HERON LAKE CITY COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018, 7:00 PM

LOCAL BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION HEARING

 

The hearing was opened by Mayor Freking, with the following council members present: Roger FitzHenry, Glenn Kuhnau, Andrew Rasche and Carol Wagner.

Present from the County Assessor’s office were: Jason McCaslin and Kelly Soucek. 

Others in attendance were: Jim Eigenberg, Leah Baumann, Joe Liepold, Police Chief Anthony Fauglid, John Haberman, Fire Chief Chad Diemer, Tamara Shelton and Stacy Grube.

Jackson County Assessor Jason McCaslin gave a presentation on the 2018 Assessment, which was a review of market changes and assessment statistics.  Jason McCaslin also spoke about Fractional Homesteads and the impact on Jackson County.  No one from the public was in attendance to ask about their property’s valuation.

Jason McCaslin explained that a 3rd party vendor was used to mail notices this year, resulting in 13 people not receiving their notices in a timely manner.  Therefore, the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization will reconvene on May 9, 2018 at 7:00 pm.  Mayor Freking recessed the hearing.

 

REGULAR MEETING, 7:20 PM

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:20 PM by Mayor Jason Freking, with the following council members present: Roger FitzHenry, Glenn Kuhnau, Andrew Rasche and Carol Wagner.

Also present were: Jim Eigenberg, Leah Baumann, Dan Jensen, Travis Thies, Jerry Wagner, Joe Liepold, Police Chief Anthony Fauglid, John Haberman, Fire Chief Chad Diemer, Tamara Shelton and Stacy Grube.

 

Agenda

            Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Wagner, to approve the agenda as presented.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Minutes

            Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member FitzHenry, to approve the minutes of the March 7, 2018 council meeting as presented.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Southwest MN Broadband

            Travis Thies presented Southwest MN Broadband’s Internet-based streaming video service, called Southwest Stream, which is now available.  Travis explained that this system is compatible with Roku, and with the new streaming capability through Wi-Fi, basic cable will have 125 channels, expanded cable will have 150 channels and costs will be lower.  Travis informed the City Council that Southwest MN Broadband will be working on transitioning customers from video to streaming until the middle of July and that more information is currently going out to customers. 

Ambulance

            Joe Liepold spoke on behalf of Larry Liepold regarding the replacement of Public Access Defibrillators.  The replacement of the 5 units will cost $6,290.88, and the Ambulance has currently raised $4,500 through grants and donations.  The defibrillators will be placed as follows:  1 unit at the Heron Lake Community Center; 2 units at HL-O Schools; 1 unit at the Okabena Municipal Liquor Store; and 1 unit at the Okabena Fire Department.  Because the Okabena Fire Department is in need of a replacement defibrillator now, the City of Okabena has agreed to cover the remainder of the balance due, after a $200.00 per unit good-faith contribution is made by each location receiving a defibrillator, until all of the grants/pledges are fulfilled.

Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Mayor Freking, to contribute $200.00 toward the purchase of the defibrillators.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.   

 

Zoning Permit & Variance, 922 4th Avenue

            Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Wagner, to approve Resolution 2018-5, approving the zoning permit and variance of Dan and Caroline Jensen to erect a six foot privacy fence at 922 4th Avenue.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.   

 

Zoning Board

            Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Mayor Freking, to accept Leo Rasche’s resignation from the Zoning Board.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.   

           

Zoning Board Vacancy

             The resignation of Leo Rasche from the Zoning Board created one opening.  Two letters of recruitment were mailed out requesting a volunteer for the Zoning Board, which resulted in both people being interested in the opening.

Council Member Wagner moved, seconded by Council Member Rasche, to approve the appointment of Mark Haberman to the Zoning Board.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.   

 

Donations

            Mayor Freking moved, seconded by Council Member Rasche, to approve Resolution 2018-6, accepting the following donations: 1) $1,500 from Federated Rural Electric to the Heron Lake EMS; 2) $2,000 from SWIF/HL-O Community Foundation to the Heron Lake EMS; 3) $1,500 from SWIF/HL-O Community Foundation to the Heron Lake Fire Department; and 4) $1,500 from SWIF/HL-O Community Foundation to the Heron Lake Library.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.

 

Appointment of Responsible Authority

            Council Member Rasche moved, seconded by Council Member FitzHenry, to approve Resolution 2018-7, appointing City Clerk Stacy J. Grube as Responsible Authority to administer the requirements for collection, storage, use, and dissemination of data.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

Farm Land Lease

Mayor Freking moved, seconded by Council Member Rasche, to approve rent for the 2018 crop season to remain at $175 per acre for the 6.592 acres by Hanson’s 4th Addition and to sign the Farm Land Cash Rent Agreement with Scott Freking.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.  

 

MnDOT

Council Member Wagner moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve Option 2, which facilitates all movements at the intersection, from the two 1st Street concepts proposed by MnDOT.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.

 

Community Center Flooring

            Council Member Rasche moved, seconded by Council Member FitzHenry, to approve the bid from Marsden to scrub and apply 2 coats of floor finish to all tile floors in the Community Center for $4,277.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.  

 

Bulk Water Rates

            Council Member FitzHenry moved, seconded by Mayor Freking, to approve Resolution 2018-8, amending Resolution 2018-2, to increase bulk water rates from $3.50 per 1,000 gallons to $8.00 per 1,000 gallons.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.

 

PeopleService

            Joe Liepold presented the monthly water and sewer reports. Joe reported that digging for the MnSP meter pit will begin next week by H & F Precision Drainage.  Joe also reported that he will be flushing hydrants this spring and that the process may take up to 10 days.  He expressed his concerns about the possibility of manganese buildup from flushing the lines, which may require additional flushing for some residences.  Joe reported that Lead and Copper testing results have started to come in, with 2 houses being a concern at this time.  Letters for residents with non-functioning curb stops and low water pressure issues were also reviewed. 

 

Public Works

            Director John Haberman discussed the plugged storm tile on 17th Street and stated that Nienkerk is scheduled to come on April 12 to dig it up.  John discussed the cement issues at the Community Center, by the alley walk door and overhead garage door, and at the Liquor Store, and reported that mudjacking estimates were submitted for both locations.  It was noted on the estimate for the Liquor Store that the City will be responsible to pour the new step piece. 

            Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member FitzHenry, to approve estimates from Lakes Edge Landscaping LLC for $332.77 at the Community Center and $245.00 at the Liquor Store.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, and Wagner, aye; no nays; Rasche abstained.  Motion carried.  

Police Department

            Chief Fauglid reviewed his monthly police report, which involved 91 calls in March, assisting Lakefield Police Dept. with perimeter control, and assisting the State Patrol with a drug related traffic stop.  He reported that the storm sirens are now working and the junk vehicle sweep continues.

            Chief Fauglid discussed the new procedures for Funeral Escorts on Highway 60.  He explained that a 48 hour notice must be given prior to the day of the requested escort to allow time for HLPD to request additional assistance.  All funeral escorts will now require two officers and two squad cars with working emergency lights to conduct traffic control-stoppage. 

 

Fire Department

            Fire Chief Chad Diemer reported on the following: 1) The Fire Department will be using the $1,500 grant from SWIF/HL-O Community Foundation and funds from their pancake feed to purchase a Hose Tester; 2) The summer Pork Chop Feed has been scheduled for Saturday, July 7; 3) An Open House at the Fire Hall may be scheduled on a date after Labor Day; and 4) The Fire Department is interested in having the area in front of the Fire Hall out to the county road paved in conjunction with other City paving work.

            Fire Chief Diemer reported that all supplies from the 1981 Chevy Van have been moved to the trailer that was purchased in 2015 and, therefore, requested that the City Council declare the 1981 Chevy Van as surplus, so it may be sold.

Mayor Freking moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to declare the 1981 Chevy Van as surplus property.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.  

 

Liquor Store

            Council was informed that a credit card terminal will be installed next week. 

 

May Council Meeting

            The date of May’s regular Council Meeting will be changed from May 2 to May 9, due to the Clerk attending the MN Municipal Clerks Institute Training Program.

 

Other Business

            Council Member Carol Wagner was asked by the Library Board to bring up concerns about sidewalk water.  In the future, Public Works will monitor the situation closely. 

            Discussion was held on the Sacred Heart Catholic School not having a water meter and how they are currently being billed.  Council directed PeopleService to install a water meter at this location.

 

Claims

            Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member FitzHenry, to approve claims as presented totaling $242,477.66.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.  

 

Adjourn

            Council Member Rasche moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to adjourn at 9:05 PM.  Vote on the motion: FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, and Wagner, aye; no

 

Submitted by:  Stacy J. Grube – Clerk/Treasurer

Approved:  5/9/2018

FitzHenry, Freking, Kuhnau, Rasche, Wagner