Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 14, 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 Steve Liffrig, Michael Hammes, Dustin Wiebusch, and Erica Young.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, John Clemens, City Engineer Matt Mohs,
Wabasha County Sherriff Patrol Sargent Keith Fratzke, Wabasha County Commissioner Brian Goihl, Steve Meerkins, Jeremy Tri, Nate Arendt, Riverbank Project Laison Luke Lunde from WS Beng and Associates, and City Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Present via electronic meeting: Robert Josselyn and Holly Galbus of the News Record.
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to approve the agenda and the addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Liffrig to approve the meeting minutes for the August 10, 2022 regular Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Patrol Sargent Keith Fratzke of the Wabasha County Sherriff’s Department presented the Incident Command Report for August. He was asked if some time was spent monitoring Oak Street due to some complaints of speeding vehicles. He said that the Sherriff’s Department had focused on the area to slow traffic.
Wabasha County Commissioner Brian Goihl updated the Council on the current state of the County and the expectation of what the County tax levy will be for 2023 and an update on the tax forfeited properties in the City of Mazeppa.
City Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang read the Fire Department Report.
No Public Works report was given, but positive comments about the organization and cleaning of the public works maintenance building were directed toward the PW staff.
City Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave the Municipal Liquor Store report.
City Engineer Matt Mohs updated the Council on the WWTP funding progress and another round of planning grants for run-off control is available.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve a Council working session for October 4, 2022 at 6:00 PM. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Young to approve 8 hours of engineering at the reduced rate to update the grant application for the run-off control planning grant. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Luke Lunde from WS Beng and Associates presented the 60% design plan for permitting for the Riverbank Restoration project. WSB, the City of Mazeppa, and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials met to discuss permitting requirements. Planning for early summer 2023 to begin construction. DNR did request some changes to maintain consistent hydraulics in the area so a short bit of bank at the and of the southeast portion will change. The savings from that change will be used for extra vegetation and reforestation.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang presented the City Hall activities progress report.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve building permits: MZ22-27, 710 River Bluff Rd. – re-roof. MZ22-28, 957 River Bluff Rd. – window replacement. MZ22-20, 576 4th Ave. NE Lot 24 – set manufactured home. MZ22-21, 576 4th Ave. NE Lot 21 - set manufactured home.
All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
MB Sveen Properties LLC requested a letter of support for their grant application to the Manufactured Home Community Redevelopment Program.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve a letter supporting MB Sveen Properties LLC’s grant submission to the Manufactured Home Community Redevelopment Program to aid in improvements to the Manufactured Home Park. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Helen Reiland brought up the issue of noise enforcement for noisy vehicles traveling on 1st Ave.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to direct the City Administrator to contact Wabasha County Sherriff’s office to develop strategy to combat vehicle noise. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to donate items recovered from archaeological survey at Herb Vik Park to Mazeppa Area Historical Society. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to accept the quote from Westlake Tile LLC for $43,000 for the Community Center flooring and an additional $7000 for restroom floors. Four in favor, Hammes opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to table the quotes for the GaGa pit at the park next to the school until it is determined how much of the total is intended to be paid by donations. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve submitting $250 application fee, the Application for State deed for Tax Forfeited property, wetland certification, and conditional use declaration to the State of Minnesota though the Wabasha County Auditor Treasurer’s office. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Hammes to approve the preliminary 2023 budget and tax levy. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve quote of $14,986.74 from Dust Outdoor Services for $14,986.74 for street patches at 4th Ave. NW and Maple St. Cherry St. W, Oak St. and 2nd Ave. NE, 6th Ave. NE and Chestnut St., Cedar St. and 2nd Ave. SE. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to approve Resolution 2022-37 Accepting a Donation of $3500 from the Mazeppa Lion’s Club for cost associated with Mazeppa Daze and Community Market events. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Resolution 2022-38 Accepting a Donation from Mazeppa Fire Relief for the proceeds of the Mazeppa Daze raffle totaling $27,142.90. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2022-39 accepting a Donation from the Mazeppa Lion’s Club for $25,500 for Community Center improvements and improvements to the Public Cemetery. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to get rid of the old Lion’s Park sign and letters. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Resolution 2022-40 allowing Liquor License holders in the City of Mazeppa to open at 08:00 on Sunday, October 2, 2022 for the early Vikings game received no motion and no second. To enact this temporary time change would take a change in City ordinance.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to set the Truth-in-Taxation meeting for 6:00 PM, December 14, 2022. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Resolution 2022-41 accepting a donation of $150.00 to assist in the cost of installation of the park basketball court lighting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Resolution 2022-42 Issuing a temporary off-site on-sale liquor license to the Mazeppa Municipal Liquor Store to serve alcohol and do sample tasting at the September 29, 2022 Community Market was not moved and received no second.
Motion by Liffrig, second by Young to pay the bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
City Attorney Luke Lamprecht suggested that a new City zoning map be drawn to include the annexation near Scenic Heights.
Councilperson Young thanked Turbo’s LLC, the Mazeppa Lions Club, and Mazeppa Fire Relief on behalf of the City for the generous donations to the City of Mazeppa.
Councilperson Wiebusch commented that poor communication and organization among the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the project engineers, and the project contractors has negatively affected the quality of the work on the Highway 60 project.
Motion by Hammes, Second by Liffrig to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:29 PM.
Next meeting will be a Council working session 6:00 PM October 4, 2022.
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Administrator-Clerk
