Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
The regular meeting of the Mazeppa City Council was called to order at 6:01 PM by Mayor Chris Hagfors.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Present: Mayor Chris Hagfors. Council Persons Steve Liffrig, Michael Hammes, and Dustin Wiebusch.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, City Engineer Matt Mohs, Municipal LiquorStore Mager Todd Ihrke, Wabasha County Sherriff’s Department Patrol Sargent John Schneider, Jeff Sommerfield, Marla Sommerfield, Wes Voeltz, Larry Vandewalker, and Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Present via electronic meeting: Holly Galbus from the News Record.
Absent: Councilperson Erica Young.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve the agenda and addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve the July 12, 2023 regular City Council meeting minutes. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to close the regular meeting and open the public hearing. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular meeting closed at 6:03 PM.
Public Hearing opened at 6:03 PM.
This public hearing was held for comments on a requested variance on parcel R23.00231.03 along 2nd Ave. SE. Mr. Sommerfield is requesting a variance to allow a garage only on this parcel in an R1 residential district. Mr. Sommerfield explained that it is a small lot with a drainage issue that was not large enough to build a home on and still allows the natural drainage in the area to occur. The Sommerfield family owns 2 homes in the area and would like to build a garage on this property for storage of maintenance items and extra vehicles that may be associated with these other properties.
Attorney Lamprecht brought up the issue of ownership. Mr. Sommerfield stated that he would not purchase this property from the current owner unless a variance to place a garage only could be obtained.
No other comment was heard.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to close the public hearing. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Public hearing closed at 6:17 PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to re-open the regular council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular meeting was re-opened at 6:18 PM.
Attorney Lamprecht discussed variance criteria with the Council. The Council felt the variance request met the criteria for issuance. The intended use is for storage for residential items for properties located across the street. The type of building would be like extra storage garages that exist in the neighborhood. It would put an undersized, unused lot to use. The lot has been split in the past and has a drainage issue. The planned use would not change the character of the locality.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve the variance for parcel R23.00231.03 pending presentation of a signed purchase agreement by September 10, 2023. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Wabasha County Sherriff’s Department Patrol Seargent John Schneider presented the July Incident Command Report. He commented that Mazeppa Daze crowds were well behaved, and Sherriff’s department staffing is getting back to normal levels after some departures and retirements.
No Public Works report was given.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang read the Fire Department report and a resignation letter from Mazeppa Volunteer Fire Department member Brent Lexvold.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to accept the resignation of Brent Lexvold from the Mazeppa Volunteer Fire Department. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
MMLS manager Todd Ihrke gave the Mazeppa Municipal Liquor Store report.
City Engineer Matt Mohs reported on in process engineering projects. Mr. Mohs also asked that the Council approve and sign the right-of-way and easement maps for the work on the sewer collection system.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve the sewer right-of-way and easement maps. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve for AET to do soil borings in the areas of sewer collection system replacement. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang presented the City Hall activity report.
A Council working session will be held on August 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM to review the 2024 budget.
Larry Vandewalker from the Mazeppa American Legion informed the Council on the Purple Heart Cities program.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2023-39 Adopting Standards Necessary to be Designated as a Purple Heart City. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve building permits; MZ23-10, 322 Oak St. NE – main floor home addition. MZ23-09, 217 1st Ave. N – commercial building. MZ23-12, 155 2nd Ave. NE – re-roof. MZ23-14, 146 4th Ave. NW – furnace/AC. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
No motion was offered to replace the plow on the large snowplow truck.
A replacement schedule will be created for all City equipment.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2023-38 Accepting donations to the City. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to approve the 2023-2024 road maintenance agreement with Wabasha County. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve a $120,000 loan to the Mazeppa Economic Development Authority to be amortized over 5 years, making annual payments, at 3% interest. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
City Attorney Luke Lamprecht will draft a loan agreement to be signed by Mazeppa EDA.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to pay the bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
City Attorney Luke Lamprecht suggested that the Council consider issuing a moratorium on Cannabis businesses as allowed under State of Minnesota Statute to allow ample time to research and consider zoning ordinance changes and allow time to review Office of Cannabis Management guidelines and create proper regulatory structure.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to direct Planning and Zoning to study ordinance changes to regulate cannabis dispensaries. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to direct the City Attorney to draft a moratorium on allowing cannabis dispensaries until January 1, 2025 as allowed under Minnesota Statute. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to set a public hearing on a cannabis dispensary moratorium on September 13, 2023 at 6:00 PM. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Councilperson Dustin Wiebusch thanked the volunteers and organization that helped make Mazeppa Daze a success and thanked the Parks and Recreation committee for managing and promoting the Market/Music in the park events.
Motion by Liffrig, second by Wiebusch to recess the meeting until the Council working session on August 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting recessed at 7:52 PM.
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Administrator-Clerk