Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
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 Michael Hammes, Erica Young, and Dustin Wiebusch.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, City Engineer Matt Mohs, Project Engineer Jake Pichelmann, Wabasha County Sherriff Rodney Bartsch, Public Works Director Scott Ellingson, Zumbrota Mazeppa Schools Superintendent Ryan Barnick, and Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Present via electronic meeting: Holly Galbus from the News Record.
Absent: Councilperson Steve Liffrig.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve the agenda and addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to approve the September 13, 2023 regular City Council meeting minutes and September 27, 2023 Council working session minutes. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Sherriff Rodney Bartsch presented the monthly Incident Command Report. He said he had sent the update contract to City Attorney Lamprecht and Administrator Clerk Nahrgang to be distributed to Council this evening. Attorney Lamprecht said he had reviewed the contract, would get some details clarified with a League of Minnesota Cities review and send the markups back to Sherriff Bartsch.
Public Works Director Scott Ellingson gave the monthly Public Works report.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave the Fire Department report.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave the liquor store report.
City Engineer Matt Mohs gave an engineering update.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve additional soil borings at alternate sites for the WWTP. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
City Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave a City Hall activities report.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve transfer of funds from General Obligation loan to operating fund for WWTP engineering. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Zumbrota Mazeppa Schools Superintendent Ryan Barnick presented 2 ideas for the School District and the City to recognize local students. Idea 1 is for the City to display banners on the light posts featuring local graduating seniors during April and May leading up to graduation. The District would pay for the banners and would be willing to help City staff display them. They would be displayed on existing banner hardware. Idea 2 would involve having the elementary school kids, under supervision of the art teacher, to paint, decorate and sign the snowplow blade. The paint wears off during use but gives a feeling of connection between the children and their community.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve the display of banners for graduating seniors in April and May of 2024 and to allow Z-M Elementary students to decorate the snowplow blade. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve building permits; MZ23-11, 1252 Riverbluff Rd. SE – deck. MZ23-17, 355 Walnut St. NE – re-roof. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
2nd Reading Ordinance 2023-03 Amending ordinance 12-3 prohibiting cannabis use within public property and spaces.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve Ordinance 2023-03 amending ordinance 12-3 prohibiting cannabis use within public property and public spaces. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
2nd Reading Ordinance 2023-04 “An interim ordinance prohibiting the operation of cannabis businesses within the City of Mazeppa”.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve Ordinance 2023-04 “An interim ordinance prohibiting the operation of cannabis businesses within the City of Mazeppa”. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Summary Publication of Ordinance 2023-04. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve documents for Promissory Note, Mortgage, and Amortization Schedule for loan between Mazeppa Economic Development Authority and the City of Mazeppa. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve a driveway easement between the City of Mazeppa and Jacob and Angela Kosec. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Resolution 2023-40 Findings of Fact for Derrick Bridley variance application. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Reading of changes to Mazeppa Personnel Policy regarding new Earned Sick and Safe time requirements by the State of Minnesota. Attorney Lamprecht suggested establishing an employee handbook. The City will need to pass the E.S.S.T. changes before December 31, 2023 on the current personnel policy.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to move forward with employee handbook $1500 quote. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve Resolution 2023-41 Approving Kosec Driveway agreement. 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 Erica Young thanked the vendors and donors that made the open-air market events a success. That there would be a golfcart parade on October 14, 2023 at 1PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to close the regular meeting in accordance with Minnesota Statute to protect attorney client privilege to discuss threatened litigation by Kelly and Lemmons, P.A. on behalf of M.B. Sveen Properties. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting was closed at 7:59 PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to re-open the regular meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting was re-opened at 9:03 PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to respond to Lemmons and Kelly, P.A. letter and re-new offer of $62,000 to purchase the portion the M.B. Sveen property that contains the roadway. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to recess the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting recessed at 9:07 PM. _______________________________________
Administrator-Clerk