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NOVEMBER 2008
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008, CITY COUNCIL
MEETING AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008, CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY,
NOVEMBER 19, 2008, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2008, CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
NOTICE OF ALBANY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
There will be a joint meeting of the City Council and Park Board
in and for the City of Albany,
Stearns County, Minnesota at
6:30 o’clock in the evening
on Wednesday,
November 5, 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 October
15th
4.
Public comments/discussion
5.
Lucy Thomas, Head Election Judge - present General and
Municipal Election results
6.
Albany Mutual Telephone
Association – request for placement of antennas on Water Tower and
related lease agreement
7.
Matt Mohs, City Engineer – present preliminary engineering
report for Golf View Drive and Fairway Drive
-
discuss proposed MN DOT pre-application for Transportation
Enhancement Funding relating to mainstreet beautification
improvements
-
2008 Capital Improvements pay application number 3
-
update on various City improvement projects
8.
Joseph Mergen, Public Works Supervisor - present MN DOT snow
removal agreement for State HWY 238 (mainstreet) and agreement with
Custom Waste Irrigation, Inc. for snow removal
-
present bid results received for surplus property (1981 Ford
Snow Plow)
9.
Dennis Sand, Park Department & EDA
10.
James Beuning, Utility Department and Equipment
11.
Tom Kasner, Fire Department
12.
Jack Evens, Golf Club – present golf club check register
13.
John Greer, Street Department & Police Department
14.
James Stueve, Police Chief
15.
Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm
16.
Mayor’s announcements and letters
17.
Announce meeting date (November 19th) and adjourn
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 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, November 5, 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,
Rosie Granheim, student, and Stan Hanson, City Engineer, Bonestroo,
Inc, St. Cloud,
MN.
After due discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by
James Beuning to authorize the payment of the
following: Check Numbers 58934 to 58980 and 12970 to 13021. 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 October 15th and
hearing none declared the said minutes approved.
Mr. Hanson appeared before the Council to discuss a proposed
pre-application to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN
DOT) for Federal Transportation Enhancement Funding relating to
eligible streetscape improvements which include but not limited to
pedestrian, bicycle safety, landscaping and other scenic
beautification improvements that may be considered for
Railroad Avenue (State HWY 238) or mainstreet. Mr. Hanson noted that
Railroad Avenue has been identified in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan to be
reconstructed in the year 2013. Mr. Hanson also noted that
this funding program would require the City to pay a minimum twenty
percent of the eligible improvements and that the said application
is due on or before January 16th. Mr. Hanson
presented other improvements that may be considered along
Church Avenue, 8th Street
south of the intersection of
8th Street and Railroad
Avenue, and the storm water ditch south of County Road 157 east of
13th Street. Mr. Evens noted that the City has been discussing proposed improvements
to
Railroad Avenue for many years and recommended that the City move forward with
improvements for
Railroad Avenue
or mainstreet. Mr. Hanson informed the Council that MN DOT has
plans to mill and overlay
Railroad Avenue in the year 2014, but would not recommend the street surface improvements
until the water and sewer mains are updated beneath the street being
the utilities are very old and deteriorating. After due discussion,
a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by James Beuning to
authorize the firm of Bonestroo to proceed to prepare the necessary
application to MN DOT for the aforesaid funding program at a cost
not to exceed $3,000 which include Railroad Avenue or mainstreet.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Hanson presented to the Council pay application number three for the
2008 Capital Improvements submitted by R.L. Larson Excavating, Inc.,
St. Cloud,
MN.
After due discussion and upon the recommendation by the City
Engineer, a motion was made by Tom Kasner and seconded by Jack Evens
to approve said pay application in the amount of $103,831.18.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
Paul Vershure, appeared before the Council on behalf of the Albany Mutual
Telephone Association, to request approval to allow the installation
of three antennas to be placed on the top of the City’s Water Tower.
The Council took notice of a proposed lease agreement between the
City and Albany Mutual Telephone Agreement which includes a fee of
$300 per month per antenna. Mr. Vershure informed the
Council that
Albany Mutual Telephone will be constructing its own wireless
network that will be capable of providing local and national
cellular service similar to what they are currently offering and the
antennas on the water tower will help provide the cellular services
in the Albany area. After due
discussion, a motion was made by Jack Evens and seconded by Tom
Kasner to authorize the Mayor to execute the said Agreement on
behalf of the City for a period of three years or if Albany Mutual
Telephone considers less, the monthly rate may increase. Voting for
the motion was Mayor Dennis Sand, Jack Evens, Tom Kasner, and John
Greer, and none voted against. Councilor James Beuning
abstained and the motion carried.
Mr. Mergen presented to the Council
the proposed snow removal agreement between the City and State of
Minnesota relating to Railroad Avenue (State HWY #238). Mr.
Mergen noted that the State will reimburse the City for snow removal
for a specific area on Railroad Avenue which is designated as State
HWY #238. After due discussion, a motion was made by Tom
Kasner and seconded by James Beuning to authorize Mayor Dennis Sand
to execute the said agreement at an hourly rate of $105 per hour
reimbursement. All voted for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Mergen also noted that Custom
Waste Irrigation, Inc., Albany, MN, has submitted a quote for snow
removal for Railroad Avenue or mainstreet for a two-year period.
After due discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded
by Jack Evens to authorize the Mayor to enter into a two-year Snow
Removal Agreement. All voted for the motion and it carried.
The Council took notice
of the following two bids that were publicly opened and read out
loud at
3:00 o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, October 24th at City Hall for
surplus property (1981 Ford 8000 Snow Plow):
- Wells Concrete Products,
Albany, MN $3,500
- Bruce Barton, Little Falls, MN
$1,505
After due discussion, a motion was made by James Beuning and
seconded by John Greer to approve the bid submitted by Wells
Concrete Products for the aforesaid snow plow vehicle. 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 James Beuning to authorize the payment of the following bills:
Check Numbers 32948 to 33050. Voting for the motion were Councilors
James Beuning, Jack Evens, and
John Greer
and none voted against. Mayor Dennis Sand and Councilor Tom Kasner abstained and the motion carried.
Mr. Schneider presented to the Council information relating to the General
and Municipal Election held on November 4th. Mr.
Schneider reported 1,265 persons were registered at
7:00 a.m.,
248 new voter registrations were executed, and 111 absentee ballots
received. Mr. Schneider also noted that the number of persons voting
in the precinct was 1,171 and presented the following municipal
election results:
Dennis J. Sand, Mayor two-year term
1,002
Jack Evens, Council four-year term
851
Daron Gersch, Council four-year term
793
After due discussion, a motion was made by James Beuning and seconded by
John Greer to ratify the General and Municipal Election results
including the aforementioned individuals for each specific office.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Mergen recommended to the Council that the unpaid
water bill at
201 8th
Street be certified to the Stearns County Auditor to be collected as
a special assessment in the year 2009 as per the Albany City Code,
Ordinance 30. After due discussion, and upon the recommendation from
Mr. Mergen, a motion was made by James Beuning and seconded by John
Greer to certify the delinquent unpaid water bill at 201 8th
Street in the amount of $177.86 to the Stearns County Auditor to be
collected as a special assessment in the year 2009. 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, November 19, 2008 and adjourned the meeting at 7:55 PM.
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2008, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
NOTICE OF ALBANY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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,
November 19, 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
November 5th
4.
Public comments/discussion
5.
Planning Commission recommendations pursuant to meeting held
on November 17th
-
amendment to Land Use Plan map in the Comprehensive Plan
-
Ordinance 78.06, Subd. 6 Fuel Storage
-
amendment to Ordinance 80, Section 80.5, Subd. 2 (land use
and structures)
-
Ordinance to regulate off-street parking of semi-trucks,
extra long trailers in residential districts
6.
Stan Hanson, City Engineer – present preliminary engineering
report for the 2009 Capital Improvements (Golf View Drive/Fairway
Drive – Blattner’s Golf View Estates)
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 – note that regular Council meeting
on December 3rd rescheduled to December 2nd
15.
Mayor’s announcements and letters
16.
Announce meeting date (December 2nd) and adjourn
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 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,
November 19, 2008, in the Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for
the said City.
Other Council members present were: James Beuning, Tom Kasner, and
John Greer. Jack Evens arrived at 7:30 PM.
Also present were: Tom Schneider, Clerk/Adm., Joseph Mergen, Public Works
Supervisor, Mike Kosik, Editor, Stearns Morrison Enterprise, James
Stueve, Police Chief, Matt Mohs, and Stan Hanson, City Engineers,
Bonestroo, Inc, St. Cloud,
MN.
After due discussion, a motion was made by Tom Kasner and seconded by
James Beuning to authorize the payment of the
following: Check Numbers 58981 to 59032 and 13022 to 13033. 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 November 5th and
hearing none declared the said minutes approved.
Ron and Ami Ohmann,
821 Forest Avenue, and Randy Bromenshenkel,
1041 Forest Avenue, were present for the meeting.
Councilor John
Greer, Planning Commission Liaison, informed the Council that pursuant to a
duly held meeting of the Planning Commission held on November 17th,
the Planning Commission recommended not to approve the request by
Ron and Ami Ohmann to increase
the amount of wood stored on a property from two cords to eight
cords neatly stacked and covered during the heating season from
October 1st through March 1st which would
allow residents to offset high fuel costs by burning wood. Mr.
Greer informed the Council that the existing language in Ordinance
78.06, Subd. 6, Fuel Storage, is somewhat ambiguous and incorrectly
defines two cords of wood. Mr. Ohmann informed the Council that
their home is heated exclusively with wood during the winter
months. Mr. Ohmann noted that there are other objects in the City
that are of similar size as his wood pile which are stored
outside. Mr. Ohmann also noted that the wood pile is only stored
on his property for a limited time and he has been burning wood at
his residence for several years; whereby no issues were ever raised
in the past. After due discussion and careful consideration, a
motion was made by John Greer who introduced the following Ordinance
amendment and moved for its adoption:
AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 78
REGULATION OF FUEL STORAGE
The City Council for the City of
Albany, HEREBY ORDAINS that Section
78.06, Subd. 6, Fuel Storage, of the Albany City Code shall be
amended to read as follows:
Fuel Storage.
Outdoor fuel storage is limited to eight cords of wood stored during
the period October 1st through March 31st and
one cord of wood from April 1st to September 30th.
Other fuel sources are similarly limited to a volume not too exceed
eight cords of wood and shall be set back ten (10) feet from side
and rear property line, be neatly stacked, covered, split, and shall
not be located in front yard. Fuel may not be stored outside in or
on a trailer, gravity box or similar mobile container, or in a
vehicle. Any structures constructed to contain or store fuel for
Biofuel Burners must be constructed in accordance with applicable
zoning regulations.
This amendment shall become effective
upon adoption and publication. This Ordinance was approved by the
majority of the City Council of Albany on this 19th day of November,
2008.
___________________
_____________________________
Dennis J. Sand,
Mayor
Tom Schneider, Clerk/Administrator
The motion for the
foregoing Ordinance amendment was seconded by Tom Kasner 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 John Greer and none voted against the
same.
Mr. Greer
informed the Council that
pursuant to a duly held public meeting of the Planning Commission
held on November 17th, the Planning Commission recommended that the
request by the City to amend the Land Use Plan map (Section 7.3,
Figure 9) in the Comprehensive Plan by removing the area south of
the Albany Business and Industrial Park as future residential to
industrial development be approved. Mr. Greer informed the
Commission that the Land Use Plan Map depicted the area south of the
Albany Business and Industrial Park (80 acres) or outside the
current City limits as future residential use and with the new
buildings and construction activities of Wells Concrete Products, a
heavy industrial business; this area should be designated as future
industrial use. After due discussion, a motion was made by John
Greer who introduced the following amendment to the Comprehensive
Plan and moved its adoption:
AMENDMENT TO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
DATED MAY 3, 2006
FUTURE LAND USE
(Section 7.3 and Figure 9)
The motion for the
foregoing amendment 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 John Greer and none voted against the
same. The full text of the said amendment is on file at the office
of the City Clerk/Administrator for public inspection during normal
business hours.
Mr. Greer also
informed the Council that
pursuant to a duly held public meeting of the Planning Commission
held on November 17th, the Planning Commission recommended
that the request by the City to amend Ordinance 80, Section 80.05,
Subd. 2, Land Use and Structures, construction materials for
structures be approved within residential districts. Mr. Schneider
noted that this amendment would prohibit unfinished steel,
galvanized sheet metal, ridged, or corrugated metal for an exterior
covering within all residential districts. After due discussion, a
motion was made by John Greer who introduced the following Ordinance
amendment and moved its adoption:
AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 80
ZONING REGULATIONS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
“Section 80.05, Subd. 2”
The motion for the
foregoing Ordinance amendment was seconded by Tom Kasner 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 John Greer and none voted against the
same. The full text of the foregoing amendment is on file at the
office of the City Clerk/Administrator for public inspection during
normal business hours.
Mr. Greer also
informed the Council that
pursuant to a duly held meeting of the Planning Commission held on
November 17th, the Planning Commission recommended
approval of an Ordinance amendment regarding parking of
semi-trailers, trucks, and truck tractors within residential
districts. Mr. Greer noted that the Police Department had
recommended an Ordinance that would prohibit truck tractors,
trailers, and semi-trailers from being parked in residential
districts because of pedestrian safety, vehicle safety, noise and
street issues. Mayor Dennis Sand, with the consensus of the
Council, directed the Police Chief to prepare a proper definition of
“Trucks” that would be prohibited from being parked in residential
districts which will be discussed at the next Council meeting.
Mr. Greer informed the Council that
the Planning Commission term of Will Seiler will expire at the end
of the year and recommended as per the Planning Commission that he
be reappointed for an additional five-year term. After due
discussion, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by Tom
Kasner that Will Seiler be reappointed to a five-year term on the
Planning Commission. All voted for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Hanson appeared before the
Council to present a Preliminary Engineering Report for the proposed
2009 Golf View Drive and Fairway Drive Street Improvements. Mr.
Hanson noted that based on the results of the soil borings, it is
recommended that the street be reconstructed rather than a mill and
overlay that previously was discussed in the City’s Capital
Improvement Plan. Mr. Hanson informed the Council that the
improvements consist of new curb & gutter, new bituminous surfacing,
new aggregate base course and related street improvements, and
modifications to the existing storm water management system along
Golf View Drive from the cul-de-sac to CSAH 54; new curb & gutter,
new bituminous surfacing, new aggregate base course, and related
street improvements along Fairway Drive. Mr. Hanson also noted that
the estimated costs including engineering and other soft costs are
approximately $1,042,000 and that the public hearing would be held
on January 7th. Mr. Mohs informed the Council that approximately
28% of the improvements would be assessed to affected property
owners. Mr. Greer noted that David Drown, the City’s Financial
Consultant, had informed the Council that the City is in good
financial condition to undertake the aforesaid project. Councilor
Jack Evens arrived for the meeting at 7:30 PM. Mr. Hanson informed
the Council that local contractors are very eager to bid this
project because there are very few being considered for next year.
After due discussion, a motion was made by John Greer who
introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION 2008-018
RECEIVING PRELIMINARY REPORT
AND CALLING PUBLIC HEARING ON
2009 GOLF VIEW DRIVE AND FAIRWAY
DRIVE
STREET IMPROVEMENTS
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: Mayor
Dennis Sand, Councilors
James Beuning, Tom Kasner, Jack Evens, and John Greer and none voted
against the same. The full text of the said resolution is on file
at the office of the City Clerk/Administrator for public inspection
during normal business hours.
Mr. Mergen recommended to the Council that the unpaid
lawn mowing bill at
200 4th
Street be certified to the Stearns County Auditor to be collected as
a special assessment in the year 2009 as per the Albany City Code,
Ordinance 77. After due discussion, and upon the recommendation from
Mr. Mergen, a motion was made by John Greer and seconded by James
Beuning to certify the unpaid lawn mowing bill at 200 4th
Street in the amount of $106.50 to the Stearns County Auditor to be
collected as a special assessment in the year 2009. All voted for
the motion and it carried.
Mr. Mergen presented to the Council Change Order Number One for the 2008
Capital Improvements in the amount of $3,800. Mr. Mergen noted that
the purpose of the Change Order is to relocate a fire hydrant along
County Road 54 near
Par Drive due to a potential safety issue with vehicle traffic on the
County Road. After due discussion, a motion was made by
Tom Kasner and seconded by James Beuning to approve the aforesaid Change Order
submitted by R.L. Larson Excavating, St. Cloud, in the amount of
$3,800. All voted for the motion and it carried.
The Council took notice of a proposed Personnel Policy
for the City and employees. Mr. Schneider noted that language was
added defining the new Health Savings Account benefit. After due
discussion, a motion was made by
John Greer and seconded by Tom Kasner
to approve the said Policy for the period January 1, 2009 through
December 31, 2009. 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 Tuesday,
December 2, 2008 and adjourned the meeting at 9:05 PM.
Tom Schneider,
Clerk/Adm. |
