City Council Minutes | April 20, 2020

City Council
VIA ZOOM.COM
Monday
April 20, 2020 7:00 pm

 

The City Council of the City of New Hampton met in regular session utilizing Zoom.com with the Mayor and City Clerk in attendance at city hall on Monday, April 20, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schwickerath at 7:00 p.m. Council members present on Zoom.com were Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos and Denner. Also in attendance via Zoom.com was Jr. Mai, Zachary Nosbisch, Tammy Robinson, Courtney Lechtenberg, Fire Chief Toby Schwickerath, Brian Quirk, Zane Brandt and Matt Wingert with Farr Technologies, Chip Baltimore with Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Robert Martin and Bob Fenske and City Attorney Kevin Kennedy were also present.

Mayor Schwickerath made the following remarks: “Thank you all for attending this meeting via Zoom. As COVID19 presents a threat to the public health, we are complying with the Governors orders to limit gatherings of 10 people or less. Please let us know if you cannot hear the conversation, we will try and assist your issue. This is a public meeting and it will be conducted in the same manner as if we were all in the council chambers together. I ask the public to refrain from making comments unless addressed by the Mayor or Council member. All voting will be taken as a roll call vote to avoid discrepancies.”

Mayor Schwickerath reminded the council that compost curbside pickup will be Saturday, May 16th.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Diiro; The agenda be approved as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays-None. Motion carried.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by Boos; That the minutes of the April 6, 2020 regular Council meeting, be approved. Roll Call Vote: Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays-None. Motion carried.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by McDonald; That claims in the amount of $227,301.81 be approved. Roll Call Vote: Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays-None. Motion carried

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Perkins; That an Ordinance # 875 entitled “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING MERCHANDISE DISPLAY ON BUSINESS DISTRICT SIDEWALKS“, receive its third and final consideration. Roll Call Vote: Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays-None. Mayor Schwickerath declared Ordinance #875 adopted.

The New Hampton Telecommunications project contractor, Farr Technologies, had representatives Zane Brandt and Matt Wingert participate in the Zoom meeting to answer questions the council may have regarding the telecommunications project. There is a pre-construction meeting scheduled for April 27th at 10:00 and all council members are invited to attend. The council asked several questions about boring issues Farr may encounter but did not have any concerns about the project at this time.

Toby Schwickerath, Fire Department Chief, made a request to the council to have ‘controlled burn’ revenues be allowed to go to the Fire Fighters Association with a portion of that revenue being contributed back to the City of New Hampton’s general fund. There was a lengthy discussion about the procedures followed for controlled burns, billing and receiving payment. The council decided that current procedures were appropriate and the fire department will notify City Hall staff to send the invoice for the controlled burn and receipt the money into the city’s general fund.

Tammy Robinson, Economic Development Director, explained the need to add a Solar Energy System into the Zoning Ordinance for the City of New Hampton. The Planning and Zoning Commission meet and recommended the City Council add Solar Energy System as a Special Exception in an A-1 District. Moved by Perkins, seconded by Kuhn; That an ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE DEFINING A SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM AND INCLUDING A SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM AS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION IN AN A-1 ZONING DISTRICT” receive its first consideration. Roll Call Vote: Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays-None. Mayor Schwickerath ordered the ordinance change request be placed on the agenda for the next regular council meeting for its second consideration.

Jr Mai is requesting the council to approve a Street Restoration Project to seal coat approximately 23,000 square yards of surface area. Moved by Diiro, seconded by McDonald; That the street department solicit bids for the 2020 Street Restoration Project, with bids due May 4, 2020, be approved. Roll Call Vote: Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays-None. Motion carried.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by Denner, That the Wastewater Treatment Agreement with Tri/Mark Corporation effective April 6, 2020, be approved. Roll Call Vote: Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Boos, Denner. Nays-None. Abstain – Perkins. Motion carried.

City Attorney Kevin Kennedy shared the decisions made by the Board of Adjustment at their 5:30 meeting. Jim and Lisa Lewis and Bill and Rose Lowe both requested a height variance for a new storage building. In both requests, the height of the new buildings exceeded the height of the home, which violates the zoning ordinance. Both variance requests were approved by the Board of Adjustment.

Fund Received Disbursed
GENERAL $128,307.72 $145,184.35
ROAD USE TAX $18,101.46 $40,045.21
SPECIAL REV/EMPLOYEE BEN $8,720.64 $33,397.19
LOCAL OPTION TAX $28,143.32 $0.00
HOTEL/ MOTEL TAX $272.69 $0.00
HOTEL/ MOTEL TAX CAP RES $90.89 $0.00
TIF- INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL $2,403.22 $0.00
DEBT SERVICE $4,780.38 $0.00
LIBRARY SPECIAL PROJECTS $13.00 $499.78
SWIMMING POOL RENOVATION $0.00 $762.54
COMM CENTER RENOVATION $0.00 $443.98
CAPITAL PROJECTS $286,478.56 $52,039.76
WATER UTILITY $34,091.90 $21,433.42
SEWER UTILITY $58,994.98 $54,109.51
SOLID WASTE $11,642.48 $9,672.05
CUSTOMER DEPOSITS $9,239.25 $1,691.00
TRUST & AGENCY $707.31 $0.00
TOTAL $591,987.80 $359,278.79

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Diiro; That the Finance reports for March, 2020 be approved. Roll Call Vote: Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays-None. Motion carried.

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Perkins; That the following be accepted and placed on file:

  1. Park & Recreation Minutes of April 8, 2020
  2. Cemetery Board Minutes of April 9, 2020
  3. Planning and Zoning Minutes of April 14, 2020

Roll Call Vote: Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays-None. Motion carried.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by McDonald; That the meeting adjourn at 7:58 p.m. Roll Call Vote: Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays-None. Motion carried.

 

 

ATTEST: KAREN CLEMENS, CMC, City Clerk

ROBERT SCHWICKERATH, Mayor