Lanesboro City Council & Public Hearing
Monday, July 2nd, 2007
Council chambers, 5:30 p.m.

Present: Steve Rahn, Tom Dybing, Joe O’Connor and Vince Jeannette
Absent: Kevin Drake
Visitors: Rick Darling, Jan Meyer, Rocky Hadorff, Helen Thoen, Marge Drake, Verna Taylor, Greg Qualy, Jeff & Michelle Redalen, Orval Amdahl, Julia Borgan, Mary Bell, Joe Deden, Jeff & Julie Norby, Julie Kiehne, Don Wangen, Wanda Hanson, Blaise Sass, Mike & Pauline Wangen, Vern Riddle, Jon Pieper, Jennifer Rogers, Craig Bloomer, John LeVell, Nathan Gossman, Scott Laganiere, Mike Walsh, Merlin & Mary Thoen and Keith & Kitty Baker

Mayor Rahn called the Public Meeting to order.

Sidewalk Replacements
Helen Thoen questioned her charges for her sidewalks at Block 36 - lots 5 & 6. She believes she is being charged for too much and also that she should not have to pay for the handicap approach. Torgerson explained that all corner lots have paid for the handicap approaches in the past.
The area in question will be remeasured before anything is done.

Junk Ordinances
Less than thirty letters were sent out, and most only had minor things such as minor junk to clean up.
Rocky Hadorff-401 Fillmore asked what should be done at that property. Torgerson explained that the camper needed to be licensed and moved to be mowed around. There were various weeds growing around the trailer.

North River Walking Trail Easement
Council asked for the public input on the matter:
Rocky Hadorff - stated that with just recently starting a B&B, he believed it was a privacy issue. He believes that there should not be any construction in the flood plain.
Jeff Norby - said that he has lived there for 14 years and is very opposed to the trail, due to general safety concerns and due to falling rocks from the bluff side.
Vern Riddle - said he is in favor of the trail for activities for his grandchildren, and envisions good things coming from it.
Joe Deden – stated that he operates Eagle Bluff and he is in favor of the trail. He feels that this is a way to get people out into nature. He said it provides an opportunity to see the natural, scenic beauty of the outdoors.
Greg Qualy - said he has lived on the flats for 50 years and enjoys the bluffs and is fully against the walking path, in his words it is a game trail that would be ruined.
Donald Wangen - said he never has been against anything in this town before, but he is against this.
He went on to say that hundreds of trees would have to be removed and how will it be done? He stated that the liability will kill the City.
Marge Drake - spoke and said she was on the Park Board and asked where the money is coming from and who would be responsible for it. She felt that the park workers had enough to do already without adding more to the work load. She said that she was neither for nor against it.
Craig Bloomer – from the DNR Trails & Waterways responded that grants could help with the development of the trail; however he is unaware of any grants to maintain the trail.
Jeff Redalen - thanked the Amdahls for their generous gift to give the city an easement for a walking path.
Knowing that there are a few who oppose this plan, the group respects their objections and will try to mitigate these concerns. He is hoping that they are being taken seriously and can work together to make the trail happen.
Orval Amdahl - said that there will be specifications in the agreement that state no tax dollars will be spent on the project and if the project is not competed in 4 to 5 years, the easement will be cancelled.
Jennifer Rogers - sees it as another opportunity for the City and supports the idea.
Pauline Wangen - spoke for herself and husband Mike who are both opposed of the idea of a trail going through the town, they want it to just stay natural the way it is and leave the North Bluff alone.
John Levell - talked about the bald eagles, turkeys, and beaver that live there, along with the fact that it is one of the best fishing strips for the locals. We do not know what this trail will do to the habitat, and it could have an adverse affect on all these things.
He also feels the City needs to look at this on the financial end.
Verna Taylor - said that some of the North Bluff many years ago was cut for some of the buildings downtown.
Orval Amdahl - I moved here in 1926 and the bluff was bare, in the last 30 years it has gotten over grown.

Rahn commented that we can not make a decision tonight, he stated that we need to look into factors such as: The effect on the existing habitat, the effects on the river, how the DOT feels about a trail coming out on a state highway, safety/health issues and financial concerns.

O’Connor commented to have some brush cut and get a detailed drawing.
Jeannette commented that he was still undecided and thought that both sides could work things out as they both wanted the same thing.
At 6:30 p.m., Jeannette made motion to adjourn, second Dybing, motion carried.

The regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Steve Rahn.

Additions to the agenda included, Rick Darling, sidewalk sales under persons with business, Buffalo Bill Days liquor permit, flood plain training, request for bids for Community Center roof, Library Interim Director, jumping off of Coffee St Bridge, digital camera and sales tax.
O’Connor made motion to approve the amended agenda, second Jeannette, motion carried.
The minutes, from the June 18th meeting, were approved with a motion from O’Connor, second Dybing, motion carried.

Persons with business before the council
Rick Darling- Request for Sidewalk Sales for the special event; Commonweal Theatre grand opening.
There was discussion on the matter; the council would really like to involve the Chamber, which Torgerson stated that Julie Kiehne will bring up at their next meeting. The Council would like to update the policies, along with defining the definition of special event, so that it is easier to define the permitted occasions.
Jeannette made motion to approve the request if the Chambers approves of the sales as a benefit for all of the downtown businesses, than Darling must get a permit from the City, and requests to hear from the Chamber after their next meeting, second Dybing, motion carried.
Chad Acheman- Driveway permission off of Zenith
The Planning & Zoning recommended for him to have a turn around area in his driveway so that he is not backing into Zenith.
Acheman was unable to attend.
Dybing made motion to table the matter until the next meeting, so it could be looked into, second O’Connor, motion carried.

Committee Reports
Public Utilities - Torgerson
Power-plus will be doing a rate study.
Study on hydro-electric upgrades.
Park - Rahn
Walking Trail was discussed; they are not in favor of the trail being rolled into the Park System because of the maintenance costs in their budget already.
TMI Meeting - O’Connor
The results on the project was to support all 5 projects.
Letters will be sent out on how to the groups can move forward.
Planning & Zoning- Dybing
Ascheman’s building permit was approved with the agreement that water runoff and a driveway turn around were implemented.
Marlin Miner’s permit for painting was approved.
Talked about 20/20 plan and fencing requirements.

Housekeeping
Sidewalk Replacement Approval, Interest Rate and Term
Rahn made motion to approve the recommended replacements for the year, along with looking into Helen Thoen's measurements. Also, he motioned interest to be at 4.83% for 7 years for the sidewalk special assessments, for those interested in this option, second O’Connor motion carried.
Junk Ordinance Removal Process Approval
Started out with 72 problems and only 28 letters were sent out. Lots of properties have improved since last year. Torgerson stated she would have a list of properties for the next meeting.
North River Walking Trail Easement Request
Rahn made motion to table the matter until the issues noted in the public hearing could be addressed, second Jeannette, motion carried.
Gambling Permit for Bingo for Buffalo Bill Days
Dybing made motion to approve the permit for bingo, second O’Connor, motion carried.
Speed Limit Issue on Hillcrest
Approval for changing speed limit has to go through the state. With a day care on that block it was suggested just to place some other signage.
Rah made motion to place a “Children at Play” sign on Hillcrest, second Jeannette, motion carried.
Four-Way Stop Downtown
Resident concerned about the inter-section of Parkway Avenue and Coffee Street, he feels it should have a four way stop.
This would be a State matter, it was suggested to have the police come down and look into speed control.
Digital Camera
Dybing made motion to purchase a digital camera for the City to be housed in the City office and not to exceed a cost of $200, second O’Connor, motion carried.
Sales Tax
Dybing reported that the tax bill for 2008 did not pass.
He thinks that we should try and line up a referendum for this fall or look into this matter further.
Buffalo Bill Days Liquor License
O’Connor made motion to approve the liquor license for Chamber for the Buffalo Bill Days event, second Dybing, motion carried.
Flood Plain Management Training
Rahn made motion for Torgerson or a member from the council to attend the free training class, with expenses paid to attend, second O’Connor, motion carried.
Bids for Community Center Roof
O’Connor made motion to get bids for the roof on the Community Center, second Jeannette, motion carried.
Library Issues & Internship
Torgerson suggested herself and 1 or 2 council members are involved with the hiring process of a new librarian.
O’Connor stated if he got a schedule he would help out if he could.
The library is looking at leasing new computers with Selco verses purchasing them.
Dybing made motion that if Fergison leaves early, to hire a senior person from the library with pay at $13.00 per hour as interim director, second O’Connor, motion carried.
Coffee Street Bridge Signage
It has been brought up that people are jumping off the bridge. Discussion occurred and it was noted that if signage were posted it would have to be enforced, which could be very difficult. It was noted that there is not enforcement at the other bridges under the County’s discression.
Citizens Comments
Jamie Knutson approached the council with issues regarding him getting a junk ordinance letter that was sent to his mother. The house is in both their names so he feels it should have been sent to both of them. Torgerson noted that the mother is the residing citizen and receives the utility bills, therefore she received it. He said instead of picking on him they need to look at some of the houses in town that need to be removed instead of the things on his property. He also noted that he intends to bring back the vehicles that he removed last year, because he feels he was treated differently. He stated he had a list of other properties that should have been sited. Torgerson asked him to bring her a copy of the list.

With no further business at 7:55 p.m. Jeannette made motion to adjourn, second Dybing, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Rita Peterson

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City of Lanesboro Steven L. Rahn, Mayor | Bobbie Vickerman, City Administrator 202 Parkway Avenue South - - Lanesboro, MN 55949 507-467-3722 | lanesboro@acegroup.cc