City Council Minutes 03-09-1981MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
March 9, 1981 - 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Arve Grimsmo, Dan Blonigen, Fran Fair, Ken Maus, Phil White.
Members Absent: None
1. _Consideration of a Variance of the Certification of Occupancy Requirements -
Marn Flicker.
Marn Flicker requested a variance from the certificate of occupancy require-
ments to allow him to occupy his new building located next to his present
TV and appliance building prior to the completion of landscaping and park-
ing lot blacktopping.
Although City ordinances require all of the building and landscaping along
with parking lot to be completed prior to the issuance of a certificate
of occupancy, Mr. Flicker requested the variance from the landscaping and
parking lot blacktopping due to weather conditions, and requested until
July 1, 1981 to complete these items.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Phil White and unanimously carried
to approve the variance request for Mr. Flicker from the landscaping and
parking lot requirements until July 1, 1981, contingent upon the posting
of adequate security to cover the cost of these improvements in the amount
of at least $5,250.
2. Consideration of Conveyance of Vacated Street Southeast of and Abutting
Block 3, Upper Monticello, and the Street Lying Southwest of and Abutting
Block 3, Upper Monticello.
At a previous Council Meeting held February 25, 1980, the City Council voted
to vacate the undeveloped portion of Cedar Street lying south of Seventh
Street and I-94. Also vacated was a portion of 8th Street abutting I-94
and also abutting the south portion of Block 3. These streets were
originally vacated due to a request by the owners of Lots 4,5,6 & 7, the
site of the proposed ScotWood Motel development.
Plans for the proposed ScotWood Motel are now proceeding, and the property
owners requested that the City consider actually conveying title to these
streets.
The City previously had obtained two appraisals on the value of the street
property in the amount of $10,000 and $12,000. If the vacated streets were
to be sold to the abutting property owners on an equal basis, based on the
highest appraisal amount of 39� per square foot, the following breakdown
would occur:
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Council Minutes - 3/9/81
Scotwood Motel 17,010 sq. ft. $ 6,645
VFW Club 10,420 sq. ft. 41070
Perkins 3,290 sq. ft. 13285
The Council discussed whether the two appraisals received in the amounts
of $10,000 and $12,000 were actually comparable to the true market value
of similar property. It was noted that although similar property has
been sold for approximately four times the appraisal values, the vacated
street would also have utility easements running through them, which limits
the use of the property to parking or green areas only, and could not be
used as a building site.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Ken Maus to offer the vacated
streets to the abutting property owners at an appraised price of 39� per
square foot, with a 30 -day time limit to let the City know whether they are
interested and also a 90 -day time limit on payment of the appraised value.
If the VFW Club or Perkins Cake & Steak indicate they are not interested
in purchasing the vacated street, the balance of the property would be
offered to Scotwood Motel property owner at the same price of 39� per sq. ft.
Voting in favor: Ken Maus, Fran Fair, Arve Grimsmo, Phil White.
Opposed: Dan Blonigen.
3. Consideration of Proposed Ordinance Amendment to the City of Monticello's
Park Dedication Ordinance Requirement.
The purpose of this item was to review and consider an amendment to the park
dedication ordinance requirement for future subdivisions. The primary
purpose of the proposed changes were to equalize the park dedication
requirement in terms of value, regardless of whether land or cash was
contributed.
Under the previous park dedication ordinance, the City of Monticello had
been using the assessor's fair market value when a cash contribution was
proposed. Since the assessor's fair market value has been relatively low
to its actual fair market value, a developer proposing cash contributions
would be contributing significantly less than another developer proposing
a land contribution, provided the land contribution in question was equiva-
lent to the entire land area contained in the subdivision.
Although there was a consensus of the Council that changes should be made
in the ordinance requirement to equalize values, whether property is actually
given or cash is given, it was felt by the majority of the Council that
basing the market value of the subdivision land as though it were already
platted may result in a hardship due to the higher value. As a result,
it was recommended that when an appraisal is obtained on the proposed sub-
division, the appraisal should be based on market value of the raw land
per acre, and not as though it was already platted into subdivision lots.
It was felt that this would still result in a substantial increase in the
market value over the county assessor's value, but would be less than valuing
the lots as buildable residential lots.
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In addition, the proposed ordinance amendment would include wording to
indicate that the City Council could specify the exact area in case of land
contribution, and also that the City could accept the property owners appraisal
or require an additional independent appraisal of the property at the owners
expense. Also, park dedication credit should not be granted for wetland or
ponding areas, and any land dedicated should be transferred to the City by
warranty deed.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Dan Blonigen and unanimously
carried to adopt an ordinance amendment amending the park dedication
requirements that would include the City Council having the right to pick
the specific area in case of land contribution, appraisals shall be supplied
by the developer based on current market value of the raw land, park
dedication credit should not be granted for wetland or ponding areas, and
that land dedication should be transferred to the City by warranty deed.
( See Ordinance Amendment 3/9/81 #93).
4. Consideration of Change Order #4 to the Contract with the Paul A. Laurence
Company on the Monticello Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Project.
A change order on the Wastewater Treatment Plant construction project in the
amount of $3,937.50 was recommended by consulting engineers Orr-Schelen-
Mayeron & Associates to correct an error in the type of roof coating that
was proposed for the first and second digester, along with the sludge
storage tank roofs.
It was noted by the engineer that the specifications had incorrectly called
for a 12 mill thickness on the roof coating for these buildings, whereas
a 25 mill thick coating should actually be applied to provide an extended
life.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously carried
to approve Change Order #4 with the Paul A. Laurence Company on the contract
on the Wastewater Treatment Plant construction project in the amount of
$3,937.50. (See Supplement 3/9/81 #1).
5. Consideration of Approval of Grant Amendment Request on the Step III Waste-
water Treatment Plant Improvement Project.
John Badalich, Consulting Engineer, requested that the City consider approv-
ing a grant amendment request that his engineering firm would be submitting
to the EPA and PCA for additional funding on the Step III Wastewater Treat-
ment Plant improvement project.
Mr. Badalich explained to the Council that the reason his firm was request-
ing additional funds for the engineering portion of the actual construction
project was that the project initially was expected to be completed in one
year, whereas the construction schedule now provides for 675 calendars from
the notice to proceed, or approximately two years. According to Mr. Badalich,
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Council Minutes - 3/9/81
the reason why the required construction period increased from the original
estimate was due to the project complexity and the timing of the construc-
tion grant approval, resulting in construction over two winters, rather than
over one winter as originally expected. Also, Mr. Badalich indicated that
originally they submitted their engineering fee request on the actual
construction in the fall of 1979, over a year before the delays were known
to them and the complexity had also changed in the meantime.
Of the $89,538 in additional grant requests, the City of Monticello would
be responsible for 10% of this amount, with the other 90% being funded by
the State and Federal governments.
Motion was made by Ken Maus, seconded by Fran Fair to adopt a resolution
approving the grant amendment request in the amount of $89,538 on the
engineering fees for the Step III Wastewater Treatment Plant project
contingent upon approval of this grant by the EPA and PCA. Voting in
favor: Ken Maus, Fran Fair, Phil White, Arve Grimsmo. Opposed: Dan Blonigen.
( See Resolution 1981 #11) .
6. Consideration of Awarding Contracts on Bids Received for Sewer Jet Machine
and Dump Truck.
Bids were received and opened at 2:00 P.M. on March 9, 1981 for a sewer
jet machine and dump truck chassis.
Two bids were received for the sewer jet machine, as follows:
Flexible Pipe Tool Company (Base Bid )
(Addition for long life pump)
TOTAL BID
MacQueen Equipment, Inc. (Base Bid)
$22,986
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$25,077(includes long -life pump)
Two bids were also received for a 1981 Truck Chassis, as follows:
Gould Brothers Chevrolet
Monticello Ford Inc.
(Base Bid) $183100
(Base Bid) $18,256
Public Works Director, John Simola, reviewed with the Council the bids that
were received, and recommended after review that the sewer jet machine be
purchased from Flexible Pipe Tool Company in the amount of $23,851, and
that the truck chassis be purchased from Gould Bros. Chevrolet in the
amount of $18,100, both being low bid.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Ken Maus and unanimously carried
to award the contract for bids received on the sewer jet machine to Flexible
Pipe Tool Company in the amount of $23,851.
Motion was also made by Phil White, seconded by Ken Maus and unanimously
carried to award the contract for bids on the new 1981 truck chassis to
Gould Brothers Chevrolet in the amount of $18,100.
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Council Minutes - 3/9/81
7. Consideration of Authorization for Repairs to City Well Pump.
Public Works Director, John Simola, reviewed with the Council and recommended
that as a preventive maintenance precaution, the pump in the City Well #2
should be pulled and inspected and necessary repairs made as neeeded.
Mr. Simola noted that this pump has been in service for approximately ten
years, and recommended that a maintenance check be done on this pump to avoid
a costly repair, should the pump fail in the future. He noted that although
the pump appears to be operating sufficiently now, the cost would probably
be much more if the City waits until a serious problem does occur to the pump.
Two estimates have been obtained by the Public Works Director on the inspec-
tion and repair of the well pump from Layne Minnesota, and McCarthy Well Co.
Although an exact figure could not be quoted until the actual pump is dis-
mantled to determine what repairs are necessary, it is estimated that
the repairs will cost approximately $5,600. Mr. Simola also recommended
that the work be done by Layne Minnesota, the original installers of the
pump.
Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Ken Maus and unanimously
carried to approve authorization to have Well Pump #2 pulled and inspected
by Layne Minnesota.
8. Consideration of Fire Contract Between Otsego Township and the City of Monticello.
The City of Monticello has previously provided fire protection to a portion of
Otsego Township through a three-year fire contract which expired December 31,
1980.
A new three-year contract was recommended by the Joint Fire Board with a
Standby Charge of $600 annually, plus an additional hourly fee of $200 for
the first hour and $100 for each additional hour or fraction thereof per
fire.
Otsego Township has reviewed the contract and has agreed to enter into a
new three-year contract with the above -stated standby charges and hourly fees.
Motion was made by Dan Blonigen, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously
carried to approve entering into a three contract with Otsego Township
terminating December 31, 1983, with a standby charge of $600 annually and
an hourly fee of $200 for the 1st hour plus $100 for each additional hour
or fraction thereof, contingent upon approval by Monticello Township as part
of the joint fire district.
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9. Consideration of Ordinance Amendment Relative to Investment Required for
On -Sale Liquor License. �^
According to the present City Ordinance, no on -sale liquor license shall
be granted to any person who does not have invested, or does not propose
to invest in the fixtures and structure of the proposed on -sale establish-
ment, exclusive of land, an amount of at least $100,000. Since this provi-
sion was adopted in 1975, inflation in the construction industry has been
at least 65 - 75%, and it was recommended that this figure be increased to
$200,000.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen and unanimously
carried to adopt an ordinance amendment increasing the amount of invest-
ment required in fixtures and structure of any proposed on -sale liquor
establishment, exclusive of land, to $200,000. (See Ordinance
Amendment 3/9/81 #94)
10. Approval of Minutes.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Phil White and unanimously
carried to approve the minutes of February 23, 1981, as presented.
11. Discussion on Possible Levy Increase for Supporting the Great River
Regional Library System.
It has been brought to the City Council's attention that the Great River
Regional Library System is proposing a possible change in the way revenue
is generated for the library system.
Previously, counties that belong to the Great River Regional Library System
have been taxes on a per capita basis, or a certain dollar amount for each
individual that lived within the county. The Great River Regional Library
System has indicated that they would like to go to a straight mill levy
to raise funds for the library system. The result of this change in raising
revenue would result in Wright County and Sherburne County, and especially
the City of Monticello and the City of Becker, for example, paying a sub-
stantially larger share of the total dollars collected, since these two
counties and especially these two cities have a large valuation. As pro-
posed, the City of Monticello could eventually contribute two to three times
the amount of revenue towards the library system as it presently has been
contributing.
As a result, a motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Dan Blonigen and
unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor of Monticello to send a letter
to the Great River Regional Library System expressing opposition to the pro-
posed levy increase and indicate that if such levy increases were to take
place, the City may have to seek other alternatives for providing library
services.
Meeting adjourned.
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Rick Wolfst ler, Admin. Asst.
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