City Council Meeting

Holdingford City Council Meeting and Public Hearing Minutes February 13, 2017 The public hearing was called to order at 6:00pm by Mayor Sue Marstein to hear public comment on the rezoning applications submitted by Opatz Metals and property owner, Karen Schwalbe, for parcel PIN’s 58.33534.0000, 58.3357.0000, and property owned by Opatz Metals, PIN 58.33558.0000 for the purpose of expanding their scrap yard business and rezoning said properties from Residential to Industrial. A letter from the city requesting information was reviewed as well as the response and site drawings from Opatz Metals. Also presented was information pertaining to the floodplain from Ceil Strauss at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a map of the wetland determination from Stearns County, a memo and map from city engineer Scott Lange of SEH with floodplain, wetlands, wellhead protection, and site roadway areas addressed, and a map from the city Wellhead Protection Plan. Letters of concern were read from residents Don Elfering and Bob Lane (attached). Public comments were heard from Steve Blenker of Amerigas, who stated that Holdingford was lucky to have internal businesses who want to expand in the city; Louie Walz voiced support; Joe Scepaniak talked about how the properties along the river have changed since 1959 when his parents bought property for their business, that properties were affected when the 100 year floodplain was established in 2009, that the Schwalbe property was used in similar fashion 50 years ago and he would like to see the council approve the change; Karen Voz, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), noted that according to Minnesota regulations, the isolation distance from a scrap yard to public water supply is fifty (50) feet. She also said it takes about one year for contaminants to move from ground surface to water supply and precautions need be taken to make sure wells are protected; Jeff Burg from Holdingford Mill and Janice Paggen from Jim’s Snowmobile both supported the expansion and rezoning; Jordy Opatz noted that they are not planning to fill in the wetland and since they purchased the business eight years ago, contaminants are contained, they have passed all MPCA testing and have a storm water plan in place. The public hearing was closed at 6:50. Present: Susan Marstein, Eric Berscheid, Mike Odden, Bob Sanchez, Alan Walz, Sandra Meer, Lisa Silbernick, Keith Hommerding, Steve Horvath, Karen Voz-MDH, Ray Becker, Steve Blenker, Jeff Burg, Jeremy Freudenrich, Chase Larson, Jordy & Gary Opatz, Janice Paggen, Lloyd Rausch, Joe Scepaniak, Jon Schave, Gordy Sjaaheim, Louie Walz, and Jerry Winkler. Mayor Sue Marstein called the Holdingford City Council meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was recited Eric Berscheid made a motion to approve the consent agenda to include January 11, 2017 Council Meeting minutes, finance reports, and submitted claims. Mike Odden seconded the motion to approve the consent agenda. AIF Department Reports Liquor Store report was given by Mayor Sue Marstein. January gross revenue =$28,421.05. Expenses =$25,103.64. Year to date lottery proceeds =$257.37. Year to date balance =$3,574.78. There are two bands scheduled this month, The Fun Runs have been slow due to lack of snow. Pat is finalizing numbers on the inventory. Bartender evaluations are in progress. Fire Department report was given by Chief Keith Hommerding. In 2017, they have responded to 14 calls: 2 were fires, 9 medical, 1 cancelled in route, 1 auto accident and 1 hazardous condition: one in Krain Township, six in Holding Township and 7 in the City. The Relief Association is appreciative of over $3,000 in donations from calendar fundraiser. A windshield for the Polaris Ranger was bought with donation funds. The annual breakfast fundraiser is set for March 12th from 8am-noon at City Hall. Free will donations will be accepted. Training this month will be on using the glucometer for diabetes patients and they are planning an active threat training this spring. At the annual fire board meeting, the townships approved an hourly pay increase for the firefighters. Eric Berscheid made a motion to approve the $1.50 per hour pay increase for fire fighters as of January 1, 2017. Bob Sanchez seconded the motion. AIF One new fire fighter has been interviewed and they are waiting on medical exam and fitness test results to bring before the council. Emergency Managers Report was given by Mayor Sue Marstein, who along with Dorine Rausch and Sandra Meer attended the Hazard Mitigation Planning meeting in Brooten on February 2 nd. The city’s mitigation goals will be re-evaluated and submitted to the county. Maintenance Report was read by Maintenance Specialist Steve Horvath. Ziegler, Inc. repaired self-leveling float switch on the loader. All winter preventative maintenance was done on equipment. Lift station panel was finished and installed. Sunset Electric found burnt broken wires on Pump #1 which was sent to Tri-State Pump for repair. The sump pump in the lift station had to be replaced as well. Discussion on water tower mixer will be postponed until the March meeting. During the meeting, Steve received SCADA alert and left to check on the pumps and found the fuses blown on Pump #1 again. More trouble shooting will need to be done on the pump. Pump #2 was pumping. In January; 1,412,200 gallons of well water were pumped and 1,882,000 gallons of wastewater were treated. Unfinished Business The rezoning request from Opatz Metals and Karen Schwalbe was discussed. Council members voiced concerns including need for a topographical survey; once property is zoned Industrial it’s hard to change back; conditions for use would be put on rezoned property; rental property would also be zoned industrial; fencing around property should be same as existing; gate onto Main Street should be set back from the right-of-way; any fill or grading would be sloped away from well head protection area; the DNR will need to be involved with finding elevations for the floodplain; and prior work done by the city for the storm sewer should provide some information for elevations. Following discussion, Eric Berscheid made a motion that property elevations should be determined and if property with elevations of lower than 1134.2 is deemed to be taken out of the floodplain then it would be rezoned from residential to industrial. Motion included recommended conditions as listed in SEH memorandum, with changes to #5, since clarification from MHD specified 50 foot setback, and #3, where council asked that there be no option to obtain permit to fill wetland, which Opatz’s consented to. 1.The property with elevations below 1134.2 are not to be used for any industrial purpose. 2. The site will have a topographic survey completed, with a copy provided to the City, to establish the 1134.2 elevation. This line should be posted on the property. 3. The owner must confirm they will remain clear of any wetlands unless a permit to fill is obtained and agree wetland will not be filled in. 4. Provisions to protect the wellhead must be determined involving control of runoff and possible spills. 5. The industrial processes should remain clear of the 200 50 foot setback from each well. 6. Site roadway and entrance will be constructed and located as approved by the City Engineer. Motion was seconded by Alan Walz. Berscheid, Marstein, Sanchez and Walz voted in favor. Odden opposed. The Maintenance Departments union contract was discussed. Health insurance changes and military benefits will affect both members and requires a change in contract language. A meeting will be set up to negotiate and finalize contract. Water & sewer rate changes and discussion will be postponed until the March meeting. A web based dropbox or similar option will be explored to give council members easier access for information sharing, since the website doesn’t offer a secure option. New Business The city Clean-up Day that is normally scheduled in June will be coordinated with the spring cleanup that the Lioness’s sponsored last year in late April. Mayor Marstein will follow up. A grant application for planning assistance with Safe Routes to School is due on March 3rd. Grants are also available to cover costs associated with implementing the plan. Admin Reports Clerks Report: Albany Mutual Telephone sent notification that they will be removing the antennae from the water tower and cancelling their contract with the city as of May 1, 2017. Nancy Bieniek will have dog, Riley vaccinated and licensed with the city this Wednesday, February 15th. Maintenance staff, Andy Bartkowicz notified the city that he will be deployed overseas for a year, currently scheduled for April 2018- March 2019. Mayor’s Report: There was discussion on compensatory hours for maintenance employees. Andy Bartkowicz had accumulated over 90 hours of comp time by year end before Steve Horvath started working. The council agreed that as per the personnel policy, comp time accumulated over 40 hours should be paid out at the end of the month. A resident on Riverbank Lane had requested help from the Maintenance Department after having sewer problems. The Maintenance department used the jetter and spent an hour helping resident to clear plugged lines on his property. The council agreed that the resident be billed for services according to the fee schedule since the obstruction was on the residential property. Council members noted discolored water during the last few days, which may have been caused by the large amount of water being pumped by the fire department over the weekend. Councilmembers Report: Mike Odden noted improvements at the Historical Museum including a new outer door that Herman Ebnet installed, a 55” color TV mounted with speakers and a new computer that were bought with proceeds from the “MN 13: From Grain to Glass” DVD. The theme for this summers’ Holdingford Days will center on the area’s Minnesota 13 prohibition heritage. Announcements Residents who are delinquent on their utility payments are: Dave Hagemann, Hyatt House, Wayne Johnston, Jesse Johnson, Brenda Rybak, James Taylor, Scott Zehowski, and Jenny Gunderson. Next Council Meeting: Monday, March 13, 2017, at 7:00pm, work session at 6:00pm for water & sewer rate adjustments. City offices will be closed on February 20th for Presidents Day. A motion was made by Alan Walz to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Bob Sanchez. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sandra Meer City Clerk, Holdingford JANUARY 2017 Department Gross Pay General $ 4,973.12 Public Works $ 4,111.28 Fire $ Liquor $ 5,132.64 Total $ 14,217.04 2 pay periods ending 1/6, 1/20 City of Holdingford - Equal Opportunity Provider Accounts Payable Check Register Report - STEARNS BANK For The Fiscal Periods Range From 2016-12 To 2016-12 For All Vendors And For Outstanding, Cleared, Voided Checks - Computer Generated Check # Type Date Vendor Name Amount Status 32515 C 1/11/2017 704 AFSCME Council 65 $78.79 C 32516 C 1/11/2017 824 American Solutions for Business $98.12 C 32517 C 1/11/2017 6 AmeriPride Linen $128.34 C 32518 C 1/11/2017 9 Bernick's Pepsi-Cola $336.26 C 32520 C 1/11/2017 18 C & L Distributing, Inc $3,342.40 C 32521 C 1/11/2017 21 Central MN. Alarms, Inc. $75.00 C 32522 C 1/11/2017 48 D & D Beverage $132.00 C 32523 C 1/11/2017 80 Gopher State One-Call, Inc $1.35 C 32524 C 1/11/2017 92 Headley Hardware $416.56 C 32525 C 1/11/2017 481 Heggies Pizza $117.70 C 32526 C 1/11/2017 614 Holdingford Gas and Grocery $367.65 C 32527 C 1/11/2017 109 Hommerding Plumbing & Heating $241.90 C 32528 C 1/11/2017 691 Integra Telecom $204.54 C 32529 C 1/11/2017 119 Johnson Brothers Liquor C $1,791.36 C 32530 C 1/11/2017 686 Lake Region Firefighters Ass'n $40.00 C 32531 C 1/11/2017 730 Midcontinent Business Solutions $226.09 C 32532 C 1/11/2017 687 MN Dept Hlth, MDH $456.00 C 32533 C 1/11/2017 172 MN Licensed Beverage Assoc $360.00 C 32534 C 1/11/2017 179 MN State Fire Dept. Assn $148.00 C 32535 C 1/11/2017 191 Northland Trust Services, Inc $56,058.75 C 32536 C 1/11/2017 207 Postmaster $580.00 C 32538 C 1/11/2017 685 Star Publications, LLC $219.15 C 32540 C 1/11/2017 241 Stearns County Chiefs Assn $15.00 C 32541 C 1/11/2017 243 Stearns County Sheriff's Office $6,500.00 C 32542 C 1/11/2017 915 Steve Horvath $94.99 C 32543 C 1/11/2017 804 Toshiba Financial Services $99.12 C 32544 C 1/11/2017 267 Tri-County Septic Service $135.00 C 32545 C 1/11/2017 271 UC Lab $844.00 C 32546 C 1/11/2017 276 United Systems Technology $12.56 C 32547 C 1/11/2017 339 Verizon Wireless $89.43 C 32548 C 1/11/2017 359 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655038-6 $997.80 C 32549 C 1/11/2017 361 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655039-7 $986.86 C 32550 C 1/11/2017 358 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655040-0 $2,875.77 C 32551 C 1/11/2017 292 Ziegler $49.45 C 32557 C 1/26/2017 873 CenturyLink $63.42 C 32561 C 1/26/2017 52 E. A. Sween Company $64.25 C 32562 C 1/26/2017 70 Frito-Lay, Inc $46.86 C 32563 C 1/26/2017 787 Granite City Jobbing Co $679.06 C 32564 C 1/26/2017 340 HACH COMPANY $334.27 C 32579 C 1/26/2017 903 Upper Lakes Foods, Inc. $443.46 C 32580 C 1/26/2017 281 Viking Coca Cola Bottling $301.00 C 32581 C 1/26/2017 359 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655038-6 $717.59 C 32582 C 1/26/2017 383 XCEL ENERGY 51-5655041-1 $746.05 C 32583 C 1/26/2017 519 XCEL ENERGY 51-8242904-3 $50.17 C 32519 C 1/11/2017 828 Brian Zapzalka $800.00 O 32537 C 1/11/2017 914 Ryan Winter $500.00 O 32539 C 1/11/2017 391 Stearns Co. Municipal League $20.00 O 32553 C 1/26/2017 883 Amber Molitor $9.72 O 32554 C 1/26/2017 9 Bernick's Pepsi-Cola $699.95 O 32555 C 1/26/2017 18 C & L Distributing, Inc $1,948.05 O 32556 C 1/26/2017 21 Central MN. Alarms, Inc. $128.85 O 32558 C 1/26/2017 477 Dan Gerads $9.72 O 32559 C 1/26/2017 655 David Yurczyk $20.00 O 32560 C 1/26/2017 370 Dorine Rausch $9.72 O 32565 C 1/26/2017 90 Harry's Frozen Foods $88.50 O 32566 C 1/26/2017 481 Heggies Pizza $93.00 O 32567 C 1/26/2017 119 Johnson Brothers Liquor C $2,637.96 O 32568 C 1/26/2017 136 League of MN Cities $325.00 O 32569 C 1/26/2017 297 McDowall Company $405.25 O 32570 C 1/26/2017 553 Melvin Breth $75.20 O 32571 C 1/26/2017 917 Mike Schmidt $9.72 O 32572 C 1/26/2017 911 MN PEIP $2,363.00 O 32573 C 1/26/2017 638 MNDNR Ecological and Water Resources $155.24 O 32574 C 1/26/2017 389 Pat's Floral Design $53.44 O 32575 C 1/26/2017 918 Positive Promotions, Inc $403.33 O 32576 C 1/26/2017 750 St Cloud Times #1076 $37.00 O 32577 C 1/26/2017 242 Stearns Cty Auditor-Treas $394.00 O 32578 C 1/26/2017 263 Tom's Refuse $6,088.08 O Cleared $81,566.07 Outstanding $17,274.73 Void $0.00