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WEDNESDAY,JUNE 4,2008,CITYCOUNCILMEETINGMINUTES
WEDNESDAY,
JUNE 18, 2008, CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
NOTICE OF ALBANY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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, June
4, 2008, 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 May
21st
4.
Public comments/discussion
5.
Joseph Mergen, Public Works Supervisor – present list of
unpaid water/sewer bills and recommendation to discontinue service
as per Ordinance 30
6.
Liquor and Cigarette License renewals
7.
Planning Commission recommendation – Christine Higgins
request for Stonebrooke Three plat approval and variance
8.
Matt Mohs, City Engineer – update on
6th Street/3rd
Avenue Improvements
- update on proposed 2008 Capital
Improvements
9.
Joseph Mergen, Public Works Supervisor
10.
Dennis Sand, Park Department & EDA
11.
James Beuning, Utility Department and Equipment
12.
Tom Kasner, Fire Department
13.
Jack Evens, Golf Club
14.
John Greer, Street Department & Police Department
15.
James Stueve, Police Chief
16.
Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm. – Albany Jaycees request for large
gathering permit
17.
Mayor’s announcements and letters
18.
Announce meeting date (June 21st) and adjourn
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 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, June
4, 2008, in the Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said
City.
Other Council members present were: James Beuning, Tom Kasner, Jack
Evens, and John Greer. None were absent.
Also present were: Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm., Joseph Mergen, Public Works
Supervisor, Mike Kosik, Editor, Stearns Morrison Enterprise, James
Stueve, Police Chief, Stan Hanson, City Engineer, and Matt Mohs,
City Engineer, Bonestroo, Inc.
After due discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Tom
Kasner to authorize the payment of the
following: Check Numbers 58565to 58592 and 12825 to 12838. 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 May 21st
and hearing none declared them approved.
Sean Artley, Steve Bates, Amy Sand, Sandy Eggert, Herb Eggert, and Joyce
Thull, owners of liquor establishments, were present for the
meeting.
The Council took notice of the following license renewals:
On-Sale Liquor License: Rookies Sports Bar, Hillcrest Family Restaurant
and Stubby’s Tavern,
Albany
Bowling
Center, and
Paul’s Par-A-Dice. After due discussion, a
motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Jack Evens to approve
the aforementioned licenses. All voted for the motion and it
carried.
Off-Sale Liquor License: Rookies Sports Bar, Freeway Liquor,
Albany
Bowling
Center, and
Paul’s Par-A-Dice. After due discussion, a motion was made by Tom
Kasner and seconded by James Beuning to approve the aforementioned
licenses. Voting for the motion were Councilors James Beuning,
Tom Kasner,
Jack Evens and
John Greer
and none voted against. Mayor
Dennis Sand
abstained and the motion carried.
Club On-Sale License:
Albany Golf
Club and
Albany
American Legion Post #482. After due discussion, a motion was made
by James Beuning and seconded by John Greer to approve the
aforementioned licenses. Voting for the motion were Mayor Dennis
Sand, Councilors James Beuning, Jack Evens, and John Greer and none
voted against. Councilor Tom Kasner abstained and the motion
carried.
Cigarette License: Rookies Sports Bar, Albany Golf Club, Station 66,
Amby’s Foods,
Holiday,
Don’s I-94, Freeway Liquor, and Paul’s Par-A-Dice. After due
discussion, a motion was made by Jack Evens and seconded by James
Beuning to approve the aforementioned licenses. Voting for the
motion were Councilors Jack Evens, James Beuning, and John Greer and
none voted against. Councilor Dennis Sand and Tom Kasner abstained
and the motion carried.
Christine Higgins,
Paynesville,
MN, was
present for the meeting.
Mr. Hanson informed the Council that he reviewed the proposed preliminary
and final plat named Stonebrooke Three, a plat of four single family
residential lots consisting of three vacant lots and a fourth with
an existing home, which property lies between 8th and 9th
Street south of Albany Avenue. Mr. Hanson noted that his comments
were submitted in a letter dated May 27th and found no
objections to the proposed plat. Mr. Beuning noted that the
proposed plat does not depict a ten foot utility easement on the
rear property boundary of the lots and that said easement should be
added. Ms. Higgins appeared before the Council to inform the
Council that she is the owner of the proposed three vacant lots and
noted that her intentions are to construct three new patio homes.
After due discussion and upon the recommendation by the Planning
Commission pursuant to a duly held public hearing on May 29th, a
motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Tom Kasner to approve
the request by Christine Higgins for a
variance to reduce the minimum lot
width from 75 feet to 66 feet, preliminary and final plat, and the
following conditions related thereto:
-
Water service from the former Sharon Birr home shall be
disconnected at the water main on 8th Street as per
Ordinance 30.11, Subd. 16.
-
Any damage to the City’s infrastructure (roads, curb, etc.)
during construction will be repaired at the developer’s expense.
-
Developer shall discontinue discharge of sanitary sewer
and/or storm sewer from the former Sharon Birr property in the
direction of the Kertis Zarbok property. (Verify with Public Works
Supervisor )
-
Developer to pay Park Dedication fee of $900/lot or $3,600
-
Developer to pay trunk water fee of $1,125/acre
-
Developer to pay trunk sewer fee of $1,125/acre
-
Engineer fees for grading and drainage plan review
-
Developer to comply with City engineer comments noted in May
27, 2008 letter.
-
Erosion control measures will need to be in place prior to
the City issuing a building permit.
-
Require ten-foot utility easement to be added to the plat for
the north/south rear lot property boundary for the four lots.
-
Developer to comply with City engineer comments noted in May
27, 2008 letter
All voted for the motion and it
carried.
Mr. Mohs appeared before the Council to update the Council on the progress
of the 2007 6th
Street/3rd Avenue Improvements and noted that final
paving should being within a week; whereby final punch list items
are being corrected. After due discussion, a motion was made by
John Greer and seconded by James Beuning to authorize the payment of
$1,000 to Margie Ostendorf, 200 6th Street, from the
construction contingency fund for repairs to her home from damages
that resulted from the aforesaid improvements. All voted for the
motion and it carried.
Mr. Mergen presented to the Council
information relating to CapX2020, a proposed transmission power line
from Fargo, ND to Monticello which is to be installed along
Interstate 94 corridor and/or several miles on either side. Mr.
Kasner noted that the proposed transmission line should be
constructed several miles from the City so it will not interfere
with the golf course operations, existing and future residential,
commercial, and industrial developments. Mayor Dennis Sand, with
the consensus of the Council, directed the City Clerk/Administrator
to forward a letter opposing the proposed route(s) within the city
limits and to recommend that the new transmission line be installed
outside the city’s future land use plan boundaries.
Mayor Dennis Sand announced the next
regular Council meeting for 6:30 o’clock in the evening on
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 and adjourned the meeting at 7:50 PM.
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY,
JUNE 18, 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, June
18, 2008, in the Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said
City.
Other Council members present were: James Beuning, Tom Kasner, Jack
Evens, and John Greer. None were absent.
Also present were: Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm., Joseph Mergen, Public Works
Supervisor, James Stueve, Police Chief, Steve Elmer, City Engineer,
and Matt Mohs, City Engineer, Bonestroo, Inc.
After due discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Tom
Kasner to authorize the payment of the
following: Check Numbers 58593 to 58615 and 12839 to 12852. 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 June 4th
and hearing none declared them approved.
Present for the meeting were: Jamie
Thelen and James Sand, Augusta Ventures, LLC, Wayne Capra, Adkins
Associates, Cheryl Toenyan, Albany Post Master, Rodney McNamar, Amy
McNamar, Joyce Wolf, Bernard Bueckers, Diane Bueckers, Sam
Hendrickson, Kelly Hendrickson, Todd Bunger, Heidi Bunger, Jon
Siegle, Lori Siegle, Lori Wambach, and Ken Wambach.
Mayor Dennis Sand informed the Council and public that he will step down
as a Council member due to a conflict in the matter regarding the
proposed rezoning request by Augusta Ventures, LLC.
James Beuning, Acting Mayor, welcomed the public to the meeting to discuss
a request by Augusta Ventures,
LLC, to rezone properties at 141 Railroad Avenue and 121 Railroad
Avenue from Residential (R2) to Core Commercial (C1) for the purpose
of construction of a new Post Office building and other commercial
uses. Mr. Siegle appeared before the Council to recommend that
commercial development be considered on the west side of Railroad
Avenue and is concerned for the safety of the children in the
neighborhood and objects to the request. Jamie Thelen appeared
before the Council to inform the Council that the site at 141
Railroad Avenue was selected by the Postal Service and that after
review of other sites, it was decided by the Postal Service that
this site was the most feasible and the City’s Comprehensive Plan
shows the properties east of 2nd Street or south of the
alley between 1st and 2nd Street as future
commercial development. Ms. Toenyan noted that the Postal Service
followed their standard procedure in selecting a building site and
that their present building on 5th Street is inadequate
to serve the postal needs of the City and under the present
condition, can’t be expanded to meet future operations
requirements. Mr. McNamar appeared before the Council to object to
the rezoning request and questioned the process by the Postal
Service and that other sites should be considered being 2nd
Street and Railroad Avenue is one of the busiest intersections in
the community. Mr. Bunger appeared before the Council to inform the
Council that any time the city, local organizations, and/or school
conduct events, the intersection at 1st Street and
Railroad Avenue becomes congested and many vehicles will choose to
use side streets to by-pass the aforesaid intersection and the
addition of the Post Office along 2nd Street will add to
this congestion on the side streets. Joyce Wolf appeared before the
Council to inform the Council that over the past several years, the
traffic at the intersection of 1st Street and Railroad
Avenue has increased dramatically and objects to the rezoning
request. Sam Hendrickson also appeared before the Council to object
to the request. Steve Elmer, the City Engineer, appeared before the
Council to inform the Council that he is a traffic planner and has
viewed the adjacent streets and made the following suggestions: 1)
snorkel “mail” box be shown in a location to allow postal users
access without getting out of vehicle; 2) use 2nd Street
truck loading and unloading; 3) design left out only traffic
diverter from site to alley with one-way directional traffic to west
reducing traffic in alley; 4) no parking along Railroad Avenue in
front of the post office. Mr. Evens noted that business at the
Post Office is done differently than years ago and that property
owners are encouraged to erect mail boxes and objects to a one-way
directional alley. Mr. Greer noted vehicle speeds, uncontrolled
intersections, and drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians are a
concern of his, but don’t believe these issues are a result of a new
Post Office at 141 Railroad Avenue. Mr. Greer also noted that both
properties are not a good location for a residential home because of
all the same safety reasons that everybody talked about at the
Planning Commission meeting and the current home is not feasible to
be renovated. Mr. Stueve noted that of the four sites that were
submitted to the Postal Service by property owners, it’s of his
opinion that the site selected to be the best option and that other
permitted uses in a commercial zone would be more harmful to the
neighborhood than a Post Office. Ms. Toeynan informed the Council
that funding has been approved to construct a new post office and if
a site is not secured, then it will be a minimum of five years, but
could be as long as twenty years before the City would receive
funding for a new building. After due discussion and
upon the recommendation by the
Planning Commission pursuant to a duly held public hearing on June
12th, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Jack
Evens to recommend to approve the request by Augusta Ventures, LLC,
to rezone properties at 141 Railroad Avenue and 121 Railroad Avenue
from Residential (R2) to Core Commercial (C1) for the purpose of
construction of a new Post Office building and other commercial uses
and it’s of the opinion of the Council that the post office not have
access to the alley for safety concerns. All voted for the motion
and it carried.
Dennis Sand resumed the position as
Mayor.
Mr. Elmer informed the Council that
he will present information at a future Council meeting regarding
his meeting with representatives from the Minnesota Department of
Transportation (MN DOT) and City Staff on ways to reduce the traffic
congestion at the intersection of 1st Street and Railroad
Avenue (HWY #238) and the intersection of 8th Street (HWY
#238) and Shamrock Lane.
Pam Kraker, owner of
the Well Saloon, Inc., appeared before the Council to request
approval for renewal of an on-sale, off-sale, and cigarette license.
After due discussion, a motion was made by Tom Kasner and seconded
by James Beuning to approve the aforesaid licenses contingent upon
receipt of proof of liquor liability insurance. All voted for the
motion and it carried.
Councilor Jack Evens, Albany Golf Club Liaison, presented to the Council
the said Club’s Checkbook Register for review and consideration.
After due discussion, a motion was made by Jack Evens and seconded
by John Greer to
authorize the payment of the following bills: Check Numbers 32586 to
32714. Voting for the motion were Councilors James Beuning, Jack
Evens, and
John Greer
and none voted against. Mayor
Dennis Sand
and Tom Kasner
abstained and the motion carried.
Mr. Stueve informed
the Council that the new outdoor warning siren has been installed in
the right of way along County Road 54 or east side of the City
adjacent to Par Drive, Albany Golf Vistas. Mr. Stueve noted that in
the event of threatening weather, the outdoor warning siren will
sound with a steady blast giving those who are outdoors notice to go
inside to a safe place in their home or business.
Mayor Dennis Sand announced the next
regular Council meeting for 6:30 o’clock in the evening on
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 and adjourned the meeting at 8:40 PM.
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
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