Lanesboro City Council
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007
Council Chambers at 5:30 p.m.

Present: Steve Rahn, Tom Dybing, Joe O’Connor, Kevin Drake and Vince Jeannette
Absent:

Visitors: Carol Brogan, Kelly Jean Ohl, John Brose, Peggy Hanson, Pat Gemlo, Frank Wright, Paul Fakler, Celeste Birkeland, Don Wangen, Weston Ohl, Kirsten Mensing, Marty Herrick, Rick Pottebaum, Dillon Dombrovski, Gene Mensing, Mr. Coleman, Dale Krage, Steve Klotz, Robert Thompson, Keith Burmeister, Lisa Brainard, Betsy Holbrook, Dave Huisengea, Carla Noack, Jade (FCJ) and Mrs. Nenneman

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Steve Rahn.
Additions to the agenda included: Carla Noack – Lanesboro 20/20 and Jason Harvey – Tiling Request.
Dybing made motion to approve the amended agenda, second Jeanette, motion carried.
The minutes from the joint City Council and Lanesboro Public Utilities meeting on August 23rd, 2007 were approved, with one change that Rahn mentioned the ambulance reimbursement rather than O’Connor, with a motion from Rahn, second O’Connor, motion carried.

PERSONS WITH BUSINESS BEFORE THE JOINT COUNCIL:
Paul Fakler – Block Party:
Fakler was present on behalf of his wife Eliza Mitchell. They would like to have a block party on September 22nd. They are asking the Council to allow them to block off the alley between Kenilworth and Fillmore for a few hours. Dybing made motion that the City staff will provide barricades and that the parties are responsible to put them up and take them down, second Rahn, motion carried.

Kelly Jean Ohl and Other Concerned Citizens with Water Issues from the Recent Rains – Issues concerning water run off from Golf Course and Schrupp Property:
Kelly Jean Ohl spoke on behalf of the group. She explained that she had came before the Council on February 7th, 2005 with concerns about the water run off from the Golf Course and a new property that was developed. Ohl shared her pictures from 2005 when her basement had flooded. The noted to the Council that after that flooding she installed gutters, hired someone to fix the driveway and built a 3x3 wall to redirect the water that came from the natural water shed behind her home. Since these improvements were made, she has not had a problem. However, on August 28th, due to the immense amounts of water flowing down, the wall broke and water went every where. She contacted an engineer from Decorah, Iowa and he suggested that they could build a bigger wall. Ohl also noted that on August 27th water started flowing down in all different directions, due to more rain. Her ceramic rattles that she makes ended up in various properties throughout the area. Rattles were found by Chat & Chew, in different neighbors’ lawns and in the football field. Ohl contacted Donna Rasmussen from Soil & Water and Rasmussen let her know that the City is already working on some other storm water issues and that maybe the issues can or will be combined. Ohl handed out pictures noting the streams of water coming down behind her home; she also read aloud a letter that was approved by a list of homeowners listed on the letter and since the letter was written more homeowners have added themselves on to the list of concerned citizens. Ohl on behalf of the group wants to petition the City to investigate as to whether the road built by Schrupp is causing some of the problems and also whether the City storm water and sediment control is efficient enough to handle the water coming down. Ohl would like to work together for the common good and also would like the problems fixed.
Dave Huisengea from 706 Fillmore collaborated with Ohl saying that this is a serious problem. He feels the problem and difficulties Ohl is having is affecting all properties around there. He also noted that the alleys are in need of repair and that 24 properties suffered complications due to the heavy rains.
John Brose noted that the water ran over the curb and through the Herrick property and then came across into his property. Brose had some water problems and suggests that the City put in some type of holding tank that can help alleviate some of the problem.
Kirsten Mensing stated that storm drains are not efficient to deal with even a small rain. She also noted that the pipes underneath Bob Schrupp’s road are directing water to other properties.
Gene Mensing says that Schrupp has changed how the water comes down with the road that he put in.
Marty Herrick noted that there needs to be catch basins put in towards the cemetery to cut back the flow line.
Steve Rahn noted that the rain fall that came over the two time periods was more than any system could handle. Dybing also noted that the same thing happened all throughout Houston County as well. Both noted how saturated the soils already were and then the fast rain had no where to go. Dybing stated that even catch basins would have overflowed in those circumstances.
Pat Gemlo asked whose responsibility it was to be sure that a property owners run off does not affect another person or property owner.
Don Wangen noted that the Planning and Zoning or the City Administrator should have never allowed the property or road to be built above those homes and someone needs to look up when the road was stopped over 20 years ago.

O’Connor made a motion to have Torgerson research to see if FEMA can help in this situation, to hire an engineer to investigate the area and make suggestions as to how this may be resolved and to implement it with the other storm water issues, and to emphasize the need to address the Whittier improvements in the Capital Plan, second Dybing, motion carried.

Steve Klotz – DNR: Problem with Solution of Water Problem:
Klotz noted that Torgerson was served a Cease and Desist order from the DNR, the reason for the order was due to the storm water control being directed into the ponds, which are designated Trout waters. Klotz noted that the order had to be put in an individual’s name. Klotz noted that there is a possible violation and that the work is in a review stage. There can be no work done in that area or Torgerson will be served with Misdemeanor charges. Drake asked why all of a sudden this is happening when this has been in the papers and discussed for almost four months. Klotz noted that the original plan had a pumping system that pumped the storm water directly into the current storm water system that the City has. Drake noted that the storm water system goes directly into the river, and wondered how this could not be a better solution. Birkeland noted that she did not feel that a plan was ever presented to the Park Board. Thompson spoke up and said that he volunteered to work with this issue and that there was an original plan made and available since the very beginning and that he had the contractor start the project with the approval of the Council noting that he though he was doing a good thing by volunteering and helping to solve a problem that has been in existence for a very long time. Klotz noted that the DNR should have been contacted and that a permit should have been applied for. Klotz stated that the City may not have to rip out the entire project, but he would need the area hydrologist Corey Hanson to take a look at it and see what need to be done. Klotz noted that he wants to work with the City to get this resolved in the best way possible.

Jason Harvey – Letter for Tiling Work:
O’Connor presented a letter on behalf of Jason Harvey, where Harvey requests to cut out the curb to do some tiling that would help eliminate the water coming into his basement. Harvey is willing to pay all the costs but is asking permission from the Council. O’Connor made motion to have the Harveys work with Andy Drake, street superintendent, as to what can be done, second Drake, motion carried.

Carla Noack – Lanesboro 20/20 Comprehensive Plan:
Noack noted that the public hearing will be held on September 17th and that she has not heard many comments or has not received many suggestions on the plan. She asked the Council to thoroughly review the plan prior to next meeting.

 

 

HOUSEKEEPING:
FEMA MEETING:
Torgerson noted that there was a FEMA meeting at 7pm following the Council in the Lanesboro Community Center Gym, which all City Clerks and any interested Council members should attend.
APHC Funds
Torgerson handed out a spreadsheet with requests by the Park Board for funds. O’Connor made motion to roll over the $10,000 to the Park Board to spend, with direction from the City Administrator, on items that have been noted, second Jeanette, motion carried.
Preliminary Budget and Levy 2008
The Council discussed doing a percentage increase that can go down prior to the final levy. Dybing made motion to levy $408,224, which is a 12% increase from last year, with the idea that cuts can be made with the levy prior to the finalization in December, second O’Connor, motion carried.
DNR Order:
This was discussed that the Order is in Torgerson’s name and no work can be done until the hydrologist is able to take a look at the project.
Citizens Comments
There were no citizen comments.

With no further business at 7:00 p.m., Dybing made motion to adjourn, second Jeanette, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Bobbie Torgerson

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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