Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
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 Steve Liffrig, Michael Hammes, Erica Young, and Dustin Wiebusch.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, City Engineer Matt Mohs, Wabasha County Sherriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Warren, Public Works Director Scott Ellingson, Municipal Liquor Store Manager Todd Ihrke, Joe Sand, and Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Present via electronic meeting: Holly Galbus from the News Record.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve the agenda and addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to approve the December 13, 2023 regular City Council meeting minutes. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Wabasha County Sherriff’s Chief Deputy Jim Warren presented the monthly Incident Command Report.
Public Works Director Scott Ellingson gave the monthly Public Works report.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave the Fire Department report.
Municipal Liquor Store Manager gave the liquor store report. He also relayed a request by Zumbro Valley Life Events to hold raffle the Mazeppa Municipal Liquor Store as part of a fund-raising event hosted at MMLS.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2024-03 Approving Exempt Gambling Permit for Zumbro Valley Life Events. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
City Engineer Matt Mohs gave an engineering update.
City Administrator Karl Nahrgang gave a City Hall activities report.
Joe Sand submitted documents for a minor subdivision in River Bluff subdivision. His plan meets criteria, but more documents including a title opinion and a resolution of approval from the Planning and Zoning committee are required by ordinance.
Attorney Lamprecht said a formal application must be created with all the requirements listed so the process is completed in a manner compliant with City Ordinance.
Discussion of water/sewer billing, late notification, shut-off, and assessment of past-due bills procedures were reviewed. These items are stated in Mazeppa City Ordinance and to create a procedure may require changes to ordinance. A suggestion was made to condense Ordinance requirements into a checklist to follow to ensure consistency in following past-due procedures for shutoff or assessment.
The City has received one quote for auditing services. Administrator Clerk Nahrgang will search for more available providers for quotes and follow up with other communities that use the firm that has submitted a quote. A special meeting will be held to choose so the 2023 audit can begin in February.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to set a special meeting on January 24, 2024 at 6:00 PM to choose a new City Auditor. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve Resolution 2024-01 Designating City Appointments for 2024. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve Resolution 2024-02 Accepting donations from the Fire Relief Gambling fund. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve year end transfer of $130,000.00 from Fire Fund to Fire Equipment reserves and $16,156.00 from Fire Fund to Fire Relief Retirement Account. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Administrator Clerk Nahrgang requested a meeting with 2 members of the Council to assist in better ways to display data for the rest of the year-end transfers to create a meaningful document. Councilperson Wiebusch and Mayor Hagfors volunteered to do so.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to pay the bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Liffrig, second by Hammes to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM. _______________________________________
Administrator-Clerk