. Cardinal will fill out the remainder of this yearís term left open by the death of David Christianson. The seat will then be filled through the November election. Park Board wonít dance Councilor Wayne Buisman, who sits on the park board, told the council Monday that the group does not support the idea of a fall harvest festival, which would include vendors and a street dance. ìThey want a ëGreat Harris Get-Togetherí Sept. 14, as a picnic potluck in the park,î he said. Councilor Dan Walton, who still supports the idea of the fall festival, said that would limit it to just Harris residents, rather than welcoming people from neighboring communities. ìThat was by design,î Buisman said. Walton said he was still committed to helping to organize the fall harvest festival, while Buisman indicated the park board would take no part in organizing the event. ©ECM Post Review |