City Council Minutes 10-26-1987MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday, October 26, 1987 - 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Arve Grimsmo, Fran Fair, Bill Fair, Warren Smith,
Dan Blonigen
Members Absent: None
2. Approval of Minutes.
Motion was made by Warren Smith, seconded by Bill Fair, to approve the
minutes of the regular meeting held October 13, 1987. Voting in favor
was Arve Grimsmo, Bill Fair, Warren Smith, Dan Blonigen. Abstaining
was Fran Fair due to her absence at the last meeting.
3. Citizens Comments.
Mr. Bill Block, Consulting Engineer for the Chelsea Road Project owned
by Jim Boyle, appeared before the Council to update the status of the
Chelsea Road Improvement Project. Mr. Block noted that he has been
working with the City's Consulting Engineer in redesigning the
drainage for the road and noted that they are currently working on the
final stages of the construction, including ditch grading along with
seeding, etc. Mr. Block noted that they are working on changing some
of the drainage plan from the original concept and are hoping to get
the project completed before frost this fall in order for the City to
be able to accept the street and utility construction.
Mayor Grimsmo advised Mr. Block to continue working with the City
Engineer and City staff; and if Council action is needed on any
changes, the items should be presented to the staff for presentation
at the next Council meeting.
4. Consideration of Simple Subdivision Request to Subdivide an Existing
Unplatted Lot into Two Unplatted Lots. Applicant, Debbie Kramer.
Debbie Kramer requested final approval to subdivide approximately a
3 -acre parcel of land along Minnesota Street into two separate parcels
containing approximately 2.07 acres and .92 acres. The Planning
Commission recently approved the simple subdivision request, but the
City Engineer brought to the attention of the Council that the
surrounding property owner, Tom Brennan, is currently in the process
of submitting a preliminary plat which indicates the extension of a
frontage road/collector road that would lead from Minnesota Street to
Elm Street. The preliminary plat proposed indicates that a portion of
one of the lots owned by Debbie Kramer would be used for a road
easement and thought this may be the appropriate time to obtain the
easement from the Kramers before the subdivision was approved.
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Ms. Kramer noted that at the present time they are not interested in
dedicating any land for a street extension and have no plans for
developing the rear portion of their property and felt it would be
inappropriate to hold up their subdivision because of another land
owner's desire to subdivide.
After further discussion, motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by
Dan Blonigen, and unanimously carried to approve the simple
subdivision request creating two parcels as described contingent upon
a certificate of survey being presented.
Consideration of Granting an Increase in the Individual Pension for
the Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association.
Representatives of the Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association were
present to request Council approval to increase their retirement
benefit from $800 per year of service to $875 payable after 20 years
of fire department service. The fire department previously submitted
to the City staff an amortization schedule showing that they would be
able to fund the increase in benefits based on anticipated income from
state aids and interest income earnings. The increase as proposed
would not result in a City tax levy to support the Retirement
Association benefits at this time.
Council members questioned whether the City would ever have to tax its
residents to support the Retirement Association benefits if the Relief
Association should ever lose state aids or not meet its anticipated
annual income requirements. It was noted by the City Administrator
that it seemed highly unlikely that state aids would ever be
eliminated; but if they were, state statutes would require municipal
support to sustain the benefits established. It was noted that unless
a major catastrophe occurred whereby approximately 10-12 members were
eliminated in one year, the fund should be self sustaining and have
sufficient assets to cover its liabilities. Councilmember Blonigen
noted that he felt it was more appropriate for the Relief Association
to grant increases in its benefits only when it could do it on its own
by having its own assets greater than its liabilities and that the
City should not support increases that could potentially result in
taxpayers levy to support.
After further discussion, a motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by
Warren Smith, to approve granting an increase to $875 per year of
service to the Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association. Voting in
favor was Bill Fair, Warren Smith, Arve Grimsmo, Fran Fair. Opposed:
Dan Blonigen.
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6. Consideration of Renewing the Contract for Animal Control Officer -
Dave Stromberg.
The City of Monticello last renewed its Animal Control Contract with
Mr. Dave Stromberg in July of 1986 which established a monthly
contract fee of $575 for his services. Mr. Stromberg had requested an
increase in his contract amount because of the extra time he has had
to put in on his part in an effort to save as many animals as possible
from being euthanized through adoption procedures. In negotiating the
renewal of the contract with Mr. Stromberg, the City staff recommended
that the base contract be increased 5 percent and that an additional
incentive be included in the contract which would provide for an
additional $4 for each animal placed through the Humane Society rather
than being euthanized and an additional $10 for each animal Dave
directly adopted out. Currently, the City of Monticello incurs a cost
of approximately $14 for each animal that is being euthanized; and it
was recommended that the savings be passed on to the Animal Control
Officer for his extra work involved in finding a home for the animals
through adoption or through the Humane Society. In reviewing the past
two years' history of animals at the dog pound, it was apparent that
the number of animals being euthanized over the past year has
decreased substantially and that the City of Monticello has seen a
decrease in its euthanization fees because of the Animal Control
Officer's efforts.
As a result, motion was made by Blonigen, seconded by Bill Fair, and
unanimously carried to approve renewal of an animal control contract
effective July 1 at a base monthly fee of $604 and starting January 1,
1988, the Animal Control Officer would receive $4 for each additional
animal placed through the Humane Society and $10 for each animal
adopted by the Officer.
7. Consideration of Proposal for Replatting Lots 9 and 10, Block 2,
Oakwood Industrial Park.
In December 1986, the City obtained ownership of Lots 9 and 10,
Block 2, and Lot 4 in Block 3 of Oakwood Industrial Park. Each of the
lots contain approximately five to six acres; and 011ie Koropchak,
Economic Development Director, has noted that there are currently no
small lots available within the industrial park in the one to two acre
range for small developers. As a result, the City staff had prepared
a preliminary sketch of how the Lots 9 and 10 containing approximately
ten acres could be subdivided into six parcels ranging in size from
1 1/4 acres to 2 1/2 acres in size. The subdivision would require
extension of sewer and water services and the construction of a
cul-de-sac road to provide access to six parcels at an estimated cost
of approximately $75,000. The City cost per acre at this point is
approximately $6,900; and with the improvements, the City could sell
the land for approximately $15,000 an acre for the smaller parcels.
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Councilmember Bill Fair questioned whether the City itself will ever
need any of this property for the Public Works Department, etc; and
staff noted that the City still owned two lots in the industrial park
that could be available for City purposes if needed in the future. As
a result, motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Fran Fair, and
unanimously carried to approve the concept of subdividing Lots 9 and
10 into six individual parcels and authorize the staff to prepare the
replatting and process the application through the Planning Commission
and City Council.
8. Consideration of Service Road Construction for East County Road 39.
Because of the proposed County Road 39 and County Road 75 intersection
relocation, the Council previously voted to build a service road at an
estimated cost of $20,000 to service the MacArlund Plaza Subdivision
and to assess only some additional curbing that may be needed on the
north side to minimize encroachment. This decision was contingent
upon Curt and Anna Mae Hoglund giving up the necessary property and/or
trading right-of-way turnback for the service road construction. The
Hoglunds have consulted with their attorney and were reluctant to give
up the property necessary for the service road and still be faced with
an assessment for curbing cost. The Hoglund's primary concern was
that the service road would encroach onto some of their lots and may
hurt future resale of their property but indicated a willingness to
provide the property for the service road in exchange for a turnback
of property not needed for the right-of-way if the City agreed not to
assess any cost of the service road construction including curbing to
their property.
The approximate land area needed for the service road would be
8,200 sq ft, and the amount of right-of-way that could be turned back
to the property owner would be approximately 41100 sq ft.
Councilmember Blonigen .felt the City had already shown good faith in
agreeing to construct the service road at no cost except for the
curbing and was reluctant to also agree to no assessments for the
curbing cost. .After further discussion, motion was made by Fran Fair,
seconded by Warren Smith, to approve the City constructing the service
road with curbing with the Hoglunds not being required to pay any
assessment for the service road construction cost provided the
Hoglunds provide the necessary right-of-way and the City would release
and turn back any right-of-way not needed from the present
intersection of County Road 39 and 75. Voting in favor was Arve
vrimsmo, Fran Fair, Bill Fair, Warren Smith. Voting in opposition was
Dan Blonigen.
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9. Consideration of Water Tower Cleaning and Inspection Contract.
The water tower cleaning and inspection contract with Water Tower
Paint and Repair Company of Clear Lake, Iowa, has recently expired;
and it was recommended by the Public Works Director that a new 5 -year
contract be entered into that would provide for cleaning and
inspection services only at the rate of $575 per year. Due to the
possibility of the tank coming down in 1988 or 1989, it was
recommended that the contract did not include the reapplication of the
wax coating that is done every five years and that the service be for
cleaning and inspection only.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and
unanimously carried to approve the new 5 -year contract with Water
Tower Paint and Repair Company at an annual cost of $575 per year .for
cleaning and inspection.
10. Consideration of Bills for the Month of October.
Motion was made by Warren Smith, seconded by Bill Fair, and
unanimously carried to approve the bills for the month of October as
presented.
Rick Wolf ste er
City Administrator
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