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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,
February 4, 2009, in
the Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said City.
AGENDA
1. Convene meeting
2. Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm. – administer oath of office to
Mayor elect Dennis Sand
3. Audit Bills
4. Act on regular Council minutes of the meeting held on January
21st
5. Public comments/discussion
6. Jeff Johnson, City Assessor – discuss 2009 annual assessor’s
report and upcoming Board of Review and Equalization meeting
7. Stan Hanson, City Engineer - present plans and
specifications for proposed 2009 Capital Improvements and related
resolutions, set bid date
8. Joseph Mergen, Public Works Supervisor - present past due
water bill and recommendation to discontinue water service as per
Ordinance No. 30.
- present 2008 water pumping
information
9. Daron Gersch, Utility Department and Community Education
Liaison
10. Dennis Sand, Park Department, and Equipment
11. Tom Kasner, Fire Department and EDA
12. Jack Evens, Golf Club
13.
John Greer, Police and Street Department – stop sign analysis
discussion
14. James Stueve, Police Chief
15.
Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm – present MN Lawful Gambling exempt
permit request by Church of Seven Dolors, proposed 2009-10 LGA cuts
16. Mayor’s announcements and letters
17. Announce meeting date (Feb. 18th) and adjourn
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 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,
February 4, 2009, in the Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the
said City.
Other Council members present were: John Greer, Jack Evens, Tom
Kasner, and Daron Gersch. None were absent.
Also present were: Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm., Joseph Mergen, Public Works
Supervisor, Mike Kosik, Editor, Stearns Morrison Enterprise, Randy
Pelzer, resident property owner, Stan Hanson, P.E. Bonestroo, Inc.,
Matt Mohs, PE., Bonestroo, Inc., Jeffrey Eggert, Patrol Officer, and
James Stueve, Police Chief.
Mr. Schneider administered the Oath of Office to Mayor elect Dennis Sand.
After due discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Tom
Kasner to authorize the payment of the
following: Check Numbers 59191 to 59229 and 13097 to 13110. 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 January 21st and
hearing no other corrections and/or additions declared the said
minutes approved.
Mr. Kasner informed the
Council, on behalf of the Albany Area Jaycees, that the Council
consider approval of a Large Gathering Permit for their annual
fundraiser called the Ice Cup Golf Challenge to be held on the North
Lake on Saturday, February 28th. After due discussion, a motion was
made by Daron Gersch and seconded by Jack Evens to approve the
aforesaid Permit for the Albany Area Jaycees contingent upon receipt
and liability insurance certificate. All voted for the motion and
it carried.
Jeff Johnson, Stearns County Appraiser for the Stearns County Assessor’s Office, the
City’s appointed Assessor, appeared before the Council to present
information pertaining to the 2009 Annual Assessor’s Report and
taxes payable for the year 2009. Mr. Johnson informed the Council
that residential properties will see a decrease in market value
between 3% and 5%, but commercial/industrial property valuations
will increase 3% to 5%. Mr. Johnson noted that the City’s Board of
Review/equalization meeting will be held at
6:00 PM,
on Wednesday, May 6th at City Hall and notices to be mailed to
property owners in the month of April. Mayor Dennis Sand directed
Mr. Johnson to schedule an informational meeting at City Hall a week
or so before the Board of Review meeting to allow property owners an
opportunity to review their property details privately.
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. Mr. Pelzer questioned why the City
doesn’t provide change for those residents who wish to pay their
water bill in cash at City Hall. Mr. Schneider noted that water
bills can also be paid at Stearns Bank and/or the Central MN Federal
Credit Union which can provide the appropriate change, but for some
reason or another, there has been more individuals paying their
water bill in cash at City Hall. Mr. Stueve informed the Council
that he too has experienced the same issues regarding his
department’s inability to provide adequate change to someone paying
a fine or ticket in cash. Mayor Dennis Sand, with the consensus of
the Council, directed Mr. Schneider to prepare a change box to be
used when individuals pay their City bills, fines, and/or permits in
cash. Mayor Dennis Sand, also 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.
Mr. Mergen informed the Council that the City pumped 123,433,000 gallons
of water in the year 2008 or 338,172 gallons per day which was
nearly nine million gallons less per year than 2007.
Mayor Dennis Sand questioned if any action needs to be taken regarding
quote of $7,900 from Bonestroo, Inc. to conduct a traffic study
regarding the proposed installation of stop signs for that area
north of
Railroad Avenue and south of
Lake Avenue (old part of City). Mr. Evens noted that a traffic analysis would be
useful, but the costs seems a too high having to consider cutting
budget items due to loss of Local Government Aid (LGA) in 2009. Mr.
Stueve informed the Council that the radar unit in his squad car can
record date, time, speed, etc. of vehicles and that information can
be presented at a future Council meeting for the aforementioned
streets. Mayor Dennis Sand, with the consensus of the Council,
directed Mr. Stueve to prepare the necessary information to the
Council at the March 18th meeting and noted that the City
will not conduct a traffic study at a cost of $7,900.
Mayor Dennis Sand, with the consensus of the Council, directed Mr. Mergen
to obtain a cost estimate for the installation of street lights on
County Road #54 between
Fairway Drive and the southern entrance of the Albany Area Schools.
The Council took notice of a Minnesota Lawful Gambling Exempt Permit
Application submitted by the Church of Seven Dolors for the
following activities to be held on March 29th: 1)
Christen Mothers bingo and, 2) Holy Family School calendar raffle.
After due discussion, a motion was made by Tom Kasner and seconded
by Daron Gersch to approve the said Application. All voted for the
motion and it carried.
Mr. Schneider presented to the Council an annual request from Dennis
Fuchs, Administrator for the Stearns County Soil and Water
Conservation District, for financial support of $1,000 based on the
City’s population to be used for financing the position of Stearns
County Urban Conservationist which is designed to assist
participating cities and others in protecting our natural
resources. Mr. Gersch informed the Council that he would support
this request being the City is currently using their services for
the North Lake Shoreline Restoration Improvements. After due
discussion, a motion was made by Daron Gersch and seconded by John
Greer to authorize a payment of $1,000 to the Stearns County Soil
and Water Conversation District for the position of Stearns County
Urban Conservationists. All voted for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Hanson appeared before the Council to present the final plans
and specifications for the
2009 Golf View Drive and Fairway Drive Street Improvements. Mr. Hanson questioned if the
Council would consider their firm as an alternative bid to seed and
hydro-mulch the boulevard being many of the complaints received on
previous reconstruction projects have been in this area of the
project. Mr. Mergen noted that he has experienced issues with final
landscaping on public improvement projects; whereby many landscapers
rarely complete a job that satisfies a homeowner and recommends that
Bonestroo be considered as an alternate bid for the seeding and
hydro-mulch. Mayor Dennis Sand questioned if more stringent
specifications can be written to reduce the amount of problems that
the City may encounter with final landscaping for projects. Mr.
Hanson noted that the bid date for the proposed improvements would
be March 10th. After due discussion, a motion was made by
Jack Evens to include the aforementioned bid alternative for the
seed and hydro-mulch and introduced the following Resolution and
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION 2009-005
RESOLUTION APPROVING PLANS AND
SPECIFICATIONS
AND ORDERING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
2009 GOLF VIEW DRIVE AND FAIRWAY
DRIVE
STREET IMPROVEMENTS
The motion for the foregoing
Resolution was seconded by John Greer and after a full discussion
thereon and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following voted in
favor thereof: Mayor Dennis Sand, Councilors Daron Gersch, Jack
Evens, Tom Kasner, 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 also presented the
final plans
and specifications for the
2009 2nd
Street and Railroad Avenue (State T.H. 238) Storm Sewer
Improvements. Mr. Hanson informed the Council that the information
will be forwarded to MN DOT for final approval with construction to
begin in the spring of 2009. After due discussion, a motion was
made by Daron Gersch and seconded by Tom Kasner to approve the final
plans and specifications for the 2009 2nd Street and
Railroad Avenue (State T.H. 238) Storm Sewer Improvements. All voted
for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Hanson informed the Council that the MN DOT application for the
Transportation Enhancement Funding for the Railroad (State T.H. 238)
Avenue Walkability Improvements has been submitted and that the City
will present and discuss the application with MN DOT officials on
Thursday, February 12th. Mr. Hanson also noted that the
“stimulus package” being discussed by the Federal Government may
trickle down to local jurisdictions which may include
Railroad Avenue being it is designated as a
State Highway. Mr. Greer informed the Council that Railroad Avenue is recognized in
the City’s Capital Improvement Plan to be reconstructed in the year
2013 and that it may be prudent to authorize the City Engineer to
prepare a preliminary engineering report so the City is prepared to
expedite the public improvement process if the federal monies are
quickly allocated for funding reconstruction projects beginning in
2009. Mayor Dennis Sand, with the consensus of the Council,
informed Mr. Hanson that this topic can be discussed at the next
Council meeting.
The Council took notice of a letter the City received from the MN
Department of Revenue informing the City that the City’s Local
Government Aid (LGA) will be reduced $65,296 in 2009 and $136,349 in
the year 2010 due to the State’s projected long-term deficit of five
billion dollars over the next two years. Mr. Schneider recommended
to the Council that the loss of the LGA in 2009 can be covered by
$70,000 that was undesignated. Mayor Dennis Sand, with the
consensus of the Council, directed Mr. Schneider and two other
Council members to meet to discuss the LGA loss for the year 2010
and related cuts in preparation of the 2010 Budget.
Mayor Dennis Sand announced the next
regular Council meeting for 6:30 o’clock in the evening on
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 and adjourned the meeting at 8:40 PM.
Tom Schneider,
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY,
FEBRUARY 18, 2009, CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
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,
February 18, 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
February 4th
4. Public comments/discussion
5. Mayor Dennis Sand presentation of plaque to Albany Area
Jaycees for their dedication and commitment to the development of
the Lake Wobegon Trail
6. Stan Hanson, City Engineer – discuss proposed preliminary
engineering report for Railroad Avenue (T.H. 238) Reconstruction
Improvements
- update on Railroad Avenue
Walkability Improvement application that was not approved by the
Region 7W Board
7. Joseph Mergen, Public Works Supervisor - update Council on
radio read water meter upgrade for residential, commercial, and
industrial users
8. Daron Gersch, Utility Department and Community Education
Liaison
9. Dennis Sand, Park Department, and Equipment
10. Tom Kasner, Fire Department and EDA – update on Fire Board
meeting held on February 12th
11. Jack Evens, Golf Club
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 (March 4th) and adjourn
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 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,
February 18, 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, Mike Kosik, Editor, Stearns Morrison Enterprise, Stan
Hanson, P.E. Bonestroo, Inc., and James Stueve, Police Chief.
After due discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Tom
Kasner to authorize the payment of the
following: Check Numbers 59230 to 59263 and 13111 to 13124. 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 February 4th
and hearing no other corrections and/or additions declared the said
minutes approved.
Kevin Boemer,
Advanced Waste Systems, appeared before the Council on behalf of
Bueckers City Sanitation, the City’s residential refuse contractor,
to provide accurate information to the Council regarding the sale of
their Willmar division of Bueckers City Sanitation, but noted the
Sauk Centre operation was not part of the sale. Mr. Boemer
encouraged any Council members to call him with questions regarding
the operation and/or services being provided by Bueckers City
Sanitation.
Chad Bueckers,
owner of Affordable Disposal and Recycling, Melrose, MN, appeared
before the Council to inform the Council that his intentions are to
provide information regarding his business to the Council at the
next Council meeting. Mr. Greer informed Mr. Boemer and Mr.
Bueckers that the City’s existing refuse contract with Bueckers City
Sanitation does not expire until December 31, 2011 and no action
will be taken until that time regarding the existing residential
refuse contract.
Jim Mergen, Ryan Eiden,
Mitch Bates, and Jim Blenker were present for the meeting.
Mr. Eiden, owner of
Straight Line Auto Glass, appeared before the Council to question
the proposed reconstruction of Railroad Avenue (Mainstreet) and
encouraged the Council to be cautious when considering the
improvements because of the potential costs of assessments to
businesses. Mr. Eiden recommended that the Council form a
committee to address concerns that business (property) owners may
have regarding the proposed improvements. Mayor Dennis Sand informed
Mr. Eiden that his concerns will be addressed by Mr. Hanson later in
the meeting and thanked him for his comments and suggestions.
Wade Schimmelpfenning,
President Albany Area Jaycees, Bob Mergen, Randy Ritter, Sheri
Thill, Chad Schmidt, and Bruce Rakotz, members of the Albany Area
Jaycees, were present for the meeting.
Mayor Dennis Sand
welcomed everyone from the Albany Area Jaycees to the meeting;
whereby he commended them for their efforts in the development of
the Lake Wobegon Trail and continued support of the trail
activities. Mayor Dennis Sand, on behalf of the Council, presented
to the organization a plaque in appreciation of their dedication and
commitment to the development of the Lake Wobegon Trail and noted
that the plaque will be displayed on the shelter in the Veteran’s
Park.
Mr. Hanson informed the Council that the MN DOT Transportation Enhancement
Funding application for the Railroad (State T.H. 238) Avenue
Walkability Improvements did not get approved. Mr. Hanson noted
that the grant application was for $311,000 and ranked the highest
of the three applicants, but none were approved by the advisory
committee and the federal monies will be spent on roads, bridges,
safety, preservation, and railroad crossings within Region 7W. Mr.
Hanson noted that the total costs for the proposed improvements were
$455,000 and the City’s share was $144,000. Mr. Hanson also noted
that the improvements consisted of a Lake Wobegon Trail connection,
stamped concrete sidewalk design, handicap accessible curb cuts,
tree planting, overhead wire removal, ornamental street lights, and
decorative street signs along
Railroad Avenue. Mr. Greer commended Bonestroo staff for all the hard work that went into
the said application.
Mr. Hanson updated the Council that the Federal Economic Stimulus package
or American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which will provide federal
funds to the State of Minnesota who will dispense those funds on
various improvement projects throughout the State. Mr. Hanson noted
that no specific action has been taken by the State on how or where
those funds will be spent, but it’s of his opinion that the monies
may not be available to the City for various street, water, and
sewer improvements. Mayor Dennis Sand noted that more details on
the stimulus package will be forthcoming in the next few weeks and
can be discussed at the next Council meeting.
Mr. Hanson
informed the Council that other funding to be considered and/or had
been discussed to reconstruct Railroad Avenue (T.H. 238) from 1st
Street to 8th Street is the Local Initiative Project
Development Process for District 3 consisting of a grant up
$1,000,000 dollars depending on the funding year, but the City would
be competing with other applicants for dollars allocated that year.
Mr. Hanson noted that a preliminary engineering report is required
for the aforesaid grant program and/or for the public improvement
for an estimated cost of $15,000. Mr. Greer informed the Council
that Railroad Avenue is identified on the City’s Capital Improvement
Plan and if funds become immediately available either by the Federal
Economic Stimulus package or Local Initiative Program, it would be
wise that the City authorize Bonestroo to begin preparation of the
said Engineering Report. Mr. Hanson noted that soil borings will
be required at an estimated cost of $4,000 and approval to solicit
bids be considered. Mr. Kasner noted that he would support the
idea of a committee consisting of business owners to assure that all
concerns and questions are addressed before the improvements are
finalized for Railroad Avenue. Mr. Greer noted that if the City is
not successful in securing funding from MN DOT, the information in
the engineering report and soil borings can be used again if the
project is delayed until 2013.
After due
discussion, a motion was made by John Greer to who introduced the
following Resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION 2009-006
CALLING FOR A PRELIMINARY
ENGINEERING REPORT
RAILROAD AVENUE (T.H. 238)
IMPROVEMENTS
The motion for the foregoing
Resolution was seconded by Daron Gersch and after a full discussion
thereon and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following voted in
favor thereof: Mayor Dennis Sand, Councilors Daron Gersch, Tom
Kasner, 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, with the consensus of the Council,
directed Mr. Hanson to solicit soil borings for the aforesaid
improvements.
Mr. Mergen informed the Council that
he has been replacing older water meters throughout the City with
radio-read meters to improve efficiency and reliability of the water
meter reading process; whereby another eighty radio-read meters will
be purchased this year at an estimated cost of $16,000.
Mr. Stueve presented to the Council a
2008 year-end activity report compared to 2007 for the Police
Department. No action was taken by the Council.
Mayor Dennis Sand announced the next
regular Council meeting for 6:30 o’clock in the evening on
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 and adjourned the meeting at 8:05 PM.
Tom Schneider,
Clerk/Adm. |
