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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_60Feb111363 REGULAR ~dEETING 2/11/60 The meeting was called to order at ?s00 P. M., the following Council Members being presents Harold C. Nilsen, Mayor; George Shavor, Trustee; Paul Corapini, Trustee, Willis Warkentien, Trustee and Wm. R. Utecht, Clerk. Also present were Frank N. Graham, Village Attorney; Wm. E. Olsen, Treasurer; Vern L. L3ungren, Engineer and Ethel E. White, Deputy Clerk and Deputy Treasurer. The Minutes of the regular meeting of 1/28/60 were approved a s submitted, Planning Letter from Chairman Cartwright of the Planning Commission advised that the base map and reports prepared by Carl L. Gardner & Associates, Thorshov-Cerny were ready, was read. A meeting was proposed for Thursday, February 18th, at 8:00 P. M. with representatives from the Council and Prom the office of the Planning Consultant. The deputy clerk was instructed to inform all members of the Council and Vern L. L3ungren. Justice of Letter of February 8th from Mark J. Hindermann, Justice of the Peace Peace was read. In his letter, Hindermann r®gretfully submitted his resignation due to the fact that he had taken a position with a firm in Rochester, Minnesota, and offered to help train his suce®ssor with the brocedures involved. Utecht movedthat Hindermann's resignation be accepted effective Anril 1st, and that he be tendered a letter in a-~preciation of his outstanding service to the community. Seconded by Coppini and carried. Public Safety Letter from Harry ?3ronson, Ramsey County Engineer, submitting accident report was read. It was moved by Utecht, seconded by Shavor and unanimously voted that s~-e be referred to Trustee Warkentien. Building Code After discussion, the Deputy Clerk was instructed to write Robert Hall Clothes, Construction Department, advising them that the Village of Falcon Heights had adopted the S t. Paul Building Code and suggesting that they contact St. Paul requesting a copy of their Building Code. Policing State After discussion, Utecht moved that the Village Attorney be Fair C*rounds asked to contact the State Fair Board in regard to the possibility of entering into a contract for policing of the Fair Grounds ex- clusive of Fair week. Seconded by Shavor and carried. Dogs Contract submitted by B & E Patrol was read and signed. The Deputy Clerk was instructed to make a Thermofax Copy of same and mail it to B & E Patrol. Requisition Utecht moved that the Fire Department's requisition for floures- cent lamps and other light bulbs be approved. Seconded by Nilsen and unanimously carried. Recreation It was suPgested that the Deputy Clerk contact Mr. B. J. Rechtien , Chairman of Recreation, to see if he bows of anyone who would be willing to take the Chairmanship of the Falcon Heights Elementary School area. Water Mayor Nilsen reported on the meeting he attended with Attorney Graham, Engineer L~ungren, and representatives of the St. Paul Water Department; and that his position on maintenance of mains was that the water rates outside the Cit y are higher than in the 136t~ City and therefore provision for maintenance by the City is already built in the rate structure by the city. Trees There was a discussion regarding the tree planting ordinanc®. League of Graham read Friel's notes on matters discussed at the February Minn. Mun. 10tH meeting on law enforcement held by the League of Minnesota Municit~alities. Public Hear- THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED THAT THE REGULAR ?MEETING WOULD BE ADJOURNED ing. WHILE THE COUNCIL HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PETITION SIGNED BY HAROLD IM[iOFF AND OTHERS PETITIONING THE COUNCIL TO VACATE THE 12' wide dedicated walk which runs from Holton Avenue to Pascal Avenue at Ruggles Street and lies dust north of lots 10 and 25, ffiock 1, Barthel Villas and dust south of lots 9 and 26 ffiock 1, Barthel Villas. He also reported that the notices had been published and posted as required by law. Hearing opened at 9:30 P. ~. H. D. Imhoff, 186l~ Pascals There is no access to this thorough- fare without crossing Geisen's property or my nroverty. The kids come through on bicycles and motorcycles at any time without re- gard to whether the Lawn is soft and wet and ste ruining the lawns. I think it should be vacated or put in proper shape for people to use it. We did have a sign there saying "Please use the lane"'. They knocked the sign dawn. It was a sign we had made and paid for. Coppinis There are four families adjoining this walkway. They have agreed to keep the area in proper condition and use it to a more beautiful advantage than the Village will ever use it for. If the propGrttiy is made into a walkway as the planner has recommended, the kids will find a way not to use the walk. I feel this was improperly laid out originally. The developers ' should have arranged for a street to go through and since they didn't the village should have been responsible for the upkeep of the walkway. The Village has never attempted to keep up the area except for furnishing a load of black dirt and some sod last Spring. Before the meeting, I checked with the Police Officer and he does not think a walkway in that area would be in the best interests of the residents. He would be unable to drive through there. The area has been frequented by window peepers. if we put a walk there, we will have to keep the lawn up and plant shrubbery. We will have to keep it plowed, keep the lawn and shrubbery cut, and I think the best thing to do is vacate the walkway. Geisen, 1860 Pascals There is no access to this walkway from Pascal. There is a 5' ditch there. In order to reach the walk, the kids come into my driveway or Imhoff's and then across the lawns regardless of the weather. There is no light through the whole 12' lane for about 300' or more. It is dark. You cannot recognize anybody doing through there. We have had some exper- ience with peepers. If it was closed off so we could extend a fence or hedge, it might be more expensive, but it would be safex'r It doesn't look like a walkway at all. It is all maintained. You would think it was strictly private. The kids cut through with wagons, bicycles and even motorcyles. We would like the Council to give us this property for our own maintenance and use. Hefty, 1857 Holtone I feel the same as Geisen and Imhoff. 136 ~J 1 1 i have maintained this walkway for 9 years. It is a pleasure, bu+ as far as the children going through there, they come down my driveway and scrape their feet. They don't use the walkway. We are maintaining it and are willing to keep it neat and clean. I shovel the back sidewalk and the children use that. Geisens They are going to come down the driveway to get on to the walkway. Coppinis I think Dahlgren intends filling the ditch and laying a sidewalk with grass or shrubbery on the sides and that would be expensive as to first cost and upkeep. Olsen: I think there is a real need for the walkway. If the children can't go through there on their way to school, the skating rink, or Little League, they will have to walk either Garden or Roselawn which are both heavily traveled. Shavor: How would you keep the kids from going through there? If you landscape, won't they dust continue to use it? Imhoffs I'm thinking of putting a garage back there and I could easily extend a fence down the side. Shavors If quite a few people are using the walkway, isn't there a need far it? Imhoffs If the Village wants it as a walkway, shouldn't they maintain it? Shavors I think you have a point there, but we wouldn't be cutting it every week. We would send the weed cutter through a couple times a season. Heftys Six or eight kids use it, They will use it anyway. A fence or garage would protect it. The children all go through a oath south of Guertin'. The children have to go to school on Garden.. They are not permitted to use the back way. Olsens I assume most of the children go to school on the bus but I aun thinking of it from the point of the skating rink or playground. If the Village keeps it, I would suggest that some- thing be done about maintaining it. Probably a walk through with a fence on each side. Heftys There is very little traffic there. You can sit on my step and check for yourself. There are not enough children going through to bother. Why not leave it as it is? Warkentien: I think we should finish it off and maintain it. Heftys I think it is dust there. It is something you fellows don't know about and it is of no use. Shavors Haw far are your side lines from the lane? Heftya Imhoff's.side line is about 6' from the lane. I'm about 10' and Isakeen about 5'. We have had a lot of trouble. About a year ago, the kids threw a section of aluminum down- 1366 spouting on top of our roof. A fellow grabbed a girl who was visiting at our house. One of the fellows caught him, but he was so strong, he couldn't hold him. There isn~t any lighting system at all. It is dangerous. Neighbors ia~ro doors dawn had window peepers last night. I think a lighted lane would be more of a nuisance. If the Village did maintain the lane, it wouldn't be like we do. Grahams The City of St. Paul doesn't maintain Boulevards. Each citizen is supposed to cut the grass and shovel the snow because they get the advantage of having a boulevard. Mayor Nilsen read Dahlgren's report, which was summarized as follows ~It seems to the best advantage of all property awnera in the neighborhood and the village to have the des- ignated walkway rroperly maintained for its intended pur- pose. This facility should. include a concrete walk of from !~ to 5' in width in the center of the existing 12 foot right of way with 3~ to 4 feet of grass or shrubbery on either side maintained by the village." Nilsen stated we have hired planners to help an such prob- lemsas this and we have a Planning Commission, and he would recommmend that we do not make any hasty decisions with refer- ence to this matter. Coppinis i think we are making an extreme case out of this, We have people up here who have requested the vacation of this walkway and I recommend that we vacate it and I so move, Hefty:. The neighbors all had special notices and haw many are here? None, Warkentiens The people most interested were not notified. Nilsen: We are now reaching a stage in our progress as a Village where we are going to havd to consider some of these things, Going back to your Motion, Paul, I don't think it is a matter of such urgency. Shavors IP we hold our Hearing, do we have to make our decision tonight? Grahams i don't think so. You should have a reasonable time to make your decisions. I donut think you should close the hearing. I think you should continue it. Warkentiens I donut think the Planning Commission will go against Dahlgrents recommendation. Imhoff: Either we will take the property over and maintain it or the Village should take it over and maintain it, Shavors You have done a good fob of presenting your points and you brought out things I wouldn't have thought of. Geisen has a bad situation. The Council will probably have to put a walk through the lane. Nilsen: I am hesitant to act on it tonight. 136? Grahams Let me make myself clear. Every walk in the City of St. Paul is on property belonging to the City. The City oP St. Paul doesn't shovel the snow or cut the grass on the boulevard. We cut the grass ourselves. If we put a walk in here, we could not send a man out to cut the grass or trim the bushes once a week, dust as we do not cut the boulevard in front of each house. We would be responsible for the safety of the walk, but you have some responsibilities as property owners. Heftys I don't think you would go-for the set up we have. Nilsens Paul's motion died for lack of a second, didn't it? Coppinis I still move that the Council vacate the walkway in favor of the ad3oining property owners. Nilsens Do I hear a second? Nilsens I declare the motion dead. Coppini: Mould the Village Engineer give a rough estimate? L3ungrens About ffi2.00 a foot for a !~' vialk. Z think shrubbery is dangerous. You~are inviting bullies and hemming people in where there is no way of escape. Hefty: I think an analysis should be made to see horr many people actually use that walk. Nilsens I think we should take a little more time. There isn't that urgency paw. You have lived there for nine years. Let's develop some facts. Heftys I think it would be much xorse if you put any type of walk through there because then you are going to have a bigger rroblem with bikes and motor cycles. They go across my lawn and it would be better if it were left as it is. Whether you do anything with the walkway or not, I do think you should put an arc light on Holton at Rug-files. There should also be a stop sign on Ruggles at Holton and Ruggles at Pascal. Warkentien: Can it be assumed that you would be willing to drop the matter rather than have the walkway improved? Heftys Definitely. Geisens We ha~:re taken care of it all these years and it looks nice. If you put a walkway through there, you are inviting trouble. I r-ould rather leave it 3ust as it is. I wouldn't stop them. I would oppose putting a culvert in there. Coppinis T think they have been very considerate about taking care of this property. They have presented their evidenc® very clearly and we should eive them a lot of consideration. Nilsens Yes, but I think`we should take time to study this and be sound in our decisions. Heftys There aren't many who use it, but if a walkway were put in, we would put our property up for sale. 1368. Geisen indicated he felt the same way. Heftys If you want to leave it as it is, fine. If there is a sidewalk there, the Village will have to take care of it. Mrs. Salminen, 17tat; Holtons lYe have a similar problem. The sign has helped a great deal but we still have a lot of fast traffic and it is dangerous. Our back doors face right on the lane. The Village does not maintain it. It is dusty or muddy depending on the weather. Coppinia These conditions have existed for a long time and we should do something about it now. Hefty: Couldn't something be done in regard to an arc light? Geisen: That's a dark corner. Mrs. Salminens Rould our lane be referred to the Planning Commission at the same time the other lane is? Nilsens The lanes throughout the Village cannot be considered as one problem. They are each a separate problem. Heftys This has been under consideration for three months. Why should it have to be put off? Nilsens We have looked at it and given it some thought, but have not been able to make a thorough study. We expect you, when you come up here, to be telling the true facts. I haven't stood there all day counting children. Shavors That's why we cannot act tonight. The place to start is with a Public Hearing. Now is the time for us to investi- gate. There is no reason for rushing this thing. You brought out many good points. Warkentien moved that we continue this hearing until March 10th, and have the Village Engineer prepare a cost estimate on the walkway, and that we advise the Planning Commission. Seconded by Nilsen and carried. Nilsens This is not a dead issue. It isn't too important whether xe resolve this matter tonight or three weeks from now„ but it is important that we make the right decision at the continuation of this hearing on March 10th. L~ungren was instructed to order "Stop Signs" as requested and the Deputy Clerk was instructed to contact the !~ property owners at the intersection of Ruggles and Holton and see haw they feel about having an arc light installed a+. this corner. Watermain Letter of January 29th from H. E. Palmer, Assistant District Deposit Engineer Maintenance, State of Minnesota, St. Paul Park, Minn. was read. It stated, in part, "If you will furnish this de- partment xith a certified check in the amount of $500.00, we will notif the central office to return check #22It8 in the amount of ~15oO.oon 1369 It was moved by Warkentien, seconded by Shavor and unanimously voted that the Clerk mail a certified check in the amount of $ 500.00 to the Department of Highways, St. Paul Park, Minnesota - check to be made payable to the Commissioner of Highways. Watermain L3ungren read copy of his letter to Leonard Thompson, Supt., St. Paul Water Department, which read, in part, as foliowss '"The Village Council of the Village of Falcon Heights has authorized us to contact your office regarding a water connec- tion to your St. Anthony Water Tank. The area north of Larpen- teur and Nest of Snelling has been plagued by low water pressure. We have been considering various methods of boosting this pressure, among them the possibility of connecting it to your St. Anthony Tank.p Letter enclosed a resume of the area and land use. L~ungren stated that pressures at the top of the hill, which is higher than 'Maple Kno11, are about !~5# so we should be able to pick up additional pressure because we are at a lower elevation. Streets L3ungren stated: He had s-iven the County an order for necessary patching. They will try to get started in ample time. It would cost about X500.00 to correct the drainage problem at Shell Oil, at Albert & Larpenteur. Bronson said if we get any more snow piling up out here, they will haul it away, even though the County is not obligated to any extent to haul snow away. The above message was relayed from Bronson to L~ungren by County Commissioner Request for Ed. Salverda. The request for ermi i t p ss on o erect a sign by the owner of the permit for paint store in the New Hermes Additi.QA~ was referred to L~ungren sign for study and recormiendation. Police Sal- After discussion, it was moved, seconded and passed by the Village cries Council that the present distinction in pay between career officers and non-career officers be maintained. Bills: On motion by Nilsen, seconded by Coppini, the following bills were ordered paid: GENERAL FUNDS Volunteers, fire and drill time ~33t~.00 Briggs, Gilbert, Morton-Kyle & Macartney, legal sere. 525.00 McClain, Hedman Schul.dt, office supplies 6.38 Thermo-Fax Sales Cor., office supplies 25.25 St. Paul Book & Sta., office supplies 8.50 Thorne Coal and Oil Co., fuel oil 911.52 Xeller Agency, Insurance 57.74 Carr L. Gardner ~ Assoc., planning and zoning 90.00 Falcon Heights Hdwe.~ Recr. 17.15, Fire Dept. 1.50 21.65 Ramsey County Treas., share annual cost Gottfried Pumping Station 290 81 Ramsey County Treas,, street maintenance & lighting . 31 72 Ramsey County Treas., radio service squad car . 30p 00 Motorola Comm. & Elec., radio maim. squad car February 7,70 Western Sign Co., Recreation l~.50 American Linen Supply Co., laundry 8 30 . National Fire Pro. Assn., memberships and subscriptions 19.00 H, A. Rogers Co., 2 prints, planning and zoning 1.10 N. ~. Bell Telephone Go., Mi b-5575 & Mi ~-5050 3.75 Mutual Service Cas..?hs. Co., Insurance 36.86 McClain Redman & Schuldt Co., sheet holder police 5.60 Erv. Stoss, repairs squad car 28.84 Park Machine, Inc. gaskets fire engine l.bl~ No. States Power Co., bill due 2/12 207.9t~ H. J. Dachtera, policing January 95.76 LeRoy Humphrey, ditto 78.75 Jerome Johnson, overtime policing January 27.50 Jerome Johnson, dog maintenance 25.00 Kenneth Schmidt, policing January 183.38 9olunteers, flooding rinks 73.76 Ethel E. White, serv. 1st half Feb. 150.50 Earl Smith, policing January 132.?0 Knut Skilsrud, custodian W. F. H. skating rink 38.00 A~d~ournment On motion, the meeting adjourned at llstt5 P. M. Signed~~~~~~ ._ir Clerk 9 approved ~ .~;~~ G, w , ._Mayor. 11 1 i