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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 [10] Oct 05 Page 2858 Oc'tCtber =1, 1995 - Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City o:f St. Joseph met in regular session on Thursday, October 5, 19'35 at 7: 0Ø p. Tß. in the City Hall. l'I~MBEkS PRESENT: Mayor Donald Bud Reber; Councilors Ross Rieke, Bob Loscl, Ken Hiemenz, Cory Ehlert; Clerk/Administrator Rachel Stapleton. OTHERS PRJ::SEHT: Judy Weyrens, Art Hiemenz, Edith Hiemenz, ~Toe Bettendorf, Steve Streng, J. D. Schwagel, Dawn Gallett, Shawn O'Meara, Mark Zimmer, Brad Lindgren, Dean Cichy. Mayor Reber called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with all members present. AI.3EHl>A: Hiemenz made a motion to approve the agenda; seconded by Loso; Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion ca:c'ried. CUNSENT AGENDA: Hiemenz made a motion to approve the consent agenda as :fallows: seconded by Loso. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Hayes: None. Motion carried. a) Minutes of the September 21, 1995 Council meeting with an addition to page 4 under the drainage matter indicating that the cost o£ the drainage improvement would be the property owners :c'esponsibility. b) A Resolution to allow annexation of a parcel of property on the East end o£ East Minnesota Street as follows: AMENDMENT TO THE JOINT RESOLUTION FOR ORDERLY ANNEXATION BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF ST. JOSEPH, MINNESOTA AND THE CITY OF ST. JOSEPH, MINNESOTA The Township o£ St. Joseph and the City o£ St. Joseph hereby jointly agree that the area designated £or orderly annexation in the Joint Resolution between the Township of St. Joseph and the City of St. Joseph designating an area for orderly annexation dated October 10, 1975 be amended to include the following: Both the Township and the City agree that no alteration o£ the stated boundaries o£ this agreement is appropriate. Furthermore, both parties agree that no consideration by the Board is necessary. Upon receipt o£ this resolution, the Municipal Board may review and comment, but shall, within 30 days, order the annexation clf the following-described property in accordance with the terms ox the Joint Hesolution. Whereas, the following described property is currently designated for orderly annexation in zone 2; Page 2859 Octobe:r· 5, 199=, The undersigned jointly resolve that the described property is in need - of orderly annexation, is urban or subul-ban in character, abuts the city boundaries on the east and resolve that the pl'opel-ty be annexed. The property is currently bare land, with no population, and in need of municipal water and sewer fOl- construction of an office building. Zoning classification upon annexation of the parcel is General Business according to Section 52. 14, Subdivision 4 b of the St. Joseph Code of Ordinances. The property is legally described as follows: All that part cd the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter and the Northwest Quarter clf the Southwest Quarter of Section 11, Township 124, Range 29, Stearns County, Minnesota, lying easterly of Mohs Second Addition and southerly of the southerly right-of-way line of County Road #75 ( FOT'Tne:r·ly S.T.H. #52) and northerly of the centerline of County Aid Road #134, subject to the :right-of-way of said County Road #134. Together with the easterly 25.0Ø feet of Lot 1, Block 1, Mohs Second Addition, according to the recorded plat theT'eof, Stearns County, Minnesota. Subject to the easements of record. The parcel is .33 acres. Gerry Klaphke and John Dube are planning to construct an o:ffice building for their real estate business on this Meierhofer property (the last parcel of pT'operty between East Minnesota Street and Highway 75 on the west side of East Minnesota Street) and city services ar'e needed. lULLS PAYABLE: Deputy Clerk Judy Weyrens presented the bills payable. Loso made a motion to approve the bills payable check numbers 21=101 - 21583~ seconded by Ehlert. Discussion - Hiemenz questioned an emergency service payment and Loso questioned the budget category for Council costs for the Star City Workshop. CCluncil generally concurred that Council costs shall be allocated the specific budget area served. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. Loso made a motion to approve the overtime and callouts as presented~ seconded by Ehlert. Discussion - Loso expressed concern about police officers wa:r·king ,over a seventy hour week including the "Safe & Sober" hours. Discussion was that with their ten hour shifts, they may have had days off to work these additional hours. The Mayor will discuss this matter with Chief Lindgren. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Losa, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Notion carried. Page 2860 Octobe:c' "" 1995 _I, ~ NEW PULICE OFFICER: Chief' Brad Lindgren introduced Dean Cichy as the top candidate for the Police Hiring Committee. Lindgren stated that he had done a thorough background check. He will tentatively begin - employment with the City on October 19. Hiemenz made a motion to approve hiring Officer Dean Cichy as an additional police of'ficer; seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Reber t Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion ca:c'ried. Lindgren discussed the needed equipment to outfit this officer. He stated that an additional service weapon will be needed along with uniforms, leather goods and radio. Mayor Reber of'fered the radio he currently has, as he :felt he does not use it enough to warrant keeping it. Loso made a motion to approve purchasing the supplies and equipment necessary to outfit the new off'icer as the Chief feels is appropriate. The motion was seconded by Rieke. Ayes~ Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes~ None. Motion carried. CLERK/ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS: 1) Loso made a motion to approve the request to purchase three window mini-blinds for the City Hall Annex o:ffices at total cost of' approximately $59.01; seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion ca:CTied. 2) Rieke made a motion to approve a request to purchase an easel for flip chart presentations at a cost of approximately $100; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. 3) Police Sergeant position will be discussed at a future meeting. 4) The Personnel Committee was directed to review the St. Joseph Police Federation wage and benef'it proposal f'or 1996 and return with recommendations to the Council. 5) Hiemenz made a motion to accept the resignation of Fay Gretsch f'rom the Park Board and thank her with a plaque of appreciation for her many years of service to the City of St. Joseph. The motion was seconded by Mayor Reber. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, LOBo, Hiemenz, Ehle:c't. Mayes: None. Motion carried. 6) St. Joseph will be hosting the Stearns County League meeting on October 17. The Councilors were encouraged to attend this meeting. Hiemenz indicated that he will be unavailable for this meeting. -- 7) The Council was in agreement to set October 24th for the City/Township GSJAC meeting, if' this date is acceptable to the Township Board. Page 2861 October 5, 199~1 ~ KAYUR'S REPORT: There was a meeting l'ecently concel'ning the St. Augusta Landfill cleanup issue. The State is intending to :cecovel-' $11Ø,ØØØ fl'om the potentially responsible parties and then pursue recovering the cost of the cleanup from the insurance companies - covel'ing those entities during the use period of the landfill. Mayor Reber proposed and Hiemenz made a motion to approve the donation of $l,ØØØ from the City of ~.... Joseph. The motion was seconded by Rieke. ~.... Discussion - Rieke questioned if the City Attorney would ascel'tain that this would i'elieve the City's liability on this matter. Mayor Reber stated that Tom Jovanovich of his office, was at the meeting and he could consult with him and inform the Council on this matter. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carl'ied. UCTDBERFEST: Mark Zimmer appeared before the Council to clarify that he may allow bands to play in the fully enclosed tent dUTing his Octoberfest event, on Friday and Saturday nights until 1:0Ø a. m. He stated that he had discussed the mat tel' with nearly all the property owners in the area. He also will have a security officel' on Friday and Satui'day nights. Hiemenz made a motion to approve the bands playing in the tent until 1:0Ø a. m. as requested by Mark Zimmer; seconded by Ehlert. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, LOBo, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. BUS STOP: Rieke discussed that the CORE Committee had met as requested by the Council, and agreed on :following the recommendations regarding bus stop issue: Steve Yuhas made a motion to recommend continuing the existing drop of:f locations of 2nd Avenue NW by Centennial Park and the one on West Minnesota Str'eet for individuals returning to St. Joseph f:com St. Johns. The bus stop pick up location would be on the NClrtheast cor'ner of 2nd Avenue NW and West Minnesota Street :for individuals wishing to be transported to Saint Johns. The motion was seconded by Tillie Wasner. Upon call of the vote the motion car-ried unanimously. Funding for the shelter was discussed, with a proposal that the cost :be split between CSB, SJU, St. Johns Senate, St. Ben's Senate and the City. Nieke stated that the CORE Committee felt that this is the best spot although it may not be ideal. Additionally he had met with Joe Bet tendo:ci and felt the traffic flow issue could be worked out. Mayor Reber stated that he is not in :favor of this location, along with t,he area property owners. Both J. R. Studinski and Schindlers have cClntacted him with their Additionally Mayor Reber expressed -- concerns. saiety concerns and felt the County Engineer would have a problem with the p:r·oposal after recently allowing a four way stop at this intersection. Page 2862 October 5, 1995 - Loso stated that we must exercise caution in moving a problem from one location to anothe).~. The p).~oblem is not the location, but the activities that cause the problems. Ehlert proposed and the Council generally felt that a solution could be to require the late evening buses to pick up in the downtown area. Rieke recommended and the Council generally concurred to place this matter on the October 19th agenda, for a solution and invite audience comments at that time. Jim Schwagel, from the audience, questioned who would accept liability cln this issues. Mayor Reber stated that liability would be a legal issue. Upon Shawn O'Meara, Írom the audience, asking Íor a downtown location, that wCluld be acceptable, Mayor Reber stated that anywhere on First Avenue NW and Minnesota Street to College Avenue would be acceptable. Also Rieke discussed that it may be necessary to have different routes far daytime buses and night time buses in order' to allow for time constraints during the daytime. CUUNCILORS REPORT RIEKE: 1 ) The CORE Committee met and took seriously their request to recommend to the Council on the bus stop issue. 2) Rieke felt :fortunate to be part of the Star City seminar recently held at St. Benedicts. EHLERT: 1 ) The Planning Commission met and allowed the extension o:f a special use permit o:f Ron Philippi for' const:c'uction of two, twenty six unit mini storage facilities. This extension would allow for construction of the final one third of the units, with stipulations. 2) Ehlert stated that the Planning Commission also discussed street addressing and recommended adoption o:f a proposal with several points. Ehlert discussed the various points recommended. Judy Weyrens, Secretary to the Planning Commission, clarified several points. Loso stated that the recommendations to make changes to streets outside the city limits would not take effect until the proper'ty is anne>eed. Additionally, this proposal is quite complicated. Loso recommended that the City stay with the grid system as proposed by Joe Bettendor:f. Rieke, Reber, and Hiemenz concurred and Mayor Reber stated that the matter will be reconsidered later in the meeting while Joe Bettendorf is in attendance. 3) At the APO meeting a bill that Joe Opatz presented was discussed. APO will review the first recommendations of this bill '\'lhich requires their efforts and planning. lUI-:KE: 1) Rieke stated that the Personnel Committee has received a PagE' 2e.S3 October 5, 1<::)95 :cequest to include an allowance for payment of benefits on te:L'mination - or death of an employee. Hiemenz stated that payment of benefits on termination of an employee is covered in the manual. Rieke discussed furthe:L' the Personnel Policy does not add:L~ess payment of sick time accumulated in the event of death of an employee. The Council agreed to consider a written proposal to amend the personnel policy. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: There was no public input. Loso made a motion to recess at 8: 10 p. m. ; seconded by Hiemenz. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehle:L't. Nayes: None. Motion carr ied. Nayor Reber reconvened the meeting at 8:20 p. m. HIEMENZ: Hiemenz will not be available for the meetings October 17 and 19th. LUSU: 1 ) Loso met with Ernie Diedrich, Sister Phyllis and Helen Stoltz concerning the Community Garden. They are requesting to use, by lease, an area in Millstr'eam Park, f :Co 0 m where the house was r'ernoved. Hiemenz mac.!e a motion tCI app:cove the City At to:rney writing up a lease, identifying the location with boundaries, for a community garden. The motion was seconded by Rieke. Ayes: Reber', Rieke, LOBo, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion ca:CTied. 2) The City of St. Joseph received notice that the Department of Natural Resources accepted our' grant application for a recreational t:cail in Mo:cningside Park. The grant is a $25, 00Ø, 50X-50X matching ÇfIant. DNR will be contacting us for further ìnfor·matic.n. 3) Also a community g:coup contacted Loso, requesting plans for' const:cuction of a building for Ma:c'ningside Park. They are interested in funding it. 4) Jim Kacures is requesting a letter from the City stating why his roequest for diagonal parking was denied; and indicating the reasons why the diagonal pa:t-'king was taken away in 1990. Loso Toequested and the CCtuncil concurred to direct the Clerk/Administrator to write such letter of response as requested. Concerning the proposed signage to control parking, M:c . Kacures stated that he did not wish to discuss that aspect of the matter. CITY ENGINEER REPURTS: Bettendorf presented Application for Payment Number One (Final) of $30,410 to Ha:cdr'ives for the 1995 Overlay P:cc.ject, and discussed that the bid was $34,1E.Ø but final cost figures werE:' considerably 10w&1-. MaYCJ1- Reber questioned why the manholes ar'e so low, along the pr'oj ect area. Bettendorf stated that he will check them, but normally they are put down about one inch below the surface because they tend to work up over' time and can cause problems with snc·w plowing if the blade hits an Page 2864 October 5, 199~1 ~ elevated manhole. Ehlert made a motion to approve s Final Application For Payment to Hardrives for $30,410 as :cecommended by the City Engineer; seconded by Hiemenz. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. 2) Bettendorf reported that bids will be taken soon for the proposed signal light fo:t~ the intersection of Highway 75 and the DelWin Road with construction next summer. Bettendor£ also discussed with the Council that at the last Joint City Township meeting Fred Sandal requested that Bettendorf meet with the St. Wendel Township Board to discuss their utility needs. The Council discussed the options available to St. Wendel and recommended that the St. Wendel Board retain an engineer on their behal£ to represent their interests. BUBDIVISION ORDINANCE: Loso made a motion to have the City Engineer consult with the City Attorney to have an amendment to the Subdivision Ordinance prepared which will require a detailed grading plan for subdivisions. This will pr'ovide £or a drainage plan for each lot. The motion was seconded by Hiemenz. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carried. ADDRESBING SYSTEM: A£ter short discussion Mayor Reber stated that he £elt the City should go with the established grid system. Loso made a motion to rea££irm the City's commitment to the established grid system and end discussion o:f this issue; seconded by Hiemenz. Discussion - Council directed Stapleton to have a letter sent to Ben Poepping expressing appreciation for all his efforts on this issue. Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. Nayes: None. Motion carr'ied. The Council requested that Joe Bettendorf ask the County Engineer his opinion on the proposed bus stop at the corner o£ Minnesota Str'eet and Second Avenue NW. prior to open discussion at the October 19 Council meeting. ST. JOSEPH FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION: In the absence o£ Ken Twit, Rachel Stapleton introduced the revised Fire Fighters Relief Association report and the City ccmtribution requirements of $7, E.71 for' 1995, and $~I, 325 £or 1996. In order for the State Auditors of:fice to release the Local Government Aid for the Relief Association, they are requesting revised reports, to meet their requirements for administration expenses. The City must accept the reports and approve a plan :for payment, with two years being acceptable. This must be completed by October 20 or the state aid £or the Relie:f Association :for 1995 will be last. The Council requested that a Special Fire Board meeting is set to consider this matter and to make recommendations to the Council at the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 with a motion by Loso; seconded by Ehlert. Page 28EI!:' October ~, 199:. Ayes: Re bel- I Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert. - Nayes: None. Motion carried. Q-tff¿e,~ÆJØ-vU Rachel Stapl·· ton Clerk/Administrator