City Council Minutes 04-25-1977
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April 25, 1977
REGULAR MEETING OF MON ICELLO CITY COUNCIL
7:30 P.M.
Members present: Con Johnson, S anley Hall, Arve Grimsmo,
Gene Walters, an Blonigen.
Citizens comments:
Kacey Kjellberg, real estate age t for Charles Ritze informed
the council that the rough gradi g has been completed on 8
lots in the western portion of R"tze Manor and requested that
future building permit applicati ns for these lots be approved.
Phil Ritze explained to the coun il the revised grading plan
proposed for a portion of Ritze anor.
S. Hall made a motion, seconded
carried to approve the issuance
on all of Block 1 and Lots 1-22,
once the grading plan has been a
The remaining lots in the easter
have to be brought up to grade b
could be issued.
Mike Rajala inquired as to wheth
held on a sideyard variance need
on Lot 11, Block 5, River Terrae
administrator was instructed to
construction on this house until
have been brought to the proper
Y D. Blonigen and unanimously
f residential building permits
except Lots 5-7 in Block 2,
cepted by the building inspector.
portion of the plat would
fore those building permits
r a public hearing will be
d for a house being built
, by Ernie Hartwig. City
ave building inspector stop
the variance requirements
ommittees.
1. U date on Railroad Crossing At W lnut Street.
Gary Pringle, city attorney, upd
to obtain a railroad crossing fo
In his research, Mr. pringle fee
own the streets in fee and if th
located on was ever vacated, the
street. Mr. Pringle also recomm
to the railroad that there may b
of crossings within the city bee
ted the council on his progress
the city on Walnut Street.
s that the city does in fact
street the railroad is
city still actually owns the
nded that the city indicate
a necessity to open a number
use of our growth.
G. Walters made a motion, second d by A. Grimsmo and unani-
mously carried to have Mr. Pring e set up a meeting with
Burlington Railroad officials in an effort to resolve this
matter. An attempt will be made to have the railroad prove
ownership of the property on whi h their tracks are located.
2. Review of MPCA Meeting.
John Badalich, city engineer, re iewed with the council the
outcome of the recent meeting held with the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency staff regarding Monticello's NPDES reissuance. I
The MPCA is pleased with Monticello's long range plans of
upgrading the wastewater treatment plant to meet the MPCA
discharge standards, but indicated that remedies should be
taken in the interim period to reduce the high BOD levels.
According to MPCA records, violations of the NPDES permit started
to occur at the time Wrightco Products started its operation
in Monticello, although the reliability of the records may be
low.
The MPCA has indicated that future extensions of sanitary
sewer will not be approved until an investigation is made on
possible solutions to reduce the loading at the treatment
plant.
It was agreed that more reliable data would be gathered so
that interim standards for the wastewater treatment plant could
be set for the July 31, 1977 permit reissuance. A series of
laboratory tests would be performed to determineif the use
of an equilization holding tank would be effective by enabling
the treatment plant to process the strong sewage during the
slow periods. Also the tests would evaluate the effectiveness
of using chemicals to reduce the BOD effluents.
S. Hall made a motion, seconded by A. Grimsmo and unanimously
carried to authorize the city engineer to proceed with a
testing study of the sewage at the treatment plant in an
attempt to reduce the loading with the city requesting Wright-
co Products to participate in sharing of the estimated cost of
$6,000.
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City administrator will inform MPCA of Monticello's study and
set up meeting with Wrightco officials concerning sharing of
testing costs.
3. Public Hearing - Sanitary Sewer Extension to Oakwood Industrial
Park and along County Road 117 to Highway 25.
John Badalich, city engineer, presented to the council a feas-
ibility report on extending sewer, water, street, and storm
sewer to Oakwood Industrial Park.
The estimated costs of the improvements are as follows:
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Sewer
Water
Street
Storm Sewer
TOTAL
EST. COST
$391,000
58,000
230,000
181 ,000
$860,000
PORTION ON
AD VALOREM
$234,000
-0-
10,000
?
$244,000
POR
ASS
$43
A policy has not been establish d on what portion of the storm
sewer improvement might be asse sable. A typical industrial park
lot with 350' of frontage would be assessed, (not including
possible storm sewer assessment), approximately $23,170 per
parcel.
Because of the uncertainty over whether the MPCA will approve
any sewer extensions at the pre ent time, G. Walters entered
a motion, seconded by D. Blonig n and unanimously carried to
defer any action on the petitio ed sewer extension request.
4. Public Hearing - Sewer and Wate Extension to John Sandberg Plat.
A feasibility report was prepar d on extending sewer and water
to a plat proposed by John Sand erg just west of Hillcrest
Addition.
The total project costs were es imated at $168,000 with a per
parcel assessment of approximat ly $4,247.00.
Hearing no objections, a motion
by A. Grimsmo, and unanimously
sewer, water, storm sewer and s
subdivision of John Sandberg co
subdivision plat and permission
tensions.
was made by G. Walters, seconded
arried to approve extending the
reet improvements to the proposed
tingent upon approval of his
of the MPCA on future sewer ex-
5. Consideration of Rezoning Re tie t and Conditional Use Permit -
Cedarcrest Apartments.
At the June 2, 1976 council mee
council approving the rezoning
application for a 50 unit elder
John Bergstad. The approval wa
project by the Minnesota Housin
has been given to Mr. Bergstad
ment project and as a result, f
rezoning lots 1,2,3,9, & 10 in
granting a conditional
in an R-B zone.
ing, a decision was made by the
nd the conditional use permit
y housing project proposed by
contingent upon funding of the
Finance Agency. The approval
ito proceed with a 38 unit apart-
nal council action was necessary
lock G from R-2 to R-B and
t for an elderly housing project
Motion was made by G. Walters,
the rezoning of lots 1,2,3,9, &
and grant a conditional use per
econded by A. Grimsmo, to approve
10 in Block G from R-2 to R-B
it for a 38 unit elderly housing
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project to Mr. John Bergstad. Voting in favor: C. Johnson, G.
Walters, A. Grimsmo, D. Blonigen. Abstaining: S. Hall.
6. Consideration of Rezaing and Variance Request - John Sandberg.
Mr. John Sandberg had applied for the following:
1) Rezoning of a portion of Lots 1 & 2, Block 30, Monticello,
from B-4 (Regional Business) to R-2 (Single & 2 Family Residential).
2) Variance from lot width and lot area ordinance require-
ments of 80' and 10,000 sq. ft., respectively. The proposed
lot would be 68' wide and 8,976 sq. ft. in area.
Since Mr. Sandberg's original request, another petition has been
filed by 100% of the property owners in Block 30 requesting that
the entire block be rezoned to residential. The Planning Commission
felt that the entire block should be reviewed at the time of re-
viewing the revised comprehensive plan.
Because of the recent request by the residents of Block 30 and
the possible review of the rezoning in the comprehensive plan,
the petition request by Mr. Sandberg was withdrawn until the com-
prehensive plan is completed.
7. Consideration of Existing City Hall Being Used as Senior Citizens
Center.
Karen Hanson, Senior Citizen Director, requested that the City
Council consider making the present City Hall available for a
senior citizen center after the new city hall is completed and
also that the present city hall be expanded to provide an
additional 1500 sq. ft.
In addition to the Senior Citizens, the Fire Department has
indicated their desire to have the entire city hall for fire
department use.
When the architect contract was approved for the new city hall,
a provision was made for adding approximately 1000 sq. ft. to the
existing city hall, but no decision was made relative to the
future use of the building.
A. Grimsmo and S. Hall were appointed to a committee to discuss
with the school board officials the possibility of the senior
citizens using part of Oakwood Elementary School as a center for
their activities. The committee will also meet with fire depart-
ment personnel and architect regarding the use and expansion of
the existing city hall after the school board has been contacted.
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At their last meeting, the Planning Co 'ssion recommended approval of
a building permit for Mr. Kline's duplex proposed to be built on lots
$ and 9, block 10, upper Monticello. additionally, the Planning Commission
recommended that the $1500 minimum landscaping requirement be waived for
this development and the ordinance be amended to also include 2 family
developments from the $1500 minimum rS uirement in the future.
Mr. Bud Kline was not present at the
plans, therefore no action was taken
eeting to present his building
his permit request.
Council opinion was that the ordinance relative to landscaping requirements
for duplexes should remain as is and t at each development could be reviewed
on an individual basis for possible e emptions from the $1500 minimum re-
quirement.
9.
Consideration of Increasin Firemen's I
Sum Retirement Benefits.
The Monticello Fire Department is req esting that the retirement benefits,
after 20 years of active service, be . creased from $4000 to $6000.
This request has been reviewed and app oved by the Joint Fire Board. In
accordance with the fire contract with the Township of ~~ntice110, this
must now be approved by both boards.
The levy required to increase the firJ en's benefits to $6,000 would
average $344.00 per year over the next 10 years and would be allocated
on the basis of valuation percentages hich currently allocates $6.5% of
the costs to the city and 13.5% to Mon ice110 Township.
A. Grimsmo made a motion, seconded by . B10nigen and unanimously carried
to approve the firemen's lump sum reti ement benefit increase from $200 per
year to $300 per year after 20 years 0; service.
The above proposal must now be approve
10. Consideration of
Informatio
Monticello Township Board.
Last summer, the information center was operated with the aid of the
Chamber of Commerce but for 1977 the amber has indicated that they
will not be providing the personnel to operate the center.
The council discussed other alternati
including using volunteers from the s
the location out to a private indi vidu
would take into consideration that the
to hand out information. A third alte
formation center open to the public,
The senior citizens have indicated an
for a modest houi'ly figure, which
future use by the senior citizens
s for the operation of the center
ior citizen's center and renting
or firm for a monthly fee which
firm or individual would agree
ati ve would be to have the in-
t not manned.
in working at the center
aside in a fund for
Council consensus was to have the seni r oi tizens operate the infor-
mation center and have the city administrator meet with Karen Hanson
to work out a sui table salary arrange t.
11. Consideration of Street Improvement Method.
The council previously discussed various methods that could be used in
upgrading the existing streets in Monticello. Among the methods dis-
cussed, council opinion varied as to the merits of repairing the streets
with a 2ft bituminous mat versus a complete street improvement program
which would include curb, gutter and storm sewer.
The 2ft bituminous overlay would cost approximately $185,000 while
estimated costs of a complete street program have not been computed.
John Badalich, city engineer, was authorized to prepare some cost
figures on a complete street improvement program and report back to
the council.
A decision will be tabled until these costs are available for review.
12. Consideration of Resolution Accepting a Grant Offer from the FAA
relative to a Maple Lake-Monticello Joint Use Airport.
The FAA recently approved a $16,000 study relative to a Maple Lake-
Monticello Joint Use Airport. This study is funded 9CP/o by the FAA
and 5% by each conummity.
The first phase of the study deals with finding a suitable location
for a joint airport facility that meets the FAA requirements. Ralph
Burke & Associates has been engaged by Maple Lake and Monticello to
do the study.
G. Walters entered a motion, seconded by S. Hall and unanimously
carried to adopt a resolution accepting the FAA planning grant.
Another motion was made by G. Walters, seconded by S. Hall and unani-
mously carried adopting a resolution appointing the Commissioner of
Taxation as agent for the City of Monticello to receive the federal
grant monies and pay for the services of the engineers. (See Resolu-
tions 1977, If3 and 4.)
13. Consideration of Amending Ordinance Section 8-3-2 Relative to Permitted
Trees to be Planted in a New Subdivision.
After reviewing the ordinance which lists various types of trees which
are allowed to be planted in a new subdivision, the council instructed
the city administrator to prepare a list of trees that should be pro-
hibited.
The ordinance would then be reviewed relative to amending the ordinance
to list just those species of trees that should be prohibited in Monticello.
14. A. Grimsmo made a motion, seconded by S. Hall and unanimously carried
to approve the bills for April, 1977 as presented (see supplement
Lv-25-77 #l).
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15.
The minutes of April 6 and April 11 s and approved as read.
Dave Heskin, contractor for the w . g house in the Fourth Street Park
was given an additional 30 days to co lete the construction because
of an illness by one of the subcontra tors. The construction was
originally scheduled for completion b May 30th.
Meeting adjourned.
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Administrative Assistant
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