City Council

MANTORVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2018 6:30 PM 1. Call to Order – Mayor Bradford called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Members Present: Chuck Bradford, Henry Blair, Ryan Christensen, Don Hofstad and Will Lambert. Others Present (that signed in): Dewey Gilbertson, Annette Carlson (and husband), Sharon Davern, Jim Potter, Sheriff Scott Rose, Deputy Ryer Anderson, Deputy Steph French, Gretta Becay, John Buckingham, Tony Bigelow, Anthony Hofstad, Scott Larsen, and Cami Reber 2. Pledge of Allegiance - Done 3. Additions/Deletions to Agenda - None 4. Consent Agenda – Motion made by Member Christensen, second by Member Lambert to approve the consent agenda as follows: a) City Council Meeting Minute’s September 24, 2018 b) Warrant List October 8, 2018 c) Mantorville Fire Department Meeting Minutes October 2018 d) Mantorville EDA Meeting Minutes September 4, 2018 e) Dodge County Sheriffs Call Report for Mantorville September 2018 Motion passed unanimously. 5. Public Concerns - None 6. Public Hearing – None 7. Old Business/New Business a) 9th Street Stop Signs – Annette Carlson and Residents Mantorville Resident, Annette Carlson, 919 Clay Street, approached the Council regarding the recently removed stop signs along 9th Street. Why did they not get notice of the stop signs being removed? If you lived in that area, you would understand why stop signs need to be there. With 3 bus stops on that street and kids getting on, it’s pretty dangerous. It’s a wide open speed way now. Jackie Tague – 215 9th Street West – asked what the City sign policy is. According to the MN MUTCD, the City should have a sign policy before considering adding/removing stop signs of any sort. Dean Bolin – 904 Clay Street – same concerns, there are a lot of little kids in the area. A daycare at 9th and Clay. There has always been a problem with people not stopping at 9th and Clay but now they come off the highway without stopping at 30 plus miles an hour. There are 11 kids under 10 in the area, there was no public input, only one mention of it in the meeting minutes from July and there was no other types of cautionary signs put in place. Dwayne Gilbertson – this is the only street in town that has no stop signs; he has had two vehicles totaled out in the past. He would rather see them stop and go then just remove the stop signs. This is the only through street in the town with no stop signs. Wade Schroeder - 20 9th Street – He didn’t know they were gone, never got a notice, a lot of kids on that street, again, no notice of this happening. Greg Weber – 907 Clay Street – with the east and west streets there was clear visibility; on the north and south sides, there isn’t clear visibility. Why was no one notified about it, this makes him nervous for all of his friends and neighbors who do have children and at least before they slowed down somewhat. Trinity Tague – 215 9th Street West - has to back halfway in the road just to get out and wife has almost been hit many times; he knew there were different options going to be discussed but one day the signs were all gone. Mayor Bradford - he thought notices were going out and apologizes for that; as for a sign policy it must be out dated and we would need to go back and revisit that. We have been discussing the stop sign problems with the county for a few years now. Just because they are out doesn’t mean that they can’t be put back. He did ask the Sheriff to do some extra speed control, did ask for the speed trailer to be put up and he did look at putting other signs up where the stop signs were. What mechanisms can we put in place if they weren’t obeying the stop signs before and now for speeding? Sheriff Scott Rose commented that when they were physically present, people just didn’t go that way. They put the speed trailer out Wednesday – Saturday. He reviewed the data report with everyone and it didn’t show that there was much in the way of speeding along there. People are apt to slow down when they see the speed trailer though. Dewery Gilbertson – too bad we can’t put something up that people can’t see because once people see it, they slow right down. Trinity Tague – they ordered a radar gun and he is going to use it – what can they do with that information? Sheriff Rose commented that unless it is calibrated correctly, they really can’t use the information. Member Christensen – discussed with everyone the reason we came to what we did and what previous discussion has been in the past with our City Engineer. Data and discussion with the City Engineer shows that people tend to speed up in between stop signs versus if there aren’t any. Removing of the stop signs is a test and he is thankful for the dialogue with everyone and wants to work on trying to find a solution. Sharon Davern – did you think to put anything up in place of the stop signs? Did you think to put together a committee to study this as the minutes aren’t showing this? If a traffic sign is going to be added or subtracted there should be some type of warning put on the street – it scares me that things were yanked out of the ground, nothing put in its place or even a warning given. Jim Potter – out of curiosity, how many of those (via speeds data report) registered above 30. So your hearing what the concerns are, if the stop signs there are only a rolling stop or now no stopping, what about a reduction in speed signs? He asked if the number of children in the area are taken into consideration. Sheriff Rose commented that that is up to the State to determine. Guy Kohlenhofer - DC Engineer – He has been doing this for 35 years, he spends a lot of time in safety. The only real sign policy is to follow the MUTCD. He explained how signs give a false sense of security. You need to teach your kids to not play in the street and stay away from traffic. The purpose in putting up a stop sign is to show right of way. If you put up a stop sign in a rare traffic area, most people are not going to stop. There was a lot more discussion and comments on site problems, data being presented, and ways to deter fast traffic. Parking cars along the side of the road has shown to be a way of slowing things down. The morning and evening is the worst time and the most traffic. Look at covert radar detection, and ways to slow down traffic on the road. Discussion on posting speed limit signs and establishing of those. Guy noted the levels of speed signs and the requirements to change that. The State would have to come in and do a speed study and that could actually have an adverse effect and increase the speed. Other ways to deter speeding is bump outs, road striping, and planting trees that will canopy the road. Discussion on obtaining real time  data that will catch what really happens. Shut off the display so it only records activity and doesn’t show the speed. There are no sidewalks along 9th Street, no pedestrian walk way, no safe way to cross 9th Street and no aid there. Member Lambert noted to try and have conversations with the people you know. Sheriff Rose noted that if you know who they are and you can give them the owner of the vehicle, they would be happy to approach them. Jackie Tague – she thinks there is enough people in the group to form a committee to handle this. Jackie will work with Sheriff Scott Rose and someone from the City Council to form a group. A suggestion to add the school transportation director to the committee. Guy will send the Clerk the list of things that can slow down traffic. Mayor Bradford noted that the City will continue to evaluate the situation, monitor it and find solutions that will work for everyone. Have the Committee that is formed review ways to slow down traffic and make recommendations and bring back to the Council for consideration. b) Removal of Brown Shed from WW Site – Quotes Scott pulled together the estimates and presented those to Council. He also included a list of what is currently in the shed and what is needed for the future. He got two estimates for a brand new building and also two estimates for moving the building. His thought is moving the building is half the cost of building a new one. What if we moved the building up there and in the future you can add on to it. He asked for Council direction. Council discussed. The assumption is that they won’t be doing it this year; it isn’t in the budget. There are people interested in taking the old one away as it sits. We may be better off just building new completely. Member Christensen noted that moving the old one and adding new to it doesn’t seem like a good use of funds. They asked that Scott get additional quotes for what something like that would look like. c) Application for Gambling Permit – Dodge County Pheasants Forever Cami explained the gambling event being held at the Saloon on December 1 by Dodge County Pheasants Forever. Motion made by Member Blair, second by Member Hofstad to approve the gambling permit for the Dodge County Pheasants Forever. Motion passed unanimously. d) Resolution 2018-17 – RESOLUTION APPROVING A LOT SPLIT FOR PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY OF MANTORVILLE The resolution presented is for the lot split of the water tower land. Motion made by Member Blair, second by Member Christensen to approve RESOLUTION 2018-17, A resolution approving a lot split for property owned by the City of Mantorville. Motion passed unanimously. e) Development Agreement Stagecoach Trails Subdivision Cami presented the Development Agreement for the Stagecoach trails Subdivision for questions, comments and approval by the City Council. She noted that this agreement was put together by the City Attorney and has been reviewed by our City Engineer and the Bigelow’s. There were no questions or comments made. Motion by Member Christensen, second by Member Hofstad to approve the development agreement as presented with any revisions approved by the City Attorney. Motion passed unanimously. f) Request for Comment on Land Use Proposal – Dodge County Environmental Services Community Septic System. This is within the Township, not the City but because we are within 2 miles, the City does get to comment. This is for rezone for the future development. Cami noted that the City doesn’t have plans in the future for annexation beyond the West Side City limits but we may be interested in suggesting a community septic system for future connection to City utilities should we ever do that. The City Council has no further comments to submit at this time. 8. TBD a) Public Works Report – Scott reported on the following:  They are flushing hydrants this week.  Joe will at class next week.  October 15 the water being shut off at campground.  Riverside park will be shut off after fall festival  Cleaning out rain gutters.  Have been working on park projects.  Getting ready for the winter. b) City Clerk Report – Cami reported on the following:  Reminder on the FD Open House.  SE Sewer bids postponed for two weeks. Infrastructure to meet tomorrow morning regarding.  CEDA partnership meeting and a DC Roadway safety plan workshop.  Will be out later in the week. c) Consultant Report – None d) Committee Report  Chamber –They are gearing up for Fall festival and winter events.  Fire Department – Gave an update on Fire Safety Week, the events associated with that and the open house. On the 18th there is an active shooter drill at the KM High School.  Relief – Waiting on final numbers but most successful at this point.  EDA – Has been looking at updating the City signs but the costs are pretty high for what they would like to see so have chosen to stay with what is there. They are looking at partnering with CEDA in 2019.  Park Board – The slabs are poured for the picnic tables and bench. e) Council Member Report  Member Blair – Commented on the 5th Street East project and how the signage and the rainy weather has created problems.  Member Hofstad – Made note of the help they did with the cement work at the campground. Its Fire Prevention week so make sure you change your smoke detector batteries.  Member Lambert – None  Member Christensen - None f) Mayor Report – Gave a reminder that both barricades are up to allow traffic for construction equipment only at 5th Street East, he has been in communication with the township and coordinating our efforts with both projects, gave a reminder on the DMC meeting, and John Olive and the MRA decorated the town with corn stalks. 9. Executive Session - None 10. Adjourn – Motion made by Member Christensen, second by Member Hofstad to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 pm. Motion passed unanimously.