City Council Minutes 10-14-1986MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, October 14, 1986 - 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Arve Grimsmo, Fran Fair, Bill Fair, Jack Maxwell,
Dan Blonigen.
Members Absent: None.
2. Approval of Minutes.
Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and unanimously
carried to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held September 22,
1986.
3. Citizens Comments.
Mr. Don Heikes presented a letter to the City Council criticizing the
City regulations regarding requirements imposed upon developers when
installing sewer and water connections. Mr. Heikes noted that he recently
completed a hook up of sewer and water on West River Street adjacent
to the trailer park and felt there was a lack of communication between
the Public Works Department and his contractor regarding the required
bonds and insurance forms that were necessary before the work could
be completed. In addition, he criticized information supplied by the
Public Works Department and felt some of the information was inaccurate
causing him excess cost and time delays. John Simola, Public Works
Director, noted that Mr. Heikes was not treated any differently than
any other contractor and that proper bonds and insurance were always
required before work can commence, and that any information regarding
the utilities was supplied to Mr. Heikes based on as built records the
City had. In addition, Mr. Simola noted that Mr. Heikes had not yet
supplied a proper drainage plan for his development and a utilities
plan as builts would be required from Mr. Heikes before final approval
is granted by the City.
Mr. Ken Maus appeared before the Council to express concerns over possible
traffic congestion that may occur on Cedar Street now that the Sixth
Street Station development is nearing completion. Mr. Maus requested
that the City look into traffic congestion at the intersections of Third
and Fourth Streets along Cedar, and to review the possibility of making
Cedar Street and through street similar to Walnut Street, with yield
signs being a possibility on Third and Fourth Street at these. intersections.
Council indicated that these intersections will be looked at in the
future to see if problems are occurring with traffic congestion.
A Certificate of Appreciation for service rendered was awarded by the
Mayor to former employee, Albert Meyer, for his years of service to
the City. Mr. Meyer was the Superintendent at the Wastewater Treatment
Plant and is now an employee of PSG, Inc., who currently operates the
facility under a contract with the City of Monticello.
Council Minutes - 10/14/86
4. Public Hearing on the 1987 Annual Budget. AND
7. Consideration of Adopting the 1987 Municipal Budget and Certifying the
Tax Levy.
A public hearing was open for comments on the 1987 Budget, and no comments
were received.
The 1987 Budget and resulting tax levy was reviewed by the Council,
which proposed a tax levy requirement of $1,676,900.00, or approximately
6.32% increase over the 1986 levy.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Bill Fair, and unanimously
carried to adopt the 1987 Budget as presented and Resolution 86-23 setting
the tax levy at $1,676,900.00. See Resolution 86-23.
5. Public Hearing on a Request to Vacate Easements in the Meadows. AND
8. Consideration of Vacating the Lot Line Easements in the Subdivision
The Meadows.
This item was tabled until a future Council meeting because of lack
of information from the developers regarding legal descriptions on the
easements.
6. public Hearing on the Proposed Assessment Roll for Delinquent Charges. AND
9. Consideration of Adopting an Assessment Roll for Certification with
the County Auditor Covering Delinquent Charges.
A public hearing was held on the proposed adoption of an assessment
roll for delinquent sewer and water charges which were at least 60 days
past due. No comments were heard from the affected property owners,
and the hearing was closed.
After reviewing the individual parcels in question, a motion was made
by Fran Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and unanimously carried to adopt
a resolution adopting the delinquent assessment roll for sewer and water
charges and to certify the same to the County for collection with taxes
for 1987. See Resolution 86-24.
10. Consideration of a Request from Independent School District #882 Guaranteeing
the Provision of Sanitary Sewer and Municipal Water to the Middle School
Site.
Representatives from the Monticello School District appeared before
the Council to request that the City enter into an agreement with the
School District that would guarantee sewer and water connections for
the new proposed middle school site should annexation not occur on the
80 acres owned by the school before the building is completed. Mr.
Jim Metcalf, representing the School District, noted that the 80 acres
owned by the school had been petitioned for annexation, but the school,
in order to proceed with their purchase an(3 development plans, feels
an agreement is necessary guaranteeing sewer and water services should
annexation be a lengthy process.
-2-
Council Minutes - 10/14/86
Mayor Grimsmo noted that,in his opinion, the best solution for the school
and the City is to approach the Township Board requesting that a joint
annexation agreement be approved between the City and the Township concerning
the 80 acres in question, which would then immediately become part of
the City and an agreement would not be necessary. Council members Bill
Fair and Dan Blonigen questioned whether the City should just seek a
joint annexation agreement on the 80 acres or whether a larger area
will be needed immediately to enable the City to proceed with its plans
to construct a new water tower on Monte Club Hill. Mr. Fair noted that
without the water tower improvements being constructed soon, the school
property would still not have adequate water pressure for their needs.
Mr. Blonigen again noted that the City should not just consider annexing
the school property by itself, which would again revert to a piece -meal
annexation process, but rather felt the City should proceed with the
entire annexation of the OAA as originally recommended by the City's
Planner. Mr. Blonigen also felt that by accepting a smaller area at
this time, the City might jeopardize future annexation proceedings later.
Administrator Eidem noted that if a joint resolution between the Township
and the City could be arranged, he did not feel that this would jeopardize
the City's plans for future annexation in the OAA and may actually be
to the City's benefit in that one of their requirements for annexation
is showing a need for municipal services, which would be occurring with
the improvements planned in the water system, including a water tower.
It was recommended that the City approach the Township concerning a
joint annexation agreement, not only for the 80 acres owned by the school,
but for an additional 160 acres along a corridor to the Monte Club Hill
that would be needed by the City for construction of the water tower
and related improvements. This way the planned water improvements would
be entirely done within the City limits without extending services into
the Township.
Mr. Jim Metcalf noted that the School District could wait approximately
30 days to see if a joint resolution could be accomplished between the
City and the Township before an agreement between the City and School
guaranteeing sewer and water services would be needed.
Citizen John Sandberg expressed opposition to the City entering into
a contract to provide sewer and water for the school without the school
first being annexed into the City. Mr. Sandberg felt the School District
should have been previously in contact with the City regarding utility
extensions prior to selecting the site and questioned why the City should
now be guaranteeing future services if annexation doesn't occur.
After further discussion, motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by
Fran Fair, to adopt a resolution to be presented to the Monticello Township
Board that would jointly request the Municipal Board to order immediate
annexation of approximately 238 acres consisting of 80 acres owned by
the School District and an additional 158 acres lying adjacent to County
Road 118. Voting in favor was Bill Fair, Fran Fair, Arve Grimsmo.
Opposed was Maxwell and Blonigen. See Resolution 86-25.
-3-
Council Minutes - 10/14/86
11. Consideration of Change Order No. 5 for 86-1 Project.
This item was tabled until the next Council meeting due to lack of
sufficient information regarding the change order.
12. Consideration of a Request by John Koppy to Utilize City Property.
Mr. John Koppy appeared before the Council to request a reconsideration
on the Council's recent decision not to allow him to use a portion
of the City property adjacent to his insurance building for a blacktop
driveway access to his parking lot. Mr. Koppy's plans for blacktopping
the driveway require approximately 6 feet of the driveway width to
be on a City lot adjacent to Mr. Koppy's building and discussion
concerned whether the City should allow Mr. Koppy the right to use
and blacktop a portion of the City property for the driveway. Mr.
Koppy indicated that the driveway has always existed, and blacktopping
would benefit both his property and the City's property even if they
planned on selling the parcel in the future.
It was noted by Administrator Eidem that the City Attorney advised
the City to enter into an agreement with Mr. Koppy that would protect
the City from liability if it decided to allow Mr. Koppy to use a
portion of the City property as a driveway access. Mr. Koppy felt
that the driveway has always existed and has been shared by the two
property owners, and he would not be changing or increasing any liability
to the City than what exists now.
Previous Council action was to offer the property to Mr. Koppy for
$7,500.00; and if Mr. Koppy was not interested to offer the property
for sale to the general public.
After further discussion, motion was made by Blonigen, seconded by
Maxwell, to allow Mr. Koppy to blacktop 6 feet of the City property
as a driveway access to his parking lot. Voting in favor was Blonigen,
Maxwell, and Grimsmo. Opposed was Fran Fair and Bill Fair.
13. Consideration of an Offer by the Oakwood Industrial Park Partnership
to Sell the Remaining Acreage to the City of Monticello.
The partners of the Oakwood Industrial Park have decided to sell
the entire balance of the lots available and have approached the
City with a proposal to sell to the City the remaining 79 acres of
the Industrial Park for a total price of approximately $660,000.00.
The Council briefly discussed the offer by the partnership, and it
was recommended by the City staff that the item be tabled for further
study by the staff on the merits of the proposal and alternative
financing methods that may be available if the Council should decide
in the future to pursue the purchase. The item was tentatively scheduled
to be discussed by the Council at the November 10 Council meeting.
o
Council Minutes - 10/14/86
14. Consideration of Adopting a Joint Powers Agreement to Enter an Airport
Commission.
This item was also tabled until the next Council meeting for additional
information.
15. Monthly Status Report from PSG.
Mr. Mike Nelson of PSG, Inc., gave a brief report to the Council
on the first month's operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
PSG, Inc., entered into a contract with the City on September 1,
1986, to operate and maintain the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr.
Nelson briefly explained some of the various maintenance and operational
procedures the firm has completed during the month and indicated
that the operation is going smoothly at the present time.
16. Consideration of a Request for Final Payment on Fire Hall Construction
Project - Fullerton Lumber Yard.
Representatives of Fullerton Lumber Company, the general contractor
on the Fire Hall construction project, were in attendance requesting
final payment be made on the project. They indicated that the City
has had occupancy of the Fire Hall for a number of months and felt
they should be paid the retainage being held by the City.
Building Committee members, John Simola and Gary Anderson, noted
that in March of 1986, the contractor was given a number of punch
list items that had to be corrected or completed and that Fullerton
has been slow in completing some of the items. It was noted that
a few minor details had not yet been completed and that some items
will need repairs under warranty.
After a lengthy discussion with the contractor, it was the consensus
of the Council that the Building Committee members meet with Fullerton
Lumber representatives to work out any remaining details that need
to be completed and when done, the final payment will be made.
17. Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit for a Cold Storage Building -
Ruff Auto Parts.
Mr. Ron Ruff appeared before the Council to request approval of a
conditional use permit to allow for the construction of a cold storage
building at their salvage yard. Mr. Ruff noted that the Planning
Commission recently met and recommended approval of the conditional
use permit for the addition, and Mr. Ruff requested consideration
of his request at this time to enable construction to be completed
yet this year.
Motion was made by Blonigen, seconded by Bill Fair, and unanimously
carried to approve the conditional use permit request for the cold
storage building for Ruff Auto Parts.
Rick Wolfstell r
Assistant Administrator
-5-