Wanamingo City Council Meeting - July 11, 2022

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CITY OF WANAMINGO

City Council Regular Meeting

Monday, July 11, 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, Eric Dierks, and Jeremiah Flotterud (Late)

City Administrator: Michael Boulton

Deputy Clerk: Karen Masters

ABSENT: Council: None

ALSO PRESENT:   Crystal Moritz, Maliya Pugh-Ware, Richard Turri, Brad Kennedy, Cobus Peens, Steve Kruser, Dan Fritz, Annette Fritz, Jean Fulton, and Goodhue County Deputy Stephan.      

ADOPT AGENDA:  Ohr motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by Dierks.  Passed 4-0-0.

CONSENT AGENDA:  VanDeWalker motioned to adopt including the amended June minutes to change reference of phosphorous to CBOD, seconded by Dierks.  Passed 4-0-0.

Mayor Holmes acknowledged that the Wanamingo 4th of July celebration went very well.  Holmes thanked the fireman for the work with the Fireman’s dance, parade, water fights, and fireworks.  Holmes thanked the Wanamingo Lions, Wanamingo Commercial Club, and all of the other civic groups and churches that hosted events and contributed toward the celebration.  Holmes stated that the weather cooperated on the 4th of July for the parade and fireworks.  Holmes said that the turnout was great and look forward to next year.

PRESENTERS:

A) Brad Kennedy reported on:

1) Much of the last month was in preparation for the 4th of July

2) Trimmed trees

3) Painted the remaining no parking areas of curbs yellow around town

4) Weed whipped and mowed around public and private properties leading up to the 4th of July

5) Sprayed weeds along curb/gutters of streets, downtown sidewalks, and parks.

6) Added gravel around the concrete pad for the park shelter at Prairie Ridge Estates Park.  Moved two picnic tables onto the concrete pad after the 4th of July events

7) Mowed at the WWTP, community garden, undeveloped lot boulevards, and other various areas around town.

8) Coordinated with Xcel Energy to have fiber glass and aluminum poles painted.  They will be sending a gallon of paint to do touch-ups on aluminum downtown poles

9) Drained baby pool to repaint after iron deposits were created from filling directly from the hydrant.  May need to install filter next year to help eliminate iron deposits

10) Installed the 4th of July banner two weeks before and took down the week after

NEW BUSINESS:

RESOLUTION: NONE

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 – 1st Reading – Administrator Boulton stated that there has been concerns with past homes built 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 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.  Feedback from Councilmembers was a need for a mechanism to be in place within the Code of Ordinances to ensure that impervious materials are installed for driveway within a reasonable timeframe.  Boulton and Holmes worked with City Attorney, David Jacobsen, to put together the draft Ordinance.  Boulton stated that a public hearing would take place at the August 8th City Council meeting.  No input was provided. 

OLD BUSINESS:

Mayor Holmes stated that Wanamingo Locker/Blondies Butcher Shop had provided the written proposal on how they plan to meet the goal of eliminating blood, animal guts/tissue, and fleshings from entering into the discharge of waters or wastes.  The written proposal includes: “A commercial grade rubber drain plug connected to a compressor and engrossed to roughly 15 PSI to secure a no leak drain covers the sanitary sewer collection drain. When a cattle or pigs are harvested, one jugular is cut and attach a shop vac. Once the animal has gone through the final washing, and before being coolered, all grey water and tissue is shoveled and shop vacuumed into 50-gallon non-edible blue barrels.  The blue barrels are picked up within three to four hours post-harvest, by Sanimax. The drain remains plugged until all grey water/tissue/blood has been sucked up and barreled.”  City staff reviewed that written proposal and recommended approval by the City Council with conditions.  The conditions include the following: “The City of Wanamingo maintenance staff is required to be notified the day prior to butchering animals.  The Wanamingo maintenance staff will monitor both the above outlined process along with the upstream and downstream sanitary sewer collection system manholes.  This monitoring process will continue until City staff deem that there is enough trust built in the process to ensure that blood and animal parts do not enter into the City owned collection system.”  The City staff provided additional photos to Wanamingo Locker/Blondies Butcher Shop showing blood and animal biproducts within the sanitary sewer collection system on a regular basis during 2021 and 2022.  Past executed mitigation process appears to have been deficient and continued to let blood and animal biproducts into the City owned sanitary sewer collection system.

Rick Turri stated that inspection by the City of the process, monitoring of the upstream and downstream sanitary sewer manholes for blood, advanced notification of butchering, and potential testing should go a long way to mitigate the blood and animal biproducts from entering into the sanitary sewer collections system.  Holmes stated that he is confident the recommended proposal and conditions can work.  VanDeWalker moved to accept and approve the mitigation plan process and conditions outlined in the staff recommendation letter, seconded by Dierks.  Holmes thanked Jean Fulton for attending the meeting and was appreciative the Lindsey Loken had but the plan in writing.  Jean Fulton stated that the mitigation process was the same as what they have had in place for over a year.  Passed 5-0-0.  Holmes asked that the Wanamingo Locker/Blondies Butcher shop please work with the City staff to coordinate the day prior to butchering animals.  The City staff will then monitor the outlined process along with the upstream and downstream sanitary sewer manholes.  The hope is to drastically reduce the blood and animal biproducts into the City owned collection system through the mitigation process.  The Council wishes to build trust with reduction of blood and animal biproduct entering the City owned collection system by monitoring the butchering process.  If proposed mitigation process does not drastically reduce the blood and animal biproducts entering into the City owned collection system the City Council will need to revisit the enforcement process.  This may include consider fines, blocking sanitary sewer service pipe, or take legal action.  The City will continue to provide updates to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regarding the enforcement process.  Boulton stated that a formal letter will be drafted and sent to the Wanamingo Locker/Blondies Butcher Shop to approve the mitigation process with conditions and outline expectations.  The letter will be signed by the Mayor and City Administrator.

Boulton stated that he and Councilmember Ohr had conducted a City-wide tour and had compiled a nuisance list.  The nuisance list includes items such as junk vehicles, boats, mowing, and other junk items out in the open.  A full list was been provided to the Council to review.  The Council agreed to take the recommended actions for the nuisance list.  Boulton has been conducting calls, making site visits, and sending letters to property owners who have nuisance violations.  Many of the nuisances have been abated.  The goal is to clean up the town before the Wanamingo 4th of July celebration.  Ohr stated that town looked great for the 4th of July celebration but there were a handful of nuisances that still need to be addressed.  Holmes thanked everyone who helped make town look great for the City celebration.  Boulton recommended the Council approve the list of vehicle and boat nuisances be sent to the Goodhue Sheriff’s office for enforcement.  VanDeWalker moved to approve sending the remaining list of vehicle and boats nuisances to the Goodhue County Sheriff’s office for enforcement, seconded by Ohr.  Passed 4-0-0. 

Crystal Moritz & Maliya Pugh-Ware requested that chickens be allowed in residential areas of Wanamingo.  They were recently made aware that the City of Wanamingo Code of Ordinances does not allow chickens in residentially zoned areas that have less than 10 acres.  They live in Prairie Ridge Estates and have a lot under 10 acres.  Maliya is a senior in high school and works at Area 57.   Her family moved to Wanamingo as a compromised location because dad works in Stillwater and mom works in Rochester.  Currently have three hens that are hand fee.  They live in a chicken coop in the back yard and walk into house regularly.  One of the hens recently got out of the back yard under the fence.  The family has chickens for an agriculture project.  The benefits include fresh eggs, weed control, pest control, and therapy.  The chickens provide laughter, companionship, and are loved very much.  Fresh homegrown eggs are better for you than store bought by not having growth hormones or steroids.  The three hens provide 2/3 eggs each day.  Having chickens honors their grandmother who had chickens during the Great Depression.  Chickens eat kitchen scraps and the litter provides nitrogen for back yard/garden.  Having chickens in town is a great was for kids to get involved in 4H/FFA projects for agriculture education and encourage exercise.  Provided information on area town’s ordinances which many allow with restrictions.

Boulton asked if they had checked Wanamingo Code of Ordinances or asked before bringing chickens into Wanamingo.  Moritz said that they had not since the move was quick and busy.  Moritz stated that her husband has seasonal depression and that the chickens in the garage help him get through the winter months.  Dierks asked what is done with the litter/waste.  Moritz stated that it is either left on the lawn for fertilizer or they hire Pet Butler to pick up the litter along with their dog waste on the lawn.  Holmes stated that requests for chickens have come up a couple of times over the last fifteen years.  Historically there has been negative feedback to allowing chickens which is the reasoning behind the current ordinance.  Moritz stated that an online petition had been started to request a change in the ordinance to allow chickens.  Moritz stated that reasonable restrictions could be put in place such as no roosters and specifics for shelters and fencing.  Dan Fritz expressed his neighbor’s concerns.  The neighbor wife is taking radiation treatments and the husband neighbor works and Jennie-O.  One of the reasons moved to Wanamingo because there were no chickens allowed.  Jennie-o has hundreds of employees and 40,000 birds to keep safe and healthy from bird flu.  Chickens out in the open within proximity of his neighbors is a huge concern.  Fritz stated that farm animals should stay on the farm and not be considered town pets.  Fritz stated that chickens in town is a controversial topic.  Fritz stated that promises and good intentions of how they are kept and restrictions set are only as good as the follow through.  Boulton reminded those present that any considered changes to the code of ordinances for chickens would not be considered at this meeting.  Any process for changing the code of ordinances could take up to three months.  Annette Fritz wanted to reinforce what Dan Fritz said that people do move to Wanamingo because of Ordinance Enforcement and how the town looks and asked the Council not to change to allow chickens.  Boulton stated that since the Facebook discussion from Moritz had taken place the past two weeks, he has been approached by the public with those either strongly opposed to chickens in residential neighborhoods or those that don’t care.  Flotterud stated that he is split on changing the ordinance.  The only change that Flotterud would consider would a conditional use process which someone applies for chickens and has to notify surrounding neighbors and receive permission.  Flotterud stated that the petition was great but it didn’t appear to be support from within Wanamingo.  Flotterud recommended the Moritz and Pugh-Ware speak with neighbors to gauge their opinions.  VanDeWalker stated that there are a number of kids in Wanamingo that are part of 4-H and have animal projects just outside of town.  Moritz and Pugh-Ware could speak with them if they are interested in projects such as chickens to see if housing them outside of town was an option.  VanDeWalker stated that no one has spoken with him who is in favor of allowing chickens in residential areas of town.  VanDeWalker stated that feedback he had received was not to allow chickens in residential areas.  Holmes stated that there are chickens within Wanamingo but they were in agriculture zoned areas.  Holmes stated that he was aware of many children who are in 4-H who have animal projects just outside of town.  Holmes stated that he heard much more negative than positive comments of allowing chickens within residential areas of town.  Moritz stated that she would research mitigation for concerns provided.  Boulton stated that a community survey could be put together on a broad range of topics and include a question regarding allowing chickens in residential areas of town.  Holmes stated that pets are allowed in town but there are issues with owners that don’t tend to them.  Promises to keep up with animals are not always followed through.  One of Ohr’s concerns is with smell from chicken litter in residential areas if not cleaned up.  Boulton stated that he has information from over 50 cities in Wanamingo on how they handle chickens.  It is a mixed back on if they allow them in residential areas along with the process and restrictions that are put in place.  VanDeWalker would like to get feedback from other towns on how their processes are working and any concerns they have.  Dan Fritz stated his concerns with property values when chickens are allowed.  Fritz stated that no one is going to have positive things to say about a home for sale next to another home that has chickens.  Fritz stated that the City should speak with the Prairie Ridge Estates developer, Jessup DeCook, on his thoughts as well.  Moritz thanked the Council for being able to voice concerns and provide information for the request to have chickens in residential areas of Wanamingo.  VanDeWalker thanked Moritz and Pugh-Ware for coming and providing input.  VanDeWalker stated that he shared health concerns with bird flu and allowing chickens in Wanamingo.  Holmes thanked Moritz and Pugh-Ware for the excellent presentation.  Holmes thanked everyone who shared their opinions on the topic.  The Council will continue to research the topic to hear what citizens think and if the citizens wish to allow chicken if there are reasonable ways on how to make changes to the Code of Ordinances in the future.   

*Next City Council meeting on 8/8/2022 at 7:00pm. 

Adjourn: At 7:52PM a motion to adjourn was made by VanDeWalker and seconded by Ohr.  Passed 5-0-0.

Signed: Attest:

Ryan Holmes, Mayor

Michael Boulton, City Administrator