City Council Minutes 08-24-1987MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday, August 24, 1987 - 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Arve Grimsmo, Fran Fair, Bill Fair, Warren Smith,
Dan Blonigen
Members Absent: None
2. Approval of Minutes.
Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and
unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the regular
meeting held August 10, and the special meeting held August 17,
1987.
4. Wright County Recycling Program - Slide Presentation.
Ms. Val Donahue, Wright County Recycling Program Coordinator
attended the Council meeting and presented a 20 -minute slide
presentation which briefly outlined the possible ways the City
of Monticello and other communities in Wright County can
implement a recycling program in an effort to reduce the amount
of waste being disposed of in landfills. Ms. Donahue noted that
the County is in the process of developing a facility for
composting refuse in the future and such items as aluminum cans,
glass, papers, and plastic items are not suitable for composting
and should be recycled.
Ms. Donahue noted that she would be willing to work with any
task force established in an effort to meet with civic groups
and organizations to encourage recycling in the future. Public
Works Director, ,john Simola, also felt that the City should
begin efforts to encourage recycling and agreed to work with
Councilmember Bill Fair and Ms. Donahue in meeting with civic
groups and organizations to start implementing a recycling
program.
5. Public Hearing to Consider the Vacation of Property Line
Easements Within Lauring Hillside Addition.
The United States Postal Service has obtained an option on Lots
3 and 4, Block 2, Lauring Hillside Terrace Addition, for the
purpose of developing a new Post Office facility. As part of
their development plans, they have requested the lot line
utility easements be vacated in the center of the property to
allow for the location of the new facility.
Hearing no comments from the public, the public hearing was
closed. It was noted by the City staff that the easements
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Page 2
requested to be vacated would not cause a problem, as a 6 -foot
easement around the perimeter of both lots still existed for
drainage and utility purposes. As a result, motion was made by
Warren Smith, seconded by Fran Fair, to vacate the 6 -foot
utility and drainage easements adjoining the lot lines between
Lot 3 and 4, Block 2, Lauring Hillside Terrace, contingent upon
an approved site development plan being presented by the Postal
Service. Voting in favor was Fran Fair, Bill Fair, Warren
Smith, Dan Blonigen. Mayor Arve Grimsmo abstained due to a
possible conflict of interest.
6. Public Hearing to Consider Modification of Finance Plan for Tax
Increment District #2.
011ie Koropchak, Economic Development Director, informed the
Council that the HRA is in the process of acquiring the
Monticello Ford property on West Broadway which is located in
Tax Increment Redevelopment District #2. The HRA and Planning
Commission have recently approved a modification to this
District that would allow for the tax increments being generated
from the District to be used to acquire additional property over
the remaining life of the District. In order to accomplish the
purchase, the Tax Increment Finance Plan must be modified by the
additional cost of the acquisition.
The total project cost for the modification would total $90,000,
which would be recaptured from the additional tax increments
estimated at approximately $17,300 per year from within the
District.
Hearing no comments from the public, the public hearing was
closed and a motion was made by Warren Smith, seconded by Bill
Fair, and unanimously carried to adopt a resolution adopting
Modification #2 to the existing Tax Increment Finance Plan for
Redevelopment District #2. See Resolution 87-23.
7. Consideration of Conditional Use Request to Allow a Beauty Shop
as a Home Occupation in an R-1 Zone. Applicant, Joann
Hoerchler.
Ms. Hoerchler had requested a conditional use permit to operate
an in-home beauty shop out of their recently purchased home in
Ritze Manor Addition. The Planning Commission recommended
approval of the conditional use permit.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and
unanimously carried to approve the conditional use permit
allowing the beauty shop to exist as a home occupation provided
it is occupied by one operator only.
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Page 3
8. Consideration of Conditional Use Request to Allow Major Auto
Repair in a B-4 Zone. Applicant, Fred & Patricia Culp.
Mr. Fred Culp recently purchased the former Broadway Auto Repair
business and requested a conditional use permit to allow
continuation of a major auto repair facility in a B-4 Zone.
Mr. Culp has started to clean up the property and plans on
defining customer parking space and complete landscaping along
the boulevard with shrubs and a grass area. The Planning
Commission reviewed the conditional use request and recommended
approval contingent upon six conditions being met by the new
operator as follows:
a. Off-street customer parking space be striped on the existing
bituminous off-street parking surface as shown on the
enclosed site plan.
b. Employee parking area must be in the area immediately east
of the existing building.
c. The existing semi -trailer parked on the north side of the
building be removed in a period of time as recommended by
the City Council.
d. The solid screening fence be installed along the entire
north side of the property on a portion of the east side of
the property from the northeast corner up to the end of the
northwest corner of the Post Office building.
e. The front boulevard portion of this site be installed as
per site plan.
f. The conditional use permit be granted for a period of up to
one year. At that time, it would be reviewed by the Zoning
Administrator.
Mr. Culp had requested that the existing semi -trailer which is
parked at the rear of the building be allowed to remain until
October 31 at which time it would be removed. In addition, he
requested a one year time period to allow for the construction
of a property line screening fence to be installed along the
south and east property line.
After reviewing the property improvements planned, motion was
made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and unanimously
carried to grant a one year conditional use permit for a major
auto repair facility contingent upon the applicant meeting the
six requirements and allowing the semi -trailer to exist on the
property until October 31, 1987, and allowance of up to one year
to complete the fencing requirement.
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10.
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Consideration of Cable Franchise Ordinance Amendment.
On March 23, 1987, the City Council adopted a resolution
approving the transfer of ownership of the cable system from
Rite Cable Company to Jones Intercable, Inc. The final step in
the transfer of ownership process involves the adoption of a
formal ordinance amendment by each of the ten cities involved in
the Cable Commission amending the cable franchise ordinance.
Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and
unanimously carried to adopt Ordinance Amendment No. 157 which
makes reference to Jones Intercable, Inc., as being the new
owner of the franchise agreement.
Consideration of Change Orders #7-10 for 86-1 Project.
In preparation for finaling out the 1986-1 Interceptor Sewer
Project, the general contractor, L & G Rehbein, Inc., had
requested extra compensation for various items during the
project. Change Orders No. 7, 81 9, and 10 were prepared after
meetings with the contractor by the City's Consulting Engineer.
The first change order involves extra compensation for
additional backfill material that was needed to bring the
property up to grade between Ramsey Street and Cedar Street in
the amount of $6,598.48. The second change order in the amount
of $948.75 was to compensate for the replacement of a well pump
the contractor had to install at a private residence whose well
had gone dry and damaged the pump. The third change order, #9,
involved $8,275.23 for excess depth excavation at the start of
the project near Washington Street and the railroad tracks. The
final change order, #10, involved compensating the contractor
one-half of the estimated savings totaling $3,730 when the
contractor supported existing sewer lines and was able to work
around them rather than replacing the storm sewer. The total of
Change Orders 7-10 amounted to $19,552.46.
Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Warren Smith, and
unanimously carried to approve Change Orders 7-10 totaling
$19,552.46 on the Interceptor Sewer Project for L & G
Rehbein, Inc.
lI. Consideration of Final Payment on 86-1 Project.
With the addition of Change Orders 7-10, the total contract
price for the Interceptor Sewer Project, including cost overruns
for extra quantities and repairs to the 77-3 force main project,
totaled $1,085,399.12. The final payment still to be made to
the contractor is $27,058.96. Consulting Engineer, OSM,
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Page 5
recommended that final payment in the above amount be made contingent
upon the contractor supplying lien waivers and required documentation
has been submitted to the City of Monticello.
Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Warren Smith, and
unanimously carried to authorize final payment in the amount of
$27,058.96 to L & G Rehbein on the 86-1 Interceptor Sewer Project
contingent upon all lien waivers and state tax forms being submitted
as required.
12. Consideration of Setting a Public Hearing for Adoption of Assessment
Rolls on 86-1 Project and Highway 25 Improvement Project.
With the completion of the 86-1 Interceptor Sewer Project, the City
expects final figures which can be used to set assessments for the
street improvements and water improvements on Chestnut Street, the
street improvement along with water and sewer improvements to Fifth
Street, street improvements and water improvements to Locust Street,
and water and storm sewer stubs for the Lucius Johnson property at
Sixth Street and Linn, along with Minnesota Street utility
improvements. In addition, a semi-final cost on the Highway 25
improvement project will be available; and as such, it was recommended
that a public hearing for the adoption of the assessment rolls .for the
above projects be scheduled September 28, 1987.
Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and
unanimously carried to adopt a resolution authorizing the preparation
of the assessment roll for the 86-1 Interceptor Sewer Project and the
Highway 25 Improvement Project, and to hold an assessment hearing on
September 28, 1987. See Resolution 87-24, and 87-25.
13. Consideration of Purchase of Replacement Pickup for Public Works
Department.
As part of the 1987 Budget, $6,000 was budgeted for replacing the
Public Works Department pickup. Public Works Director, John Simola,
presented a list of four used pickups that had been located in the
Monticello area that were felt to be acceptable replacement units.
With the trade-in of the existing 1972 Chevrolet pickup, the net price
of the vehicles were between approximately $5,000 and $7,500 depending
on which model was selected and whether or not the 1972 pickup was
sold outright or traded in. Mr. Simola noted that any of the vehicles
would be acceptable replacements, but did note that the 1987 Ford
pickup with 8,000 miles on it available from Curt Hoglund would still
have a 2 -year, 24,000 mile warranty; but the cost was approximately
$1,500 higher than budgeted for.
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Page 6
Mayor Grimsmo questioned whether the City shouldn't be
purchasing a new vehicle and trading after so many years rather
than searching for used equipment. Mr. Simola felt that in the
long run it was more economical to seek a used vehicle with
lower mileage that was determined to be in good shape but would
have no objection to purchasing a new vehicle if the Council so
desired. He did recommend that the 1987 Ford pickup with 8,000
miles would appear to save the City a couple thousand dollars
over a new one; and this vehicle would still be under warranty,
etc.
As a result, a motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan
Blonigen, and unanimously carried to authorize the purchase of
the 1987 Ford pickup from Curt Hoglund with the trade-in of the
1972 Chev at a net cost of $7,500.
14. Consideration of Planning Commission Appointment.
Recently, the Planning Commission had been seeking applicants
for the Planning Commission to replace Barb Koropchak, who had
resigned effective August 11, 1987. Four potential applicants
had attended the Planning Commission meeting for an interview.
Those in attendance were Candi Thilquist, Christopher Maas, and
Ellen Maxwell, City of Monticello residents, and Cindy Lemm,
Monticello Township resident.
The Planning Commission's recommendation to the City Council was
to appoint Cindy Lemm as Planning Commission member to fill the
unexpired term of Barb Koropchak.
Mayor Grimsmo and Councilmember Warren Smith noted that they
felt a little uncomfortable with appointing a Township resident
to the City Planning Commission to make decisions that may
affect City taxpayers but were willing to go along with the
Planning Commission recommendation. As a result, motion was
made by Fran Fair, seconded by Bill Fair, to ratify the Planning
Commission's recommendation and appoint Cindy Lemm to fill the
unexpired Planning Commission term. Voting in favor was Arve
Grimsmo, Fran Fair, Bill Fair, Warren Smith. voting in
opposition was Dan Blonigen, as he felt a City resident should
be appointed to the Commission rather than a Township resident
at this time.
15. Consideration of Bills for the Month of August.
Motion was made by Dan
} unanimously carried to
as presented.
Blonigen, seconded by Bill Fair, and
approve the bills for the month of August
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Page 7
16. General Discussion.
Update on River Bridge. The Public Works Director informed the
Council that he had been in contact with the bridge contractor,
Johnson Brothers Construction, regarding the feasibility of the
existing bridge remaining rather than being demolished. The
contractor has been developing a revised plan design and felt
there was a possibility the new bridge could be constructed
without demolition of the existing bridge. The next step will
be to meet with MN/DOT representatives to see if it would be
agreeable to them to have the bridge remain and be taken over by
the City. After that there are still a number of steps to
clear, including the Corp of Engineer's approval; and then if it
is still feasible at this point, more research would have to be
completed regarding what types of funds would be available, if
any, for continual maintenance and renovation of the bridge to
incorporate its use into the park system.
Discussion on Cruising Problem on Broadway.
In light of recent complaints regarding the increasing problem
with traffic and the number of people on Broadway during the
weekends, the City Administrator had contacted the Wright County
Sheriff's Department, who indicated a willingness to meet with
City officials regarding a possible task force that could be set
up to review and tackle the problem for next year. It was the
Council's consensus that Sheriff Darrell Wolff and/or Lieutenant
Don Hozempa be in attendance at the next meeting to discuss this
problem.
East County Road 39 Improvement.
Public Works Director updated the Council on the status of the
realignment of East County Road 39 and improvements on County
Road 75 intersection. He noted that Wright County is nearing
completion of its design standards for this intersection, and
the City will have to decide in the near future what type of
frontage road should be constructed to serve MacArlund Plaza
development for access purposes. A number of alternatives exist
to provide adequate access. It was the Council consensus that
all members would meet at the Curt Hoglund site at 6:45 p.m.
prior to the next regularly scheduled Council meeting to review
he alternatives available.
Rick Wolf seeller
City Administrator