|
NOTICE OF ALBANY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
There will be a
meeting of the City Council in and
for the City of Albany, Stearns County, Minnesota at
6:30 o’clock in the evening
on Wednesday, April
1, 2009, in the
Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said City.
AGENDA
1.
Convene meeting
2.
Audit Bills
3.
Act on regular Council minutes of the meeting held on March
18th
4.
Open Forum/Public comments
5.
Stan Hanson, City Engineer – update on discussions with
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for North Lake Clean Water
Legacy Act
6.
Church of Seven Dolors – MN Lawful
Gambling application request for raffle
7.
Joseph Mergen, Public Works Supervisor – present list of
unpaid water bills
8.
Daron Gersch, Utility Department and Community Education
Liaison
9.
Dennis Sand, Park Department, and Equipment
10.
Tom Kasner, Fire Department and EDA
11.
Jack Evens – present Golf Club Check Register
12.
John Greer, Police and Street Department
13.
James Stueve, Police Chief
14.
Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm
15.
Mayor’s announcements and letters
16.
Announce meeting date (April 15th) and adjourn
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY,
APRIL 1, 2009, CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a regular meeting of the
Council in and for the City of Albany, Stearns County, Minnesota,
was called to order by Mayor Dennis Sand at 6:30 o’clock in the
evening on Wednesday, April 1, 2009, in the Council Room at 400
Railroad Avenue for the said City.
Other Council members present were: John Greer, Tom Kasner, and
Daron Gersch. Jack Evens was absent.
Also present were: Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm., Joseph Mergen, Public Works
Supervisor, Stan Hanson, P.E. Bonestroo, Inc.,
Mike Kosik, Editor
Stearns Morrison Enterprise,
and James Stueve, Police Chief.
After due discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by
Daron Gersch to authorize the payment of the
following: Check Numbers 59332 to 59359 and 13151 to 13165. All
voted for the motion and it carried.
Mayor Dennis Sand called for any corrections or additions
to the minutes of the regular meeting held on March 18th
and hearing none declared the said minutes approved.
Ted Boran,
Patrol Officer Albany Police Department, appeared before the Council
to inform the Council on what he had learned from his attendance at
a four day Front Sight Firearms Training Institute held in Las
Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Boran informed the Council that he is the
firearms training instructor for the Albany Police Department and
much of the information he learned will be used in his training
exercises.
Mr. Hanson appeared before the Council to inform the Council that as per
the Council’s direction, he spoke to Dan Lais, Area Hydrologist for
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), regarding technical and
financial assistance in improving the water quality for
North Lake.
Mr. Hanson noted that before the DNR would consider any partnership
for various applications, a lake management plan is required
outlining the existing characteristics of the lake, avenues to
improve water quality, identify and reduce pollutants, including a
vision or future use of the lake. Mr. Hanson informed the Council
that the City may submit a request for a grant up to $2,000 to the
Healthy
Lakes and
Rivers Partnership with the assistance of the Stearns County Water
and Soil Conservation District for the purpose to assist the City in
the preparation of a lake management plan for
North
Lake.
Mayor Dennis Sand noted that there have been several discussions
over the past twenty five years on improving the water quality for
North Lake, but no real effort has been put forth to consider any
improvements. After due discussion, Mayor Dennis Sand, with the
consensus of the Council, directed the City Clerk/Administrator to
forward a letter to the Stearns County Water and Soil Conservation
District requesting their assistance and support in completing an
application to the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership for a grant
up to $2,000 for the purpose of creating a lake management plan for
North Lake.
The Council took notice of a Minnesota Lawful Gambling Exempt Permit
Application submitted by the Church of Seven Dolors on behalf of the
Holy
Family
School for
their annual golf tournament and raffle held at the Albany Golf Club
on July 6th. After due discussion, a motion was made by Tom Kasner
and seconded by John Greer to approve the said Application. All
voted for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Mergen presented to the Council a list of individuals who have not
paid their utility bill and recommended that their water service be
discontinued as per Ordinance 30. Mayor Dennis Sand, with the
consensus of the Council, directed Mr. Mergen to make one last
personal contact if possible with each individual and if no
arrangement can be made to receive full payment, he may proceed to
shut the water service off as per the said Ordinance.
Mayor Dennis Sand announced the next
regular Council meeting for 6:30 o’clock in the evening on
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 and adjourned the meeting at 7:35 PM.
Tom Schneider,
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY,
APRIL 15, 2009, CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOTICE
NOTICE OF ALBANY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
There will be a
meeting of the City Council in and
for the City of Albany, Stearns County, Minnesota at
6:30 o’clock in the evening
on Wednesday, April
15, 2009, in the
Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said City.
AGENDA
1.
Convene meeting
2.
Audit Bills
3.
Act on regular Council minutes of the meeting held on April
1st
4.
Open Forum/Public comments
5.
Public Hearing on proposed final assessments for 2009 Golf
View Drive and Fairway Drive Improvements
-
Stan Hanson, City Engineer – review proposed assessment roll
-
David Drown, David Drown Associates – financial consultant to
explain costs associated with bonding procedure for proposed
improvements
-
Resolution 2009-011 receiving bids and awarding contract
-
Resolution 2009-012 adopting assessment roll
6.
Stan Hanson, City Engineer – recommendation for Council to
set bid date for 2nd Street and Railroad Avenue
Improvements
7.
Joseph Mergen, Public Works Supervisor
8.
Daron Gersch, Utility Department and Community Education
Liaison
9.
Dennis Sand, Park Department, and Equipment
10.
Tom Kasner, Fire Department and EDA
11.
Jack Evens – present Golf Club Check Register
12.
John Greer, Police and Street Department
13.
James Stueve, Police Chief
14.
Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm
15.
Mayor’s announcements and letters
16.
Announce meeting date (May 6th) and adjourn
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2009, CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Pursuant to due call
and notice thereof a regular meeting of the Council in and for the
City of Albany, Stearns County, Minnesota, was called to order by
Mayor Dennis Sand at 6:30 o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, April
15, 2009, in the Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said
City.
Other Council members present were: John Greer, Tom Kasner, and Jack
Evens. Daron Gersch was absent.
Also present were: Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm., Joseph Mergen, Public Works
Supervisor, Stan Hanson, P.E. Bonestroo, Inc.,
Chris
Arens,
Bonestroo, Inc., David
Drown, David Drown Associates, and James Stueve, Police Chief.
After due discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Jack
Evens to authorize the payment of the following:
Check Numbers 59360 to 59396 and 13166 to 13179. All voted for
the motion and it carried.
Mayor Dennis Sand called for any corrections or additions
to the minutes of the regular meeting held on April 1st and hearing
none declared the said minutes approved.
Randy Ronning,
Tom Blattner, Will Seiler, Steve Holthaus, John Schneider, Jr.,
Ervin Beutz, Gen Beutz, Robert Schwegler, Paul Wellenstein, Sharon
Eickhoff, Richard Eickhoff, Arlie Nydeen, Sally Melton, Delmar Klug,
Elaine Klug, Judy Schneider, Audrey Spengler, Ralph Blenker, Rick
Christensen, Russ Gretsch, Barb Gretsch, David Blenker, Jim Jeidy,
Steve Katka, Kathy Katka, Jeff Larson, Monica Heinen, and Charla
Janssen.
Pursuant to due
notice, at
6:35 PM, Mayor Dennis Sand opened the public hearing to consider objections, if
any, to the proposed assessments for the
2009 Golf View
Drive and Fairway Drive Improvements. Mr. Hanson appeared before
the Council and public to discuss the existing and proposed roadway
construction including low bid received, construction schedule, and
final assessment roll for all benefited properties. The following
residents appeared before the Council: Barb Gretsch,
126 Fairway Drive,
question why the higher (B618) curb is being proposed versus the
existing surmountable curb, front footage assessment, not good time
for residents to be paying assessments due to poor economy and not
in favor of the improvements. James Jeidy,
313 Golf View Drive,
questioned if some of the existing material or base beneath road
surface could be recycled to reduce overall expenses. Charla
Janssen, 117 Fairway Drive, opposes proposed improvements and many
residents can’t afford assessment due to loss of jobs. Rick
Christensen, 134 Golf View Drive, questioned the number of bidders
for proposed improvements and who were three low bidders. Randy
Ronning,
114 Fairway Drive,
submitted to Council a written objection as to how the City engineer
calculated his front footage to determine his assessment,
recommended that only the street be milled and resurfaced and if
completely reconstructed, a Geogrid be used to reduce the depth of
the sub-cut. Sharon Eickhoff, 133 Fairway Drive, questioned how long
the new road will last before it will need to be repaired again. Tom
Blattner, 137 Fairway Drive, submitted to the Council a written
objection as to how the City engineer calculated his front footage
to determine his assessment and schedule of construction. Sally
Melton, 143 Golf View Drive, questioned if the fire hydrant was
going to be relocated or inoperative during construction. Audrey
Spengler, 312 Golf View Drive, noted that there is a sink hole in
her rear yard that may be related to a storm sewer pipe on her
property from
Golf View Drive.
Judy Schneider 301 Golf View Drive, encouraged Council to accept
low bid rather than considering the improvements in the future when
bids would be much higher when the economy recovers, and objected to
any thoughts about a band-aid fix to the existing potholes. Will
Seiler, 308 Golf View Drive, questioned if sod or seed was
considered for boulevard restoration. John Schneider, Jr., 122 Golf
View Drive, questioned the percentage the City and property owners
are paying for the improvements. David Drown, the City’s Financial
Consultant, appeared before the Council and public to explain how
the City can afford to complete improvement projects and assesses a
percentage of those improvements to property owners which has been
used in the past for City projects and many other cities in the
State. Mr. Drown explained to the public the payment process of
assessments and noted that many of the actions taken by the Council
for improvement projects are regulated by State Statutes. Mr. Drown
noted that as per State Statutes, if assessments are paid in full
within 30 days of the adoption of the final assessment resolution,
there would be no interest added to the principal amount and if paid
thereafter the 30-day period, interested will be calculated from the
date of the adoption of the final assessment roll. Mr. Hanson noted
that projects being bid in the area to date are coming in 25% less
than the engineer’s estimate being there are very few projects to
bid for several construction companies. Mr. Hanson informed the
Council that the roadway was constructed in 1984-85 and that based
on the soil borings, the roadway is being constructed to City
standards for new construction. Mr. Hanson also noted that the
boulevard restoration will be seeded, not sod, and any landscaping
(bushes/shrubs) and sprinkler systems within the boulevard will need
to be removed at the property owner’s expense. Mayor Dennis Sand
closed the public hearing at 8:00 PM. After due discussion, a
motion was made by John Greer who introduced the following
Resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION 2009-011
RECEIVING BIDS AND AWARDING CONTRACT
2009 GOLF VIEW DRIVE AND FAIRWAY
DRIVE
STREET IMPROVEMENTS
The motion for the foregoing
Resolution was seconded by Jack Evens and after a full discussion
thereon and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following voted in
favor thereof: Mayor Dennis Sand, Councilors Tom Kasner, Jack
Evens, and John Greer and none voted against the same; whereupon the
said Resolution was declared duly passed and adopted. The full text
of the said Resolution is on file at the office of the City
Clerk/Administrator for public inspection during normal office
hours. Mayor Dennis Sand noted that aforesaid Resolution is to
accept the base bid from Larson Excavating, Holdingford, MN, in the
amount of $600,362.
After due
discussion, a motion was made by Tom Kasner who introduced the
following Resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION 2009-012
ADOPTING ASSESSMENT ROLL
2009 GOLF VIEW DRIVE AND FAIRWAY
DRIVE
STREET IMPROVEMENTS
The motion for the foregoing
Resolution was seconded by Jack Evens and after a full discussion
thereon and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following voted in
favor thereof: Mayor Dennis Sand, Councilors Tom Kasner, Jack
Evens, and John Greer and none voted against the same; whereupon the
said Resolution was declared duly passed and adopted. The full text
of the said Resolution is on file at the office of the City
Clerk/Administrator for public inspection during normal office
hours.
Mr. Hanson
informed the Council that MN DOT approved the plans and
specifications on April 13th for the 2nd Street and
Railroad Avenue (State HWY 238) Storm Sewer Improvements and
recommended that a bid date be set for the aforesaid improvements.
Mr. Hanson noted that the Council may need to schedule a special
Council meeting on May 13th to expedite the City’s storm
sewer project to meet the construction timeline for the Post Office
storm sewer system to hook into the City’s storm sewer at the
intersection. After due discussion, a motion was made by John Greer
and seconded by Tom Kasner to advertise for bids for the aforesaid
storm sewer improvements to be opened at 10:00 o’clock in the
morning on Tuesday, May 12th. All voted for the motion
and it carried.
Councilor Jack Evens, Albany Golf Club Liaison, informed the Council that
the following individuals were elected for a three-year term to the
Board of Directors at the annual stock holders meeting held on April
13th at the Golf Club: David Blenker, Roy Denny, and Dan
Zimmerman. Mr. Evens noted that Steve Schiffler had elected not to
re-run for the Board position after serving twelve years on the
Board. Mr. Evens also presented the 2008 financial report and
discussed the operations of the said Club. After due discussion, a
motion was made by Jack Evens and seconded by John Greer to ratify
the election results of the aforementioned individuals to the Albany
Golf Club Board of Directors. Voting for the motion were Mayor
Dennis Sand, Councilors Jack Evens, and
John Greer
and none voted against. Councilor
Tom Kasner
abstained and the motion carried.
Councilor John Greer, Street Commissioner, presented to the Council a
breakdown of expenses the City incurred for snow removal for the
main street or downtown commercial area. Mr. Greer noted that MN
DOT had reimbursed the City for a portion of the snow removal
expenses which is similar to previous years.
The Council took notice of proposed Assignment and Assumption Agreement on
a request by the Albany Mutual Telephone Association relating to the
existing Water Tower Lease Agreement. Mr. Schneider noted that the
Albany Mutual Telephone Association is requesting that the Water
Tower Lease be assigned to a wholly-owned subsidy company named
Central Stearns Comsis, Inc. After due discussion, a motion was
made by Tom Kasner and seconded by Jack Evens to approve the
aforementioned Assignment and Assumption Agreement and authorize the
Mayor to execute on behalf of the City. All voted for the motion
and it carried.
Mayor Dennis Sand announced the next
regular Council meeting for 6:30 o’clock in the evening on
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 and adjourned the meeting at 8:50 PM.
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
|
