HERON LAKE CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021, 7:00 PM
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

                The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Mayor Rasche, with the following council members present; Glenn Kuhnau, Zach Schumacher, Danni Swanson, and Carol Wagner. 

Others in attendance were Lisa Jean Smith, Chad Janssen, Mike Chepa, Dan Shumway, Dan Glass, Kim Leopold, Sherriff Haken, Galen Kruse, Jacob Burdick, Roger FitzHenry, Tom Mischke, Jacob Mischke, Tom Brown, Jake Schroeder, Isaiah Rogers, Skyler Blumberg, Cheryl Knutson, Tracy Reierson, Jim Eigenberg, Police Chief Fauglid, Joe Liepold, John Haberman, Tamara Shelton, and Stacy J. Grube.

Approval of Agenda

                Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Schumacher, to approve the agenda with the additions of Resolution for sidewalk on CSAH 9 between Chapman Ave and Expressway and an updated Purchase Offer for Hanson’s Addition and an additional offer for a lot at Hanson’s Addition.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.

 

Approval of Minutes

Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Wagner, to approve the minutes of the Council Meetings of April 14, 2021 with the correction of Mayor Rasche having abstained from voting on claims at the April 14, 2021 meeting.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.

 

Revolving Loan Fund

                Council discussed continued default loan.  Heron Lake City Attorney has declined to take the case and has recommended Birkholz and Associates, LLC.  Cost of the case is $3,000 – $5,000 if the case is not contested. 

                Council Member Wagner moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve hiring Birkholz and Associates, LLC, to foreclose on the revolving loan with Green Earth Recycling, LLC.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Variance/Zoning Permit – 511 12th Street

                Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Swanson, to approve Resolution 2021 – 04, approving the zoning permit and variance of Colleen Freking to build a fence more than three (3) feet in height at 511 12th Street.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Accept Donations

                Council Member Schumacher moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau, to approve Resolution 2021 – 05, accepting the following donations: $100 from Brad Doherty – Security State Bank Pay It Forward to Heron Lake Fire Department; $100 from Harold Grube – Security State Bank Pay It Forward to Heron Lake City Park; $100 from Harold Grube to Heron Lake City Park; $1,000 from Security State Bank for Community Banking Month for the purchase of new banners for main street in Heron Lake.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Second Amendment Resolution Request – Chad Janssen

                Chad Janssen presented a “Second Amendment Dedicated City Resolution” to Council requesting that council support the constituents who are in support of said resolution.  This resolution has been passed in two other Jackson County cities.  Sheriff Haken added that permits to carry and permits to purchase have increased within Jackson County.  Commissioner Eigenberg could not give any confirmation which way Jackson County may go with this resolution.  Further discussion resulted in:

                Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Schumacher, to approve Resolution 2021 – 06, dedicating the City of Heron Lake in support of the Second Amendment.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

 Hanson’s Fourth Addition

                Council received two offers from separate parties for Lot 9, Block 1 – one of the offers was increased prior to the council meeting on May 5, 2021.  One party that presented a purchase offer was present and discussed other Lots 7, 8, and 10 with Council.  Further discussion resulted in:

 Council Member Schumacher moved, seconded by Council Member Swanson, to approve Resolution 2021 – 07, approving the sale of Lot 9, Block 1, Hanson’s Fourth Addition, for the highest purchase offer of $8,150.00.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

Council Member Schumacher moved, seconded by Mayor Rasche, to approve Resolution 2021 – 08, approving the sale of Lot 7, 8, or 10, Block 1, Hanson’s Fourth Addition, contingent that a new purchase agreement be sent to the city office, for the purchase offer of $5,800.00.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Ambulance

                Director Joe Liepold provided meeting and training minutes to Council from the April 25, 2021 EMS meeting and reported that call volume has been steady but showing some decline.

 

Fire Department

                Mayor Rasche reported a recent fire call to a local hog barn in which the 8-hour fire call resulted in no loss of animals.     

               

PeopleService

                Operator Joe Liepold reported the following: 1) No spring flushing of water mains will be completed; 2) MnSP had a plant shut down for 2 weeks in April, water usage will be less; 3) South industrial well will be pulled in May.         

 

Public Works

                Public Works Director John Haberman reported the following: 1) Seal coating is currently scheduled for August; 2) A sewer pipe at the library was recently plugged, jetting was completed, and a failed pipe was found, bids will be obtained for council approval at the regular June meeting; 3) Pricing was provided for intakes that will be ordered. 

     

Police Department

                Chief Fauglid reported that the party that did not attend the abatement hearing April has until May 12, 2021 to complete the abatement before being charged and discussed other properties of concern. 

 

Jackson County Public Works

                Council Member Schumacher moved, seconded by Council Member Kuhnau to approve Resolution 2021 – 09, approving State Aid Project No. 032-609-061, constructing a sidewalk along CSAH 9 between Chapman Ave and the Expressway parking lot.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.       

 

Hanson’s Fourth Addition

                Mayor Rasche, seconded by Council Member Schumacher, to approve Resolution 2021 – 10, approving the sale of Lot 2, Block 1, Hanson’s Fourth Addition, contingent of the city’s counteroffer of $5,800.00 is met by the purchaser.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried. 

 

Other Business – No action taken

                City Ordinance – City Clerk reported to Council that after reviewing the Minnesota Basic Code, keeping our current ordinances, and making updates to them would be in the best interest of the city.  Council confirmed that the Minnesota Basic Code should be returned. 

                Council Member Kuhnau reported Southwest Minnesota Broadband had 35 new drops for service in the past month.                

 

Claims

                Council Member Kuhnau moved, seconded by Council Member Schumacher, to approve payment of claims as presented, totaling $112,160.61.  Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays.  Motion carried.                                            

 

Adjourn              

                Mayor Rasche moved, seconded by Council Member Schumacher, to adjourn at 8:00 PM. Vote on the motion: Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, and Wagner, aye; no nays. Motion carried.

Submitted by:  Stacy J. Grube, Clerk/Treasurer

Approved: 6/3/2021     

Rasche, Kuhnau, Schumacher, Swanson, Wagner