Agenda

Joe Hennen moved and Humbert seconded a motion approving the meeting agenda. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.

Approval of the Minutes

Tim Hennen moved and Humbert seconded a motion approving the meeting minutes for April 29, 2008. Discussion offered. Motion carried 4-0.

Annual Board Of Appeal Meeting

Worms opened the Annual Board of Appeal meeting at 6:34 P.M.

Community Care R54.32079.010. Jim Hemker was present and requested that the amount be kept as it was the previous year in the amount of $224,600 instead of the proposed $306,432. Joe Hennen moved and Humbert seconded a motion to approve the request. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

PID 54.32040.000 and 54.32008.000 owned by Carl Botz. Kathy Korte presented an e-mail message, which is on file for review, request from Carl Botz stating that the land was approximately 19 acres of high quality meadow hay used for livestock and more than exceeds the minimum 10 acres of land use required for agricultural classification. Tim Hennen moved and Humbert seconded a motion approving the requested change from residential to agricultural classification for parcel identification numbers 54.32040.000 and 54.32008.000 owned by Carl Botz. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Joe Hennen moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion to approve the request by Mark Middendorf for the following parcels to be adjusted as follows:

Parcel ID Proposed Adjusted amount
54.32129.077 $35500.00 $20332.00
54.32129.078 $40000.00 $22873.50
54.32129.079 $38200.00 $21827.00
54.32129.067 $104700.00 $89700.00
54.32129.068 $104700.00 $89700.00
54.32129.069 $208900.00 $179101.00
54.32129.072 $103000.00 $88504.00
54.32129.073 $29300.00 $16744.00
54.32129.081 $13400.00 $7774.00

Discussion included that the maximum amount for land sold in the Industrial Park was for $29,900 and it was the basis of the adjustment to a market rate sale value for the land. In the discussion, Bob Lindvall noted that he felt a conflict of interest was present but did not specify any details. Motion carried 5-0.

Korte noted that on June 12, 2008 those not pleased with the decisions reach with the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization may attend a meeting at the County level.

Bob Lindvall and Kathy Korte of the Stearns County Assessor's Office also presented written information, which is also on file for review, that valuations in Freeport increased as follows:

  • Residential/Seasonal range was -5 to 3% with an average of a 3% decrease
  • Commercial rose 1-5% with an average of 3% increase
  • Apartment range was -2% to 2% with an average of 1% decrease
  • Agriculture rose 1% to 6% with an average increase of 2%

Lindvall and Korte noted that the City's total valuation is at $44,289,700 and thus the 1% amount is $442,897.

The total reduced in the meeting was $240,103 and the available remaining was $202,794.

Worms moved and Humbert seconded a motion to adjourn the annual Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting at 7:19 P.M. Motion carried 5-0.

Old Business

Playground Proposal, Daniel Lanes, Midwest Playscapes

Dozens of people were present to recommend project and financial support for a proposed playground on the newly acquired park space on the north end of the City, located by Sacred Heart School.

Discussion was broad-ranging and extensive. While dozens of comments were made on the topic, the following is a summary of those area discussions:

  • The need for the playground was discussed and debated. Most of those present felt there was a need for a new playground in place of the playground currently in the lot because of the increased number of children on the north end of the City, projected increase of children, and the disrepair of the current playground. A few others felt that the playground was either not in disrepair or felt it was not a City concern or priority.
  • Approval of the project was also discussed and debated. Most of those present felt that the City should approve the project for it to move forward to solicit donations and secure the project bid amount regardless of the City's funding. A couple individuals mentioned that the project should not be funded at all.
  • Financing for the project was also discussed and debated. Most of those present felt the City should fund some portion of the playground while a few felt there should be no public funding while a few others thought most of it should be publicly funded. There was discussion from a few people on funding a water tower with the General Fund reserve. Staff noted that the Water Fund could borrow money from the General Fund, but that they are separate funds with separate purposes, revenues, and expenditures. A request to solicit donations was distributed and over $10,000 was pledged to the project.

Tim Hennen moved and Dave Humbert seconded a motion to approve of allocating $20,000 from the General Fund reserve and dedicating the $4706.15 currently in the Park Dedication Fund for the north end playground project and approving the project itself but the quotation would not be approved until the funds were raised. Further discussion followed. Worms moved and Balderston seconded a motion to amend the main motion from $20,000 to $30,000. Discussion followed. Worms called for a roll call vote on the amendment. The votes were as follows: Joe Hennen, no; Charles Balderston, yes; Tim Hennen, no; David Humbert, no; and Matthew Worms, yes. Amendment failed 2-3. Worms called for a roll call vote on the unaltered main motion. The votes were as follows: Joe Hennen, no; Charles Balderston, no; Tim Hennen, yes; David Humbert, yes; and Matthew Worms, no. Motion failed 2-3.

Joe Hennen asked for clarification on the motion. There appeared to be a misunderstanding of the motion.

Joe Hennen moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion again to approve of allocating $20,000 from the General Fund reserve and dedicating the $4706.15 currently in the Park Dedication Fund for the north end playground project and approving the project itself but the quotation would not be approved until the funds were raised. Discussion was offered. Motion carried 4-1 with Balderston noting that he voted against the motion.

Water Tower Recommendations

Rich Kemmis of Maguire Iron gave a review of the water tower's condition. He stated that the exterior condition is aesthetic and not structural. He also referenced a letter that was written a year prior that the stand pipe and overflow pipe should be repaired to adequately clean out the water tower on an annual basis. He recommended that due to the high level of sediment that collects at the bottom of the tank, the City's practice of cleaning it out once a year should continue. He stated that the tank should be in good working condition at least until 2013. He stated that the tank may have leaks if some repairs are not made by 2025, but these were only approximate estimates based on the tanks current condition and history.

Kemmis was also asked if the tank was vacated what the maintenance on it would be. He stated that it should be painted periodically to keep up the appearance but it would have to happen less frequently due to the lack of condensation in an empty tank. It was also asked if ballast was needed to hold a vacated tower down or keep it from twisting. Kemmis said that from his 33 years of experience he had never heard of an empty tower falling down or twisting due to the secure engineering of the structures.

Kemmis noted that he would provide a quote for the annual cleaning and recommended repairs to review for a future Council Meeting.

He stated that the all of the ladders and absence of a safety climb makes transcending the tower unsafe. He said that the structure should be made secure to avoid access to the ladder system. He said that the legs should be boarded up immediately and that it could be done by the City itself.

Kemmis' final notation was that the process of building a new water tower is about a 3 to 5 year process. Jim Schulz noted that much of the work has already been completed with the feasibility study.

Comprehensive Plan

Hetland presented a draft comprehensive plan schedule from June to the remainder of the year. The topic timeline is as follows: June is law enforcement and public safety, July is residential needs, August is economic development, September is road maintenance and projects, October is the water tower, November is the capital improvement plan, and December the areas will be re-reviewed and ratified for implementation starting January 1, 2009. Balderston moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion approving the proposed schedule. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Industrial Park Drive Recommendations

Hetland and Worms reported that after discussion with Butch Thull that his previous submitted and discussed bid of $13,913 for drainage improvements along Industrial Park Drive were accurate and met the request. Tim Hennen moved and Humbert seconded a motion to accept the bid from Thull Excavating in the amount of $13,913 for the drainage improvement project along Industrial Park Drive. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

New Business

Open Public Forum

No one addressed Council.

Consideration of a Contract with the Stearns County Sheriff

Hetland provided a draft copy of a contract with the Stearns County Sheriff for discussion.

Balderston moved and Tim Hennen seconded a motion to approve of 9 hours per month from June through October which must include the enforcement of municipal ordinances. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Reports

City Engineer, Jim Schulz

Schulz mentioned that there was an area of 3rd Avenue SE in the Welle Estate Plat 2 that has settled and will be repaired per the contractor's warranty which he would administer. He also mentioned that a drainage pipe exiting the development's sediment pond would need to be cleared due to a blockage.

City Clerk/Treasurer's Report, Paul Hetland

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

Hetland requested Council's advice on whether Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) loans should be paid at the time a home is sold or should it continue to other parties if they qualify. Balderston moved and Joe Hennen seconded a motion that outstanding amount of SCDP loans be paid upon the early sale of a building. Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

Hetland mentioned that he intended to conduct a wetland monitoring study the following day. He noted that the annual report should include three studies - spring, summer, and fall - of the wetland east of the waste water pond.

Consent Agenda

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

  • Claims in the amount of $5929.73
  • Resolution 2008-015 - Amending fees to add $1400 Easement Vacation Fee
  • Setting hearing to apply City expenses to 211 Main St E, PID54.32231.000 in the amount of the actual cost at the time of the hearing.

Discussion offered. Motion carried 5-0.

At 10:41 P.M. Humbert moved and Joe Hennen seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.