City Council Minutes 06-18-2012 SpecialMINUTES
SPECIAL JOINT WORKSHOP /MEETING —
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION
Monday, June 18, 2012 — 5:30 p.m.
Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Council:
Planning Commission:
Absent:
Others:
1. Call to Order
Clint Herbst Lloyd Hilgart, Tom Perrault, Glen Posusta, Brian
Stumpf
Brad Fyle, Charlotte Gabler
Bill Spartz, Barry Voight
Kirk Kjellberg Kjellberg, Marty Kjellberg Kjellberg, Angela
Schumann, Jeff O'Neill, Ron Hackenmueller, Brice Westby, Bob
Paschke
Mayor Herbst called the Special Joint meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Purpose of Workshop: Presentation followed by Tour of Kjellberg's Mobile Home
Park
Jeff O'Neill explained that this is an opportunity for Council and Planning Commission
to hear about the history and development of Kjellberg's Park to help understand the
background of the requests that come from Kjellberg's owners.
3. Overview of Kjellberg's Mobile Home Park — led by Kjellberg's Staff
Jeff O'Neill welcomed Council and Planning Commission and introduced Kirk Kjellberg
and Marty Kjellberg. The Kjellberg representatives will be giving a presentation about
their mobile home park. Kirk Kjellberg explained that the presentation is to familiarize
everyone with various aspects about the Park. The agenda covers such items as: build
rapport, address issues with Park, future plans.
Presentation by Kirk Kjellberg:
Kjellberg's came to the community in 1929. Kjellberg's land included quite a sizable
area and they built a 327 site manufactured home park, an office plaza, and now the new
veterinary clinic. Kjellberg's Park employs 17 people. The term "mobile home" refers to
people that prefer to move their home to where they want to live. Kjellberg's is
celebrating 50 years in the manufactured home business this year. The East Park was
opened in the 1960's and the West side in the 1970's. Kjellberg's Park has housed
construction workers and plant workers and is currently home to approximately 1000
people. The Park provides affordable housing for people of all ages and economic
conditions. Kirk Kjellberg talked about the public's perception of people that live in a
mobile home park. The Park is actually is home to a very diverse population of all types
of backgrounds. At one time, the Park was perceived as a crime area. After a study of
City Council- Planning Commission Special Joint Meeting Minutes —June 18, 2012 Page 1
police reports, it was found that park residents generated less police calls per resident in
other areas and they had no major or violent crimes.
Kjellberg's Park conducts business outside of the normal four walls. They are a unique
business that regulates their customers. Collections and rules compliance are just part of
their work. They trim trees, clean the park property, and tend to wells and infrastructure.
Since they are privately owned, they have the power to restrict who can get in and stay in.
They do enforce rules and work with the Sheriff's Department to regulate criminal
activities.
Lots are spacious; hundreds of trees have been planted; and $330 a month pays for lot
rent including water, sewer, snow removal and your own yard. Storm shelters were built
before they were required by the State, city or county. They have green space and a play
area and allow gardens and landscaping on lots. Most lots in the East Park hold 12 X 60
foot manufactured homes but could hold larger.
6 good reasons for locating at Kjellberg's Park:
• Plow the snow and cut the common area grass
• Maintain infrastructure
• Light the streets
• Provide water and sewer services
• Have rules in place and enforce them
As far as property taxes, the Park pays in excess of $100,000 each year. Each home
owner also pays personal property tax on their mobile home. For the tax dollar, the City
provides less in services to park residents than to other city residents.
Kirk Kjellberg noted that one issue over the years has been complaints about cloudy
water from time to time. The wells are tested quarterly. The system is old and over time
has collected excess minerals, which gives a cloudy look at times. The Park has installed
many flush valves, and two new deep wells have been added to alleviate the issue. The
Park has scaled back use of the older wells and utilizes the newer deep wells more, which
has helped decrease the problems with excess minerals. The Park lets people know they
will be living with well water rather than chlorinated water. They recommend that
people use a softener or filter in their home to take care of the hard water. Kjellberg's
suggests that it is not economically feasible to hook up to the city water system for the
Park.
Kirk Kjellberg said their #1 job is to run a safe, clean, reasonably priced place for people
to call home. Kjellberg's Park is a cost plus business needing to charge enough rent to
cover their costs. Since 2005, they have had only 2 rent increases of $10 each and have
worked very hard to keep costs down.
Kjellberg's Park doesn't want to fight city ball, but they roust nun a competitive business.
Kirk Kjellberg mentioned some projects which have been costly to them such as: the
storage building next to the shop, repaving with curb and gutter, small storage area in
City Council- Planning Commission Special Joint Meeting Minutes —June 18, 2012 Page 2 _
back of the West Park. Kirk Kjellberg said he was told at one time that "they cannot
have a meaningful discussion with the City until they are willing to hook up to city
water."
Kirk Kjellberg talked about the storm shelters and requested that the City not make that a
condition of every application submitted to the City from Kjellberg's Inc. Kirk Kjellberg
mentioned the future Hwy 25 improvments and possible impacts on the Park.
Kirk Kjellberg summarized the presentation by stating that they know their business is
better because it is located in Monticello. They have no expectations from malting this
presentation, rather they wanted to provide infortnation to help with an understanding of
the Park and its residents.
Clint Herbst commented that the City's concern about the storm shelters was whether
they were being used for other purposes; they want to make sure there is adequate space
and that they are easily accessible. Clint Herbst would like to take a look at the storm
shelters to ensure for himself that they are adequate, especially in light of the huge
number of storms that have been occurring. Marty Kjellberg commented that the storm
shelters meet the standards for number of people and would like a better understanding of
the City's expectations. Clint Herbst explained that he was most concerned about the
shelter for the East Park and whether that could hold all the residents on that side. Marty
Kjellberg noted that many residents opt not to use the shelter when there is a storm
warning. She explained that it is actually no further for the East Park residents to go to
the business office than it is for West Park residents to go to their designated shelter. Jeff
O'Neill mentioned that he has observed the use of the shelters during a weather warning
and it appeared that most residents are quite aware of the process for seeking shelter.
Kirk Kjellberg was curious if the concern about storm shelters was directed mainly at the
Park or was this also an issue for apartment buildings and other multi -unit buildings.
Brad Fyle commented that he was involved with some of the sewer issues years ago and
those were valid concerns. He would want to ensure that Kjellberg's Park is in
compliance for the storm shelters before they approve any further applications. Ron
Hackenmueller talked about the allowance for 4ft per person in a storm shelter which
matches state code for the areas designated for storm shelters. The main question is
whether there is a reasonable distance established for park residents to reach a storm
shelter, which is a requirement of state stiles.
4. Adjournment
Mayor Herbst adjourned the special meeting at 6:12 p.m.
Recorder: Catherine M. Shuman ntr/1/
Approved: Junej 25, 2012
Attest:
it • inistrator
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