Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
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. Councilpersons: Erica Young, Dustin Wiebusch, Mike Hammes, and Steve Liffrig.
Others Present: Wabasha County Sherriff Rodney Bartsch, Chief Deputy Jim Warren, City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, City Engineer Matt Mohs, Elizabeth Deming from Lamprecht Law Office, Bob Josselyn, Matt Sveen from M.B. Sveen properties, Jason Klein, Brandon Goranson from the Mazeppa Volunteer Fire Department, John Clemens, and City Administrator Karl Nahrgang.
Attending via electronic meeting: Holly Galbus from the News Record and Joe Haas from Hawkins and Ash CPA’s.
Motion by Hammes, second by Young to approve the agenda and addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve the May 11, 2022 Regular City Council meeting minutes, May 14, 2022 Reconvened Council meeting minutes, and the May 18, Special meeting minutes. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Wabasha County Sheriff Rodney Bartsch presented the Incident Command Report for May. He said it was a quiet month. Sheriff Bartsch told the Council he had reconsidered his retirement and plans to run for one more term as Wabasha County Sheriff.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang read the Mazeppa Public Works report.
Fire Fighter Brandon Goranson gave the Mazeppa Volunteer Fire Department report and asked the Council to give approval to use the house at 178 Maple St. NE, the site of the planned school parking lot, as a practice burn. The Fire Department has already contacted the neighbors, arranged for fire instructors to be present, and has filed the paperwork with the proper agencies at the State of Minnesota for approval of a live fire training exercise.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve the Mazeppa Volunteer Fire Department to do a controlled burn training on structure at 178 Maple St. NE on June 26, 2022. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave the Municipal Liquor Store report.
City Engineer Matt Mohs gave an engineering summary.
Motion by Hammes, second by Young to approve filing the Strategic Economic and Community Development Priority application with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Wastewater Treatment plant and wastewater collection system project. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang reported on City Hall activities.
Resident wondered when the culvert and ditch along 3rd Ave. NE could be dug out. Council suggested action sooner, rather than later for this project.
Matt Sveen from M.B. Sveen properties asked the Council to remove claim to the road that runs across the manufactured home park land from 4th Ave. NE to Chestnut St. Mr. Sveen stated the road has been corrupted over the years and has moved out of the original path and closer to his private lift station thus making it a danger to anyone servicing or inspecting the lift station. He asked the City to discontinue use of the private road. Mr. Sveen spoke of the legal process he has researched, that he owns the property, that no agreement was put into place with the City between previous manufactured home park owner, and he feels that the City is using the history of use of the extension that lies on his property as a negotiating tactic to encourage him to sell that portion of the park to the City for a future stormwater control project.
Potential borders were discussed with Council if the land were to be made available to the City for purchase.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve a boundary survey by City engineer Bolton and Menk along 4th Ave. NE to find the right-of-way boundary. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve a Council working session meeting on June 30, 2022 at 6:00 PM to discuss the future of the current roadway. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Jason Klein asked the Council to discuss removing the one-way street designation on 3rd Ave. NE between Maple St. and Walnut St. It would allow him to install a driveway for easier truck access to the property at 180 Walnut St. NE.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve Building Permit MZ22-05, 558 3rd Ave. NE – Re-roof. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Joe Haas from Hawkins and Ash C.P.A.’s presented the 2021 City Audit. In answer to a Council question, Haas stated that the Council can vote to file the audit with the State of Minnesota ahead of deadline and approve the audit at the next meeting date. If any corrections are made, the audit can be amended.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to file the 2021 City audit with the State of Minnesota. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
2021 Audit approval will be moved to the July 13, 2022 regular Council meeting agenda.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Resolution 2022-26 transferring $47,914.21 from Mazeppa Municipal Liquor Store operating account to City of Mazeppa General fund. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve sign permit for Lion’s Park sign replacement. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2022-28 Closing portions of several City Streets to allow Mazeppa Daze events. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Resolution 2022-27 Requesting Wabasha County permission to close portions of 1st Ave. and Chestnut St. (County Roads 1 and 54) for the Mazeppa Daze parade. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Resolution 2022-25 Accepting donation from Mazeppa Fire relief for $750. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve using the new combined Building Permit application form. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve driveway easement agreement with Troy & Shannon Liffrig for building site at 15th Ave. SE. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Agreement to be held until sale of property is final.
No vote was held on the community market permit to allow for the transient merchant’s ordinance to be revised.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2022-29 Accepting a donation from the Mazeppa Lion’s Club in the amount of $15,000 for Mazeppa Daze events. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Resolution 2022-30 Accepting a donation from MotoProz for local Park improvements. 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 Young thanked MotoProz and Mazeppa BP for donations to the park lighting project and reminded everyone of the Walking Bridge, Jaycee Park volunteer cleanup on Saturday June 11, 2022.
Councilperson Wiebusch requested an agenda item be added for next meeting to consider changing a work status of a City employee from part-time to full time.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to recess the meeting until Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 9:00 AM for the park cleanup event. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting recessed at 8:35 PM.