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 were: Mayor Rollie Johnson, Brian Lange, Dennis Westrich, Joan Olson, and Lana Bartells.
People present: Morrison County Record reporter Sheila McCoy, Darlene Maciej, Greg Spofford, Cindy Phillips, Al Donat, MaryJane Chuba, Don Trettel, Tanya Trettel, Mark Gilles, Garrett Doucette, Wendy Rene, Cathy Hagstrom, Kathy Koetter, Marlys Atkinson, Jill Zasadny, Joan Wingert, Sheila Nelson, Kae Holmen, Mitch Lange, Public Works Director Frank Koopmeiners, and City Clerk/Treasurer Michelle Stevens.
Lange moved to approve minutes from October 1, 2018 Regular City Council Meeting, 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Lange moved to approve minutes from October 9, 2018 Budget Meeting, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Bartells moved to approve the agenda, 2nd by Olson. Motion carried unanimously.
Presentation, Citizen Appeals: Cindy Phillips requested a second liquor license to be held at 111 South Main Street.
Lange moved to approve a liquor license to Cindy Phillips at 111 South Main Street upon the receipt of the proper paperwork handed into the City office and State, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
7:15 Public Hearing – Conditional Use Permit for 120 Basswood Ave: Mayor Johnson recessed the regular City Council Meeting and opened the Public Hearing at 7:20 p.m.
Johnson opened the public hearing on the Conditional Use Permit request for 120 Basswood Avenue to have three dwelling units in an R1 zoned district to host an Airbnb business.
Several positive comments were heard concerning the Airbnb.
Bartells moved to close the Public Hearing, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Johnson called the regular City Council Meeting back to order.
Lange moved to approve the Conditional Use Permit for 120 Basswood Avenue; to have three dwelling units in an R1 zoned district to operate an Airbnb, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Economic Development Specialist Reva Mische could not attend tonight’s meeting, but will be at the December meeting.
Maintenance Report: Koopmeiners reported on water and sewer levels.
He stated the 25 mph speed limit signs have been installed.
The siren is working again; the transformer blew, but has been repaired by Minnesota Power.
Discharge samples will be sent in this month.
The in-floor heat in the maintenance building has been turned on.
Fire Department Report: The Minutes of the Fire Department were presented.
The Department did a farm extrication training last month.
Fire prevention week was the week of October 7; the Department held programs at the school and Community Covenant Church.
The Fire Department and First Response open house was a success serving roughly 200 people.
The Department’s next training will be in January with an outdoor auto extrication.
By-Laws and SOG’s: Olson moved to adopt the Upsala Fire Department’s Standard Operating Guidelines as presented, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Bartells move to adopt the Upsala Fire Department’s By-Laws as presented, 2nd by Olson. Motion carried unanimously.
First Responders: First Response Team Vice President Garrett Doucette submitted their monthly report and stated that raffle went well. The funds will go to purchase a Lucas CPR device.
City Office Report: Stevens reviewed the November Calendar.
She also shared information she learned at the Cyber Security simulation training held at Sourcewell in Staples, MN.
Planning Commission: Bartells moved to hold a public hearing on the revisions made to Ordinance #38 on December 3, 2018 at 7:15 p.m., 2nd by Olson. Motion carried unanimously.
The annual Holiday Lights Contest will be held December 13 with the judges being last year’s winners: Mark Gilles, Larry Bartells and Jen Servatius. The winners of the contest will receive $100, $75 & $50 in Upsala bucks respectively.
There will be a new contest this year with the businesses. The same judges will judge the store fronts on their holiday decorations on the same evening. With the winners receiving $100, $75 & $50 in Upsala bucks respectively as well.
Recreation Board: The minutes from the October Rec Board Meeting were presented.
Inflow and Infiltration: Koopmeiners explained the help the City can receive at a very low cost from Minnesota Rural Water by using a smoke test to find leaks in the sewer lines where inflow and infiltration occur. This project will be done in June of 2019.
CEDA Contract: Bartells moved to approve the contract with the Community and Economic Development Associates for 2019 with the understanding that the City can opt out of the contract at the end of any given quarter with no remaining balance due, 2nd by Olson. Motion carried unanimously.
Certifying the Election Results: Bartells moved hold a meeting on Thursday, November 8 at 8:00 a.m. to certify the election results, 2nd by Olson. Motion carried unanimously.
Lions Donation: Lange moved to accept resolution 11-5-18-1 a resolution to accept a donation of $6,000 from the Heritage Days Raffle to be put towards the Upsala Community Development Committee, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Delinquent Utilities: Lange moved adopt resolution 11-5-18-2, a resolution to assess delinquent utilities to the property taxes, 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Appreciation to the generosity of Mark Keupers for designing, building, and installing the Library’s new dropbox. Mark & Cindy chose not to charge the City the cost of the project equaling $357.00, but instead, donated the labor and materials for free. If the City would have purchased a dropbox from a commercial company, it would have cost over $1,000.00.
Comments from the public: Various comments were heard from the public.
Financials: Lange moved to approve the bills as presented, 2nd by Westrich. Motion carried unanimously.
Adjourn: Olson moved to adjourn at 8:27 p.m., 2nd by Bartells. Motion carried unanimously.
Michelle Stevens, Clerk/Treasurer
Unofficial Minutes