The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1979 [11] Nov 29 Thursday, November 29, 1979 ÇfL13 u1: Pursuant to due call and notice thereof the City Council of the City of st. Joseph met in session on Thursday, November 29, 1979 at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall. - Members Present: Mayor Hugo B. Weyrens; Councilmen Bud Reber, Herman Schneider, steve Dehler, Mike Husen; Clerk Bob Johnson. - Others Present: Mike Loso, Fire Chief. Fire Chief Mike Loso presented the following applications for membership in the Fire Department: Mark Loso, age 24, Cypress Drive; Darrel pfannenstein, age 18, East Minnesota street. Fire Department Applications Approved: A motion was made by Dehler seconded by Schneider to approve the above applications. Ayes: Weyrens, Schneider, Reber, Dehler, Husen. Nayes: None Motion carried. Communications Review: The communications between Council and fire department were reviewed. Chief Loso explained need for a second encoder to be installed in fire station as a back-up for the unit located in the College-Convent power house. Loso also indicated several organizations were contributing to the purchase of the encoder. The encoder unit acti- vates the voice and tone pagers carried by fire department personnel. A motion was made by Husen seconded by Schneider to approve installation of the encoder in the fire hall. Fire Dept. Matters: Cloverdale Estates Townhouse fire protection needs were reviewed. Easement obtained for walkway between buildings on Lots 2 & 3, Blk 8. Fire Chief Loso indicated he had requested a 12' walkway between buildings, free of all obstructions, for fire protection access to rear of structures. Variance had been granted to allow a distance of 26' between buildings. Council Approval on Purchases: Question of increasing the amount of purchases, requiring prior/council approval, from $25.00 to $50.00, was presented by Chief Loso._lThe expenditure of $300.00 for radio frequency install- ation in fir~department van was reviewed by the Council prior to approval for payment on motion by Reber seconded by Husen. Ayes: Weyrens, Schneider, Reber, Dehler, Husen. Nayes: None Motion carried. The Fire Chief indicated all rental housing units must have smoke detectors installed by January 1, 1980. APO Representative: Bill Hansen, Bob Byers, Dave Tripp were present. Hansen presented an up-dated traffic survey completed by the APO (Area Planning Organization). Hansen indicated that warrants necessary to justify traffic signals at the intersection of County Road #75 and College Avenue (County Road #2) cannot clearly be met at this time. Hansen presented a plan to possibly justify signals in the future. An explana- tion of the signal operation was presented 'by Hansen. The problem of people understanding the signal operation was also cited. Visibility problems of vehicles on frontage roads and on the south approach were also addressed by Hansen. Hansen indicated signals were not feasible without a change in geometri~s at the intersection. Closing of both frontage roads would be a first recommendation. Cost of signals only has been estimated at $100,000.00. The greatest cost item on the o ¿j /1 U _~: 'T project is expected to be the cost of property acquisition. County state-Aid funds are expected to pay 25% of the cost of signals with federal aid secondary funds also a possibility for a share of the cost. The largest cost share is expected to be the city responsibility, according to Hansen. Hansen suggested City Engineer could provide additional project input as the APO does have restrictions and limit- ations in providing this type of service. - st. Ben's Roadways: A traffic survey relating to College-Convent access roads was also presented by Hansen. Traffic counts were also taken by the APO. College road plans were presented along with a second plan pre- pared by the APO. The APO plan placed the main access to the College on 2nd Avenue North West with Convent-College traffic separating on campus. Dave Tripp - MTC: Dave Tripp, a representative of the Metro Transit Commission (lIITC) , provided the City Council with information relating to metro bus service to the city. IIlr. Tripp presented council members copies of the service extension guidelines. He also indicated the MTC was not able to provide bus service to st. Joseph at this time, perhaps not for another year. A municipality's cost would be determined by the assessed value method of tax levy. The total budget of the MTC, $1,115,000.00, is provided by grants, state aid and a property tax levy. The local monthly estimate at this time would be around $800.00 monthly, based on 2,000 trips per month. Mr. Tripp indicated TRI-CAP was providing van service through st. Joseph at the present time. A questionaire to citizens regards bus service was suggested to deter- mlne local support. Bob Byers, MTC representative, stated in his opinion MTC bus service would be feasible in 3 to 5 years. Carley Engineering: Don Carley and steve Sandquist, representing Carley Engin- eerlng, were present regards the Wastewater Plant upgrading project. The neí'Ï change in proj ect plan recommends a force main to the waite Park interceptor that is being designed and expected to be completed in 1983. The original plan, shelved by PCA several months ago, had an 8" force main placed along County Road #121 to the Sauk River. Carley Engineering will contact PCA and EPA for further discussion on the project change. Legion Club Liquor Violation: Mark Loso, manager, was present to represent the Legion Club for a hearing on possible liquor ordinance violation. Police Chief Lorentz presented a report on the possible violation occurring on October 31, 1979 at 1:40 a.m. The sale of liquor after hours was recorded as the possible violation. The manager of the bar indicated all purchases were made prior to 1:00 a.m. Mayor \\'eyrens read a letter of apology from the American Legion Post Commander Al Vogel citing Legion pledge to support lm'Ï and order and service to the community and will work to prevent such actions in the future. After the matter was thoroughly reviewed by the City Council, a motion was made by Husen seconded by Dehler to send a letter of reprimand to the American Legion at this time and urging them to preserve their fine operational record of the past. Voting for the motion: Schneider, Husen, Dehler. Abstaining: Reber, Weyrens. ~Iotion carried. Water Thawing Questions: Claude Menzhuber appeared before Council to review water line thaw policies and billings. Agreed to payment of related statements. n¿¡5 ~-f' Cloverdale Townhouse City Easement: Easement for fire protection purposes re- v- . viewed. Attorney and Fire Chief to attend planning commission meeting regards this matter. ~ Bartenders-Waitresses Age Question: City Attorney reported persons 18 years of age or older may work as bartenders and waitresses in liquor establish- ments. The legal drinking age is still 19. - Liquor violation Reports: Reports were presented to Mayor Weyrens regards possible liquor violations by the El Paso Club, Inc. and the Midway Bar. Hearings as scheduled for December 20, at 8:30 and 9:15 p.m. street Light Experiment: Council expressed approval of the NSP experiment with a special light pole extension containing the approved change over from downtown fluorescent lighting to the more energy efficient, less costly and greater illumination capacity of the 250 watt Hi-pressure sodium lighting. The Council earlier had approved the change including addi- tional units for the downtown and College Avenue areas. Minutes Approved: Council meeting minutes of October 18 and October 22 were approved on motion by Schneider seconded by Husen. Ayes: Weyrens, Schneider, Reber, Dehler, Husen. Nayes: None Motion carried. Trail Groomer: The Council approved storage in the park shelter building for the Sno-Joes organization's trail groomer. Police Department Hand Guns: A motion was made by Dehler seconded by Husen to allow Police Department to purchase either a .38 or .357 magnum weapon for department officers f':~nd maintaL. )artment invent,ory at j;;h~dtscre- tiQll__QLtllePolice Chief) il,~) .'t ._'{ø.,,-~, hC,.}·~~.....Ji...~Ckl Voting for motion: Schneider, Husen, Dehler. . \ Against motion: Reber. Abstaining: Weyrens. Motion carried. Adjournment: A motion to adjourn was made at 12:50 a.m. Ayes: Weyrens, Schneider, Reber, Dehler, Husen. Nayes: None Motion carried. ~~!I~ City Clerk 1