City Council Minutes 11-10-2003 SpecialMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday, November 10, 2003 - 5 p.m.
Members Present: Roger Carlson, Glen Posusta, Robbie Smith, Brian Stumpf and Bruce
Thielen.
Members Absent: None.
1. Call to Order.
Mayor Thielen called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. and declared a quorum present.
Mayor Thielen introduced Wayne Kessler, Mayor of St. Michael, who was present to
speak on the merger of the City of St. Michael and Frankfort Township and the
challenges, difficulties and benefits resulting from the merger
2. Annexation Discussion - Wayne Kessler, Mayor of St. Michael.
Wayne Kessler stated that he hoped the City of Monticello and Monticello Township
could benefit from what the City of St. Michael experienced in the process of the merger
with Frankfort Township. He stated that you to look at what both entities share such as
schools, churches, etc. You look at what you have in common and start your planning
from there. Wayne Kessler gave brief synopsis of the events leading up to the merger of
St. Michael and Frankfort Township and some of the issues the community faced after the
merger. While he indicated it was a challenge, he also stated that when it was done, the
feeling was that the merger should have happened years earlier so that they could have
planned better.
Brian Stumpf asked what was being done to preserve agricultural land? Wayne Kessler
stated the area immediately around the city was set for development. The remaining was
zoned agricultural land and comes under the one in forty restriction. He felt that because
there was not a significant difference in taxes between the two entities that made the
transition easier. Bob Derus, City Administrator for St. Michael said when trying to
preserve farm land the city has to be realistic. The demand is for homes and it is
developers not farmers who are buying farm land. Because of the economics it is tough
for farming to be feasible. He felt the best way to protect farm land was with the one in
forty restriction.
Wayne Kessler stated St. Michael has phased in areas for development thus far having
utilized 950 acres of land for residential development. The land area in each phase
ranges from 300-500 acres. The phasing is looked at when the comprehensive plan is
updated and then the city can determine where it makes the most sens to place
infrastructure and set up good corridors for storm water drainage. Bob Derus
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emphasized the importance of having a long term plan so you can see the big picture.
Tom Hagerty, St. Michael Council member and former Township Supervisor for
Frankfort Township, discussed some of the perceptions of the township residents relating
to the merger. The township residents generally felt it would be better to merge with one
entity that be broken up bit by bit over time. He stated merger had less of a negative
connotation than annexation so that is the term they used.
Servicing property with utilities was discussed and some of the residents present
questioned how they would be assessed if utilities were extended even though they had
not petitioned for the utilities. Wayne Kessler stated that in St. Michael they had deferred
or delayed assessments against agricultural land until such time as the property
developed. Bret Weiss, City Engineer for the City of Monticello, stated that the city's
policy on trunk charges were similar in that the trunk charges which were based on
acreage did not kick in until property developed. Normally there is a logical progression
in extending utilities. If a developer wants to move up that progression, the developer
picks up the cost of doing so.
Other issues relating to the merger were discussed such as election, audit and financial
issues, utilization of existing staff and merging of governing bodies and commissions.
Wayne Kessler stated that a great deal of planning had to take place to make the transition
and even then there were still many things that came up that had to be addressed. He felt
by treating people with respect and always remembering that this was something they
were all in together, the city was able to work out most of the issues that came up. He
added that they were fortunate in their merger process that the individual personalities on
the township board and city council were able to transcend personality differences and
could look at the big picture and work for what was best in the long run. He felt it was
important to keep the inflammatory rhetoric down.
Brett Holker asked if the land remained agricultural and was not serviced with utilities
what was the benefit of the merger for those property owners. Bob Derus responded that
the question is how does the community benefit noting that what is good for the
community is not always ideal for the individual.
Bob Derus talked about the various planning tools put in place such their comprehensive
land use plan, park plan, utility plan and transportation plan. In an effort to create open
space, developers have placed steep slopes into conservation easements and marginal
land has been utilized for open space. Wayne Kessler noted cluster housing can also be
used to help preserve open space.
In St. Michael a committee was formed containing two members from each of the entities
involved to work out the terms of the annexation. Looking back had the St.
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Michael/Frankfort merger occurred earlier the TH 241 /County Road 19 issues could have
been dealt with more effectively. Wayne Kessler felt that transportation planning could
have been handled much more efficiently had they been in the position to plan for the
entire area.
3. Adjourn.
Mayor Thielen closed the discussion on annexation at 6 p.m.
Recording Secretary
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