The first UPC was requested by BCH Builders LLC for 201 1st St. E., formerly the Wallace Law Office.

City planner Ben Oleson said BCH is an existing Fargo construction company that has decided to move its headquarters to Park Rapids.

“They talked about it, they really liked Park Rapids as a city and moved here,” he said.

Owner Brooks Johnson has applied for permission to operate the business from a small office in the building and convert the rest into living quarters for himself, Oleson said.

He said the city’s planning commission recommended approval of the application with three conditions: having separate entrances for business and living quarters; authorize only one commercial and residential unit each, without a separate license; and do not store vehicles or commercial equipment outside on the property.

Oleson has confirmed that BCH plans to park its construction equipment at another site, which he says is in a different city.

He added that Johnson plans to move the driveway of the property from the south side of the garage to the north side, off Washington Avenue.

Council member Tom Conway brought forward a motion to approve the CUP. The motion was carried unanimously.

The second CUP was requested by Ellen Clark for 602 Pleasant Ave. S., formerly the Peloquin law firm.

Oleson said Clark is interested in purchasing the building and converting it into both a living space and a small business.

“His original plan was to use the basement just for living space and have the entire main level for his business,” Oleson said. “She’s a forensic scientist and she was looking to start a non-profit organization that would help people with this kind of work.”

However, Oleson said, the basement doesn’t have exit windows, so Clark at least temporarily plans to convert one of the upstairs offices into a bedroom and add a basement exit in the spring. .

Oleson said the Planning Commission recommended CUP approval with three conditions: limiting use to commercial office space and owner-occupied accommodation, with other uses requiring a separate permit; not authorize any exterior storage of vehicles or commercial equipment on the property; and covering the interior window between commercial space and housing.

Conway put forward a motion to approve the CUP, which was passed unanimously.

In points of consent and general affairs, the council:

• Approved a lot division requested by Julmar Properties LLC for a 26.15 acre irregularly shaped parcel located north of Kaywood Drive between Eastern Avenue and Henrietta Avenue. The resulting two plots measure 11.93 and 14.2 acres.

• Ordered the preparation of an improvement plan for Fair Avenue Street and the utility project.

• Called for a public hearing on November 23 to discuss the certification of overdue utility payments for 2021.

• Paid $ 60,571 to Luther Built LLC for a change order and construction materials for the public works storage building.

• Paid $ 40,615 to Apex Engineering for work on the career path, US Hwy. 71 frontage roads, construction of airport utilities, well and water treatment facilities, industrial park and Fair Avenue drainage projects.

• Paid Flaherty & Hood, PA $ 2,171 for legal services relating to police department work and employment, airport contract review and pump issues.

• I paid J&J Excavating, Inc. for the work on the Career Path improvement project.

• Approved a $ 1,986 quote from Ross Lewis Sign Co. to replace the Warner Garage Door sign posts at 1008 Park Ave. S. by longer posts.

• Municipal authorities authorized to certify a special appraisal of $ 1,500 for a property at 506 King Street East, owned by Anna Carvao, for emergency repairs to the house’s water and sewer connection.

• Renewal of a three-year planned maintenance contract with Cummins Sales and Service for annual inspections of six city-owned generators.

• Heard City Administrator Angel Weasner reports that she is working on calculating the amount of a partial refund to David Bitker for a building permit that has been withdrawn. Weasner also noted that after reviewing rental property owner Steven Lindeman’s request to demand payment from tenants instead of landlords for unpaid utility bills, she recommends continuing to enforce utility bills in overdue on property taxes. “It’s our best recourse,” she said, adding that all other cities were doing the same.

• I heard Public Works Supervisor Scott Burlingame report that the ministry’s new storage shed was nearing completion and that they were already moving equipment into it.

• Heard, Scott Olson, manager of the Rapids Spirits liquor store, reported that drainage issues at the nearby car wash are restricting access to the store aisle, but repairs are underway.

• Recognition of a donation of $ 2,500 to the Depot Park tennis court replacement project.

• Approved accounts payable totaling $ 140,884 and prepayments totaling $ 101,861.

Prior to the council meeting, members held a closed-door meeting as the Park Rapids Economic Development Authority to discuss the potential sale price of a city-owned parcel at the south end of Industry Avenue.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9 at City Hall.