Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
The regular meeting of the Mazeppa City Council was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Chris Hagfors.
Pledge of allegiance was said.
Present: Council Persons Steve Liffrig, Michael Hammes, Dustin Wiebusch, and Erica Young.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, Elizabeth Deming from Lamprecht Law, Robert Josselyn, John Clemens, Public Works Director Scott Ellingson, City Engineer Matt Mohs, Fire Chief Bryce Dohrn, Orrin Haugen, Dorothy Haugen, Jason Klein, and City Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Present by electronic meeting: Holly Galbus from the News Record, Monica Hauser from Hawkins and Ash C.P.A.’s, Wabasha County Sherriff’s Dept. Chief Deputy Jim Warren.
Motion by Young, second by Hammes to approve the agenda and the addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve the meeting minutes for the June 8, 2022 regular Council meeting, June 11, 2022 reconvened Council meeting, June 30, 2022 Working Session, and the July 9, 2022 Special Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Wabasha County Sherriff’s office Chief Deputy Jim Warren presented the June 2022 Incident Command Report. Commented that it had been a quiet month in the community.
Monica Hauser from Hawkins and Ash C.P.A.’s was available to answer any Council questions on the 2021 Audit. No questions were asked by Council.
Public Works report was given by Public Works Director Scott Ellingson.
Fire Department Report was given by Fire Chief Bryce Dohrn.
Municipal Liquor Store report was given by Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Engineering update was given by City Engineer Matt Mohs.
City Hall activity report was given by Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Orrin and Dorothy Haugen informed the Council that they are planning to build on the property. They asked if Tax Increment Financing is available. A redevelopment district was formed so TIF is possible if other eligibility requirements are met.
The Haugens also wanted to make sure of the status of the liquor license that was associated with the site previously. The City will check with the Minnesota Department of Revenue and Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement to be sure the City can re-issue that license.
The Haugens also asked about the water and sewer hookups and what charges they would be charged. There are new curb stops that were installed at time of demolition. The sewer televising can be reviewed to get measurements where the sewer stub is located. If a building is replaced, since it was hooked to sewer and water previously, there would not be a charge to the property for hook up to the utility.
Jason Klein asked if he could install a driveway from 2nd Ave. to access the rear lot of 180 Walnut St. NE if 2nd Ave. is re-established as a 2-way street.
A resident had asked about reconsidering the ordinance on back yard chicken flocks, but did not attend the meeting.
Motion by Young, Second by Wiebusch to approve building permits: MZ22-09, 134 Chestnut St. NE -re-roof. MZ22-06, 636 4th Ave. NE -set mobile home. MZ22-10, 374 1st Ave. S -fire place install. MZ22-11, 704 Oak St. NE -re-roof. MZ22-12, 1156 Cherry St. E -re-roof. MZ22-08, 374 1st Ave. S -house addition. MZ22-13, 177 Maple St. NE -re-activate past building permits. MZ22-14, 173 6th Ave. NE -re-roof. MZ22-15, 151 3rd Ave. NW, -water heater install. MZ22-16, 530 3rd Ave. NE -water heater and furnace. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Monica Houser from Hawkins and Ash was available to answer questions on the 2021 City Audit.
Motion by Young, Second by Wiebusch to approve the 2021 City Audit. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Discussion of the requested closing of the 4th Ave. extension routed over private land. The City is not ready to reconstruct the roadway currently. No part of the platted 4th Ave. NE would be considered wetland. Although no right-of-way vacations were found, a title search would have to be done before considering moving the roadway to the platted right-of-way. City Council expressed public safety concerns about closing the current extension until a project was ready to move forward and is of the opinion that the City has rights to continue using the roadway in its current configuration.
Motion by Wiebusch, Second by Young to table 4th Ave. NE extension closure request. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, Second by Wiebusch to appoint Blaine Hentz, Theresa Osgood, Zola Harvey, Sharon Gruhlke, Gladys Vagt, Mike Hammes, Judy Hofschulte, Vicki Arendt, Karl Nahrgang, and Sara Betcher as election judges for 2022. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, Second by Wiebusch to approve Resolution 2022-33 Certifying delinquent utility billing amounts to be assessed to property tax. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
1st Reading of Ordinance 2022-02 Amending Chapter 16-1 of the revised ordinances of the City of Mazeppa by repealing Section 9 entitled “One-way Street Designation/Diagonal Parking”.
Motion by Wiebusch, Second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2022-34 Accepting a donation to the City from the Mazeppa Lion’s Club. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, Second by Hammes to approve Resolution 2022-31 Accepting a donation from a private entity. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, Second by Young to change City employee Dan Nelson from part-time to full-time status. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, Second by Liffrig to accept quote from Next Level Excavating for $41,937.75 for the 3rd Ave. NE sidewalk project. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, Second by Liffrig to pay the bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
City Attorney Luke Lamprecht said he found that a therapy animal must comply to City ordinance if it is an animal not normally kept in a person’s home. He also said that the contract considered for approval for joint use of the private drive to the water tower for a home on the annexed land in Scenic Hights should not be signed and executed until the owners of the property close the transaction.
Lamprecht also commented on a resolution from the Wabasha County Board of Commissioners regarding tax forfeited land within City limits. The City has 3 options. If the City were to purchase parcels at market value, the City could use the property for a public purpose, such as a Public Works Garage or Fire Hall, If the City is conveyed the land at no cost, it must be used for a public use such as a park. If the City does nothing, it will be sold at public auction. If the City would want to purchase or be conveyed any or all the parcels, it would have to provide a written plane with a proposed purpose for the land to be reviewed by the State of Minnesota.
Councilperson Young expressed thanks to Mazeppa BP for the donation to be used for the basketball lighting project at the park next to the School.
Councilpersons Wiebusch, Hammes and Liffrig all wanted to thank the volunteers and organizations that plan and coordinate the events for the Mazeppa Daze Celebration.
Motion by Wiebusch, Second by Young to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:12 PM.