Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
The regular meeting of the Mazeppa City Council was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Chris Hagfors.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Present: Mayor Chris Hagfors. Council Persons Michael Hammes, Dustin Wiebusch, and Erica Young.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, City Engineer Matt Mohs, Jean Meyer from Wabasha County Assessor’s office, John Clemens, Luke Lunde from WSB Associates, Andrew Piva, Mark Darcy, Jenny Darcy, MMLS manager Todd Ihrke, and City Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Present via electronic meeting: Holly Galbus from the News Record, and Robert Josselyn.
Absent: Councilperson Steve Liffrig.
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to approve the agenda and addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to close the regular meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular meeting was closed at 6:01 PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to open the Board of Equalization open book meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Open Book Board of Equalization meeting was opened at 6:02 PM.
Jean Meyer from the Wabasha County Assessor’s office lead the meeting.
Mark and Jenny Darcy requested information on changing value due to usage on forfeited tax land they purchased at auction due to change in intended use. A meeting between assessor and landowners to discuss land classification was set.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to close the Board of Equalization open book hearing. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Open Book Board of Equalization hearing closed at 6:30 PM.
Motion by Hammes, second by Young to re-open the regular meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to approve the meeting minutes for the March 8, 2023 regular City Council meeting and the March 19, 2023 special meeting of the City Council. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Wabasha County Sherriff Incident Command report was distributed, but no Sherriff’s report was given.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang read the Public Works report.
Mr. Nahrgang read the Volunteer Fire Department report.
Mr. Nahrgang gave the Mazeppa Municipal Liquor Store report and introduced Liquor Store manager Todd Ihrke.
City Engineer Matt Mohs gave an update on current engineering projects.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve a professional services contract with Bolton and Menk to perform pre-engineering work for the trail extension project. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
City Administrator Karl Nahrgang gave the City Hall activities report. Two fund transfers were requested.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve transferring $100,000 from sewer reserves to sewer fund to pay for engineering services for the Wastewater Treatment Plant replacement project. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to transfer the final 2 payments on the Liquor Store remodel loan from the liquor fund to the general fund. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
The interfund loan to the liquor store was set up on a 10 year pay back and was paid back in 6 years.
Nick Graves is asking the City to work with Graves Auctions on a plan for making 11th Ave. passable to the first of the lots he owns in the Mazeppa Business Park.
Andrew Piva requested permission to hold a disc golf tournament at the Herb Vik Park disc golf course on May 28, 2023. This will be the 3rd year for this event.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve the disc golf tournament at Herb Vik Park for May 28, 2023 with a waiver of City liability to be signed by participants. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Building Permits: MZ23-02, 1590 Riverbluff Rd. SE -finish basement. MZ23-03, 558 3rd Ave. NE – Water Heater replacement. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Marie Hlava with the SE MN Area Agency on Aging wanted to bring to the Council’s attention the potential change in formula of federal funds being distributed to the 6 Areas within Minnesota and ask that members go to their website to request that a greater emphasis be put on the agencies representing rural areas.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Ordinance 2023-01 approving the updated Zoning District Map. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve Summary Publication of Ordinance 2023-01. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve revised pay equity report for submission to the State of Minnesota. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Luke Lunde of WSB gave a summation of the bid process and the bid opening for the Riverbank Restoration project and recommended the Council take the low bid from Barth Construction, Inc.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to accept bid of $161,931 from Barth Construction, Inc. and proceed with the Riverbank Restoration project. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve Resolution 2023-16 granting signature authority to on Liquor Store accounts to Todd Ihrke as Liquor Store Manager. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve Resolution 2023-17 Certifying past due water sewer accounts to be assessed to 2024 property tax. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve replacing street light control boxes for 1st Ave. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
1st Reading for Ordinance 2023-02 Amending Ordinance 15-1 Regarding Transient Merchants, Hawkers, Peddlers, and Solicitors by creating and excepting Community Markets. A public hearing will be set.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Resolution 2023-18 Accepting donations from the Mazeppa Lion’s Club and Mazeppa Fire Relief. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve Resolution 2023-19 Granting a temporary off-site gambling permit to the Mazeppa Lion’s Club for the Mazeppa Daze Duck Races on July 8, 2023. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to pay the bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Councilperson Erica Young let the Council know there will be a volunteer park cleanup at Herb Vik Park on May 20, 2023 from 9:00 – 11:00.
Councilpersons Erica Young and Dustin Wiebusch thanked Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang for the extra hours and effort at the Mazeppa Municipal Liquor Store during the manager search.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to recess the meeting until April 29, 2023 at 09:00 AM for City Cleanup day. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting recessed at 8:37 PM.
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Administrator-Clerk