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NOTICE OF
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY,
JANUARY 2, 2008
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008, CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2008, CITY
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
There will be a regular meeting of the Council
in and for the City of Albany,
Stearns County, Minnesota at
6:30 o’clock in the
evening on
Wednesday, January 2, 2008,
in the Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said City.
AGENDA
1.
Convene meeting
2.
Audit Bills
3.
Act on Council minutes of the meeting of December 19th
4.
Public comments/discussion
5.
Geneva Haux – request of early
restoration of rental license at 379 Railroad Avenue
6.
John J. Hoefs, CEO Mother of Mercy Campus of Care –
present Resolution for the issuance of $5.1 million dollar
Non-Profit Revenue Bonds
7.
Joseph Mergen, Public Works Supervisor
8.
Dennis Sand, Park Department & EDA
9.
James Beuning, Utility Department and Equipment
10.
Tom Kasner, Fire Department
11.
Jack Evens, Golf Club
12.
John Greer, Street Department & Police Department
13.
James Stueve, Police Chief
14.
Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm. – MN Lawful Gambling
Application Holy Family School
15.
Mayor’s announcements and letters
16.
Announce meeting dates and adjourn
Tom
Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008, 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, January 2, 2008, in the
Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said City.
Other members present were: Councilors
James Beuning, Tom Kasner, and Jack Evens. Councilor John Greer
arrived at
6:45PM.
None were absent.
Joseph
Mergen, Public Works Supervisor, James Stueve, Police Chief,
Matt Mohs, City Engineer, with the firm of Bonestroo, Inc.,
St. Cloud,
MN,
and Mike Kosik, Editor, Stearns Morrison Enterprise, were
present for the meeting.
After due
discussion, a motion was made by Tom Kasner and seconded by
James Beuning to authorize the payment of
the following: Check Numbers 58135 to 58162 and 12675 to 12690.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
Geneva Haux,
owner of property at
379 Railroad Avenue
and Chris Haux, were present for the meeting. Mr. Schneider
informed the Council that the City received from Ms. Haux a
Petition for Early Restoration of her rental license at 379
Railroad Avenue. Mr. Schneider noted that Dan Marthaler,
Building Official, and Susan DiMaggio-Boom, Police Department
CSO, agent for Crime Free Multi Housing inspected the property
and found everything to be in order for early restoration of her
rental license. After due discussion and careful consideration,
a motion was made by Jack Evens and seconded by Tom Kasner to
restore the rental license for Ms. Haux at 379 Railroad Avenue
having successfully completed the repairs as per the Ordinance.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
John Hoefs,
Administrator, Mother of Mercy Campus of Care, appeared before
the Council to present a resolution for purpose issuance of
nearly $5.1 million dollars of non-profit revenue bonds to
provide funds to refinance existing debt, construction of an
addition to the nursing home and improvements to the existing
facilities. After due discussion,
a motion was made by Tom Kasner
who introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-001
RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO ISSUE
REVENUE BONDS
FOR A PROJECT BY MOTHER OF MERCY
CAMPUS OF CARE
UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTUES,
CHAPTERS 462C AND 469
The motion for the
foregoing Resolution was seconded by James Beuning and after a
full discussion thereon and upon a vote being taken thereon, the
following voted in favor thereof: Mayor Dennis Sand, Councilors
James Beuning, Tom Kasner, and Jack Evens 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 regular office hours.
Councilor John Greer
arrived for the meeting at
6:45PM. Ted
Boran, Patrol Officer was present for the meeting.
Mr. Mergen informed
the Council that Well No. 1, 221 4th Street, and Well
No. 2, 1030 6th Street, will need to be permanently
sealed being both are no longer used to pump water for the
City’s Water Distribution System having recently constructed a
new Water Treatment Plant which includes three new wells. Mr.
Mergen recommended that the City obtain quotations to seal both
wells and demolish the building at Well No. 1. After due
discussion, a motion was made by James Beuning and seconded by
Jack Evens to authorize the preparation of plans and
specifications to obtain quotations for the closure of Wells No.
1 and 2 including the demolition of the building at Well No. 1.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Mohs appeared
before the Council to discuss the County Road 54 Utility
Improvements which are listed in the Capital Improvement Plan
for construction in 2012. Mr. Mohs noted that the Council
should consider the said Improvements to be constructed in 2008
in conjunction with the proposed trunk utility extension
improvements south of Inspiration Lane in the Albany Business
and Industrial Park. Mr. Mohs noted that the improvements will
increase fire flows to Wells Concrete Products, water quality,
and creates a redundancy or looping of the water system to all
users in the Albany Business and Industrial Park. Mr. Mohs also
noted that he would recommend that the County Road 54
Improvements be added to the infrastructure application to the
MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
relating to the Wells Concrete Products project. After due
discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Jack
Evens to authorize the City Engineer to prepare the plans and
specifications for the County Road 54 Utility Improvements and
if possible, add this project to the DEED application. All
voted for the motion and it carried.
Councilor Jack Evens,
Albany Golf Course Liaison, presented a preliminary financial
report of the 2007 operations of the said Club and noted that a
final audit will be completed within the next few months.
The Council took notice of two applications for a Minnesota Lawful
Gambling Exempt Permit submitted by the Knights of Columbus to
conduct their annual raffle and the Church of Seven Dolors for a
raffle to be held each day in the month of April. After due
discussion, a motion was made by Tom Kasner and seconded by John
Greer to approve the said applications. 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, January 16, 2008 and adjourned the meeting at 7:35
PM.
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
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 Acting Mayor James
Beuning at 6:30 o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, January 16,
2008, in the Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said
City.
Other Council members present were: Tom
Kasner, John Greer, and Jack Evens. Mayor Dennis Sand was
absent.
Joseph
Mergen, Public Works Supervisor, James Stueve, Police Chief,
Matt Mohs, City Engineer, with the firm of Bonestroo, Inc.,
St. Cloud,
MN,
and Mike Kosik, Editor, Stearns Morrison Enterprise, were
present for the meeting.
After due
discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Tom
Kasner to authorize the payment of the
following: Check Numbers 58163 to 58223 and 12691 to 12705.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
Acting
Mayor James Beuning called for any corrections or additions to
the minutes of the regular meeting held on December 19th.
Mr. Schneider informed the Council that a resolution should
have been considered rather than a motion to adopt Appendix A,
2008 Albany Schedule of Fees and Charges. After due discussion,
a motion was made by John Greer who introduced the following
Resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION
(2008-002)
ADOPTING
APPENDIX “A”
ALBANY
SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES
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: Acting Mayor
James Beuning, John Greer, Tom Kasner, and Jack Evens 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 regular office
hours.
Acting Mayor James Beuning called for any corrections or additions to the
minutes of the regular meeting held on January 2nd
and hearing none declared them approved.
Cheryl Toenyan, Albany Postmaster, Laura Brown, Acting Albany Postmaster,
Dennis Stang, James Sand, Jamie Thelen, Ross Voit, Roger Dowell,
and Roger Voit, were present for the meeting.
Garry Mattox, Real
Estate Specialist, United States Post Office, Englewood,
Colorado, appeared before the Council to discuss the proposed
new Post Office Project in Albany. Mr. Mattox noted that the
Postal Service has determined that the present postal facility
located at 141 5th Street is inadequate to serve the
future postal needs of Albany and that funding has been approved
to construct a new building or remodel an existing building in
the community. Mr. Mattox informed the Council that on or
before September 30th, a location or site for a new
Post Office must be determined and if not, then Albany will go
to the bottom of the project list which will be another five
years before funding will be considered. Mr. Mattox noted that
the next step is that postal architects will conduct an
inspection on the existing postal building and upon the
completion of their evaluation, decide how the project will
proceed (expansion or relocation). Mr. Mattox informed the
Council that the postal service will then advertise in the local
newspaper for possible buildings and/or sites for a new post
office that will serve the needs of the community for many
years. Councilor Jack Evens questioned if the postal service
prefers vacant land or demolition of existing homes for a
potential site and would object to the idea that the new post
office be located several blocks from the downtown area. Mr.
Mattox noted that if the postal service receives no offers from
property owners for potential sites from advertising, the City
may consider forming a committee, but no analysis would be
required if plenty of offers from property owners are received.
Acting Mayor James Beuning thanked Mr. Mattox for attending the
meeting and providing information to the Council and public
relating to the steps involved in constructing a new Post Office
in the City of Albany.
Traci Ryan, David
Drown Associates, appeared before the Council to present a
proposed Tax Abatement and JOBZ Business Subsidy Agreement by
and between the City of Albany and Wells Concrete Products
Company. Mr. Ryan noted that the said Agreement includes
information when construction and business operation is to
begin, job creation, wages, benefits, penalties, public purpose,
representations and warranties. Mr. Mohs informed the Council
that the proposed County Road 54 Water/Sewer Improvements will
provide a benefit to Wells Concrete Products and the watermain
expenses are included in the Project Budget for Wells Concrete.
After due discussion and careful consideration, a motion was
made by John Greer and seconded by Jack Evens to authorize Mayor
Dennis Sand to execute the said Agreement on behalf of the City
between the City and Wells Concrete Products. All voted for the
motion and it carried.
Scott Daninger,
resident property owner and teacher at the Albany High School
and Laurie Stein, teacher at the Albany Elementary, were present
for the meeting.
Mr. Daninger appeared
before the Council to solicit a financial donation and present
information relating to the annual Middle Sauk River Water
Festival, an educational water resources program for fourth
grade students in Sauk Centre, Melrose, Meire Grove, Freeport,
and Albany. Mr. Daninger noted that Albany has participated in
this program for the past few years and students learn who,
what, where, when, why and how we can help preserve and protect
water. Mr. Mergen noted that when the City participates in the
Well Head Protection Program, a requirement from the MN
Department of Health, the City is required to provide annual
educational information regarding ground water. Mr. Mergen
informed the Council that he had no objection if the Council
would support the request. After due discussion, a motion was
made by John Greer and seconded by Tom Kasner to donate $250 to
the Middle Sauk River Water Festival. All voted for the motion
and it carried.
Councilor John Greer,
Planning Commission Liaison, informed the Council that the
Planning Commission met to discuss Stearns County Directional
signs erected at the intersection of Stearns County Highway
No.’s 41 and 10. Mr. Greer noted that the signs were erected
several years ago to provide direction to motorists for
businesses south of Interstate 94 and with the addition of the
Albany Business and Industrial Park, additional requests are
being made to the Stearns County Highway Department. Mr. Greer
noted that they really don’t fit any definitions in the Zoning
Ordinance and relate to informational signs within public
right-of-way. Mr. Greer informed the Council that the Planning
Commission is concerned about the number of signs potentially
that would be erected by the County in the future at this
intersection and would rather see one large sign on private
property that is uniform in nature providing direction to the
Albany Business and Industrial Park and other business south of
Interstate 94. After due discussion, a motion was made by Jack
Evens and seconded by John Greer to direct the City
Clerk/Administrator to meet with the Stearns County Highway
Engineer to inform them that the City will only allow a maximum
of sixteen (16) Stearns County business directional signs in the
right-of-way at the intersection of Stearns County Highway No.’s
41 and 10. All voted for the motion and it carried. Acting
Mayor James Beuning, with the consensus of the Council, took no
action on the limiting the number of Stearns County directional
signs along Stearns County Highway 41 adjacent to the Albany
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Councilor John Greer,
Street Department Liaison, presented to the Council a cost
estimate for the proposed 2008 Seal Coat Improvements. Mr.
Greer noted that the streets proposed for seal coating are those
streets north of Railroad Avenue between 1st and 12th
Street, and Lake Avenue. After due discussion, a motion was
made by John Greer and seconded by Jack Evens to authorize the
City Engineer to prepare the plans, specifications, and bid
documents for the aforesaid Improvements. All voted for the
motion and it carried.
Mr. Stueve presented
the following two quotes he received for purchasing an Outdoor
Warning Siren: 1) Federal Warning Systems, $11,999; 2) Danko
Emergency Equipment, $14,092. After due discussion, a motion was
made by John Greer and seconded by Tom Kasner to accept the low
bid from Federal Warning Systems to purchase an Outdoor Warning
Siren in the amount of $11,999. All voted for the motion and it
carried.
Mr. Schneider
presented to the Council the following two quotes he received
for a land appraisal on City property known as Well No. 2 at
1030 6th Street: 1) Lenzmeier Real Estate Services,
$1,800; 2) Granite City Appraisal, $500. After due discussion, a
motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Jack Evens to
accept the low bid from Granite City Appraisal for an appraisal
in the amount of $500. All voted for the motion and it carried.
The Council took
notice of a request by the Albany Area Jaycees to use the North
Lake for their annual fund raiser called the Ice Cup Golf
Challenge to be held on Saturday, February 23rd. Mr.
Stueve noted that he has not had any issues in the past and
congratulated the Jaycees for their efforts in making this a
safe event for the participants. After due discussion, a motion
was made by Tom Kasner and seconded by Jack Evens to approve an
Event Permit to the Albany Area Jaycees for the aforementioned
event. All voted for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Schneider
presented to the Council the following proposed Ordinance
amendment as recommended by the Fire and Police Departments;
whereby a motion was made by Tom Kasner who moved its adoption:
AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 82
BUILDING CODE
The City Council for the City of
Albany, HEREBY ORDAINS that
following language is adopted as Section 82.02 of the Albany
City Code:
“Section 82.02: REQUIRED
FIRE ACCESS EQUIPMENT.
Every commercial or industrial building or multi-family
residential dwelling containing 4 or more units within the City
of Albany shall be equipped with a Knox Box approved by the Fire
Chief. The cost of the Knox Box shall be the responsibility of
the property owner. The cost shall be determined by the Council
and established in Appendix A.”
This amendment
shall become effective upon adoption and publication.
This Ordinance was approved by
the majority of the City Council of Albany on this 16th
day of January, 2008.
_________________________
_____________________________
James Beuning, Acting Mayor Tom
Schneider, Clerk/Administrator
( S E A L )
This amendment was published in the Stearns Morrison Enterprise on
January 22, 2008.
The motion for the
foregoing Ordinance amendment was seconded by Jack Evens and
after a full discussion thereon and upon a vote being taken
thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Acting Mayor
James Beuning, John Greer, Tom Kasner, and Jack Evens and none
voted against the same; whereupon the Ordinance amendment was
declared duly passed and adopted.
Acting Mayor James
Beuning questioned if the City would consider forming a
committee to assist in the proposed location of a new Post
Office if the Postal Service receives no offers from
advertising. After due discussion, Acting Mayor James Beuning,
with the consensus of the Council, noted that a committee would
be formed if required.
Mr. Schneider informed the
Council that there will be a public hearing on January 17th
before the Stearns County Planning Commission on a request by
Ken and Kathleen Eickhoff, 21204 Pioneer Road, Albany, to rezone
approximately 39.2 acres from an Agricultural 40 (A-40) zoning
district to a Residential 10 (R-10) zoning district. Acting
Mayor James Beuning, with the consensus of the Council, had no
objection to the aforementioned request and noted that no
comments have been made in the past for R-10 zoning along
Pioneer Road in Albany Township.
Mr. Schneider also informed the
Council that there will be a public hearing on January 22nd
by the Stearns County Planning Commission to consider the
enactment of an Ordinance for the adoption of the Stearns County
Comprehensive Plan. No action was taken by the Council.
Acting Mayor James Beuning
announced the next regular Council meeting for 6:30 o’clock in the evening on Wednesday,
February 6, 2008 and adjourned the meeting at 9:05 PM.
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
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