Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
The regular meeting of the Mazeppa City Council was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Chris Hagfors.
Pledge of allegiance was said.
Present: Mayor Chris Hagfors. Council Persons Michael Hammes, Dustin Wiebusch, and
Erica Young.
Absent: Councilperson Steve Liffrig.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, Elizabeth Deming from Lamprecht Law,
Laura Schueler from the News Record, John Clemens, Jason Hughley, Matt Stinson,
Jason Klein, City Engineer Matt Mohs, Todd Cordes, Linda Siewert, and City
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Motion by Young, second by Hammes to approve the agenda and the addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Hammes to approve the meeting minutes for the July 13, 2022 regular Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to close the regular Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular meeting closed at 6:02 PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to open the public hearing. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Public Hearing opened 6:03 PM.
Public Hearing was for a variance for fence height at a commercial property at 180 Walnut St. NE. The fence would replace the wall that currently exists between 180 and 150 Walnut St. St. NE. A fence would also be constructed at the rear of the 2 buildings closing in an outdoor storage area between the 2 buildings. This would be done for safety and security. Land Management Ordinance says that fences height is limited to 6’. There is a precedence in the City that other commercial properties do have privacy/security fences that exceed that height.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to close the public hearing. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Public Hearing closed at 6:10 PM.
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to open the regular Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular meeting re-opened at 6:11 PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve the variance allowing a fence that exceeds the maximum height to be built between the properties at 180 and 150 Walnut St. NE. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
This motion will be recognized as Resolution 2022-35.
Wabasha County Sherriff’s Deputy John Schneider presented the July 2022 Incident Command Report. Commented that high number of hours due to Mazeppa Daze. Deputy Schneider said that no major incidents occurred during Mazeppa Daze. Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang asked that attention be paid to speeding on Oak St. NE and to deter some acts of vandalism at Herb Vik Park.
Administrator Clerk read the Public Works Report.
Administrator Clerk read the Fire Department Report.
Administrator Clerk read the Mazeppa Municipal Liquor store Report.
City Engineer Matt Mohs gave a project engineering update.
Todd Cordes from Zumbrota Mazeppa Schools asked Council to consider allowing a play area known as a Gaga pit to be installed by a volunteer group organized by school parents and funded by donations. The plan would be to install the facility to the north of the existing basketball court at the Town Square park next to the school. One has been installed at the Zumbrota facility and it is popular with the kids. He also asked if the City might be able to fund a portion of the asphalt for it to be built on. Council asked Cordes to get an estimate on the cost of the black to for the area.
Motion by Young, second by Hammes to approve using the requested area in the park to install a Gaga pit. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve building permits: MZ22-17, 371 Maple St. NE -furnace/A-C. MZ22-18, 156 1st Ave. N -re-roof. MZ22-19, 239 4th Ave. NE -window/door replacement. MZ22-22, 345 2nd Ave. SE -window replacement. MZ22-23, 1021 Riverbluff Rd. SE -re-roof. MZ22-24, 133 2nd Ave. NW -re-roof. MZ22-25, 155 2nd Ave. NW -re-roof. MZ22-26, 671 3rd Ave. NE -re-roof/re-side. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
John Clemens asked about progress for getting the ditch cleaned and shaped along 3rd Ave. between Aspen and Oak Streets.
Linda Siewert asked the Council to reconsider the ordinance banning all farm animals in town and amend it to allow chickens. She pointed out that other communities allow for backyard chickens. The Council will do some research on other community’s ordinances and in the community to consider the feasibility of such a change.
2nd Reading of Ordinance 2022-03 Amending Ordinance Chapter 16-1 of the Revised ordinances of the City of Mazeppa by repealing Section 9 entitle “One-Way Street Designation/Diagonal Parking”.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve Ordinance 2022-03 Amending Ordinance Chapter 16-1 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Mazeppa. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to approve a driveway for the property at 180 Walnut St. NE allowing access from 2nd Ave. NE. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to allow for the sale of the stove from the Mazeppa Community Center. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to approve the maintenance agreement between the City and Wabasha County for snow removal and sanding on County Road 1 and 54 (First Ave. N and Chestnut St. NE). All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Resolution 2022-36 Claiming Tax Forfeited Land PID R23.00429.00. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to pay the bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Attorney Comments. Claim on tax forfeiture property allows for 6 months for the City to file necessary documents. Followed by a 3-year period to put plan into action to set up property for public use.
Matt Stinson introduced himself as a candidate for Wabasha County Attorney and took questions from the Council and meeting aattendees.
Councilor Erica Young reported that there had been a good turn out for open air market/music in the park. Net month will be a “kid’s night” theme.
Motion by Hammes, Second by Young to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.
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Administrator-Clerk
