by Patrick Tepoorten

The Rush City council may be getting tough on dangerous buildings that exist within city limits. At their regular meeting on Monday night, council members held a lengthy discussion on how best to address blight in the city.

Of primary concern to the council was the former Dairy Queen at 780 S. Bremer Ave. The structure, which has been vacant for years, has fallen into such a state of disrepair, including broken windows with exposed edges, that the city has called upon itís attorney, Joe Anderson, to pursue repairs as a civil matter.

The council approved a resolution, which did not appear on the agenda, referring to the buildingís current state as an ìemergency that requires immediate action.î According to that resolution, property owner Dennis Carlson has six days to ìsafeguard the building.î

If, after six days, the building has not been safeguarded against intrusion and injury, the city has the right to make those improvements and charge the costs back to the property owner.

Discussion on the old Dairy Queen led to a broader discussion of trouble properties within the city as well. Of particular concern was the former Land Oí Lakes building. Although the council noted that the property owner in that case has been fairly responsive to requests by the city for window boards etc., the building remains a dangerous environment. It was suggested that a building inspector take a close look at the structure.

Anderson encouraged the city to provide him with paperwork for any unsafe structures in the city for consideration of action similar to that taken in regards to the Dairy Queen building.

In other Rush City news:

ï The council approved a new contract with the Minnesota Teamsters Public and Law Enforcement Employeesí Union, Local No. 320, which now represents Rush Cityís public works employees. The contract calls for a general wage increase of 4 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2005, with another 3 percent effective in January 2006.

The terms of the contract expire in December 2006.

ï Mayor Mike Skalsky reported on the progress of committee meetings to determine how best to replace council member Bill Schneider, who passed away last fall. Although there were ìnumerousî applicants for the appointment, it was decided that the city would be best served by waiting for the next general election in November.

Skalsky hinted that, in doing so, the city would benefit from citizens that are truly interested in serving on the council, rather than citizens who just want to ìgive it a try.î

The candidate who emerges victorious from that election could be appointed to complete the remainder of Schneiderís term, rather than waiting for the following January, which is customary.

ï The council approved the appointment of Joel Nelson as the Rush City Fire Departmentís training officer. Also approved were Steve Carlson to the post of 1st asst. chief, and Dave Schroeder as lieutenant.

Comment from Jan Goebel, 2/16/06

Thank goodness something will finally be done about that terrible looking old Dairy Queen before someone is severly hurt by that broken plate glass. It has been an eye sore for too long and somehow I feel Dennis Carlson will get by without paying $ to tear it down!! The city will end up paying for his responsibility.

Comment from Samantha Bialka, 2/27/06

This is a wonderful idea, I think that something better could be done with that area. That building is dangerous and someone could get hurt playing around it. I am glad they finally took a step into taking it down