City Council Minutes 11-26-1979MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
November 26, 1979 - 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Arve Grimsmo, Dan Blonigen, Fran Fair, Ken Maus, Phil White.
Members Absent: None
Citizens Comments:
Variance Request of Curb and Landscaping Extension by the Plumber
Mr. Larry Purcell, owner of the Plumbery in Sandberg South, requested an
extension of time to complete his landscaping and parking lot requirements.
Although his blacktopping has been completed, it was improperly installed
and consequently the lot must be torn up and replaced. Because of this,
he has requested an extension to complete the landscaping, curbing and
reblacktopping until July 1, 1980 due to the winter.
Motion was made by Dan Blonigen, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously
carried to approve the extension of time to July 1, 1980 for the comple-
tion of the landscaping, curbing and parking lot requirements of the
Plumbery.
Discussion of Sewer Service Line Depth at Ritze Manor.
Public Works Director, John Simola, reviewed with the Council the recent
problem incurred in hooking up to a sewer service at a lot in Ritze
Manor. It was noted that in making the connection, the existing sewer
line was approximately 2 or 3 feet below the water table, which resulted
in extra cost to the homeowner when he tried to hook up to the sewer
system. The City Engineer also explained that the depth of the sewer
service was typical at 9 or 10 feet deep, and this is standard procedure
under these circumstances. No action was taken by the Council other than
review of this situation.
1. Public Hearing on the Consideration of a Variance to Allow a Second
Accessory Building - Marion Jameson.
Marion Jameson requested a variance to allow the erection of a log cabin
on her property, which is located south of the High School. According to
City Ordinances, only one accessory building is allowed on an individual
parcel of land, and the request was for a variance to allow the recon-
struction of an 18' x 27' 1857 log house which would be furnished with
Norwegian antiques and would be used as a private museum.
Questions from the Council were asked as to whether the museum would be
open to the public and whether charges would be made for tourists.
Mrs. Jameson indicated that at the present time she has not decided
whether the museum would have a charge to the public, but would be
primarily used as a private museum for school tours, etc.
COUNCIL MINUTES - 11/26/79
Hearing no objections, motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Dan
Blonigen and unanimously carried to approve a variance request for
a second accessory building.
2. Public Hearing on the Consideration of a Variance Request_of Monticello
Ordinance on Driveway Opening Width, Parking Lot Perimeter Curbing and
Certificate of Occupancy by the Monticello VFW - Dorchester Post.
Representatives of the VFW Club requested that the City grant a variance
to eliminate the curbing requirements on the west and south side of their
new parking lot at their VFW Club. In addition, the Club asked for a
temporary certificate of occupancy to allow them to begin operations
without completing the landscaping until next August 31, 1980. The request
for a permanent 90' driveway opening was withdrawn by the VFW Club, and
they will comply with the maximum 24' width openings.
In regards to the curbing of the parking lot, it was noted by the City
Staff that the current drainage plan of the parking lot does not conform
to the original plan and that almost all of the drainage of the lot now
drains towards the Interstate 94 ditch. The Minnesota Department of
Transportation has indicated to the City of Monticello that a contract
signed with the State by the City does not allow additional drainage into
the I-94 ditch without prior state approval, as their storm sewer is not
large enough to handle additional runoff. It was noted that a meeting
is scheduled in the near future with the State Department representatives
and VFW Club to resolve the issue of whether the additional drainage will
be allowed into the I-94 cor-ridor ditch. It was noted by the Council
that if the State of Minnesota agrees to let the VFW Club property
continue to drain into the ditch, the City would probably not require
the drainage plan to be altered.
As a result, a motion was made by Dan Blonigen, seconded by Ken Maus
and unanimously carried to approve a temporary certificate of occupancy
request and variance from the landscaping and curbing requirements
until August 1, 1980, provided a bond is posted to cover the cost of
the improvements, and contingent upon the Minnesota Department of
Transportation and VFW Club coming to an agreement on the drainage
problem.
3. Consideration of Simple Subdivision of Property by Quintin Lanners and
Dan Giddings.
Mr. Dan Giddings, of 648 West Broadway, currently owns Lots 11, 12, 13,
14 & 15, in Block 40. Mr. Giddings is currently considering selling
a portion of this property to Mr. Quintin Lanners, and requested a
simple subdivision of his property to allow the sale of a 76' x 165'
lot to Mr. Lanners, with the balance of 89' x 165' to remain with the
home. The five lots owned by Mr. Giddings are currently 33' each in
width, and the request is simply to divide lot 13 into two portions of
23' and 101, and add the 10' to Lots 11 & 12 to be sold to Mr. Quintin
Lanners.
Motion was made by Ken Maus, seconded by Dan Blonigen and unanimously
carried to approve the simple subdivision of property owned by Mr.
Dan Giddings contingent upon submission of a certificate of survey and
proof of recording of this simple subdivision.
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COUNCIL MINUTES - 11/26/79
4. Consideration of Amending Monticello Ordinance to Allow for Commercial
Mailing Tubes in Certain Areas of Monticello.
Mr. Rollie Lange of Advertisers Distribution Services, Inc. requested
that a variance from the Monticello Ordinances be established to allow
them to put up mail tubes in the following areas:
A. East County Road 39
B. Hart Boulevard
C. Anders -Wilhelm Estates and Balboul Estates
D. West River Road and West County Road 75
Mr. Lange indicated that they would be agreeable to putting up a tube
of any color the Council decided upon, and also indicated that the
newspaper firms in Minneapolis and St. Cloud have also agreed to use
this same tube. In addition, he noted that no advertising would be
placed upon these tubes and it would help facilitate the distribution
of their advertising material in the outlying areas of the City.
He indicated that in no way will they attempt to erect these tubes in
the downtown and residential areas of the City other than in these
outlying areas.
The original ordinance was established in April of 1978 prohibiting
mail tubes because of the unsightly appearance and concern over snow-
plowing problems. After review and discussion with Mr. Lange, a motion
was made by Ken Maus, seconded by Fran Fair to grant ADS, Inc. a one-
year trial period to erect the tubes in the four areas listed under
the following conditions:
1. That written agreements be gotten from all property owners where
they are erected.
2. That a notice be put in the paper that property owners have the
right to take down the tubes if they so desire.
3. That a universal color such as black with no advertising be used.
4. That written permission be submitted to the City Hall from the
Minneapolis Tribune and St. Cloud papers that they agree to use
the same tubes for their papers.
5. That any tubes that are knocked down by snowplowing operations
will be replaced by ADS.
Voting in favor: Fran Fair, Ken Maus, Dan Blonigen.
Opposed: Arve Grimsmo, Phil White.
5. Consideration of Authorizing the Exploration of Sludge Disposal
Alternatives.
As part of the updated facilities planning report prepared by the
City Engineer, it was recommended that the City consider the possibility
of purchasing their own land for future disposal site for sludge
accumulations from the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
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COUNCIL MINUTES - 11/26/79
Currently, the City of Monticello disposes its sludge from the Treatment
Plant at a site approximately 10 miles west of Monticello, and considering
the cost of fuel and labor, this site has proven quite costly to the City.
With the construction of an upgraded plant in the future, additional sludge
accumulations will necessitate additional farm land to dispose of the
sludge on, or other alternative methods of getting rid of the sludge. It
was pointed out that there would be certain advantages to the City owning
their own land in that:
A. The current acquisition of land by the City for sludge disposal is
90% fundable by the EPA and PCA.
B. Sites which may be available now may be unavailable in the future
because of future development.
C. Site closer to the actual disposal plant would cut the City's fuel
and labor costs.
D. Land owned by the City could be partially rented out for farming
purposes.
Before an actual application for funding could be presented, the City
would have to pursue other alternatives such as determining whether
farm land is available for the disposal of sludge or the possibility of
leasing land for a spreading site. The City would have to satisfy
the EPA and PCA that sufficient measures have been taken to consider
the alternatives before they would consider the outright purchase of
land by the City.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Ken Maus and unanimously
carried to authorize the City staff and City Engineer to pursue the
alternatives for application of sludge disposal and recommended that
more information be presented to the area farmers on the availability
of the sludge for fertilizing applications before an actual application
for City purchase of land is presented.
6. Consideration of Approval of Increasing Engineering Fee on Monticello
Step II Grant Application for Updating its Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The City's engineering firm requested approximately a 50o increase in
the cost of their engineering services on the Step II application for
the Wastewater Treatment Plant from $166,000 to $249,000.
John Badalich, City Engineer, reviewed with the Council the reasons
for the increased engineering costs in preparing the Step II plans
and specifications for upgrading the plant. Some of the reasons for
the increased cost included new design changes from the original
concept, including a new digester building, a new storage facility for
the sludge trucks that will be purchased, and the moving of the existing
storage building to a new location. These items, along with other changes
made from the original plans, resulted in increased costs to the engineering
firm and their request has been sent to the EPA and PCA for approval. It
was noted that prior to the EPA and PCA approval, the City of Monticello
would have to be in agreement with the fees charged as they would be
responsible for 100 of the additional increase.
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COUNCIL MINUTES - 11/26/79
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair to approve the
request for the increase in engineering fees for the Step II grant
application for Monticello's updating of its Wastewater Treatment
Plant. Voting in favor: Fran Fair, Phil White, Arve Grimsmo,
Ken Maus. Opposed: Dan Blonigen.
7. Review of Civil Defense Emergency Plan.
Civil Defense Director, Loren Klein, reviewed with the City Council the
preliminary emergency civil defense plan recently prepared for the
City of Monticello. Mr. Klein reviewed the primary portions of the
plan, including warning and evacuation in case of a nuclear disaster
or other natural disaster, how communications would be handled and how
evacuation procedures would take place if necessary.
In addition, Mr. Klein reported that a public information meeting
will be held on December 3, 1979 for any area residents who are
interested in how the plan would work.
No action was taken by the Council other than review of the Plan with
the Civil Defense Director. (See Supplement 11-26-79 #1)
8. Approval of Minutes and Bills for November, 1979.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Dan Blonigen and unanimously
carried to approve the minutes of the November 13, 1979 regular council
meeting and also the bills for the month of November, as presented.
(See Supplement 11-26-79 #2)
Meeting adjourned.
R16k Wolfs t ler
Administra ve Assistant
RW/ns
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