CITY OF WANAMINGO
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, August 8, 2022 7:00 P.M.
Wanamingo City Council Chambers – 401 Main Street
Wanamingo, MN
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Holmes.
PRESENT: Council: Ryan Holmes, Larry VanDeWalker, Stuart Ohr, and Eric Dierks
City Administrator: Michael Boulton
Deputy Clerk: Karen Masters
ABSENT: Jeremiah Flotterud
ALSO PRESENT: Cobus Peens, Todd Greseth – Goodhue County Commissioner, and David Friese – News Record.
ADOPT AGENDA: Ohr motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by Dierks. Passed 4-0-0.
CONSENT AGENDA: Dierks motioned, seconded by VanDeWalker with correction to 7-25-2022 minutes changing August 2022 to August 2023 in reference to SEMMCHRA possible refinancing of Heritage Hills. Passed 4-0-0.
PRESENTERS:
A) Cobus Peens reported on:
1) Worked with contractor, Shaun Laue, to complete repairs to the Livery Barn roof that was damaged by winds over the winter
2) Changed out thirty-five water meters this past month.
3) Riverside Park log cabin painted and window trim painted and screens rehabbed
4) Trimmed and cut down trees near downtown well house in anticipation for new well house building
5) Leaking water service line repaired on 3rd Avenue near storage units. A one-foot extension line will be installed next week.
6) Mowed at the WWTP, community garden, undeveloped lot boulevards, and other various areas around town.
B) Todd Greseth, Goodhue County Commissioner, reported on:
County Commissioner Paul Drotos passed away. Sue Betcher was appointed Commissioner in July before Drotos passed away.
2023 County Budget Workshop is scheduled for August 15th
The County has seen, on average, a 19% property valuation increase in 2022 which will be reflected in 2023 property tax valuations
County human resources director, Melissa Cushing retired. The board reorganized the department dividing out duties and hiring a new processor. County Administrator Scott Arneson will oversee HR department.
The County is having a difficult time hiring open public works and detention deputy positions.
The former County Bench Street Landfill has been officially turned over to the State. Greseth stated that turning the landfill over to the State was a good move but was not happy with all the imposed requirements.
Greseth has been advocating the County to purchase ten radios for each fire department within the County. There would be $55,000 cost per fire department for the radios. This would not replace all the necessary fire department radios, but would be a big step. This may be politically difficult since Red Wing has already purchased new radios.
Holmes stated the ultimate transfer of the landfill to the State was great but was not happy regarding the organized solid waste collections that required all waste from the County to go to one location. This did not make financial or environmental sense in portions of the County that are a distance from the site. Holmes stated that he appreciates Greseth’s work on behalf of Wanamingo and the commissioner district. Ohr asked what the County had determined for timing of work to be completed on the County Road that runs along 3rd Street E, 3rd Avenue, and 2nd Street E by the school. Greseth stated that this County Road has been placed at the end of the 10-year plan for work. Boulton stated that he had been working with assistant County Engineer Jesse Greenwood to identify and determine replacement timing for underground utilities by the City.
NEW BUSINESS:
RESOLUTION:
22-047 = Certifying Proposed Tax levy for 2023: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by VanDeWalker. Boulton reminded the Council that once the proposed 2023 tax levy is certified that it cannot be raised. Boulton stated that the Council will consider a final 2023 tax levy in December that can be equal to or lower than the proposed tax levy. Passed 4-0-0.
22-048 = Adopting a Proposed Budget for 2023: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Ohr. Passed 4-0-0.
22-049 = Setting Date for Public Hearing and Continuation for 2023 Budget Adoption: VanDeWalker moved to approve, Seconded by Ohr. Passed 4-0-0.
22-050 = Approval to Transfer Up to $20,415.00 from Operating Reserve to SEMMCHRA for 2022 Projected Vacancy, Marketing, and Capital Expenses: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by VanDeWalker. Boulton stated that $20,415 is of the operating loss. Boulton stated that the City is levying $25,000 in 2022 which would bring the $50,000 reserve back to $48,190 in August 2022. Boulton stated that the City would be levying $25,000 in 2023 which will cover 2022 operating loss and capital needs while bring the $50,000 back in line. Holmes stated that he was happy with the reduction in operating losses. Holmes stated that the City had lost $70,000 the last year it operated Heritage Hills in 2009. Passed 4-0-0.
22-051 = Approving Pay Request No. 2 to Caldwell Tanks Inc. for the Cenex Water Tower Portion of the 2022 Utility Improvements: Ohr moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Boulton stated that the pay request is for $545,499.50. Dierks stated that the public had been asking questions about why the downtown water tower was being taken down. Dierks asked if information could be provided to the public. Holmes stated that he and staff had worked with the newspaper to put together an article that was published last week. The article explained the reasons why the Council opted to have the downtown water tower removed when the new water is complete. Passed 4-0-0.
22-052 = Approving Pay Request No. 1 to R.A.W. Construction for the Water Main Portion of the 2022 Utility Improvements: Ohr moved to approve, Seconded by VanDeWalker. Boulton stated that the pay request is for $248,869.90. Passed 4-0-0.
22-053 = Approving Change Order No. 1 for the Joseph Co. on Well House Portion of the 2022 Utility Improvements: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by VanDeWalker. Boulton stated that the Minnesota Department of health require required chlorine pump automatic shut-off valves (if a leak occurred) along with changes to lines. The proposed change order is for $17,096.02. Passed 4-0-0.
22-054 = Authorizing a Temporary Office Work Trailer to be Placed on Reckitt Parcel: VanDeWalker moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Ohr stated that the proposed three trailers may not be necessary if Reckitt leases the two vacant suites at the Wanamingo Medical Center building. Boulton advised the Council to consider approval because if Reckitt does not need the trailers there will be no harm. Passed 4-0-0.
22-055 = Approving Pay Request No. 3 to Caldwell Tanks Inc. for the Cenex Water Tower Portion of the 2022 Utility Improvements: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Ohr. Boulton stated that the pay request is for $120,384.00. Passed 4-0-0.
OLD BUSINESS:
Public Hearing - Ordinance #200 – An Ordinance Requiring Residential Driveway Surfaces be Paved with Bituminous, Concrete, or Acceptable Impervious Materials within 30 Days; Amending Wanamingo Code of Ordinances § 152.52: Mayor Holmes opened the public hearing at 7:28PM. Administrator Boulton stated that there has been concerns with past new homes constructed in residential areas being slow to install impervious driveways. The current Wanamingo Code of Ordinances does not speak to requirements for impervious materials being installed for driveways in residentially zoned areas. The Council’s concern is with gravel washing into streets and storm sewers along with area aesthetics. The draft ordinance mirrors the ordinance requiring grass or sod being placed down in residentially zoned lawns 30 days after the certificate of occupancy is issued. Holmes stated that there was feedback from Shawn Anderson and Christine Lundin that it may be difficult to require existing residential homeowners with complying since there are roughly twenty that do not have impervious driveways. Administrator Boulton explained that the proposed ordinance is only for new construction. VanDeWalker stated that is fine with the proposed ordinance language and agreed with the requirement. Ohr stated that this ordinance only requires impervious for residential and not commercial. Boulton stated that Wanamingo Code of Ordinance 152.52 already addresses commercial and industrial parking lots. No further public comments were provided. Mayor Holmes closed the public hearing at 7:33PMy
Ordinance #200 – An Ordinance Requiring Residential Driveway Surfaces be Paved with Bituminous, Concrete, or Acceptable Impervious Materials within 30 Days; Amending Wanamingo Code of Ordinances § 152.52 – 2nd Reading: Ohr moved to approved, seconded by VanDeWalker. Passed 4-0-0.
Mayor Holmes stated that a formal letter was sent to the Wanamingo Locker/Blondies Butcher Shop to approve the mitigation process with conditions and with the outlined expectations. Boulton stated that the maintenance staff have not been notified of any slaughtering since the letter was sent. Peens stated that there has not been blood or animal biproducts observed coming into the sanitary sewer plant inflow. Boulton stated that staff had created an excel spreadsheet to monitor the following when slaughtering occurs: Date/Time notified, Date/Time of observation, observation of upstream sanitary sewer manholes, observation of downstream sanitary sewer manhole, observation of sanitary sewer plant inflow, and any pictures taken when observation of blood or animal biproducts occur. Holmes stated that the spreadsheet should be shared with the locker and check when the next scheduled slaughter plans to occur.
Affidavits of Candidacy will be accepted at the City Hall (401 Main Street) during the filing period of August 2, 2022 through August 16, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. for the following City Council seats:
Mayor – 2 Year Term
2 At-Large City Council Positions - 4 Year Terms
Candidates’ names will appear on the November 8, 2022 General Election ballot.
Listed below are the filing requirements for those individuals seeking public office:
1. Candidate must be an eligible voter.
2. Is, or will be on assuming the office, 21 years of age or more.
3. Maintained residence in the district from which the candidate seeks election for 30 days before the General Election.
Candidates must file an Affidavit of Candidacy and pay a $2 filing fee at City Hall, 401 Main Street, Wanamingo, MN. Office hours are 7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 7:00AM-12:00PM Fridays. Filings will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on August 16, 2022.
*Next City Council meeting on 9/12/2022
Adjourn: At 7:46 PM a motion to adjourn was made by Ohr and seconded by Dierks. Passed 4-0-0.
Signed: Ryan Holmes, Mayor
Attest: Michael Boulton, City Administrator
