Call to Order/Attendance The City Council meeting was called to order at Upsala City Hall by Mayor Rollie Johnson at 7:00 P.M. The pledge of allegiance was said.
On roll call members present: Mayor Rollie Johnson, Council Members Lana Bartells, Wendy Rene, and Mitch Lange. Absent: Crystal Benson
Staff present: First Response Vice President Danielle Haus, Fire Chief Nick Johnson, Planning & Zoning Chair Don Marty, Public Works Director Mike Tschida, and City Clerk-Treasurer Michelle Stevens.
Minutes: Bartells moved to approve the regular city council meeting minutes from February 7, 2022, City Council Meeting, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.
Lange moved to approve the closed city council meeting minutes from February 7, 2022, City Council Meeting, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.
Added agenda items: Bartells moved to approve the agenda as presented, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.
Department Reports: Fire Department Report: Nick Johnson updated the council on the Fire Department’s activities including the purchase of new thermal imaging cameras. A prescribed burn is set for March 26, the second prescribed burn will be in a couple of months. He also reported that all the equipment for the SCBA’s is here.
Our citation paperwork from OSHA arrived. Chief Johnson has already remedied the hazmat training citation and the report to OSHA will be submitted tomorrow.
First Response Team: First Response Team Vice President Danielle Haus reported the calls for February. She said they will also participate in the prescribed burn for practice as well.
Maintenance Report: Tschida reported on water and sewer levels as well as the various tasks done throughout the City. Tschida also discussed the rehabilitation of Well #4. Staff was directed to hire Thein Well to rehab Well #4.
The posts around the Rec Building are getting dilapidated. The ideal solution would be to put curbing between the grass and gravel areas. Staff was directed to talk with the company that will be doing the curb on the Walnut Avenue extension and get a quote.
City Office Report: Stevens reviewed the March calendar and reported on the projects worked on in February.
Representative Ron Kresha will be at City Hall, March 8 from 1pm to 3pm; all are welcome to visit.
Planning Commission: Planning & Zoning Chair Don Marty stated that they have a new member on the Planning & Zoning, Alan (Fred) Gunderson. Mark Gilles will also be joining the commissioners at their March meeting. The addition of Fred and Mark completes the number of seats on the commission.
Mayor Johnson recessed the regular city council meeting.
Public Hearing: At 7:40 pm Mayor Johnson opened the public hearing to consider Ordinance #64 – an ordinance regulating Waste Collection.
Comments were heard concerning the proposed ordinance. Marty shared the comments submitted from Long Prairie Sanitation.
Bartells moved to close the public Hearing, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.
Called Council Meeting Back to Order: Mayor Johnson called the regular city council meeting back to order at 7:43 pm. Rene moved to approve Ordinance #64 Waste Collection with the added corrections submitted by P & Z Chair Marty, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Johnson recessed the regular city council meeting.
Public Hearing: At 7:47 pm Mayor Johnson opened the public hearing to consider Ordinance #65 – an ordinance regulating Septic Systems.
Marty reviewed the proposed ordinance and the reasoning behind it.
No comments were heard concerning the proposed ordinance.
Lange moved to close the public hearing, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Johnson called the regular city council meeting back to order at 7:49 pm. Bartells moved to approve Ordinance #65 Septic Systems, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.
Unfinished Business: Walnut Extension Bid Award: Three bids were submitted at the virtual bid opening held by Moore Engineering March 3 at 10:00 am. Bids ranged from $110,037.00 to $131,001.50. Moore Engineering recommends that a contract be awarded to Burski Excavating, Inc.
Bartells moved to award the Walnut Avenue Extension Bid to Burski Excavating, Inc for $110,037.00, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.
Upsala Senior Living: Johnson stated the Senior Living structure is enclosed and they will be shingling and installing windows next.
Heritage Days Meeting: Bartells stated they are trying to find more food vendors.
City Hall Open House: The Open House for the new city hall space was February 15 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Johnson stated that we did not have a lot of people show up, but there was good conversation with the people who attended.
LMC Annual Conference: The League of MN Cities Annual Conference will be held in Duluth June 22-24. Staff was directed to register Johnson and Rene and for the conference.
New Business: Raffle for UBA: Lange moved to approve the Gambling Permit Application from the Upsala Ballpark Association to hold a Raffle on August 13 (Heritage Days) with no waiting period, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Temp Liquor License for St. Mary’s: Bartells moved to approve the application for a temporary on-sale liquor license April 8 at St. Mary’s Church, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.
Re-Designating a Polling Place: Rene moved to approve Resolution 3-7-2022-1, a resolution re-designating a polling place after redistricting, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.
Clean Up Day Grant: Bartells moved to approve Resolution 3-7-2022-2 a resolution accepting a Clean Up Day Grant from Morrison County in the amount of $886.14, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.
Recycling Grant: Lange moved to approve Resolution 3-7-2022-3 a resolution accepting a Recycling Grant from Morrison County in the amount of $1,944.68, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Acknowledgements: Kudos to the Heritage Days Committee for being proactive and dedicated to making our town celebration a huge success.
-To the Upsala Area School for lending their motorized lift to the City so staff could install new light fixtures in the Water Plant and the Fire Hall.
Financials: Lange moved to approve the bills as presented, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.
Updates/FYI: Next regular City Council meeting will be April 4, 2022, at 7:00 pm.
Adjourn: Bartells moved to adjourn at 8:28 pm, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.
Michelle Stevens, Clerk/Treasurer
Work Session: Mayor Rollie Johnson opened the work session meeting at 8:30 pm.
The City Clerk position and the part-time public works position were discussed.
Lange moved to adjourn at 9:30 pm, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
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