CITY OF WANAMINGO
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, September 12, 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, Jeremiah Flotterud, and Eric Dierks
City Administrator: Michael Boulton
Deputy Clerk: Karen Masters
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Brad Kennedy, Brian Daniels – State Representative, Melissa Meyers – News Record, Jason Raths, Amy Raths, Jason Grant, and Steve Kruser.
ADOPT AGENDA: Ohr motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by Dierks. Passed 5-0-0.
CONSENT AGENDA: Flotterud motioned, seconded by VanDeWalker. Passed 5-0-0.
PRESENTERS:
A) Brad Kennedy reported on:
1) Worked with contractor, Shaun Laue, to install steel roofs on ice rink warming house and community garden tool shed
2) Changed out seventeen water meters this past month. Been waiting on meters that are on back order
3) Removed cable line that connected posts along the Riverside Park parking lot
4) Trimmed trees along Riverside Park parking lot
5) Pressure washed north outside wall of Medical Center Building
6) Flushed water hydrants
7) Put back up Nature Trail entrance signs just off Hillcrest Avenue that wind damage knocked down last winter
8) Repaired hydrant near City Hall with the help of Minnesota Rural Water. The hydrant shut-off valve continues to leak. The valve will be dug up in the near future to be repaired.
9) John Deere delivered the new leased 331G Track Skid Loader. The one-year lease is for $4,999 with up to 200 hours of use.
10) Mowed at the WWTP, community garden, undeveloped lot boulevards, and other various areas around town.
B) Brian Daniels, New (After Redistricting) State Representative 19A, reported on:
1) The 2022 redistricting of the Legislature after the 2020 US Census will place Wanamingo within the Faribault area legislative district.
2) Has served as State Representative for 8 years (Elected in 2014)
3) He and His Wife, Liz, have four children and seven grandchildren
4) Moved to Faribault in the 1990’s for son to attend Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf
5) Was diagnosed with brain tumor in 1997 and given 5-10 years to live. Is still here, but has lack of mobility in one leg
6) Has fought to expand opportunities for autistic children and championed the cause of state’s Deaf and Blind academies
7) If he is re-elected and in the majority in the House of Representatives his priorities will be elimination of the social security state income tax, additional public safety enhancement bills, and welfare reform in which encouraging employment while phasing out benefits rather than immediate loss
Holmes reminded Daniels of the work that Wanamingo, Goodhue, Pine Island, and Zumbrota have been working on to build a joint sanitary sewer treatment plant. Holmes thanked Daniels for work on the legislation and looked forward to working with him next session on funding opportunities. Daniels stated that he was willing to sponsor legislation and assist with other funding opportunities for the sanitary sewer treatment plant.
NEW BUSINESS:
RESOLUTION:
22-056 = Adopting 2022 4th Quarter Maintenance Work Plan: VanDeWalker moved to approve, Seconded by Flotterud. Passed 5-0-0.
Public Hearing - Mayor Holmes opened Proposed Rezoning Public Hearing at 7:30PM. Administrator Boulton explained that Jesse and Katie Hansen purchased the parcels last year. The parcels have a fourplex and a duplex built on them but are zoned industrial. Jesse and Katie Hansen have submitted a rezoning application requesting to change the zoning from I-1 Industrial to R-1 Residential. Jason Raths asked what this would mean. Boulton stated that this would affect the City zoning map only. Boulton stated that it had nothing to do with property taxes or current use. Flotterud asked why Jesse and Katie Hansen wished to rezone the property. Boulton stated that the Hansen’s looked at further development of the fourplex parcel and wanted to make sure to have the correct zoning in the future for use. Flotterud stated that he was disappointed that the Hansen’s were not present to ask questions. Boulton stated that the Council should only be asking what is the best long-term use of the two parcels. Boulton stated that the parcels have multi-family uses currently. VanDeWalker stated that it would not make sense to have the parcels zoned industrial with the current multi-family residential use. Kennedy stated that the Hansen’s request only further restricts the use of the parcels. Kennedy further stated that it is the Hansen’s request to restrict the usage. Holmes asked why anyone would want to restrict zoning if they have the largest usage zone with industrial. Boulton stated that it is not the best practice to have residential usage within industrial zones. Boulton stated that the City should not issue residential building permits within industrial zoned parcels. No further public comments were offered. Mayor Holmes closed the public hearing at 7:35PM.
22-057 = Approving Proposed Rezoning Petition Request of Jesse and Katie Hansen: Flotterud moved to approve, Seconded by Ohr. Passed 5-0-0.
22-058 = Approving the Combination of Tax Parcels: Ohr moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Boulton stated that the request to combine two lots is from Yvonne Schneider. The parcels were designed for townhome style lots and will not require vacation of utility and/or drainage easements. Passed 5-0-0.
22-059 = Approving the Transfer of City Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor and Cigarette Licenses from Hometown Wine & Spirits LLC to Jake’s Hometown Liquor: VanDeWalker moved to approve, Seconded by Flotterud. Jason Grant stated that he is ready to take over ownership and management of the liquor store. Holmes wished Grant the best in operation of the liquor store. Flotterud asked if Grant planned any changes. Grant stated it was his intention to keep operations of the liquor store the same as Barney Nesseth has run the business. Passed 5-0-0.
22-060 = Approving Pay Request No. 1 to The Joseph Company, Inc. for the Well House Portion of the 2022 Utility Improvements: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Flotterud. Boulton stated that the pay request is for $21,850.00. Passed 5-0-0.
22-061 = Accepting Wanamingo Lions New Stove Donation for the Wanamingo Community Center: Flotterud moved to approve, Seconded by Ohr. Passed 5-0-0.
22-062 = Approving Pay Request No. 4 to Caldwell Tanks Inc. for the Cenex Water Tower Portion of the 2022 Utility Improvements: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by VanDeWalker. Boulton stated that the pay request is for $103,056.00. Passed 5-0-0.
22-063 = Requesting Conveyance of Tax Forfeited Parcel Number 70.100.0600 to the City of Wanamingo for Public Purpose Development of Affordable Housing: Ohr moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Passed 5-0-0.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mayor Holmes asked if there were any updates to the Wanamingo Locker/Blondies Butcher Shop approved mitigation process. Kennedy stated that the maintenance staff have not been notified of any slaughtering in the past month. Kennedy stated that staff had noted a small presence of blood a one day a couple of weeks ago. Kennedy stated he and Rick Turri would conduct a site visit in the near future.
Local (City of Wanamingo) Election Candidate Filing deadline was on August 16th. The local filings for the general election are as follows:
Mayor (2-Year Term) Elect One - Ryan Holmes
City Council (4-Year Term) Elect Two - Eric Dierks & Rebecca (Becky) Haugen. (Larry VanDeWalker declined to run for re-election)
These local candidates will be on the ballot along with Governor/Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Congress, State Senate, State Representative, School Board, County Sheriff, and a number of judges for the 2022 General Election on Tuesday November 8th.
Flotterud requested that City staff work to enforce nuisance ordinance for vehicles not working and lacking proper registration at 2129 Mingo View Drive (John Keller). Flotterud stated that there are multiple vehicles that do not run and have out of date tabs on license plates. Boulton stated that the property was on the nuisance clean up list, but that the City had not followed up since a letter was sent out to the property owner in June.
Mayor Holmes stated that the City is continuing to work with the Reuben Berg Estate Executors to clean up nuisances at 504 Hill Circle. The City had started working with Reuben Berg before he passed away this past spring. The City has been working with the estate executors while giving family dynamics time to adjust before enforcement of nuisance clean up takes place. The estate executors have now asked to assist with nuisance enforcement clean up. A nuisance letter was sent last week for clean up before October 3rd.
*Next City Council meeting on 10/17/2022
Adjourn: At 7:51 PM a motion to adjourn was made by Flotterud and seconded by Ohr. Passed 5-0-0.
Signed: Ryan Holmes, Mayor
Attest: Michael Boulton, City Administrator
