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City Council Minutes 03-25-1991MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL Monday, March 25, 1991 - 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Shirley Anderson, Dan Blonigen, Clint Herbst, Brad Fyle Members Absent: Ken Maus 2. Approval of minutes. After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson, seconded by Brad Fyle, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held March 11, 1991. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Citizens comments/petitions, requests, and complaints. None forthcoming. 4. Consideration of ordinance amendment requiring warning signs be placed on all fire doors within multiple family dwellings. Rick Wolfsteller reported that at the previous Council meeting, Council approved the purchase of 250 fire door placards. It was the intent of Council to make the signs available to all multiple family dwelling owners at a price equal to the City's cost. In order to assure that apartment owners post the warning signs, Council recommended that an ordinance be established that would make this requirement of each building. Wolfsteller then reviewed the ordinance language. Clint Herbst suggested that the required dimensions of the sign be incorporated into the ordinance, which would assure the City that a sign of sufficient size would be posted at each required location. After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson, seconded by Clint Herbst, to adopt the proposed ordinance amendment requiring that all multiple family dwellings that have fire doors be also required to post a warning sign on both sides of the door that states that the doors must remain closed and the ordinance amendment should include a sign size requirement. Motion carried unanimously. SEE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO. 207. Page 1 Council Minutes - 3/25/91 5. Review of year-end liquor store financial report. Rick Wolfsteller reported that the total sales of 1990 were up approximately 5.3% or $63,496 over 1989 sales. Gross profits were up 14.2% or $36,828. Gross profit percentage increased more than sales increased due to a slight adjustment in pricing. Total general operational expenses remained about equal to last year's percentage of 12.7%. Total operating income for 1990 amounted to $135,087 up over $29,700 over 1989. Overall operating income is 10.7% of total sales. After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson, seconded by Brad Fyle, to accept the financial report as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 6. Consideration of resolution approving preliminary plans for county improvements to County State Aid Highway 75 west of Otter Creek. John Simola reported that the Wright County Highway Department has prepared preliminary plans for improvements to West County Road 75 west of Otter Creek. Improvements consist of an overlay, paved shoulders, and right turn lanes for most of the streets, as well as a bypass lane in the area of Orchard Road. City approval of the preliminary plans is required prior to the county receiving state aid approval and funding. This project does not require funding from the City. Simola noted that the section of County Road 75 from Highway 25 to the high school will not be rebuilt at this time, as the county engineer feels that this section of roadway has three years of use remaining before it needs reconstruction. The county engineer has also indicated that the signal system at County Road 75 and East County Road 39 is being held up in 1991 for two reasons. The first is that the warrants demonstrating the need for the signals have not been met; therefore, state funding is not available. Secondly, the county does not maintain any signal controllers and would have to contract this work out. Clint Herbst asked if there is any way that the City can encourage the county to completely redo Broadway between Highway 25 and the high school at this time. Bret Weiss responded by saying that the county engineer believes there are three good years of life left in the road surface. The money the county has now will be applied to areas that the county engineer feels need it the most. Weiss concluded that Page 2 Council Minutes - 3/25/91 the county is confident that they will repair the Broadway section in three years, and it is not likely that they will alter their current program for road improvements in the area. After discussion, a motion was made by Brad Fyle, seconded by Shirley Anderson, to adopt a resolution approving preliminary plans for county improvement to County State Aid Highway 75 west of Otter Creek subject to the requirement that the shoulders of the highway are paved. SEE RESOLUTION 91-8. 7. Consideration of granting seasonal 3.2 beer license to Monticello Softball Association. After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson, seconded by Clint Herbst, to grant the license contingent upon receipt of the necessary insurance documents and a fee of $137.50. Motion carried unanimously. 8. Consideration of setting a meeting date to review 1991 assessment procedures with City Assessor. Rick Wolfsteller reported that the 1991 Board of Review has been scheduled for May 8, 1991, at 7:00 p.m. Prior to the May 8 meeting, Peggy Stencel, City of Monticello contract assessor, would like to meet with Council to explain the assessment procedures she has used this year to answer any questions on property valuation increases that may have been directed by the county assessor. Wolfsteller went on to note that Mayor Maus had indicated that such a meeting may be beneficial to Council as a whole and suggested that a special meeting be held for this purpose. Wolfsteller also noted that commercial/industrial values are being increased substantially, the basis for this increase to be a topic for review at the meeting. The concept of conducting the meeting was acceptable to Council; however, no firm meeting date was established. 9. Consideration of approval of bills for the month of March. After discussion, a motion was made by Shirley Anderson, seconded by Dan Blonigen, to approve payment of bills as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. Page 3 Council Minutes - 3/25/91 10. Other matters. Kelsie McGuire of PSG presented a plaque to the Council of the City of Monticello which recognizes the City for maintaining a wastewater treatment plant that has operated within the PCA permit granted to the City. McGuire noted that it is a community award that all citizens should be proud of. Administrator Wolfsteller asked Council to consider purchase of a slide -in tank for the grass rig for the fire department. Wolfsteller noted that as part of the 1991 fire department capital outlay budget, $2,500 was budgeted for the purpose of a slide -in tank and pump unit for fighting grass fires. This unit was intended to be installed on the recently acquired Gamma Goat unit, which was obtained from the Department of Natural Resources. Intended use of the Gamma Goat and this portable slide -in tank is for fighting fires in remote areas. With spring rapidly approaching, the fire department is seeking authorization to purchase this unit as soon as possible to prepare the unit for the upcoming grass fire season. Wolfsteller noted that the slide -in tank cost of $2,734 is $200 more than originally budgeted. It does not appear that the $234 overage for this item would cause a budget problem. Clint Herbst noted that the grass fire rig would be used predominantly in the township areas. It was his view that the Township should be paying a larger proportion of the cost of this equipment. He did not agree with the current contract which requires that the Township pay 37% of the purchase. Shirley Anderson noted that the City does have a contract with the Township that outlines how expenditures such as this one should be financed. Anderson noted that it is not worth the struggle to vary from the existing agreement regarding this purchase. Rick Wolfsteller also noted that this type of purchase is covered by the contract and that the annual meeting would be a good time to discuss the method by which capital equipment purchases are financed. After discussion, a motion was made by Brad Fyle, seconded by Shirley Anderson, to approve the purchase of the slide -in tank grass fire unit from Pleasure Products Manufacturing Company in the amount of $2,734.12. During discussion, Clint Herbst suggested that this item should be brought to the next meeting. Dan Blonigen noted that he becomes opposed to purchases when they are brought forward at the last minute. Page 4 Council Minutes - 3/25/91 He would like additional time to consider the item. Voting in favor of the motion: Brad Fyle, Shirley Anderson. Opposed: Clint Herbst, Dan Blonigen. Motion failed. John Simola reported that the Wright County Solid Waste Task Force is preparing plans for the annual hazardous waste collection day. Simola noted that anyone interested in volunteering should contact him. The date of the hazardous waste collection day has been set for April 27, 1991. There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned. Jeff O'Neill Assistant Administrator Page 5