Loading...
City Council Minutes 04-09-1979MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL April 9, 1979 - 7:30 P.M. Members Present: Arve Grimsmo, Fran Fair, Phil White, Dan Blonigen, Ken Maus. Members Absent: None 1. Public Hearing - 1979-1 Improvement Project. A public hearing was held on the 1979-1 Improvement Project which covered the following areas proposed for improvements: AREA TO BE SERVED Commercial Plaza 25 Area (referred to as Area 2 in OSM feasibility report dated February 26, 1979) Oakwood Industrial Park Area (referred to as Area 3 in OSM feasibility report of February 26, 1979) J. R. Culp Farm Property (referred to as Area 4 in OSM feasibility report dated February 26, 1979) Lauring Hillside Terrace TYPE OF IMPROVEMENT Sanitary Sewer and Water Blacktop, Sanitary Sewer and Water Blacktop, Sanitary Sewer and Water Blacktop, Sanitary Sewer, Water and Culverts. John Badalich, consulting engineer, reviewed with the Council the four areas of the 1979 Improvement Project and explained the estimated assess- ments for each area. It was the recommendation of the engineer to serve Commercial Plaza 25, known as Area #2, by extending sewer and water down the middle of Cedar Street, thus being able to serve Commercial Plaza 25 property and the property to the east of Cedar Street. The estimated assessment per 100' parcel for this alternative was approximately $5,000. In the area referred to as Area #3 in the Oakwood Industrial Park, it was recommended that the blacktop road be extended from approximately 275' north of lot 6 in block 1 of Oakwood Industrial Park southerly along Industrial Drive to the corporate city limits. Also, Dundas Road would be blacktop from Industrial Drive westerly to Oakwood Drive. The interceptor sanitary sewer would extend from Chelsea Road along the lot lines of 3, 4, 8 & 9 in Oakwood Industrial Park to Dundas Road and then westerly extending all the way over to Highway 25 and the J.R. Culp Property. The water service was recommended to be looped from Chelsea Road along Industrial Drive and Dundas Road back up along Oakwood Drive to Chelsea Road. Council Minutes - April 9, 1979 In regards to the Area #4 property, known as the J. R. Culp farm, the City Engineer recommended that the Dundas Road be extended in a straight westerly direction until it meets Highway 25 at a right angle. This would provide a new access from Highway 25 into the Oakwood Indus- trial Park area and also provide access through the Culp property. In the final area discussed for improvements, the Lauring Hillside Addition was recommended for sanitary sewer, blacktop streets and storm sewer facilities consisting of culverts and drainage ditches. The total estimated cost of the improvements to all four areas for the 1979-1 Improvement Project was estimated at $913,000 with approximately $768,000 being assessed to the abutting property owners. The following property owenrs affected by the improvements had the following comments: Sam Peraro - indicated that he felt going along with the engineer's recommendation of service Commercial Plaza 25 along Cedar Street would be more reasonable since you would be able to serve both sides of the street. Mr. Roger Gau - inquired as to the length of assessments he would be faced with since his property is now a residential home and has no plans for development. It was indicated to Mr. Gau that the council could assess homestead property for up to 20 years rather than 10 years, the current assessment policy for newly platted subdivisions. Mr. Dave Heskins - inquired if he would be assessed for sewer since it would not be available to his building, and he was informed that at the present time, he would only be assessed for water which would be made available. Mr. John Lundsten - a property owner affected by the extension of Dundas Road, inquired, since his property is used for farming, whether ten years would be the maximum payoff time or whether he would be able to receive a longer assessment period. The council did indicate that they would not like to make any commitments for anything longer than ten years. A motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Dan Blonigen and unanimously carried to proceed with improving the following areas petitioned for: A. Commercial Plaza 25. B. Oakwood Industrial Park. C. Lauring Hillside Terrace. D. J. R. Culp property - contingent upon all easements being obtained for this area Another motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously carried to serve Area "A" Commercial Plaza 25, using the recommendations of the City Engineer which were alternate #3 along Cedar Street being able to serve both sides of the road. Motion was made by Ken Maus, seconded by - 2 - Council Minutes - April 9, 1979 Fran Fair and unanimously carried to serve the Oakwood Industrial Park as recommended by the engineer, which was alternate #4 using an inter- ceptor sewer. Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Ken Maus and unanimously carried to serve the J.R. Culp Property by extending the present Dundas Road westerly in a straight line to connect with Highway 25 and to place the utilities in this easement right-of-way. Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously carried to serve the Lauring Hillside Terrace addition as proposed by the engineer with a Rural type street with storm sewer facilities being culverts and drainage ditches. Finally, a motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously carried to adopt a resolution calling for plans and specifications on the 1979-1 Improvement Project to be prepared by Orr-Schelen-Mayeron & Associates contingent upon the easements being obtained for the Dundas Road extension over the Culp and Lundsten property. It was noted by the Council that it was the consensus that homestead property being served by these improvements would be granted possibly 20 -year payoff times rather than 10 years. It was also noted that agricultural property or unplatted property being served by these improvements would be discussed later at the assessment hearing in determining whether the assessments would be spread over a period of longer than ten years. (See Resolution 1979 #7) 2. Consideration of I-94 Tri -Plaza PUD Development - McDonald's Corporation. The McDonald's Corporation have submitted their final plans and specifi- cations for going ahead with their project on Parcel "C" on the Monticello I-94 Tri -Plaza property. Several items were discussed in regards to the Planned Unit Development, and they are as follows: City Ordinances would require 77 parking spaces be provided on the parcel for the restaurant. McDonald's plans propose 67 spaces, but Sam Peraro, owner of the Tri -Plaza property has indicated that he would be willing to sign an agreement allowing the 13 extra spaces located on the Standard Oil property to be used for parking at the McDonald's restaurant. The second area of concern was in regards to the square footage of the proposed pylon sign for the restaurant. The actual surface area of the sign proposed was 200 square feet when the open area between the "golden arches" is excluded. It was the staff's recommendation that the open area of the "golden arches" not be considered because of the large area created there. It was felt by both the City Council and the Planning Commission members that there were various ways of looking at this sign as to whether it met the square footage requirements or not. As part of the Planned Unit Development, a motion was made by Ken Maus, seconded by Dan Blonigen and unanimously carried to grant McDonald's Corporation a variance allowing their 200 square foot surfaced area sign as proposed. Motion was also made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously carried to approve the Planned Unit Development for McDonald's restaurant as proposed provided a parking agreement is made with Standard Oil for 13 spaces and that the landscaping is in accordance with the recommendations on the final site plan. It was also noted that the sign location for the - 3 - Council Minutes - April 9, 1979 pylon sign would be in the northwest corner of the lot as proposed by McDonald's. 3. Consideration of Awarding Contract on Bids Received for Street Sweeper. On Monday, April 9, 1979, at 2:00 P.M., bids were received for a new street sweeper. The only bids received were from MacQueen Equipment Company, as follows: An Elgin -Pelican Sweeper with gasoline engine $38,954 An Elgin -Pelican Sweeper with diesel engine $42,524 Delivery would be in approximately 150 days for both the above vehicles. Bids were also received for the same diesel sweeper with a few extras which would be available immediately at a price of $42,990. Motion was made by Dan Blonigen, seconded by Phil White and unanimously carried to award the bid to MacQueen Equipment Company for an Elgin Pelican diesel with the extras in the amount of $42,990. Motion was also made by Fran Fair, seconded by Ken Maus and unanimously carried to authorize the City's staff to sell the old 64 Mobil sweeper to Becker, Minnesota, who has offered $1,700 for the sweeper. 4. Consideration of Setting Rates for 1979 for Tree Removal and Tree Replacement. As part of the City's tree program, Dutch Elm diseased trees are removed by the City of Monticello. The cost of the removed trees are shared jointly by the resident, the City and the State of Minnesota through a grant and aid program. In the past, the resident has also received a free replacement tree. In the past, the City has charged a resident $70.00 to remove a tree which included a free replacement tree. It was now recommended, due to the increased labor cost and the cost of the replacement trees by the City's supplier, Nelson Trees of Zimmerman, Minnesota, that a new fee schedule be set up whereby the property owner would be charged $90.00 for the tree removal, and also if a replacement tree is requested and that tree is on public property, the property owner would pay $15.00 towards the cost, and if it's on private property, the replacement tree would be $30.00 additional to the property owner. The reason for the difference between private property and public pro- prety for a replacement tree is that the State grant program does make funds available for replacement trees on public property, but would not share in any of the cost of the replacement tree on private property. As recommended, the new fee schedule would be as follows: Resident's Share Of: Removal Replacement TOTAL RESIDENT'S SHARE Public Property $ 90.00 15.00 $105.00 4 - Private Property $ 90.00 ,Zn nn fii*3on nn Council Minutes - April 9, 1979 Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Phil White and unanimously carried to adopt the new fee schedules for tree removal and tree replacements for 1979 under the Dutch Elm Disease program. 5. Consideration of Ratification of By -Law Change for the Monticello Firemen's Relief Association. The Monticello Firemen's Relief Association proposed a change in its by-laws whereby an individual will be eligible for partial retirement benefits on reaching the age of 50 after a minimum of ten -years of service has been put in with the department. Currently, the by-laws do not allow for retirement benefits to be paid to any individual unless the individual puts in 20 years with the fire department and receives these benefits after reaching the age of 50 years old. The new proposal would permit partial retirement benefits to be paid provided a person has at least ten years of service with the fire department. The primary reason for the change and also for the change in the Statutes allowing for a lower length of service before retirement benefits are paid is that sometimes an individual may be transferred through no choice of his own and may have to retire from the local fire department. The new retirement benefits would be based on a computation which is contained in the State Statutes and would result in an individual receiving approxi- mately $2,622 after 10 years based on retirement benefits of $6,000 over 20 years. Motion was made by Phil White, seconded by Fran Fair and unanimously carried to approve the by-law changes as proposed allowing for retire- ment after 10 years of service per State Statutes. This item was contingent upon approval of the Joint Fire Board and the Monticello Township. 6. Quarterly Department Head Meeting. The following department heads were in attendance at the Council meeting and discussed various items with the City Council: Public Works Director - John Simola Building Inspector - Loren Klein Fire Chief - Paul Klein Representative of Wright County Sheriff's Department City Administrator - Gary Wieber Senior Citizens Director - Karen Hanson Some of the items discussed by the Council were as follows: Some Civil Defense procedures were discussed with the new Civil Defense Director, Loren Klein. The Fire Chief, Paul Klein, also informed the Council that the roof at the fire hall is in bad need of repair and it was the consensus of the Council to have the Building Inspector study alternatives to repairing the structure. In discussion with Karen Hanson, - 5 - Council Minutes - April 9, 1979 the Senior Citizens Director, it was the Council consensus to have the Building Inspector study the possibility of providing an overhang over the front entrance of the Senior Citizens building. 7. Approval of Minutes. Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen and unanimously carried to approve the regular minutes of the Council held March 26, 1979, and the special meeting held March 27, 1979, as presented. 8. Miscellaneous. The City Council members briefly discussed the audit petitioned for by some of the property owners within Monticello. Some of the Council members indicated that through people they have talked with, there seems to be an indication that the people were told that an audit had never been done in the City for the past 20 years, which is not the case. It is true that a State audit has not been done for a long period of time, but the City is audited by a private CPA firm annually, and has been for the past five years. As a result, the Council could not determine what areas the petitioners seemed to be requesting further review of. Being that the Council, as a whole, has no control over whether an audit is performed or not, no further action was taken by the City Council. Meeting adjourned. Ri hard WolVslteller Assistant Administrator RW/ns - 6 -