February 10, 2021, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes

The regular City Council meeting of the Mazeppa City Council was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Chris Hagfors.

Pledge of allegiance was said.

Present: Mayor Chris Hagfors. Council Persons Steve Liffrig, Mike Hammes, Jeff Nelson and Erica Young.

Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, City Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang, Matt Mohs from Bolton and Menk, Sara Markham with Kalass Agency, Wabasha County Sherriff’s Deputy Joe Schneider, Joe Sand and Mike Marsh.

Attending via electronic meeting:
Bob Josselyn, John Clemens, Holly Galbus from the News-Record, Zumbrota Mazeppa Superintendent of Schools Mike Harvey, Sara Jackson, Dustin Wiebusch and Beth Hoefs.

Motion by Hammes, second by Nelson to approve the agenda and addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Motion by Nelson, second by Young to approve the January 13, 2021 regular City Council meeting and the February 3, 2021 Working Session Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Wabasha County Sherriff’s Deputy Joe Schneider presented the monthly Incident Command Report. Requested progress report on cleanup at property ticketed for nuisance violations.

Motion by Hammes, second by Nelson to close regular meeting and open public hearing. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Regular meeting closed and public hearing was opened at 6:08 PM.

Public Hearing was to consider a Conditional Use Permit for Zumbrota Mazeppa Schools to install a parking lot at 178 Maple St. NE. The Planning and Zoning Committee had reviewed the application and had 3 conditions for the use.

  1.  Plan to address storm water runoff.
  2.  A barrier to be agreed upon with the owner of the residence immediately to the north of the project.
  3.  A curb or barrier between the parking lot and the alley to the west of the project. A 4th condition was added during Council discussion.
  4.  A plan to limit light pollution to neighboring properties.

All neighboring property owners were sent written notice of the meeting. Those in attendance agreed with and clarified the conditions in place with the passage of the Conditional Use Permit.

Motion by Hammes, second by Nelson to close public hearing. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Public Hearing was closed at 6:19 PM.

Motion by Hammes, second by Young to re-open regular meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Regular meeting was re-opened at 6:20 PM.

Public Works submitted written report only.

Fire Department report was read by Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.

Municipal Liquor Store report was read by Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.

City Engineer Matt Mohs summarized the pros and cons of the information put forth in the sanitary sewer district joint meeting. Mohs also gave details on the current Pre-Engineering Report and discussed proposed amendments to the report.

Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave highlights of the City Hall activities report.

Motion by Nelson, second by Hammes to approve the Conditional Use Permit for a parking lot for Zumbrota Mazeppa Schools at 178 Maple St. NE. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Sara Markham from the Kalass Agency explained the property and casualty insurance elections for 2021.

Motion by Nelson, second by Hammes to NOT waive torte limits. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Motion by Nelson, second by Young to decline medical payments coverage. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Motion by Hammes, second by Nelson to approve open meeting law coverage. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Motion by Young, second by Nelson to get quote on updating of Comprehensive Plan. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Joe Sand from Mazeppa Economic Development Authority presented a sidewalk improvement plan for the City.

Motion by Hammes, second by Young to get quotes for phase 1 of the sidewalk improvement project. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Motion by Nelson, second by Hammes to approve the Bolton and Menk proposal to amend the wastewater treatment plant pre-engineering report. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Motion by Nelson, second by Young to approve a 1% cost of living adjustment and 0.5% merit pay raise to City Administrator-Clerk, Municipal Liquor Store Manager, Public Works Director, Public Works street staff, and Deputy Clerk. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Motion by Nelson, second by Liffrig to table consideration of Liquor Liability quotes for Mazeppa Municipal Liquor Store. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

1st reading of Ordinance 2021-01 Amending Land Management Ordinance Article IV, Section 4 concerning Land Management District boundaries and adopting a district boundary map for the City of Mazeppa.

Motion by Nelson, second by Young to set a Public Hearing for March 10, 2021 at 6:00 PM to consider Ordinance 2021-01. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Motion by Nelson, second by Hammes to pay bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

City Attorney Luke Lamprecht said that he had reviewed and returned the most recent changes to the Land Management recodification to W.S. Beng Associates to be incorporated into the final draft of the Land Management Ordinances.

Councilperson Mike Hammes wanted to the thank the Mazeppa Businesswomen’s organization for the donation that made the Lion’s Park Holiday lighting display possible.

Councilperson Erica Young thanked Councilperson Steve Liffrig for his early morning efforts to repair the disabled snowplow truck.

Motion by Hammes, Second by Nelson to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.

Meeting recessed at 7:55 PM.