Agenda

Joe Hennen moved and Humbert seconded a motion approving the meeting agenda. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Approval of the Minutes

Tim Hennen moved and Humbert seconded a motion approving the meeting minutes for October 24, 2007. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

New Business

Open Public Forum

No one was present to address Council.

Approval of Lowest Bid for the Trailer

Hetland announced that three bids were received for the United utility trailer. The highest bid was in the amount of $1276 from Steve Worms. Information on all of the bids were distributed to Council and those present.A copy of which is on file for review. Tim Hennen moved and Balderston seconded a motion to accept the highest bid from Steve Worms of $1276 for the United Utility Trailer. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Donny Meyer request for change in tax rate

Hetland gave an overview of a request from Donny Meyer to lower his taxes. Per the Mayor's recommendation, Humbert moved and Joe Hennen seconded a motion to refer the request to the Freeport EDA for review and consideration and to report to Council on December 26, 2007. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Wetland Mitigation Sales

John Kolb, attorney from Rinke Noonan and specialist in wetland related law, brought three items for Council's review and approval regarding pending wetland transactions. All three documents were provided to Council prior to the meeting.

Kolb discussed the deed restrictions for the Mitigation Site and Wetland D. He explained that the City is responsible to undertake the creation of wetlands to satisfy the wetland replacement obligations as a requirement to get into development both phases of the Industrial Park in the City. He also asked for Council approval of the Bill of Sale for .22 wetland mitigation credits to Al Beste which was paid with in-kind service to ready the wetland mitigation site.

Kolb also brought to the Council's review a proposal for the sale of wetland credits to the Island Paradise development. Kolb noted that the final transaction included two sales, one for 32 cents per square foot and another for 45 cents per square reflecting market rates at two separate occasions. The mitigation amount is $45,432.99.

Balderston moved and Humbert seconded a motion to approve of the deed restrictions for Wetland D and the Mitigation Site, the Bill of Sale with Al Beste, and the Affidavit of Seller with TDGM (Island Paradise) and to authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to sign all necessary documents in the transaction. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Worms and Tim Hennen asked about a discrepancy in the amount that Famo Feeds needs to mitigate if they would like to remove all of the wetlands from their property. Kolb stated that he is working with Greg Bechtold on the issue because two amounts have been included in various letters and e-mail messages. Hetland noted an e-mail message written the prior year stating a fixed amount and recommended that amount regardless whether the ultimate acreage is determined to be .22 or .52 acres. Balderston moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion approving of the amount reached in 2006 with Famo Feeds. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

The Mayor called a 5 minute recess at 8:14 P.M. to sign the previously approved wetland documents so John Kolb could be dismissed and record them the following day.

Wetland Monitoring Proposal

Hetland recommended a negotiated wetland monitoring proposal with the Stearns County Environmental Services and SEH. The proposal stated that the first year of monitoring would be accomplished by SEH and thereafter be completed by City Staff Paul Hetland and Joel Dasher. Tim Hennen moved and Balderston seconded a motion to approve of the City's wetland monitoring plan at a cost of $2183. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-1.

Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) Hearing: Consider opening the program city-wide

Worms opened the hearing at 8:30 P.M. Heidi Peper, the SCDP administrator provided a handout with the program's objectives and history in Freeport. She reported that the program has done well but there is a gap between goals and applicants – 1 for housing and two for businesses. If the business applicants do not meet our goals of four rehabs, there is a possibility to modify the budget and put that money into the housing rehab activity.

Joe Hennen moved and Balderston seconded a motion to give property owners until December 31 to decide if they'll participate in the program and if we still have vacancies, to then open the residential rehabilitation area City-wide and modify the budget accordingly. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

No one in the audience commented on the program or the target area expansion.

Joe Hennen moved and Balderston seconded a motion to close the hearing at 8:50 P.M. Motion carried 5-0.

Welle 3 Project Acceptance Request

Hetland noted that Kent Roessler requested acceptance of the improvements made for the second phase of the Welle Estates Plat 2. Schulz mentioned that there are a couple remaining items, notably the removal of an erosion blanket. The City Engineer did not recommend that the project be accepted yet. Humbert moved and Balderston seconded a motion declining the request until the work is complete per the City Engineer's recommendation. Schulz noted that he would contact Kent Roessler regarding the Council's decision. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Lions Request for Veterans Memorial

Humbert mentioned that the Freeport Lions Club is developing a veterans memorial and would like to erect it at the east end of the downtown parking lot. Balderston moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion to give preliminary approval to develop a Lion's sponsored veterans memorial at the end of the sidewalk on the east end of the Main Street Parking Lot subject to the final approval of City Council. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Other

Joe Hennen noticed that the recent CenterPoint Energy restoration crews were using tar in areas that were previously concrete. He also asked if the damaged lawns would be reseeded by them. Hetland said that he would follow through with the company and report back to Council at a later time.

Old Business

Council advised Hetland to contact the Sheriff's Office to write a ticket to Rick Luekam for erecting a deck without a permit and for driving over sidewalks.

Council requested that Hetland contact Jim Beutz the following Monday about the accumulation of wood in violation of the limit to only two cords of wood and possible nuisance violation.

Humbert questioned whether a property owner needs a permit to display a "for sale" sign. Hetland responded that one can display such a sign without a permit.

Reports

City Engineer, Jim Schulz, SEH

Schulz reported that the Industrial Park Project should be completed by the end of the year. He also noted that the Main Street Project should also been done as soon as possible.

Public Works Director, Joel Dasher

Dasher presented a written report that is on file for review.

City Clerk/Treasurer's Report, Paul Hetland

Hetland presented a written report that is on file for review.

Hetland noted that he will be meeting with Fire Chief Tom Hiltner to create a draft 2009 fire and rescue department budget and distribute it before the end of December.

Consent Agenda

Balderston moved and Humbert seconded a motion approving the Consent Agenda which included the following:

  • Claims in the amount of $$37,670.86
  • Claims in the amount of $15,341.94
  • Claims for payroll in the amount of $7320.34
  • Approval of a Fire and Rescue Department Grant
  • Resolution 2007-011 – Fees (updating water load charge previously approved)

Discussion followed. Motion carried 5-0.

At 9:41 P.M. Worms moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.