At Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth City Council, property owners Rick and Tina Davis were given a 60-day extension to demolish the garage at 304 N. Douglas Ave. and a total of 180 days (until the first council meeting in September) to complete the restoration of the structure, as detailed to the city.

City Building Inspector Delvin Bettenbrock said he met with Tina Davis as well as Shannon Mog of Reliant Roofing on Jan. 31 to discuss what needed to be done to fix the issue with the building. That includes frame and rebuild the exterior wall, demolish the garage, remove the deteriorated wall on the north side of the property and repair the handrail on the second floor.

“Basically, they agreed to do everything I asked for originally,” Bettenbrock said. “I’m agreeable with it. We’re getting done what we wanted done.”

Karen Bonar, publisher/editor of the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter, which rents the front portion of the building, stressed to the council her main concern was access to utilities.

She noted the heating system at the Independent-Reporter is provided by a natural gas line and she wanted to make sure the I-R has gas through the first of May to heat the office.

“I don’t know what that means for the demolition of the garage area,” she said. “I wanted to seek clarification.”

Bettenbrock said the restoration would take place in stages in order to not disrupt the I-R’s operation.

In other business:

• Colby Richard of the Ellsworth Convention and Tourism Committee was granted a request to use funds from the city bed tax fund not to exceed $500 for marketing with the I-R, specifically for the I-R to develop two ads, one in March and another in April, aimed at getting more tourism into Continued from Page A1

Ellsworth.

• Rick Connally was appointed by Mayor Dan Finnegan and approved by the council to serve on the city planning and zoning commission.

• The council began a discussion on updating the fireworks ordinance. Deputy City Clerk Mariana Kinnard will create a draft and present it to the council at the next regular meeting.

• No action was taken on a potential request for de-annexation of a parcel of property currently in the City of Ellsworth.

• Council Member Don Panzer said Dustin Stambaugh, former Ellsworth City administrator, called him last week and told him the International City/ County Management Association investigation of him (Stambaugh) was over.

Panzer said two complaints were filed.

“Their (the ICMA) conclusion was without merit whatsoever, ” Panzer said. “They said it was vindictive, delusional and without merit.”

Finnegan, one of those who filed a complaint, asked why he didn’t get a copy of the ICMA ruling.

“You’re making stuff up,” Finnegan told Panzer.

“I don’t believe so,” Panzer replied.

• During the petitions and delegations portion of the meeting, Cindy Miller said she saw the Rhythm and Reels committee needed volunteers.

She said Ellsworth is close to having events like Rhythm and Reels dying out the same way the shooting of Sheriff Whitney and the Fourth of July celebration did. Miller said the reason these events are dying is because of a lack of volunteers.

“We’re a population of 3,000-plus people, and I think if we all pulled together and spread by word-of-mouth and helped the small handful of people who are trying so hard to keep Cowtown Days alive,” she said.

Miller noted it is not from a lack of the board trying.

She asked people to attend the meeting at the Grow Ellsworth County Feb. 12 to support the hard work done by the Cowtown committee. It was later noted in the meeting, however, that gathering might not take place due to the winter storm coming in on Wednesday.

The next regular meeting of the Ellsworth City Council is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at city hall.