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City Council Minutes 01-08-1974131 Regular meeting of the City Council - January 85 1974 - 7:30 P. M. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P. M. in the city hall by Mayor Conrad Johnson. Council members present: Blonigen, Erickson, Martie, Rowan. Absent: None. The oath of office was administered to Mayor -elect Conrad Johnson by administrator -clerk, Kevin LaFrance. This was the first meeting for Mayor Johnson since his election on November 6, 1973• The minutes for the council meeting of December 11, 1973 were approved as read. Mayor Johnson, in his opening remarks, stated he proposes to put the problems of the city in the hands of the people through a committee system. Commissions will be formed to work out various city problems. He also proposed complete openness with the news media. The first half-hour of each regular council meeting will be set aside to hear citizen inquiries and complaints. All council meetings will be taped and the tapes kept as a per- manent record. Some of the problems the Mayor felt should be delegated to advisory boards or commissions are annexation, the Fourth Street case, fire contract signing, housing and redevelop- ment, the 1-94 and Highway 25 crossings, Dutch Elm disease, busi- ness and industrial development, sewer and water rates review, streets, etc. Mayor Johnson donated his salary for the first year to the Senior Citizen Center and instructed the administrator to make out a check each quarter payable to the Center. A motion was made by Dick Martie, seconded by Denton Erickson, designating the Monticello Times as the official newspaper for the city of Monticello in calendar year, 1974. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. Mayor Johnson stated he was a director of the Wright County State Bank and requested that this statement be officially in the min- utes for this meeting. No comments or objections were made. The Mayor asked for a motion designating an official city bank. In this regard, a ---motion was made by Jeff Rowan, seconded by Dan Blonigen, to designate the Wright County State Bank as the official city depository for calendar year, 1974. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. A motion was made by Jeff Rowan, seconded by Dick Martie, de- signating the attorney firm of Smith -Pringle as the official village attorneys for calendar year, 1974. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. After discussion, it was decided that attorneys Smith -Pi -Ingle will be employed at the rate of $20.00 per hour rather than on a retainer basis. 132 Regular -council meeting - January 8, 1974 - cont' d. Mr. Thore Meyer will present a written proposal at the next council meeting as to an engineering fee for calendar year, 1974. No decision made at this time. A motion was made by Dick Martie, seconded by Dan Blonigen, designating Gruys, Johnson, Mosford & Assoc. as the auditing firm for calendar year, 1974. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. A discussion was held concerning the appointment of a financial consultant, but no decision was made at this time. A decision on a Civil Defense Director was not made at this meeting. A motion was made by Jeff Rowan, seconded by Denton Erickson, to appoint Dan Blonigen, as the Acting Mayor for calendar year, 1974• Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. A motion was made by Dan Blonigen, seconded by Dick Martie, to appoint Dr. Donald J. Maus as Health Officer for calendar year, 1974. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. A motion was made by Dick Martie, seconded by Denton Erickson, to appoint Kevin LaFrance as Zoning Officer for calendar year, 1974• Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson; Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. 'Motion carried. A motion to set the city council meeting nights as the second and fourth Monday of each month (7:30 P. M. in the city hall) was made by J. Rowan, seconded by D. 'Martie. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie and Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. A decision was made to have each city council meeting taped. In this regard, the city attorney noted that it should be announced at the beginning of each meeting that a tape recorder is being used. The council agreed that this would be done. A discussion was held concerning the official responsibilities and authority of the city administrator. It was decided that the administrator would be responsible for: 1. Recommending salary changes for all city employees. 2. Insuring that all citizens are treated courteously and fairly. 3. Meeting with committees to co-ordinate their activities. 4. Providing an agenda and available information to the council and mayor before each regular meeting. 5. Having the city secretary available for taking notes at 133 Regular council meeting - January 8, 1974 - cont' d. council meetings. 6. Responsible for recommending the hiring or firing of village employees. A motion to accept the proposed duties of the administrator and to review and organize the personnel rules for city employees and to have the attorney up -date city ordinances was made by D. Martie, seconded by D. Blonigen. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. The Mayor led a discussion on the implementation of advisory boards and commissions. Listed below are the advi-sory boards and commissions adopted by the city council at this meeting: 1. Planning Commission - This is an established Commission which the Mayor wants working on annexation problems. 2. Park & Recreation - The Mayor recommended the present Board members be retained. A motion to accept the present members and have them start working on the Dutch Elm problem was made by Blonigen, seconded by Martie. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Op- posed: None. Motion carried. Present members of the Park & Recreation Board are Gordon Link, Jim Lun gwitz and Douglas Pitt. 3. Housing and Redevelop -The Mayor proposed that C. M. "Vic" ment Authority Vokaty replace Richard Emerick as a member. Mr. Vokaty was appointed by the Mayor, with council approval. Members of the Housing Authority as of this date are: Mr. William Anderson, Mrs. Caroline Ellison, Mrs. Gloria LaBau, Rev. Robert Sipe and C. M. "Vic" Vokaty. 4. Business & Industrial -The Mayor recommended this commission Development Comm. work on the Downtown Parking Plan, freight service and possible bus ser- vice for Monticello. Individuals re- commended to serve on the Commission are Jim Figenshau, Ken Maus, Lloyd Lund, George Phillips, John Poirier and Bud Schrupp. A motion to appoint .the nom- inees was made by D. Martie, .seconded by D. Erickson. Voting in favor: Erickson, Johnson, Martie and Rowan. Abstain: Blonigen. Opposed: None. Motion carried. Regular council meeting - January 8, 1974 - cont' d. S. Public Safety Commission - The Mayor recommends this commission work with the sheriff's office, fire de- partment, and work as a liaison with the city council. Individuals recommended to serve are: Lyle Buckingham, Lee Hatfield and Don Q. Pitt. A motion to appoint the nominees was made by Rowan, seconded by Martie. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. 6. Liquor Commission - The Mayor recommends that this com- mittee work with the Liquor Store management to study short and long range problems. The Mayor recommended that Lawrence Clausen, Donald Doran and Dr. Charles Erlandson serve as members. A motion to. appoint the recommended individuals was made by Blonigen, seconded by Erickson. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. %. Public Utilities Commission - The Mayor recommended that this commission serve as an advisory board to the water and sewer department. It is to make a study of water and sewer rates to see if a change is needed, settle the school hook-up charges, etc. The Mayor re- commended that Mr. John Fredericksen, Mr. Gene Walters, and Drs. John Kasper and P. White serve as members. A motion to appoint the recommended individuals was made by Rowan, seconded by Martie. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson'. Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. 8. Roads & Streets Commission - The Mayor recommended that this commission work with the School District in trying to solve the 4th Street dispute; work on improving the railroad crossings in Monticello, and work with the Street Department in solving short and long range pro- blems. The Mayor recommended that Arve Grimsmo, Dale Lungwitz, Milton Olson and Robert Rierson serve as mem- bers. A motion to appoint the recommended invidivuals was made by D. Erickson, seconded by D. Blonigen. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. A short discussion was held concerning a City Information Pam- phlet. This will include a list of city office holders, business places, and similar information that a visitor to Monticello might find helpful. A motion to have an Information Pamphlet prepared and printed was made by Dick Martie, seconded by D. Erickson. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Op- posed: None. Motion carried. Regular council meeting - January 8, 1974 - cont' d. A motion authorizing the administrator to sign the carpeting contract for the improvement of the "on -sale" portion of the Liquor Store with Kj ellberg' s Furniture and Carpeting of Buffalo, was made by Rowan, seconded by Blonigen. Voting in favor: Blon- igen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. A discussion was held concerning the adoption of a plumbing fee charge for use by the city plumbing inspector, Kenneth Peshia. It was suggested by the administrator that a fee schedule of $1.00 per fixture ($10.00 minimum) be adopted. This recommend- ation was made after review of fee schedules in other communities and after a discussion with K. Peshia. A motion to accept this proposal was made by Erickson, seconded by Blonigen. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. A request was made by the Mayor for authorization from the city council to have all city of Monticello ordinances updated and for a study on the length of terms for the Mayor and Council in view of recently passed laws. There was city council con- sensus, no vote, to have the city attorney proceed with this study. A motion to transfer $4.,991-74 from the Federal Revenue Sharing Savings Account to the General Fund for payment of the New Street project, Walnut Street project and office equipment as obligated at earlier oouncil meetings, was made by Martie, seconded by Blonigen. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, John son, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. A motion to transfer $11,762.00 from the Liquor Fund to the Street Fund for final settlement of the Slurry -seal case was made by Blonigen, seconded by Martie. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed:.None. Motion carried. A discussion was held concerning the assessment policy used for Improvement Project 1973-1 (Thunderbird Mall area) . The Mayor stated he had been informed by the administrator that the total cost of the project would be $87,400.00 and that approximately $45,009.08 or 52% was assessed to benefiting property owners. Approximately $42090.92 or 48% is on the General Tax levy. City engineer, Thore Meyer, stated that some of the amount on the tax levy is to be picked up through assessment as people move into this area. It was suggested by Mr. Meyer that this assessmient policy be reviewed at a later date. The Mayor led a discussion into the purchase of a check pro- tector and signer. The administrator presented proposals from the F & E Checkwriter and Signer Co. and from Arthur L. Stumme. In this regard, a motion was made by Jeff Rowan, seconded by Regular council meeting - January 8, 1974. - cont' d. Dick Martie, to purchase a H edman Co. used check protector, check signer, and dater from the F & E Sales & Service Co. of Mpls. The price of this machine is $400.00 with a new machine (one year warranty) covering all parts, labor, mileage, loaner units and supplies. A $12,500.00 Surety Bond covers the entire face of checks issued. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. The Sheriff's report was presented by Jim Powers and was ac- cepted by the council without comment. The Mayor presented a letter from the Sullivan Investigation & Adjustment Inc., regarding a claim by Sullivan Investigation that a Monticello resident was drinking in the Municipal Liquor Store on September 21, 1973; and was later involved in an automobile accident. The administrator stated that the village attorney and Poster's Ins. Agency have been given a copy of this letter. No action taken on this matter. The administrator noted that the city is obligated to implement a Local Energy Committee. Dick Martie stated he would be work- ing on this matter. The Mayor stated that the League of Minnesota Municipalities is presenting a one day workshop for mayors and council members to be held on Jan. 26, 1974 at the Ramada Inn-McGuires in Arden Hills. The Mayor, council member Erickson, and the ad- ministrator stated they would attend this course. The council directed the administrator to check into recent OSHA requirements. A short discussion was held concerning snow removal in Monticello. It was decided the city should implement its own snow removal policy as soon as possible. The International truck that has been used for sludge hauling only will be made available for snow removal. A review of city equipment needs will be reviewed in the near future. The Mayor and city council stated they would support Dick Brooks as much as possible in snow removal; the city ordinance on snow removal will be revised so that there is no inference to a "two inch snowfall." The snow removal ordinance revision will leave snow removal more to the discretion of the Street Department rather than to any set quantity of snow. A motion to approve the payment of bills for the month of Dec. 1973, was made by Rowan, seconded by Martie. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, John son, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. Liquor: $36,340.65; Admin: $2,471.57; Fire: $550.63; Park: $363.09; Sewer: $1,137.35; Water: $1.,510-31; Regular council meeting - January 8, 1974 - cont' d. Services: $1,901.85; Street: $3,113-49; Other: $215674-50. A motion to adjourn was made by Rowan, seconded by Martie. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie, Rowan. Opposed: None. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 P. M. Kevin L. LaFrance, Adm. KLLF/lsg Special City Council meeting - Jan. 9, 1974 - 7:30 P. M. - City Hall The meeting was called to order in the city hall at 7:30 P. M. by Mayor Conrad Johnson. Council members present: Blonigen, Erickson, Martie. Absent: Rowan. A discussion was held concerning the annexation hearing scheduled for January 10, 1974 at 10:00 A. M. in the city hall. No decisions were made at this meeting. A motion to adjourn was made by Denton Erickson, seconded by Dan Blonigen. Voting in favor: Blonigen, Erickson, Johnson, Martie. Opposed: None. Absent: Rowan. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 P. M. - Kevin L.;LaFrance, Adm. KLLF/lsg 138 Special City Council meeting - January 10, 1974. - Annexation Hearing. A continued annexation hearing was held in the city hall com- mencing at 10:00 A. M. Members present: Mayor Conrad Johnson, council members Dan Blonigen, Denton Erickson, Richard Martie. Absent: Jeff Rowan. The _hearing was conducted by the Minnesota Municipal Commission with representatives of the Town Board in attendance. Hearings were held until 4:00 P. M. A continued hearing is scheduled for February 21, 1974 at the Monticello City Hall, 10:00 A. M. A transcript of the meeting will be mailed by the Minnesota Municipal Commission for placement in the city minute book. Meeting adjourned at 3:55 P. M.; to be continued February 21, 1974• Kevin L. La France, Adm. KLLF/ lsg Regular meeting of the City Council - January 21, 1974 - 7:30 P. M. This 'meeting was held on January 21, 1974 rather than January 28, 1974 as agreed to by all council members at the meeting of Jan. 8, 1974• The meeting was held at the Senior Citizens Center rather than the city hall due to a previously scheduled Fire Department meeting. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Conrad Johnson at q:30 P. M. Council members present: Blonigen, Erickson, Martie, Rowan. Ab- sent: None. The Mayor announced that the meeting would be taped. The minutes for the council meetiggs of January 8, 9 and 10, 1974 were presented and approved as presented. The Mayor announced that time was allowed for citizen inq -uiries or complaints. No inquiries were made by any resident.