Agenda and Minutes

City Council

Aug 10, 2009

CITY OF UPSALA
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES
August 10, 2009
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council of Upsala, MN met in regular session on Monday, August 10th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Upsala Fire Hall. In Attendance: Mayor Dan Cheney; Council Rollie Johnson, Robert Maciej, Bethany Malisheske, Joan Olson Absent. Staff: Michele Caron, Frank Koopmeiners. Visitors: General Public and Engineer, Don Anderson.

Meeting called to order by the Honorable Mayor Cheney at 7:00 p.m.

Agenda- Mm by Johnson to approve moving zoning to visitors section, second by Maciej; unanimously carried.

Minutes-Corrected “gravel” to “black dirt” and “Bethany” to “Joan” mm by Maciej to approve the July 20, 2009 meeting minutes with corrections, second by Johnson; unanimously carried.

Visitors, Requests, Petitions
• Don Clear suggested widening the shoulders on Tower Road at least to the west, and giving Hickory Avenue wider shoulders at the end where it comes out on Tower. He suggested checking culverts as they appear to not be working.
• Proposed Zoning Ordinance was reviewed at the public hearing with 8-10 citizens attending. The question of the hearing was whether to allow a conditional use permit in residential and AG zones, in that each would be approved or disapproved on its’ own merit. Mayor Cheney called for discussion. Discussion that people are concerned that it might infer spot zoning. Other discussion on how it may appear that way to some, but it isn’t. Restrictions could be placed on any conditional uses within these zones. Motion by Cheney to add restaurants as a type of business allowed to be applied for in residential 1 and AG zones, second by Maciej. Voice vote’s aye: Mayor Cheney, nay: Johnson, Malisheske, and Maciej. Motion failed.
• Don Anderson updated council on drawings of Tower Road improvement. Discussion on costs to level off the grade from the north tower to the south tower road and to tar Hickory Avenue.
• Resolution 2009-8 presented to approve the drawings and plans for the South Tower Road presented by Don Anderson; according to previous discussions and with replacement of culverts and widen radius of Hickory Avenue, and to advertise for bids in the Morrison County Record. Mm by Cheney to approve resolution as written, second by Malisheske; unanimously carried. Bids will be advertised for on August 23rd and August 30th, and opened at 11:00 a.m. at Upsala City Hall on September 10th, 2009.
• Discussion with Don about drainage from west to east near 511 highway 238. DOT responded that the normal flow of water is from the west to the east at that point. Don will check to see if it appears the ball fields or bus garage impede drainage, or if the drainage is blocked in some way. More than likely the moisture noted by landowners is part of the usual flow and was noticed now due to more precipitation in spring.
Ordinances and Resolutions
• 2009-9 Resolution to accept $500 donation from Stearns electric operation roundup. Mm by Johnson to approve resolution 2009-9, second by Maciej; unanimously carried.
Maintenance Report
• Water and sewer report given
• New computer monitor installed in water plant.
• Three new flags and poles needed on Main Street, Councilor Johnson will pick them up.
• Councilor Johnson thanked Frank for all of the quick responses to items he calls about. They are always repaired or replaced right away. Such as broken tree branches, broken picnic table, and recreation building maintenance.
Fire Department Report
• 320 Tower Road had a house fire while it was vacant.
• Certification of Relief Association pension fund-tabled until budget meeting.
Planning Commission
• Minutes from the August 2, 2009 meeting reviewed.
• Permits approved by clerk reviewed, heard from Steve Roerick to build a house on land he is purchasing from Roger Roerick. Recommended approval. Heard from Steve Woller to build a shed. Recommend Approval. Mm by Cheney to approve both permits, second by Johnson; unanimously carried.
• Next meeting September 2, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Upsala City Hall.
Upsala Community Development Commission
• Minutes from the August 3, 2009 meeting reviewed. Next meeting will be September 8, 2009 at the Upsala City Hall at 6:00 p.m. Date changed due to Labor Day.
• Recommend to council city portion for festival in 2010 is $2,000.
• Heritage Festival updates.
• Belgian Waffle went great with new electricity set up
• City Council wishes to thank all of the volunteers that made the Heritage Festival a great community success. The donations for the fire works from the Upsala Lions and American Legion made that event possible, and the Upsala Baseball Association’s activities enhanced the day for participants.
• Recreation Board Report
• No August meeting. Next meeting September 1, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
• Gently used cooler donated by Ken and Marlene Lange is installed and the City Council thanks them for the donation. This item was needed at the rec. bldg.
Unfinished Business
• Lender’s Trust LLC sent back the receipt for the certified letter requesting access to the Uptown Café building for inspection. Will add to the agenda in September to give them time to respond.
• Received Bullfrog’s 2 a.m. license from state.
• County noted water tower and fire station parcels were not both recorded, the city will keep them as two parcels and ask them to record as such.
• Census 2010 will have six questions and begin in April 2010. State demographers office wants communities to teach residents how important answering the census is to our local government aid along with other reasons. Everyone needs to be counted. If any resident wishes to start up a complete count committee as a liaison please contact a member of the UCDC or council. The City Clerk has brochures and other items promoting a complete count census.
• Boiler ordinance effective 8/2/2009 as published and letters went out to known owners of existing outdoor boilers of the chimney stack height requirement.
New Business
• Budget workshop needed for council to address a 2010 budget for the General Fund. Meeting will be held at city hall on August 17, at 7 p.m.
• Crisis Line and Referral Service agreement for services mm by Cheney to agree on $250 for 2010 as amount to send them, second by Johnson; unanimously carried.
• Initiative Foundation agreement for services $150 mm by Cheney on $150 as amount to send to them for 2010 as the city does receive grants and attends training there, second by Olson; unanimously carried.
• New rules for Truth in Taxation and levy notice to residents. Does not apply to Upsala due to population under 500, but clerk prefers to follow the notification process and give the information to the County Auditor to send with tax statements. Preliminary levy set at September meeting and final levy set at December meeting. Historically Upsala does not change from the preliminary to the final, but can lower the levy from preliminary to final if desired.
• Clerk clarified that the city council agrees all ordinances be published as summaries in the paper to save costs, but the boiler ordinance was printed in full since it can be a controversial item. Ordinances can be viewed in full by calling the clerk.
• Office hours office closing early on 8/19/09 at 11:30 a.m. and 8/26/09 at 2:00 p.m.
Financial Reports, Bills Audited and Paid
• Bills audited and ordered paid in the amount of $11,987.60.

Meeting adjourned by Mayor Cheney at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,


Michele Caron, Clerk

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