Mayor Beyer called the Regular Meeting of the Rockford City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers of City Hall 6031 Main Street, Rockford, MN.
Roll Call
Roll call was taken, the following members were present: Beyer, Altringer, Graner, and Seymour. Absent: Nichols. Also in attendance was: Attorney Couri, Deputy Clerk Hasse Linquist, Economic Development Consultant Joanne Foust, City Engineer Statz, Fire Chief Reed, and Public Works Supervisor D. Peterson.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was given.
*Consent Agenda
MOTION was made by
MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, SEYMOUR, ALTRINGER AND GRANER
* Approve Minutes/January 8, 2007
MOTION was made by
MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, SEYMOUR, ALTRINGER AND GRANER
*Approve Payment of
Claims
MOTION was made by
MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, SEYMOUR, ALTRINGER AND GRANER
*Pay Request #9 /
Public Works Facility/ Rochon Corporation
MOTION was made by
MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, SEYMOUR, ALTRINGER AND GRANER
*Award Bid –
MOTION was made by
MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, SEYMOUR, ALTRINGER AND GRANER
*Approve Donation
–
MOTION was made by
MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, SEYMOUR, ALTRINGER AND GRANER
Award Bid –
Demolition of Public Works shop building and renovations – move salt shed
Public Works Supervisor Peterson reviewed the bid proposals for the council.
MOTION was made by Altringer, seconded by Seymour to award the demolition option and contract to Squirrel’s Landscaping in the amount of $-0- for the purpose of removing the shop for re-location and authorizes the administrator to sign said contract.
MOTION was made by Altringer, seconded by
MOTION was made by Altringer, seconded by
MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, SEYMOUR, ALTRINGER AND GRANER
Open Forum
No one was present to speak at Open Forum.
Review Agreement
for Special Rural Taxing District / Wagner Property
City staff has been working with property owners, developers
and businesses regarding the development of an industrial park in the City of
The Berthiuame property is part of the city’s comprehensive plan future growth area and guided as industrial. However, the Berthiuame property does not abut the city, so the city must annex an estimated 5 acre strip of Wagner property that abuts the city and also abuts the Berthiuame property.
The administrator, attorney and economic development consultant met with the Wagner’s on January 14th to discuss the annexation of their property. The Wagner’s seemed to be agreeable to annexing that small parcel if the city would create a rural tax district for their property since it is unplatted and undeveloped. The property is not deep enough to be developed as long as County Road 32 remains at this location.
Attorney Couri reviewed the draft Annexation Petition Agreement and explained how the taxing would affect the property.
City Engineer Statz expressed concern with the wording of the easement portion of the agreement and Attorney Couri will make some corrections.
Brian Wagner, representing the Wagner’s, stated that there is a purchase option for the potential annexation portion of the parcels still in effect with US Homes until the end of January and could possibly at that time be extended again if the two parties do not come to an agreement. US Homes would then have to sign the petition agreement along with the Wagner’s.
Mr. Wagner expressed that they would like to see the an extension of the deadline of November 15, 2009 of the Developer’s Agreement go out 5 more years from that date and that he didn’t know how the letter of credit would be obtained. Attorney Couri stated that US Homes will put up a letter of credit for their portion if the purchase of the Wagner property does not go through. Mr. Wagner expressed concern that none of the homes in Parkwood have been assessed for the westerly access bridge.
Council member Seymour wanted clarification regarding the extension of the deadline and expressed concern that maybe there were too many conditions being put in the annexation agreement. Attorney Couri clarified the question regarding the letter of credit and the Developers Agreement deadline of November 15, 2009.
MOTION was made by Graner, seconded by Altringer to approve the Annexation Petition Agreement with the taxes to stay the same as the township since the property being annexed into the city will have no services and other changes noted by Attorney Couri.
A revised Annexation Petition Agreement will be ready for the Wagner’s on Wednesday January 23, 2008.
Accept Annexation
Petitions/ Wagner / 5 acres
The council directed Attorney Couri to make the changes to the Annexation Petition Agreement and notify the Wagner’s when it will be ready for them to sign.
The council did not take action on accepting the Annexation Petition since the Wagner’s did not present a signed Petition.
This will be brought back at a future council meeting
Accept Annexation
Petitions/ Berthiuame / 49 acres
The Berthiuame’s have presented a signed Petition for Annexation of 49 acres.
MOTION was made by
This petition will be presented again to the council after the Wagner’s Annexation Petition is signed and presented to the Council.
MOTION was made by Altringer, seconded by Graner to accept the Agreement to Pay Annexation Costs from United Properties.
MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: BEYER, SEYMOUR, ALTRINGER AND GRANER
Municipal Group
Report
Joanne Foust from the Municipal Development Group reviewed the economic development activities which have occurred during the past two months which include: Business Summit, Industrial Park Development, Commercial Development, Marketing, Housing Redevelopment Authority, and Economic Development Strategic Planning.
Engineer Fee
Comparison
Deputy Clerk Hasse Linquist provided information regarding neighboring cities engineering fees. The council felt that this comparison did not compare specific services with specific services. The last time that the city went out for RFP’s was in 2001.
MOTION was made by Altringer, seconded by Graner to solicit RFP’s for Engineering Services for the city with a deadline the end of March.
MOTION CARRIED-VOTING IN FAVOR: SEYMOUR, ALTRINGER AND GRANER
VOTING AGAINST: BEYER
Ongoing Directives
Council reviewed the Ongoing Directives.
Wright County
Sherriff Department
Deputy Jorgenson stated that the department has received
complaints at a business on
Administrator’s Report
Hasse Linquist reviewed the administrator’s report including
the following items: City Hall closed January 21st,
Fire Department –
2007 Year End Report
Chief Reed presented the 2007 Year End Report including: 358 record number of calls, just over 10,000 hours used in total for the year 2007, 2007 MSFCA Public Fire Safety Education Award, and 31 active firefighters as of 1/1/08.
Adjournment
MOTION TO ADJOURN was made by Altringer, seconded by
Mayor Beyer adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
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Michael Beyer, Mayor
ATTEST:
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