City Council Minutes 05-14-1979MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
May 14, 1979 - 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Arve Grimsmo, Fran Fair, Philip White, Dan Blonigen,
Ken Maus.
Members Absent: None
Citizens Comments -
A representative of the Monticello Youth Hockey Association asked the
Council for permission to install six new mercury vapor lights at the
4th Street skating rink. The representative indicated that the new
lights would be installed at their expense and his request was just for
the okay by the Council to do the installation of the lights. Permis-
sion was granted to the organization by consensus of the Council.
1. Public Hearing on a Variance Request from the Minimum Square Footage
Requirements of a Rambler - Marvin George Builders in Balboul Estates.
Marvin George Builders requested a variance from Monticello Ordinances
which require a one-story dwelling to be a minimum of 1,000 square feet
on the first floor. The variance request would apply only for those lots
in Balboul Estates.
Mr. Marvin George presented information at the Planning Commission re-
questing a minimum square footage for ramblers of 912 square feet based
on the following reasons:
1. Mr. George felt that a good mixture of split entries and ramblers
makes a more aesthetic appearing neighborhood.
2. By allowing for a smaller square footage home, it would make it more
accessible for the person in the lower income bracket.
3. Mr. George indicated that because of a loan commitment program from
the Federal Housing Administration for homes in Balboul Estates, he
is limited in terms of the amount of money he can spend on an indi-
vidual home and felt that by lowering the square footage, he would
be able to work within the scope of the program.
The following citizens comments were presented:
Don Christopher indicated opposition to a rambler of less than 1,000
square feet, but indicated he would not be opposed to split entries if
they were less than 1,000 square feet.
Daryl Tindle also indicated his opposition to ramblers being less than
1,000 square feet in the area.
- 1 -
Council Minutes - 5/14/79
Gordy Jacobson also indicated opposition to the variance request and
also asked the Council why some type of diversity can't be required
of local builders in a subdivision. He felt that the Council should look
into possible ways of controlling what type of homes are built in an
area so that they do not all look alike.
Hearing no other comments, a motion was made by Phil White, seconded by
Fran Fair and unanimously carried to deny the variance request for
ramblers to be built in Balboul Estates of less than 1,000 square feet.
2. Public Hearing - Variance to allow the Use of a Mobile Home as a Sales
Office in a B-3 Zone - Scott Potato Company.
Scott Potato Company, which operates a potato brokerage office during
the potato season south of Monticello Ford on a parcel owned by
Larry Flake, requested the following variances:
A. Variance from the building code provisions since Mobile Homes do not
meet current building codes.
B. Variance from the hardsurfaced parking requirements for an office.
C. Variance from landscaping requirements for a business.
The Scott Potato Company currently leases a parcel of land from Larry
Flake and operates out of the mobile home as a sales office. When the
new Monticello Ford building was constructed, owner Larry Flake agreed
that he would no longer allow Scott Potato to lease a parcel from him
relative to the mobile home site after 1978. Scott Potato Company has
indicated that they will be looking for a new site to build a building
within the Monticello area, but have asked for a one year variance to
allow the operation to continue at the present site.
The Planning Commission recommended that the variance be granted for
one year to allow Scott Potato Company the opportunity to provide a
new office.
Motion was made by Ken Maus, seconded by Dan Blonigen and unanimously
carried to grant a variance to the Scott Potato Company to allow them
to remain at the present site until January 1, 1980, at which time they
would have to move. At the present time, the hardsurfaced parking
requirements and landscaping requirements would not be enforced.
3. Public Hearing - Consideration of Variance on Sideyard Setback and
Subdivision of Parcel - Mr. & Mrs. Harry Benson.
Mr. & Mrs. Harry Benson have requested a variance from the sideyard
setback requirements of 10' to allow an existing garage to have its
dripline up to the abutting property line, and also to allow a sub-
division of the parcel to allow the garage to be entirely on their
own property. The existing garage was built several years ago, and
now it was determined that the garage is located half on the Benson's
property and the other half on property owned by the abutting neigh-
bor, Kevin Olson. Mr. & Mrs. Benson will be selling their property
to Mr. Gene Carlson and have negotiated with Mr. Kevin Olson to purchase
- 2 -
Council Minutes - 5/14/79
a strip of land that is 10' wide and 135' deep to allow their garage
to be entirely on their own property. In exchange for this 10' wide
parcel of land, Mr. & Mrs. Benson will be giving Mr. Olson a strip
that will be 30' by 66' towards the southerly rear of their property.
Mr. Kevin Olson has indicated that he is agreeable to the exchange of
the property with the provision that the City of Monticello go on record
as indicating that they would not be opposed if some day Mr. Olson
or a subsequent property owner of this parcel would like to build a
garage that also needed a sideyard setback variance to the east. Mr.
Olson indicated that the reason for this request is that his lot after
the sale of 10' becomes quite narrow, and as a result, indicated that
he may, in the future, need a variance if a new garage was built on his
property.
At their last meeting, the Planning Commission recommended approval of
the subdivision of land for the extra 10' and also recommended that
the Council approve the sideyard setback variance.
Motion was made by Ken Maus, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously
carried to approve the following:
1. Subdivision of land contingent upon obtaining a certificate of
survey and proof of recording the deed at the Wright County
registrar of deeds.
2. Approval of the sideyard setback variance provided the drip line
falls on his own property.
3. Recommending to any future Council that if an application for a
sideyard variance is requested by Mr. Olson or a subsequent property
owner, that the variance be given consideration provided the new
garage would be located behind the existing garage, or that the pro-
per safety precautions were taken care of in regards to fire hazards
if the two garages were side-by-side.
4. Public Hearing - Consideration of a Variance Request on a Sideyard
Setback - Janet Irvine.
Ms. Janet Irvine requested a variance to build a garage to within 6'
of her property line. The 24' x 24' proposed garage would be located
on lot 5, Block E, Riggs Addition.
A letter has been presented from the abutting property owner stating no
objection to the garage and the Planning Commission recommended approval
of the variance.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Ken Maus and unanimously carried
to approve the 6' sideyard variance for the garage for Janet Irvine.
Council Minutes - 5/14/79
5. Public Hearing - Consideration of a Variance Request to allow More than
One Accessory Building on a Lot - John Kiebel.
Current City Ordinances prohibit more than one garage or accessory build-
ing per lot, and Mr. John Kiebel requested a variance to build a double
garage on his property in addition to the present single garage that
is located now on his property.
Mr. Kiebel indicated that he would be using the small garage for storage,
which is located in the rear of his property. The Planning Commission,
at their last meeting, recommended approval of the variance.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously
carried to approve the variance request for the new garage.
6. Public Hearing - Consideration of a Variance Request on Rear Yard Set-
back and Subdivision of Land by Mr. & Mrs. Ed Klein.
Mr. & Mrs. Ed Klein, who own Lots 1 & 2 of Block 37, Upper Monticello,
requested to divide their two lots equally east and west instead of
north and south, as presently platted.
With the change of the lot line, it became necessary to request a
variance because the rear yard setback for the existing house on
Lot 2 would only have 26' setback instead of the required 30' setback.
At the last Planning Commission meeting, approval was recommended for
this variance.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously
carried to approve the variance request on the rear setback of 26'
rather than 30', and also to approve the subdivision of land provided
a certificate of survey is presented to the City and proof of recording
of same.
7. Consideration of approval of Subdivision of Land - Ed Rivers.
Mr. Ed Rivers, owner of Lot 1, Block 1, Kampa Estates, requested
approval to sell 15' off the west side of his property to his neighbor,
Mr. Dick Frie.
The reason for the request was that Mr. Frie had recently sold off 20'
of his property on the west side due to an error created several years
ago in determining the lot line between him and Mrs. Judy Sandberg. As
the result of having his lot reduced by 20', Mr. Frie would like to buy
the 15' to the east from Mr. Rivers to have his property essentially the
same size that it originally was intended to be. The Planning Commission
at their last meeting also recommended approval of this subdivision.
Motion was made by Dan Blonigen, seconded by Phil White and unanimously
carried to approve the subdivision request provided a new certificate of
survey is obtained and proof of recording is completed.
- 4 -
Council Minutes - 5/14/79
8. Consideration of Change Order #1 on 1978-1 Improvement Project-for-
Sewer
rojectfor_Sewer Extension to the Monticello Country Club's Access Road.
At the last Council meeting, representatives of the Monticello Country
Club indicated that they desired the sewer be extended on Golf Course
Road westerly to their access road. John Badalich, City Engineer, pre-
pared a cost estimate for the change order which would total approxi-
mately $34,313. Two methods of assessing the cost to the Country
Club were discussed by the Council. If this change order was considered
as a separate project rather than as part of the entire 1978-1 Project,
the cost to the Country Club would be the entire cost of the sewer
extension, or $34,000. This would break down to approximately a $4,035
per parcel assessment due to the fact that the other side of Golf Course
Road could not be assessed, as they have already been served with sewer.
Under this assessment method, only half of the street restoration would
be picked up by the City. Under the second method of assessing the
Country Club property, the entire cost would be lumped with the 1978-1
Project cost and spread over the entire area of Country Club Manor- and
Kampa Estates. This would then, in turn, lower the assessment to
approximately $2,690 per parcel for the Country Club while increasing
the assessments approximately $150 per parcel for the other lots in
Country Club Manor and Kampa Estates, etc. Under either method, it
was the recommendation of the engineer that the additional cost of $1,100
for dewatering the area for this sewer line should be paid by the Country
Club, as the area was once previously dewatered and this is an addi-
tional cost.
After noting that during the past years improvement projects that had
change orders were all considered as one project, a motion was made by
Phil White, seconded by Dan Blonigen and unanimously carried to approve
the Change Order #1 to the 1978-1 Improvement Project in the amount of
$28,594 with the preliminary determination that the seven parcels served
by this extension would also be assessed at the lower rate per parcel by
assuming the change order as part of the entire project. The assessments
for the Country Club property would then be the same as Country Club Manor
and Kampa Estates and those along County Road 39, except for the addi-
tional $1,100 for dewatering which would be paid entirely by those
seven parcels of the Country Club Property.
9. Consideration of Club On -Sale Intoxicating Liquor License - Monticello
V.F.W. Club , _.. .------•---•
The Monticello V.F.W. Club has applied for an on -sale intoxicating liquor
license for their new club. The State Statutes do allow for the issuance
of an on -sale liquor license provided the V.F.W. club has at least 50
members.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Phil White and unanimously
carried to approve the issuance of the on -sale liquor license contin-
gent upon the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the building
itself and also the submission of a surety bond in the amount of $3,000
to the City of Monticello.
- 5 -
Council Minutes - 5/14/79
10. Consideration of Awarding Contract on Bids Received for Fire Department
Attack Pumper.
The following bids were received Monday, May 14, 1979 at 2:00 P.M.,
relative to the Fire Department's attack pumper.
A. Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. - total bid price $35,600 with delivery
within 120 working days (6 months). *
B. Emergency One, Inc. - total bid price $32,650 with delivery sixty
days after receipt of chassis.
Mr. Paul Klein, Fire Chief, reviewed the bids received along with the
specifications with the fire department members and reported to the
Council that they recommended the bid presented by Pierce Manufacturing
be accepted. Mr. Klein indicated that the reason for the recommendation
to accept the higher bid of the two was that the Emergency One vehicle
did not meet all the specifications in regards to pump capacity, etc.
Mr. Klein also informed the Council that if the Council awarded the bid
to Pierce Manufacturing, the joint fire board would review the bids before
being presented to the Monticello Township Board for their approval.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Dan Blonigen and unanimously
carried to award the bid for the one attack pumper and chassis to
Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. from Appleton, Wisconsin in the amount of
$35,190, including the $410 deduct for the chassis being paid for at
time of contract signing. It was noted that this awarding of bids would
be contingent upon joint fire board and Monticello Township Board approval.
11. Consideration of Advertisement for Bids for Sealcoating Various Streets
in the City of Monticello.
Public Works Director, John Simola, presented to the Council a list of
the streets, mostly surfaced in the last four or five years, that were
beginning to show signs of wear and could use some sealcoating applica-
tions. The nine separate sections of roads to be sealcoated was esti-
mated to cost approximately $18,000 to $19,000. Mr. Simola recommended
that bids for sealcoating these streets be advertised as soon as possi-
ble.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously
carried to approve the advertising for bids for the sealcoating of the
nine streets listed in Mr. Simola's report. (See supplement 5/14/79 #1).
12. Review of Liquor Store Quarterly Financial Statements.
Liquor Store Manager, Mark Irmiter, reviewed with the Council members
the first quarter financial statements of the off -sale municipal liquor
store. Mr. Irmiter noted that sales have increased approximately 19%
over the first quarter of 1978 and felt confident that sales could
reach $700 - $725,000 for the year. Mr. Irmiter also noted that although
the gross profit percentages are a little bit lower than last year, his
pricing has remained very competitive due to new discount stores located
in surrounding communities such as Elk River and St. Michael. The Council
accepted the report as presented. (See supplement 5/14/79 #2).
*$410 can be deducted from the total bid price if the chassis
portion is paid for at time of signing contract.
Council Minutes - 5/14/79
13. Approval of Minutes.
The Minutes of the regular council meeting held April 23, 1979,
were approved as presented.
14. Discussion on 1977-3 Improvement Project,
Public Works Director, John Simola, requested that since Arcon Construc-
tion Company will be replacing small sections of curbing on Ramsey Street,
near Broadway, as part of the 1977-3 Project, Mr. Simola asked that the
Council consider replacing also the deteriorated sections of the curb
along Broadway at the Corner of Ramsey Street. Mr. Simola indicated that
these curbs are in bad shape and should be replaced with pedestrian ramps
to the sidewalks, and estimated the cost at about $400.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously
carried to authorize the Public Works Director to replace the curbing
on the corners of Ramsey and Broadway and also install pedestrian
ramps as part of the 1977-3 project.
John Simola and engineer, John Badalich, also discussed with the Council
the progress of finalizing the 1977-3 street project in relation to the
raising of various manholes on the street project. They noted that the
contractor, Arcon Construction, was experimenting with various methods
of eliminating the bumps over the manholes. Mr. Badalich noted that
the methods they have been using do not appear adequate and will result
in all the manholes being within 3/4 of an inch from the surface of the
street.
15, Miscellaneous.
Mr. Wilbur Eck asked that the Council consider adopting a resolution
against the storage of nuclear waste at the NSP Plant. After discussion
by the Council, it was decided that this item will be brought up at the
next Council Meeting if Mr. Eck has any information to present.
Motion was made by Dan Blonigen, seconded by Ken Maus and unanimously carried,
the meeting was adjourned.
Rick Wolfst ler
Assistant inistrator
RW/ns
- 7 -