Wanamingo City Council Meeting - May 8, 2023

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CITY OF WANAMINGO

City Council Regular Meeting

Monday, May 8, 2023 7:00 P.M.

Wanamingo City Council Chambers – 401 Main Street

Wanamingo, MN

CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Holmes.

PRESENT: Council: Ryan Holmes, Stuart Ohr, Eric Dierks, and Rebecca Haugen

City Administrator: Michael Boulton

Deputy Clerk: Karen Masters

ABSENT: Jeremiah Flotterud

ALSO PRESENT: Brad Kennedy, Julie Steberg-Mettille, Donna Strommen, Goodhue County Deputy - Sergeant Jim Lawler, Goodhue County Deputy Blue, Melissa Meyers – Zumbrota News-Record, and Josh McGovern – Kenyon Leader.

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

CONSENT AGENDA: Hagen motioned, seconded by Ohr. Passed 4-0-0.

PRESENTERS:

A) Brad Kennedy reported on:

1) Installed eight (8) new raised bed garden plots at the Community Garden

2) Most of town was swept until Street Sweeper tire needed to be replaced. Found that the rim had a crack and are looking for a used replacement.

3) Replaced twelve (12) water meters around town in the past month. Have only the thirty-seven (37) trailer court meters left to replace.

4) Both the Mingo View Drive water tower and Downtown water tower demolition have been completed.

5) All of the sanitary sewer line jetting has been completed. The entire community sanitary sewer main system was jetted in 2023. There is a plugged storm sewer subdrain perforated tile line plugged on 5th Street East. The line may need to be excavated and a section of line replaced due to tree roots. There was a lot of sand and grit that came down the sanitary sewer lines during jetting. The maintenance staff worked with Jason’s Sewer Sucking and Excavation to suck out the grit tank that filled solid after jetting

6) Shaun Laue completed removal of the chimney and repairs to the Livery barn roof. Laue also completed trim, siding, and thresh repairs to the Community Center and City Hall new rear doors.

7) All of the water hydrants were flushed, clearing sediment and turning over water in lines.

8) Started preparation work at the swimming pool. The kiddie pool’s new bleach disinfectant system including controls, pump, shelf, and fittings have been ordered. It is estimated at $3,600. A new cartridge filter was installed for the Main to help take out sediment and rust. The cost was roughly $400.

9) Hung the Main Street Banners up for the season

10) Floorcoat Midwest is coming later this week to start work on re-setting manholes

11) Schumacher Excavating plans to set the new Mingo View hydrant next week. Zumbro Valley Landscaping hydroseeded the new Cenex water tower lot.

12) The silt fence has been removed out of the farm fields along the water main looping project. The subcontractor plans to remove the remain silt fence from the project later this week. A punch list has been provided to R.A.W. Construction LLC.

13) The new well house generator was delivered last week. WHKS is working on a revised time line for the well house with The Joseph Company, Inc.

14) Received additional cold mix from Goodhue County public works and filled pot holes around town.

15) Emerald Valley Estates II Addition barricades have been up to stop traffic from driving in the undeveloped area for the past month. In past years vehicles have gotten stuck and made ruts. Large traffic barriers and chains with caution tape with linked to reflector sign posts on the North end of Nelson Drive and the East and West entrances off 3rd Street E. Kennedy asked for direction for when or if the barricades should be removed. Boulton stated that the barricades will need to be taken down for access to the community garden plots in the coming weeks.

Mayor Holmes presented the 2022 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency certificate of commendation to Kennedy for the wastewater treatment facility operational award in recognition of exceptional compliance with MPCA NPDES/SDS wastewater permit.

The City is working with Lew Groth on the water shut off valve, water meter, and interior water lines to 333 Main Street. The City can not install a new water meter because the water shut off valve is not functioning. Mr. Groth has a leak within his building that he pinched shut the water line due to the water shut off valve not working. The City plans to make repairs to the water shut off valve with various hydrants repairs around town. Mr. Groth will need to make repairs to his internal water lines. The City can then install the new water meter. The City will invoice Mr. Groth or certify to taxes the costs for the water shut off valve repairs. Mr. Groth will need to repair the concrete sidewalk that will be removed to repair the water shut off valve.

B) Julie Steberg Mettille, Assistant Swimming Pool Manager, reported on:

1) Dylan & Julie Steberg Mettille are excited to be back as manager and assistant manager for the pool in 2023

2) Council will be considering approval of 2023 swimming pool fees, schedule, and staff hire. Once approved the information will be printed in the Community Education summer book and placed the City/Pool Facebook pages

3) Both sessions of swimming pool lessons will take place in June. Lack of WSI certified guards available in July and August

4) There are no recommended fee changes from 2022 to 2023

5) There are ten (10) returning guards and five (5) new guards for 2023

6) The swimming pool is scheduled to open June 5th

7) There is excitement for water aerobics – members of the ‘Water Lilly’s’ have been asking when the pool is going to open since the three warm April days

8) Recommend looking at some sort of reimbursement in the future for the Red Cross lifeguard certifications. The current costs are $200. There could be a ½ reimbursement if lifeguards work at least two years

NEW BUSINESS:

RESOLUTION:

RESOLUTION 23-026 - Accepting 2023 Yearly Driver's License Checks for City Employees: Dierks moved to approve, seconded by Ohr. Passed 4-0-0.

RESOLUTION 23-027 - Setting Swimming Pool Fees and Schedule for the 2023 Season: Dierks moved to approve, seconded by Ohr. Passed 4-0-0.

RESOLUTION 23-028 – Authorizing a Temporary Liquor License for the Wanamingo Fire Relief Association July 3rd Dance: Ohr moved to approve, seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0.

RESOLUTION 23-029 – Approving Lot Split Request for Goodhue County Parcel I.D. 70.141.0030: Dierks moved to approve, seconded by Ohr. Passed 4-0-0.

RESOLUTION 23-030- Approving Reimbursements for Crop Damage When Completing the Watermain Looping Portion of the 2022 Utility Improvements: Dierks moved to approve, seconded by Ohr. Boulton stated that the City would be paying $630.00 for the 0.45 acres of crop damage. Passed 4-0-0.

RESOLUTION 23-031 - Accepting Low Quote for Manhole Casting Adjustment Involving Removal and Replacement Work: Ohr moved to approve, seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0.

OLD BUSINESS:

Administrator Boulton provided a North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District group update. The North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District group continues to meet monthly. The group has continued to gather information and work with our lobbyist on strategy for obtaining State funding in order to feasibly move forward with a joint sanitary sewer plant and collections system.

Minnesota State House Capital Investments Chair Fu Lee reached out to Representative Jacob and asked if the project could be scaled down in order to keep the project on the House funding list. The North Zumbro Legislative Committee worked with Tom Hanson of Winthrop and Weinstine to put together language for a $10 million scaled back capital request. The North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District would use the money for setting up the legal sewer district, land acquisition, along with predesign/design costs at 100% State. The North Zumbro Legislative Committee has advocated they do not want any cost sharing. The Cities cannot afford to put money towards the project without knowing the project will come to fruition. The North Zumbro Legislative Committee also pointed out that the cities are being pressured, especially Goodhue, by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to build a new plant as part of their permitting process. So, moving forward on this project is critical.

Pine Island City Administrator Elizabeth Howard and Wanamingo City Administrator Michael Boulton (North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District Legislative Committee Members) continue to meet with House and Senate Capital Finance committee members. The focus of the recent meetings has been to explain the scale back of the request to $10 million for setting up the legal sewer district, land acquisition, and design costs. Since our April update we have met with House Capital Investments Committee Chair Fu Lee, Representative Leon Lille, Representative Brian Daniels, Representative Steve Jacob, Representative Pam Altendorf, and House Republican Research Coordinator Chelsea Axelson. The North Zumbro Legislative Committee members were told that the meeting with Chelsea Axelson was important because the project is on the House Republican staff radar to assist being included in a bonding bill. Additionally, the North Zumbro Legislative Committee members met with Senator Susan Pa, Senator Steve Drazkowski, and Senator John Jasinski. We need to continue to put pressure on the members of the State Senate Capital Investments Committee. Tom Hanson of Withrop & Weinstine spoke with Senate Capital Investments Chair Sandy Pappas. Chair Pappas is supportive of the initial scaled down funding of the project at $10 million for land acquisition, district setup, and design work. The legislative committee filled out a project status form for the Senate Capital Investments Committee. This form focused on the details of the project and phasing the project. We hope to be included in both the Senate and House versions of a bonding bill toward the end of session. The end of the legislative session is drawing near, May 22nd. Members of the North Zumbro Legislative Committee are planning on taking additional trips to the State Capitol to advocate for the project up to the end of session.

Administrator Boulton provided an update on Midwest Machinery’s additional water request. At the March City Council meet a memo was provide about Midwest Machinery’s (John Deere) need for larger volume of water. Midwest Machinery approached the City seeking written approval to install a new, deeper well. Midwest Machinery has obtained estimates for the new well of $25,672 from Peterson Well Drilling Inc. Midwest Machinery currently has a shallow (less than thirty feet) private well. Midwest Machinery is connected to City sewer by a force main that pumps sewage to West Avenue through Bill Herman’s pasture.

Goodhue County permits and inspects new and existing wells. Since Midwest Machinery is within the City of Wanamingo, Goodhue County requires written approval from the City for new wells before formal approval by Goodhue County. Wanamingo Code of Ordinances 53.04 (A) makes it unlawful to construct new private wells within the City (existing private wells are exempt). 53.04 (C) allow the City to determine expansion of City water system. Certain conditions, such as high costs or soil conditions, can make connecting to City water not feasible.

City Staff have recommended requiring those that wish to install a new well for water to pay for rough feasibility numbers to install City water to their parcel. This would allow the City Council to review the cost of well installation and weigh it against the cost and any conditions of connecting to city water. The Council should only approve private wells when costs or conditions are significantly higher than private well costs. The Council should determine what costs and conditions make City water unfeasible. Examples of City water being unfeasible may include when costs exceed three to four times or when soil conditions such as river crossing or rock add to the difficulty or cost. The Council should place a premium on requiring connecting to City water in order to limit wells that could contaminate the DWSMA (Drinking Water Supply Management Area). Also, it is in the City’s interest to have additional system usage in outlying areas for water clarity and billing for water to locations within the City.

Brandon Theobald of WHKS has put together a rough feasibility costs to install a water line alongside the existing sewer force main. Theobald estimates that there is roughly 950 feet of 1” private water line that would need to be bored from West Avenue to the Northeast corner of Midwest Machinery’s shop. There would be additional line-item costs such as mobilization, curb stop, rock excavation, bituminous parking lost repair, and erosion control/turf establishment. The total engineer’s estimate is $32,500 for these line items. The costs do not include Midwest Machinery obtaining easements from Bill Hermann to install the lines over his property.

Midwest Machinery obtained an estimate from Schumacher Excavating for directionally drilling a 2” poly water line for 1,200’ (different placement within building than engineer’s estimate – 950 feet). The total Schumacher Excavating estimate is $55,350. This estimate does not include fine grading or seeds, blacktop or concrete work, rock excavation, work within the building, or obtaining easements from Bill Hermann to install the lines over his property.

In March, the Wanamingo City Council agreed that Midwest Machinery should hook up to City water rather than drill a private well based on engineer’s estimates. The Council agreed that each well request should be compared against hooking up to City water with costs and other extenuating circumstances. The Council agreed that large business users should differ from residential requests. The Council wishes to be presented with the well and City water hook up estimates for each request in the future. The Council reviewed Midwest’s contractor’s estimates and compared the estimates for drilling a new well. Mayor Holmes did not believe that the well estimate included new lines from the new well to the building. Mayor Holmes stated that he still believes that Midwest Machinery should hook up to City water and not drill a new well. Haugen asked who would be responsible for the 1,200 feet of new water line. Boulton stated that this line would be considered a private service line and Midwest would be responsible. Holmes asked if the City decided to bring a water line along MN TH 60 to service this area in the future, would the City assess Midwest. Boulton stated that the watermain would be considered an improvement and should be considered for assessment to all those that benefit. Ohr stated that he was happy that Schumacher estimate had a 2” water service line (too small) rather than a 1” on the engineer’s estimate or the original Schumacher estimate of 4” (too big). City staff invited Midwest to send a representative to the May Council meeting to discuss their request. There were no representatives present. Boulton stated that he would recommend that the Council enforce the ordinance by requiring hook up to City water, but that the Council would should welcome representatives from Midwest Machinery to a future City Council meeting to discuss. Dierks moved to enforce Wanamingo Code of Ordinances 53.04 for Midwest Machinery to hook up to City water rather than drilling a new well and that representative of Midwest Machinery are welcome to a future City Council meeting to discuss concerns, seconded by Ohr. Passed 4-0-0.

*Next City Council meeting on 6/12/2023 at 7:00pm.

Adjourn: At 7:45 PM a motion to adjourn was made by Ohr and seconded by Dierks. Passed 4-0-0.

Signed: Attest:

_____________________ ____________________________________

Ryan Holmes, Mayor Michael Boulton, City Administrator