City Council Minutes 11-23-1981MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
November 23, 1981 - 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Arve Grimsmo, Fran Fair, Phil White, Ken Maus, Dan
Blonigen.
Members Absent: None.
1. Public Hearing on the Consideration of Vacating and Deeding Oak
Street Between Platted River Street and the Mississippi River.
The Monticello -Big Lake Community Hospital requested that the City
of Monticello vacate that portion of Oak Street between platted
River Street and the Mississippi River.
In exchange for the vacation of this segment of the street and
deeding half of it to the property owner to the west, the Monti-
cello -Big Lake Hospital, and the other half of the property to the
east which is Dr. Maus, the City of Monticello would receive an
easement for future storm sewer needs. The 20 foot permanent
easement would be located in Block 21, currently owned by Dr. Maus
which would provide the City of Monticello with the necessary ease-
ments to run a storm sewer all the way from County Road 75 to the
Mississippi River. Previously, the City of Monticello had obtained
the necessary easements for the balance of the property and this
would entitle access to the river.
In addition to the 20 foot permanent easement from Dr. Maus in
Block 21, an additional 10 foot construction easement would also
be part of the agreement.
A motion was made by White, seconded by Fair and unanimously
carried to vacate that portion of Oak Street lying between platt-
ed River Street and the Mississippi River with the westerly half
of the vacated street being deeded to the Monticello -Big Lake
Community Hospital and the easterly half to Dr. Donald Maus in
exchange for a 20 foot permanent easement and an additional 10
foot construction easement on the easterly 30 foot of Lot 1,
Block 21.
2. Consideration of Approval of Law Enforcement Contract with Wright
County for 1982.
The Wright County Sheriff's Department has presented a proposed
contract for 1982 calling for an increase from the current $12.50
per hour to $13.25 per hour. This increase amounts to approximately
6% for a total annual contract of $88,404 based on the current pro-
tection of 16 hours per day Sunday thru Thursday and 24 hours of
protection on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Council Minutes - 11/23/81
The Council discussed the extra cost of providing 24 hour a day pro-
tection which would amount to an additional $27,500 per year and
noted that this will again be reviewed next year.
A motion was made by White, seconded by Maus, and unanimously carried
to approve the contract with the Wright County Sheriff's Department
to provide law enforcement protection for 1982 at the rate of $13.25
per hour or at an annual contract of $88,404 based on the current
hourly schedule.
3. Consideration of Ratification of Change Order #20 with the Paul A.
Laurence Company and the Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction
Company.
Previously, Change Order #20 was approved by the the City Council
at their October 26th meeting based upon an estimated additional
cost of approximately $13,000 for the addition of two 4 foot, 8 inch walls
on the 42 foot diameter trickling filter tanks and one 4 foot, 8
inch by 16 inch poured wall where the tanks join.
The previous estimated amount of $13,000 has not been revised and
the final figure is actually $12,925.00.
As a result, a motion was made by Maus, seconded by Blonigen and
unanimously carried to ratify Change Order #20 with Paul A. Laurence
Company on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Contract in
the amount $12,925.00.
4. Consideration of Setting up Meeting Date to Interview Candidate for
Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent
Apparently, the City of Monticello has received approximately 8
applications for the position of Wastewater Treatment Plant Super-
intendent, four of which currently hold an A license.
It was recommended that the City Council meet on December 14, 1981
at 5:30 P.M., prior to the regular meeting scheduled for December, to
review and interview the candidates for the Wastewater Treatment
Plant position. A decision would not be reached at that meeting,
but would be made at the first meeting in January.
A motion was made by Maus, seconded by Fair, and unanimously carried
to set December 14, 1981 at 5:30 P.M. as the date to interview candi-
dates for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent position.
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Council Minutes - 11/23/81
5. Consideration of Revision of City Ordinances Relative to Various Fees,
Licenses and Permits.
Currently, most of the fees, licenses, and permits are set by city
ordinance and it has been recommended that the ordinances in the
sections indicated below be changed so that they can be set by
council action. This would eliminate the cumbersome procedure that
is required whenever an ordinance has to be enacted to change a par-
ticular fee or to periodically change the fee amount. Listed below
are the fees, licenses, and permit charges for the items indicated:
ITEM
On -Sale 3.2 Beer License
$220 per year
Off -Sale 3.2 Beer License
$ 33 per year
Sunday Liquor
$100 per year
On -Sale Liquor License
$3000 per year
Club Liquor License
$220 per year
Liquor Set Up License
$220 per year
Scavenger (Cess pool pumping)
One time fee of $50.00 (Regardless of
number of vehicles) plus $5.00 per permit
for each pumping.
Moving Buildings
$75.00 plus expenses
Bingo License
$50.00 per year for more than 5 incidents
per year and for less than 5, there would
be no charge.
Traveling Shows License
$100 for first day, $50 for each additional
day.
Transient Merchant
Application charge of $2.00 plus $50 per
day (Waive for non-profit organization)
Dog License
$10.00 (One time charge)
Dog Impoundment Fees
1st time - $10.00 plus $3.50 per day
2nd time - $20.00 plus $3.50 per day
Additional times - $30.00 plus $3.50 per day.
Residential Sewer Hookup fee $100.00
Sewer Hookup Permit $10.00 per inspection
Water Shutoff and then Turned on $15.00 plus the delinquent amount
Excavation Permit $10.00 per permit
Conditional Use Permit $75.00
Setback Variance $25.00
All other Variances $75.00
Rezoning $75.00
Certificate of Occupancy $20.00
Street Vacations $50.00 deposit, fee to be cost incurred
by city.
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Council Minutes - 11/23/81
After reviewing and discussing the proposed changes in the fee and
license items, a motion was made by Fair, seconded by Maus and unani-
mously carried to approve setting the above fees, licenses and permit
charges by council action instead of ordinances along with amending
the charges to the proposed change as indicated and the deletion of
ordiance section relative to taxicabs and sale of used motor vehicles.
(See ordinance amendment 11/23/81 #107).
6. Consideration of Amending Excavation Ordinance.
The primary purpose for the change in the excavation ordinance was to
revise the surety bond requirements. Currently, the City of Monticello
requires a surety bond in the amount of $2,000 and it was recommended
that the change be to require a surety bond of at least $2,000 or 11-2
times the estimated cost of any excavations and restoration or which-
ever is greater. It was explained that the reason for the recommend-
ed changes is that there are cases were the cost of completing the
excavation and restoration would be in excess of $2,000 and the intent
of this provision would be to require that the excavator guarantee
that the job will be satisfactorily performed.
In addition, it was recommended that public utilities doing excavation
work be exempt from the surety bond requirements, but if the public
utility would subcontract the work, the subcontractor would still have
to have a surety bond. In addition, the Public Works Director would
be the responsible authority for enforcing this ordinance section and
would substitute for the current language indicating the city engineer
was responsible.
A motion was made by Maus, seconded by Fair, and unanimously carried
to adopt the proposed ordinance amendment relative to excavation
permits changing the surety bond requirements from $2,000 to either
$2,000 or ll� times the value of the work being performed and to exempt
all public utilities from bond requirements along with the substitution
of the public works director being the responsible authority for enforce-
ment. (See ordinance amendment 11/23/81 #108).
7. Consideration of Amending Public Nuisance Ordiance Relative to Weeds
and Height of Grass.
Currently, the City of Monticello has an ordinance that declares any
noxious or poisonous vegetation to be a nuisance and the ordinance
spells out provisions that can be enforced. However, the current
ordinance does not specifically spell out any provision in regard to
uncut grass or weeds. Frequently, the City of Monticello will re-
ceive complaints about the length of grass or weeds of a neighboring
property and it was recommended that an ordinance be amended that
would prohibit the existence of weeds or grass in excess of six inches
in the following cases:
Council Minutes - 11/23/81
- In any area within 100 feet of the nearest building.
- In any area on an occupied lot.
It was noted that if such an ordinance were adopted, the city would,
for the most part, respond only to specific complaints and request
that voluntary compliance be sought from the property owners, but
that the ordinance suggested, would give the city the alternative
to rectify the situation if not remedied by the property owner.
In addition, the zoning administrator or authorized representative
of the council would be responsible for ordering the removal of the
grass or weeds.
A motion was made by White, seconded by Fair, and unanimously carried
to adopt an ordinance amendment which would prohibit the existence
of weeds or grass in excess of six inches in any area within 100 feet
of the nearest building or in any area on an occupied lot. Voting in
favor was White, Fair, Grimsmo, and Maus. Opposed: Blonigen. (See
Ordinance Amendment 11/23/81 #109).
8. Consideration of :Rezoning a Portion of Lot 1 and 2 in Block D, from
R -B, Residential Business, to B-4, Regional Business, Dave Kranz.
Mr. Dave Kranz, owner of Monticello Printing, requested rezoning of
the southerly 100 feet of Lot 1 and the southerly 100 feet of the
westerly 10 feet of Lot 2, Block D, from R -B, residential business,
to B-4, regional business, for the purpose of establishing a printing
business. This property is the former Harry Swanberg property located
east of the present fire hall.
The rezoning of this property would allow for the development of a
business of six persons or less in a B-4 zone which was previously
approved by the Planning Commission at a public hearing. The com-
mission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council rezone
the property from R -B to to B-4 and there were no objections at the
public hearing.
A motion was made by Blonigen, seconded by Fair, and unanimously
carried to approve the rezoning of the southerly 100 feet of Lot 1
and the southerly 100 feet of the westerly 10 feet of Lot 2, Block D
of the original plat of Monticello from R -B, residential business,
to B-4, regional business.
9. Discussion of Furniture Purchases for New Library.
Library Board Chairman, Loren Klein, informed the council that quotes
were being obtained from furniture suppliers for some of the necessary
furniture for the new library. Mr. Klein indicated that one of the
quotes received for furniture had indicated that if an order was not
placed by December 1, 1981, a price increase would take effect on that
date.
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Council Minutes - 11/23/81
Because of the possible increases in prices on December lst, Mr. Klein
requested authorization from the council allowing the Library Board
to obtain quotes and initiate the purchase of certain furniture items
for the library not to exceed $7,000.
A motion was made by Maus, seconded by Fair, and unanimously carried
to authorize the Library Board Committee to purchase furniture for
the library in the amount not to exceed $7,000.
10. Approval of Minutes and Bills for the Month of November.
A motion was made by White, seconded by Fair, and unanimously carried
to approve the bills for the month of November as presented and to
approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on November 9, 1981
as presented. (See exhibit 11/23/81 #1).
Meeting adjourned.
V
G
Rick Wolf sterer
Assistant Administrator
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