HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989 [03] Mar 16
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March 16, 1989
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for I
the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Thursday,
March 16, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Joseph City Hall.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Mike Loso; Councilmen Steve Dehler,
Leo Sadlo, Ross Rieke. Deputy Clerk Judy Weyrens. Councilman
Reber absent due to vacationing in Acapulco.
OTHERS PRESENT: Jerome Salzer, Joe Bechtold, Ray
Brandenberger, William Lorentz, Art Budde, Ernest Klein,
Herman Schneider, Rose Schneider, Hugo Weyrens, Diane
Schneider, Dave Pfannenstein, Emma Roering, Roman Spanier,
Robert Gambrino, Jerry George, Herb Dehler, Duane Sorenson,
Peter Giroux, Bill Wasner, Dick Taufen, Rose Arnold, Dick
Stock, Joyce Stock, John Anderson, Kevin Balnchette, Mitch
Anderson, Bill Hansen, Douglas Weiszharr, Margaret Hauck,
Hope Klocker, Charles Klocker, Mike Roach, Joe Miller,
Shirley Miller, Paul Daniel, Peter Rothfork, Dave Hollander,
John Eich, Hub Klein, Regina Hollerman, Ben Hollerman, Mark
Lambert, Mike Moran, Mary Moran, Bob Krebsbach, Jim
Krebsbach, Herb Smith, Mary Schlosser, Mark Glatzel, Mike
Deutz, Greg Kacures, Theresa Kacures, Joe Bettendorf, Mary
Wunderlich.
AGENDA APPROVAL: Rieke made a motion to approve the agenda I
with additions; seconded by Dehler.
Ayes: Loso, Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke.
Nayes: None. Motion Carried.
MAYOR REPORTS: No report
COUNCIL REPORTS; SADLO: The sanitary sewer at Callaway East
to 9th Ave. SE to East Baker Street needs to be jet
cleaned due to what appeared to be construction debris
blockage. Rieke made a motion to approve the jet cleaning of
the sanitary sewer of approximately 1200 ft from Callaway
East to 9th Ave. SE to East Baker Street for $800.00;
seconded by Sadlo.
Ayes: Loso, Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke.
Nayes: None.
The Council would like to City Engineer to look into the
probable causes of this blockage and report back to the
Council.
RIEKE: 1 ) The Scherer re-zoning/special use permit was held
on March 6 -- will report on the outcome next meeting.
2) Mike Duetz appeared before the planning commission
requesting permission to erect a sign on Minnesota St. and
First Ave. NW to direct traffic to St. Joseph Gas & Bait. He I
is participating in the sign program on 1-94 and under the
Minn Trail Blazer Act, the law requires a secondary sign
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within the City limits to further direct travelers to his
station from 1-94. Dehler made a motion to allow the sign
I only if the hours of operation are listed clearly on the
freeway sign; seconded by Sadlo.
Discussion: Rieke stated Mike Duetz would arrive later
in the meeting to further discuss this matter.
Dehler withdrew the motion on the floor and Sadlo
concurred.
DEHLER: 1 ) The Park Board recommended to re-hire Lori
SChulzetenberg as Summer Recreation Director.
2) The Park Board has a list of repairs that are needed on
the Centennial Park shelter and would like to have them
completed by June 1, 1989 if possible. After discussion
Dehler made a motion to approve the requested repairs for the
Centennial Park shelter; seconded by Sadlo.
Discussion: The motion was clarified to have Councilman
Dehler gather estimates and quotes of the needed repairs and
submit them to the Council for further consideration.
Ayes: Loso, Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke.
Nayes: None. Motion Carried.
PUBLIC HEARING - CSAH 75 SIGNAL PROJECT
Mike Loso called the hearing to order and requested Doug
Weiszharr, County Engineer, as the lead agency of the
project to conduct the hearing. Doug Weiszharr introduced
City/Project Engineer Joe Bettendorf. Mr. Bettendorf
presented the four alternatives being considered.
ALTERNATIVE 1 : Leave the intersection with the existing
conditions; do nothing.
ALTERNATIVE 2: Involves an opening on the north side across
from 1st Ave. and an opening on the south side, but no median
crossing. The frontage road to the north on the east corner
would be eliminated as much as possible and the entire
frontage road on the west would be eliminated. This
alternative also would provide a complete crossing at 3rd
Ave. The intersection at CSAH 2 and CSAH 75 would have a
solid concrete median both north and south of the highway.
You would have an exclusive left-turn lane and then a
straight through or a right turn. Going east and west on
CSAH 75, you would have the same movements only with
exclusive left and right turn lanes from both directions.
Land acquisition would be necessary on the north east end.
Right-of-way would have to be acquired on the east side of
CSAH 2.
ALTERNATIVE 3: Same as alternative 2, with the only
difference being 1st ave. NE has been moved over to the north
leg of that street.
ALTERNATIVE 4: The intersection at CSAH 75 and CSAH 2 remain
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the same. There will be no opening at 1st Ave. NE to the
north and there would be an opening to the south, but no I
median crossing. Cedar street would extend roughly 600 feet
east of 3rd Ave. NE, The above mentioned frontage roads
would be closed. Right-of-way would need to be acquired
infront of the business on the north east end, the corner of
CSAH 2 and CSAH 75, and at the corner of College Ave. North
and CSAH 75. No land acquisition would be necessary.
With all the alternatives presented, Engineer Joe Bettendorf
re-introduced County Engineer Doug Weiszharr and opened the
hearing to any questions or comments,
Q. Marlin Eich: Alternative 3 shows a loop going over to the
Roske property. County Road 133 is an eighth mile away, do
you plan on connecting those at any given point in time?
A. Our plan right now does not include construction or
inclusion of this project beyond just east roughly 600 feet
of Third Ave. NE.
Q: Steve Dehler: Would the access to the property east of
Third Street NE be guaranteed by the County or whoever?
What I am saying is, if we spend the money to put a crossover
at that point, wouldn't it be proper at this time as part of
this project to guarantee future access.
A: I can't make any statements as to what the County
Boards's position might be at this point. We did however,
design this with the idea if that became developed that it
would be the ideal location for that type of access.
Q: Ben Hollerman (comment) : I live on Cedar Street,
straight across from First Street. If alternative 2 is
selected, I would wind up with a car in my porch every so
often because my porch is only 2 feet from the blacktop,
Q: Marlin Eich: In regards to Third Street, is that going
to be opened up for sure, maybe, you don't know?
A: It's under consideration, it has not been decided to do
that. It's not the preferred alternative, but we are looking
at it.
Q: Marlin Eich: In regard's of First and Second Avenue, I
know you were saying something about second having quite a
grade, but would you consider allowing a right only turn from
Second Avenue.
A: That's not a proposal nO~·J . vIe want to minimize the
number of intersections that we have to deal with in places
where drivers have to watch for on coming and exiting
vehicles.
Q: Herb Smith: With regard to the Eastbound and Westbound
traffic, would you ever consider a warning light before the
stop lights? Will you be able to make right turns on the red
so the Eastbound and the Westbound traffic would all be in
the left lane to accommodate them all the time.
A: Normally the use of an advanced warning flasher for a
signal is when the sight distance in advance of the signal is
limited. We haven't really looked into the detail design of
the signal and the advanced warning at this point in time;
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but we will consider that. As far as the right turn on red,
I we do not anticipate any restrictions of a right turn on red.
However, you will notice on CSAH 2 that the right-turn lane
and the through lane are shared, so that through vehicles
stopped for red will delay the right-turners behind them.
Q: Herb Smith: So you are saying there isn't going to be a
right-turn lane?
.8.: It will be allowed, but I'm afraid there will be times
when the through vehicles will block that lane so that the
person turning right would not be able to get through.
Q: Ray Brandenberger: I own property to the Northeast of
Third Ave. NE. Would I have an access to my propery?
A: ,You would have an access that runs off the frontage road
back to your property. You would not have direct access to
CSAH 75.
Q: Ray Brandenberger: My property is currently used for
agricultural purposes, how does the farmer get to the
property with his equipment?
A: I don't believe that we are severing any access that you
presently have. Right now you can either access it from the
four lane or the frontage road.
Q: Mary Moran: If any of the constructional activities are
chosen, what type of lighting are you talking about? Would
they extend all the way through the intersection; and if the
alternative is chosen not to do any construction, would any
lighting improvements be made on the highway?
A: Preliminary plans have white lighting extending far
enough back to light the approaches to the intersection at
County Road 2. We are not planning to light the other
crossovers or openings at this time. If no construction is
done, at this point there are no plans to put street lighting
out there.
Q: Mary Moran: If one of the alternatives chosen would be
to constuct, the only area for white lighting, not signal
lighting, would be at the intersection of County Road 2?
A: Lighting would be at the intersection and perhaps up to
600 feet in each direcion from the intersection, so that we
would light the left turn lanes and make sure the
intersection is visible from a distance.
Q: Mark Lambert: Of all the alternatives presented tonight,
alternative 4 seems to address the needs of the crossover and
needs of the business people on the Northside. My concern
with #4 is that you have moved the crossover down to First
Avenue, and I feel that you are failing to address the needs
of the business owners on the Northside of the highway if you
don't exted a crossover to what would be Second Avenue. I
think you need to cross Second Avenue and have a crossover
there.
A: The biggest objection that I can see to connecting to
Second Avenue is the grade. In order to get on CSAH 75,
there is about a six foot climb. By doing that we are going
II to end up with a steep angle of approach, and we are going to
have to build that road out on the bottom end so that we have
some significant banks facing the houses on either side.
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0 Mark Lambert: (comment) : This seems to be a proposal to
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improve safety of this whole intersection and it seems to me
that if indeed we need to build that grade up in order to I
create a safe intersection, I think we need to do that,
Q: Michael Roach: During the development of the Project
Path Report, did the persons developing that report have at
their disposal a copy of the St. Joseph Comprehensive Plan?
A: Yes, it was available while preparing the plans.
0: Steve Dehler: Is there a possibility that you can create
an alternative #5:
A: Yes, there is that possibility.
Q: Steve Dehler: What is the traffic right nOH going past
Crossroad Shopping Center?
A: In front of Crossroads, it is somewhere between 28,000
and 30,000 vehicles a day.
Q: Steve Dehler: It seems to me that there are accesses
along that property (Crossroads), Hherever it seems
necessary, and according to your projected volume of traffic
for CSAH 75 in the year 2000, we are looking at approx. the
same volume of traffic as Crossroads presently has. Couldn't
we then put in more right-ons/offs to allow for more
accessibility?
A: If ~"e could, we would like to eliminate those right
on/offs (in reference to Crossroads/Division Street). If you
look along Division Street, it has the highest accident
concentration of many roadways in the State; and it is a
safety consideration at virtually every intersection, It is
a safety consideration when you get volumes at this high
level and especially when you are mixing through traffic.
The idea of this project is to try to separate access from
mobility of the through traffic in a safe and efficient way
and there's no easy way to answer that.
0: tvlarlin Eich: When will you be voting on which proposal
you will be submitting to whomever for your monies?
Will we be notified by the County as to further meetings
regarding the improvement?
A: We'll take into consideration all of the input tonight
and the governing bodies will discuss the alternatives and
select one to send into the State and through them to the
Federal Government. The County will not be sending out any
additional notices, but if the City decides they are going to
have some assessments involved with this construction, then
the affected property owners will be notified,
Q: Marlin Eich: If alternative 3 were chosen, would the
residents along Third NE and Ash be assessed for the
improvement. Currently Third NE from Ash to CSAH 75 is not
tarred.
1-\: Ç-Jha tever wou Id be necessary to make a proper connection
Hould be eligible for participation in this project. There
is every possibility that there would be some assessments,
If there were to be any assessments proposed near your
property, you would be notified prior to a public hearing.
Q: Hugo Weyrens: If Third NE or Second NE would be opened
up, are those streets heavy enough to carry the additional
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A: I don't think so. Chances are they would have to be
strengthened either overlayed or reconstructed if one of
those alternatives were selected.
Q: Art Budde: Are there any plans to change the speed limit
on CSAH 75 after this project is completed.
A: At this time we would be looking at maintaining the 45
MPH speed zone an CSAH 75 through town.
Q: Bill Lorentz: I have no idea what your time delay between
signals are going to be; but the traffic is fairly heavy in
the morning between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., has anyone
figured out how many cars you can stack up in that area
between lights?
A: Generally when you're figuring stacking for vehicles, you
would figure 25 feet per car in a stopped condition. At that
rate approximately 16 - 20 vehicles could be stacked. We
haven't gotten into the detail design of such things as
signal timing and that sort of thing, but before we do, we
need more up-to-date traffic counts.
Q: Steve Dehler/Marlin Eich/Michael Roach: Questioned the
need and safety of accesses to Kay's Kitchen and the
properties adjacent to the intersection on the Northside of
the signal. Specifically the right turn lane and the opening
to the North of Kay's.
A: The proposal to widen the right turn lanes and place a
median on County Road 2 and College Avenue created less of a
safety hazard and provided a cleaner exit off of CSAH 75 than
allowing exits off of frontage roads, (right-ons/offs).
County Engineer closed the hearing at 9:35 p.m.
ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT OF HEARING AVAILABLE IN OFFICIAL CITY FILE
Mayor Loso declared a short recess at 9:35 p.m.
Mayor Loso reconvened at 9:55 p.m.
MIKE DUETZ - SIGN REQUEST: Mike Duetz appeared before the
City Council to request erecting a Trail Blazing sign in City
Right of Way. After discussion, Mayor Loso tabled the
request until the April 6, 1989 meeting so that additional
information would be available as to the legalities and Mr.
Duetz would be able to present additional information as to
the sign characteristics.
CLERK/ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS: 1 ) Councilman Reber donated a
oak handcrafted typewriter stand to the Clerk's Office.
Sadlo made a motion to give Councilman Reber an horable
mention for the donation of the typewriter stand; seconded by
Dehler.
. Ayes: Loso, Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke.
Nayes: None. Motion Carried.
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CITY COUNCIL THANKS COUNCILMAN REBER FOR THE DONATION OF HIS
TIME. TALENT. AND MATERIALS OF A QUALITY PIECE OF FURNITURE,
1) The Recreation Association requested that the City
Council waive the 60 day waiting period on their liquor
application. Dehler made a motion to waive the 60 day
waiting period for the Recreational Association's gambling
license; seconded by Sadlo.
Ayes: Loso, Dehler, Sadlo.
Nayes: None. Rieke Abstained. Motion Carried.
Sadlo made a motion to adjourn at 10:17 p.m.; seconded by
Dehler.
Ayes: Loso, Dehler, Sadlo, Rieke.
Nayes: None. Motion Carried
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Judy Weyrens
Deputy Clerk