The Melrose City Council met in a Regular Meeting on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Melrose City Center pursuant to due notice being given thereof. Present were Council Members Dick Christenson, Tony Klasen, Josh Thieschafer, Justin Frieler, Mayor Joe Finken, City Administrator Michael Brethorst, and City Clerk Patti Haase. Mayor Finken presided thereat.
The Council then recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
A motion was made by Mr. Thieschafer, seconded by Mr. Klasen and unanimously carried to approve the agenda as amended.
Mayor Finken then opened the floor to public comment. There were no comments.
The following items were considered for approval under the Consent Agenda:
a. the minutes from the January 4, 2018 Regular Meeting.
b. list of bills in the amount of $948,212.39
c. list of investments for the month of December 2017.
d. Donation Resolutions: 1) Donation Resolution No. 2018-4, donation in the amount of $500 from Pat and Juliann Heller towards the Tri-Cap bus service.
2) Donation Resolution No. 2018-8, donation in the amount of $547.38 from the Petro Plus Convenience Store towards the Melrose Fire Department.
e. Gambling Resolutions: 1) Resolution No. 2018-5, Resolution Approving Gambling License to the Church of St. Mary’s for an exemption from lawful gambling license to hold a bingo and a raffle on March 25, 2018 at St. Mary’s School located at 320 5th Avenue SE, Melrose.
2) Resolution No. 2018-6, Resolution Approving Gambling License to the Church of St. Mary’s for an exemption from lawful gambling license to conduct a raffle on June 30, 2018 at the Sauk River Park located at 206 5th Avenue NE, Melrose.
3) Resolution No. 2018-7, Resolution Approving Gambling License to the Church of St. Mary’s for an exemption from lawful gambling license to hold a raffle on December 31, 2018, at St. Mary’s Parish Office located at 402 2nd Street SE, Melrose.
A motion was made by Mr. Klasen, seconded by Mr. Christenson and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda items.
Police Chief Craig Maus presented the Police Department’s December report. He noted that a total of 12 citations were issued in the month of December. There were 34 verbal warnings and one written warning. Chief Maus stated there were 302 calls for service during this month compared to 330 for December of 2016. The year-to-date number of calls is 3,520 compared to 4,028 in 2016. For the month of December 2017, the Department received 27 agency assist calls. Chief Maus noted there has been an increase in calls due to suspicious activity resulting from businesses leaving lights on or doors unlocked. Chief Maus is asking that business owners take extra measures to ensure that lights are turned off and doors are locked.
During the period from December 7, 2017 through January 11, 2018, the City Attorney has not given significant attention to any projects on behalf of the City of Melrose.
The Council gave consideration to approval of the following renewal liquor license applications: 1. Intoxicating Liquor:
a. License #3: Melrose Bowl Inc. DBA Melrose Bowl: On Sale, and License #3: Sunday On Sale.
b. License #4: The Dam, Inc. DBA The Dam Bar: On Sale, License #2: Off Sale, and License #4: Sunday On Sale.
c. License #1: LQR, Inc. DBA SPIRITZ Off Sale Liquor: Off Sale.
d. License #1: Meadowlark Country Club: On Sale, and License #2 Sunday On Sale.
e. License #2: Ana Hernandez DBA El Portal: On Sale, License #6 Sunday On Sale.
f. License #3: Coborn’s Inc. DBA Coborn’s Liquor: Off Sale.
g. License #5: John Dough’s Inc. DBA John Dough’s Pizza: On Sale, and #5 Sunday On-Sale.
2) Club and Sunday On Sale: a. License #1 American Legion Post #101: Club On Sale License, and License #1 Sunday On Sale.
3) 3.2% Off Sale Malt Liquor License:
a. License #1 Martinez Meat & Grocery: 3.2% Off Sale Malt Liquor.
b. License #2 Casey’s General Store: 3.2% Off Sale Liquor.
All applications must be executed, fees paid, and certificates of insurance as to liquor liability coverage obtained for Council approval.
Minnesota law requires cities to obtain proof that all licensees provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. The City must also obtain licensees’ social security numbers, and Minnesota and federal tax identification numbers for the Department of Revenue’s use.
All of the Intoxicating Liquor License applications must be signed by the Police Chief.
The licenses to be effective March 1, 2018 to March 1, 2019.
A motion was made by Mr. Frieler, seconded by Mr. Klasen and unanimously carried approving the liquor license renewal applications contingent upon receipt of all necessary documentation and payment of all necessary fees.
Mayor Finken noted that the Planning and Zoning Commission, at its January 8 meeting, nominated Dave Berscheit as the Planning and Zoning representative on the Parks and Recreation Board for a three-year term. MADA, at its January 11 meeting, nominated George Jensen to be reappointed as the MADA representative to the Parks and Recreation Board for a three-year term.
A motion was made by Mr. Christenson, seconded by Mr. Klasen and unanimously carried reappointing George Jensen as the MADA representative and appointing Dave Berscheit as the Planning and Zoning representative to the Parks and Recreation Board each for a three-year term.
Mayor Finken stated that the Parks and Recreation Board is in need of purchasing .33 acres of land for park use abutting the Sauk River Park. The land purchase has gone before the Land Acquisition Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission and MADA. All Boards and informal communication support the purchase; therefore, a contingent offer was made to the property owner to purchase the land in the City of Melrose legally described as follow: .33 A. BEG ON S L OF LT 7 BLK 58 CLARK’S ADD 147’ E OF SW COR-S96.25’-E TO PT S OF SE COR-N TO COR-W TO BEG CITY OF MELROSE Section 35 Township 126 Range 033
This offer is based on several unique circumstances: (1) the parcel is adjacent to the Sauk River Park; (2) the City of Melrose maintains the parcel of land and has done so for many years; (3) the parcel is a stand-alone parcel, which does not border a public road and, therefore, is non-buildable; and (4) the property owner may be personally liable if someone were to be injured. Through the sale, the City of Melrose would retain the liability.
The City plans to continue using the land in its current state. In the future, the City may need to expand its parking facilities and may push the existing parking lot 10-15 feet west of its current parking lot boundary. However, currently there are no formal plans to do so.
For 2017 and 2018, the Stearns County Assessor’s estimated market value for the parcel is $1,800. The City is offering to pay the full estimated market value of $1,800, plus an additional $700 for a quick closing. The City will also cover all legal fees associated to purchasing the parcel.
• Land Offer: $2,500
• Legal fees / Closing (estimated value: $500)
The funds to pay the estimated $3,000 would come from the Parks Fund.
A motion was made by Mr. Frieler, seconded by Mr. Thieschafer and unanimously carried approving the purchase the property and the closing fee.
Mayor Finken noted that a public forum was held on January 10 to discuss the 1st Street NE project. The Council to receive an update from the public forum and the time lines. The City is in receipt of a letter from the HSEM stating that the $450,000 within the state appropriations can be used for the 1st Street NE project but must be used by June 30, 2018. Overall, the estimated opinion cost for completion of the project is $1,086,300. The estimated cost for sidewalk is $46,000. There is about 200 feet of new sidewalk which is eligible for assessment estimated at approximately $9,500.
Mayor Finken stated that as per policy, the City may assess a portion of the sidewalk to the abutting or area parcels.
After further discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Thieschafer, seconded by Mr. Christenson and unanimously carried waiving the sidewalk assessment fee to the abutting property owners. The installation of the sidewalk is considered a public safety improvement; therefore, the abutting property owners will not be assessed.
Mayor Finken stated that efforts to fund the Rock Arch Rapids are underway. A formal request to the Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD) has been submitted as well as a request to the Soil and Water Conservation Office. A bonding request can also be submitted for this effort. The City’s Engineer, WSB & Associates, has prepared a quote for a LCCMR grant application for $4,300.
A motion was made by Mr. Thieschafer, seconded by Mr. Klasen and unanimously carried approving the contract with WSB & Associates for writing the LCCMR grant application contingent upon positive feedback from the SRWD supporting the project.
A motion was made by Mr. Klasen, seconded by Mr. Frieler and unanimously carried authorizing staff to request state bonding funds for the project.
Mayor Finken stated that the Stearns County Parks Board has been approached by the Trisko Family to sell their land that is adjacent to the City limits and convert it into a County Park. The County has stated that they are not in a position to acquire additional park space. The County has asked the City to explore this option. A review of the City’s Comprehensive Plan shows a future need for park space in northwest Melrose; however, it does not call out this land as the specific space. The asking price for the land is $295,000. Water and sewer lines are 400 yards from property line and to reach the site’s interior, it would require an additional 400 to 800 yards to be used; therefore, a well and private septic would be more feasible.
A review by the Planning and Zoning Commission states that future park land is needed; however, the location of this land and the foreseeable housing growth does not warrant locating the future park here. They stated that it is not within the Comprehensive Plan for this location.
A review of the site was conducted by the Parks and Recreation Board. The Board agrees that there should be additional park space, however, due to the location and potential costs, that they cannot support this location.
A motion was made by Mr. Klasen, seconded by Mr. Thieschafer and unanimously carried concurring with the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Board that the location of the land and the foreseeable housing growth does not support acquiring the property.
Mayor Finken stated that the City has adopted a road maintenance plan based on an engineering review and physical site inspections. Based on this plan, the City will be seal coating, micro sealing and fog sealing portions of the City’s public right-of-way. The Council has approved the plan when adopting the 2018 budget.
A motion was made by Mr. Christenson, seconded by Mr. Frieler and unanimously carried to approve the specifications and seek bids for road improvements.
The following informational items were then reviewed:
The following are schools and/or conferences where registrations were made:
1. 2018 MCMA Winter Professional Development Workshop on February 8-9. Attending: City Administrator Mike Brethorst.
Utilities Commission’s December 11, 2017 Regular and December 21, 2017 Special Meeting minutes.
A motion was made by Mr. Klasen, seconded by Mr. Thieschafer and unanimously carried that the meeting be adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
Patricia Haase, City Clerk