Agenda and Minutes

City Council

Mar 9, 2009

CITY OF UPSALA
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES
March 9th, 2009
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council of Upsala, MN met in regular session on Monday, March 9th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Upsala Fire Hall. In Attendance: Mayor Dan Cheney; Council Rollie Johnson, Robert Maciej, Bethany Malisheske, and Joan Olson. Staff: Michele Caron, Frank Koopmeiners.
Meeting called to order by the Honorable Mayor Cheney at 7:00 p.m.
Minutes
• February regular meeting minutes were reviewed. Mm by Johnson to accept minutes; second by Maciej; unanimously carried.
Agenda
• Reviewed-additions added-Mm by Johnson to accept with changes, second by Malisheske; unanimously carried.
Visitors, Requests, Petitions-
• Group representing Church of St. Mary’s Gene Harren, Pete Michaels, Rob Schumer and Walt Beneke. They inquired on their next step in getting the project up and running. A permit application for a conditional use that includes a site plan will need to be submitted, and the council set a public hearing for that at the next meeting on April 13, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
The sprinklers in the new church will definitely need water service to it. Motion made by Cheney to approve a feasibility study by Widseth, Smith, and Nolting for the water project, second by Olson; unanimously carried.
The church group informed the council the current St. Mary’s property will be available for purchase. Johnson noted many people have expressed a site closer to the center of town for the Regional Services Center, and the current site includes a pond for storm water which is not something that is popular. If the task force considers the St. Mary’s site, a new design will be needed. Discussion that a clarification is needed on whether the past plans of having the Senior Center donate the money and the city takes over the project/building will remain. This will have to be clarified. Clerk reminded that if it is a city project, all of the competitive bidding rules apply.
Ordinances, Resolutions-None
Maintenance Report-Frank Koopmeiners
• New John Deere lawn tractor has been delivered, and the school did purchase our old one for the trade in value plus tax.
• Water 21,967 gal/day, down by 1,778 gal/day. Sewer 1.89 hrs. /day up.08 hr.
• Snowflake lights will be coming down soon. Flat rate from the power company on the lights. Our part time employee is not available to help right now. Lights could wait until flags are ready. Some lights are not on because the GFI has kicked out and Frank has not reset them.
• City pick up body under doors is rusting out, and Frank will get estimates on fixing it.
• Grass trimmer is needed, and Frank will get prices.
Fire Department-Clerk
• Department will be taking a simulated computer training at their next meeting using Clerks’ laptops and city computer.
• Fire Board minutes and budget presented. Some items were cut temporarily.

Planning Commission Report-Cheney/Olson
• Cheney explained the history behind a building permit that was approved on July 9, 2008. According to our ordinance the size of the building is based on the amount of land a person has. This person owns ten acres, so can build a large building. Some people wondered if such a large building that close to the setbacks conformed to our ordinances and it does. There is no part of the ordinance assuring buildings are built in line with others. That would be a covenant that usually occurs within housing developments. The old system by which there were two documents for each permit was used, but the application itself was approved. The new system has the application as the permit once approved.

Upsala Community Development Commission-Maciej, Malisheske
• Heritage Festival update-Fireworks and inflatable activities are ordered. Mike and Bethany will co-chair again this year. The committee is looking for ideas on activities that fill in the time between the afternoon park area time slot and the fireworks.
• Sign samples were reviewed and questions such as is the Froggy’s bid lower because they have a template already?
There is no set up fee itemized for the Everything Signs bid. How much more per sign is it for the slogan? How many signs do we need? There is a multiple sign discount.
• Next meeting April 6th 6:00 p.m.
Recreation Building Board Report-Johnson
• Meeting in March.
• Reviewed minutes with corrections.
• Hot water heater rusted out (one of two), and a new one may be purchased later, but a small one under the sink will work for now. Motion by Cheney to approve that plan, second by Olson; unanimously carried. UBA may have some tournaments this year, but not a league.
• March 13th there will be a clean up day for the entire recreation building and any volunteers are welcome to come and help.
• The board would like to see the entrance to the building fixed up so it is more inviting.
• Next meeting April 7, 2009, 7:00 p.m.

Tri-County Regional Services Center Task Force-Johnson
• New information that the current St. Mary’s site will be available for purchase (once the church has been vacated and materials salvaged or recycled) has got the task force looking into this as an alternate site from the currently owned property. Pros are that it is closer to the center of town, already has services, a street and sidewalk to it, and a parking lot. The building would need to be redesigned. The current site would need all of these things plus a pond for drainage. It needs to be clarified which entity will be implementing the project.

Unfinished Business
• Animal ordinance letter to residents will be mailed. Council is reviewing this ordinance for inclusion into the city code, so residents may call with ideas.
New Business
• June meeting date-Mayor on vacation. Decided to leave that date the same and conduct it without the Mayor, as alternate dates did not work.
• July meeting changed to July 20th as clerk will be attending training and graduating from the Minnesota Municipal Clerks Institute. Municipal clerk certification can be obtained as a trained clerk.
• Office closed Wednesday March 18th due to a conference that week.
• Clerk attending a free conference on liquor licensing for cities without a municipal liquor store. She inquired and it is a full day much more in depth than previous workshops. Does not affect office-open dates.
• Upsala clean up day first Saturday in June on the 6th from 8:00-11:00 a.m. at the recreation building parking lot.
• Morrison County Public Works grant funding agreements reviewed. We receive grants each year for recycling and clean-up day, which is used to keep rates down for users.
• League of MN Cities Insurance plan options reviewed and we will stay with the standard deductible of $500 per occurrence on medical bills.
• Morrison County water management plan is accepting input, and the current one may be reviewed on their website.
• Morrison County Land Use Ordinance hearing 3/28/09.
• Informational meeting March 12th at 7: 00 p.m. given by assessor’s office on updates of property tax laws.
• Ordinance on noise reviewed because a resident was sent a second letter regarding loud vehicles and music after 10:00 p.m.
• Discussion on annual water connection fee charged by Minnesota Department of Health $6.36 per connection.
• Horizon Health Faith in Action requesting a $250 donation. Requesting them to resubmit as a contract for services. They provide many services to residents if needed.
• Financial Reports, Audit Bills, Miscellaneous-Caron
• Explanation of various reports.
• Bills audited and ordered paid in the amount of $29,666.24. In addition clerk did not put in for additional postage and this will be paid after the meeting.
• Adjourned by Cheney10:00 p.m.
• Next meeting April 13th 7:00 p.m. with public hearing on St. Mary’s Church.
Respectfully Submitted,


Michele Caron, Clerk
Minutes are official once approved at the next meeting

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