HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1960/05/23PROCEEDINGS OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL
VILLAGE OF MOUNDS VIEW
RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA
May 24, 1960
0.;031
The regular meeting of the Mounds View Village Council was called
to order by Mayor Allan B. Crane at 8:15 P.M. Monday, May 23, 1960,
at the Red Oak School, Sherwood Road and Red Oak Drive.
Members present:
Mayor:
Clerk:
Trustees:
Attorney:
Engineer:
Allan B. Crane
Earl E. Smith
Melford Christensen
Donald Hodges
Perry Malvin
Richard Meyers
.V. Comstock
The meeting was opened by a report from the well inspector
Concerning the well being built by the Northeast Construction Company
(Donald Babinski) which will serve two houses at the site of the well.
The well inspector recommended that the well for two houses not be
approved as to the difficulties which may be encountered in future
in serving both houses. Motion by Smith, seconded by Christensen to
oeneur with the well inspector's recommendation that one well being
used for two houses built by the Northeast Construction Company not
be approved. Hodges, Malvin, Christensen, Smith, aye; Crane, no.
Motion carried. The well inspector also reported that the feller
Bros, did not comply with the well ordinance in digging a new well
for the empty house on their lot and that they covered the sanitary
system for the ocz:up house in the same section before inspection
of the work could be completed. Motion by Crane, seconded by Hodges
that the Mueller Bros. dig a new well for the empty house and that
they uncover the sanitary system of the occupied house for inspection.
5 ayes, motion carried.
Mrs. Alice Frits, chairman of the Park and Playground Committee,
gave a report concerning the drainageof roadsonto Hillview and Quincy
which drained water into the playgrounds in that area. Matter to be
investigated by the council.
Mr. Kenneth Ballenger Civil Defense Director, reported on the
work of the Civil Defense program. He stated that they had been palled
out during the week of the Jordan flood as emergency measures and that
several of the Civil Defense men answered the call and were found to
be of great value in helping with this flood. Mr. Ballenger stated
that these men deserved praise for their work and that for purpose of
the record he would like to have the following names inserted in the
minute of this meeting: Tooze, Earl Norman, Elsworth Ec?anc:er,
James Bergraph, Carter Caldwell, Eugene Castle, Robert Erickson,
Phillip Ernst, Herbert odder, and Er, Ballenger as the director of
the Mounds View Civil Defense. Nayor Cranc thanked the Civil Defense
Director for his report sncl stated that tzu :,en named who had helped
with the disaster deserved all the credit and praise possible from the
council and village itself.
Proceedings of the Village Council 5/23/60
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Mr. Robert Eickstadt, chat-man of the Police Commission, reported
on the meeting of the Police Commission on May 16 with the Chief of
Police and the Mayor. The purchase of a new police vehicle was
discussed at that meeting and it was the opinion of both the Police
Department and the Police Commission to keep the present vehicle until
the 1961 models had come out. It was the recommendation of the Police
Commission that spot checks be made on cars picked at random in the
village to check the safety features and also spot checks of the school
buses to be conducted in the fall of this year. The Police Co:_:mission
also recommended that the council request contractors working in the
village this summer to provide necessary safety devices and warning
devices to warn people driving in such areas that danger areas may
be ahead of them. The .ommission also recommended that all contractors
cover up as much of their work as possible when they close up for the
evening. The commission also recommended a dead end sign be placed
at Fairchild and County Road H. Commission also reported that they
had disoussed the ordinanoe for the village of Mounds View and
recommended that no such ordinance be passed as it was felt that a
bicycle ordinance was not needed. in this village. The Police Commission
also recommended that another man be hired as a patrolman on a part
time basis during the summer in order to fill in the schedule where
officers are needed when others are on vacation. Motion by Smith,
seconded by Hodges that an ad be placed in the paper in order to try
to find the owner of the bicycle which has been held by the village
approximately one year and after placing the ad the owner cannot be
located said bicycle will be placed on auction. 5 ayes, motion carried.
Mr. Chris Fiehowski, Building Inspector, presented a permit for
a play court to be constructed at 5299 Pinewood Court. Said permit
needed approval by the council as it is considered a variance to the
code in that it consists of two buildings on one lot. Motion by Crane,
seconded by Malvin to approve the above mentioned permit. 5 ayes,
motion carried.
The vacation ordinance was presented and discussed by the council.
Smith stated that in view of the fact he was unable to attend the
agenda meeting by the council when this ordinance was discussed he
requested that the ordinance be held over until the next meeting.
Motion by Crane, seconded by Smith to table the vacation ordinance
until the next council meeting. Smith, Christensen, Crane, aye;
Hodges, Malvin, no; motion carried.
The matter of finding a solution to the occupancy of new houses
in the village before all inspections were completed or until all
inspections were satisfactory to the village and the owner was discussed
hi the council and the attorney directed to draw up an ordinance for
the affidavit of completion and certificate of occupancy for this
action.
Upon business from the floor Mr. Severen Bialke presented the
council with a subdivision of his lot, said lot to be divided into
81' and 84 frontage. Mr. Bialke instructed to file his subdivision
with the clerk which would then be passed on to the Planning Commission.
Proceedings of the Village Council 5/23/60
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Mr. George Fillsdale requested subdivision of his lot of 200 ft.
width. Said division to be 70 feet and 130 feet. Mr. Hillsdale
referred to the Planning Commission for investigation of said sub-
division. The subject of the Park and Playground Ordinance was
discussed by the council and tabled until the next council meeting.
The subject of the liquor applications was discussed at length
by the council which resolved into a motion by Hodges, seconded by
Crane that all liquor applications received and processed by June 1,
1960 be considered at a council meeting on June 2. Hodges, Crane and
Malvin, aye; Christensen and Smith, no; motion carried. Smith then
pointed out that all applicants for liquor licenses had been given until
May 31, 1960 to submit their applications for license. In view of
this Smith felt that said applications could not be processed in time
for the June 2nd meeting and that under a previous motion concerning
these applications by Mayor Allan Crane, said applicants would be denied
the proper review of their ap; at the June 2nd meeting. In
accordance with this Smith moved and Christensen seconded that any
application received on the last day established by previous motion,
the meeting of June 2nd would be cancelled and all applications be
considered for approval at the next regular council meeting at which
all members could be present. Smith, Christensen, Hodges, aye; Crane
and Malvin, no; motion carried.
The subject of the license for the Community Products Builders
was discussed by the council and it was pointed out that the license
had been held up pending an investigation of the complaints received in
regards to this company, said complaints had been investigated by Clerk
Smith through the Better Business Bureau who have stated that they would
forward a letter regarding the report of this builder for the last
two or three years. The attorney stated that he would investigate the
situation surrounding this license and report at the next meeting.
The subject of the purchase of a tractor was presented again to
the council by the Recreation Committee and it was requested that
Dick Birdsall, the owner of a tractor which had been used for the cutting
of grass on the ball diamonds, etc. and which he would sell the village
for $750.00, was requested to meet with the council to discuss sale of
said tractor.
Mr. Knutson, of Comstock and Davis, Village Engineer, reported
on the water condition on the property owned by Mr. Groberg on Bronson
Drive. He stated that the water measured prior to the meeting was
found to be at a depth in some plates of .3 of a foot to 2 feet deep.
He stated the two alternatives were investigated for drainage of this
area. One was the possibility of installing a connecting line from
the pond to the existing line at "!uincy and Brcnson assuming that it
is an 8 inch line. Also the beehive catch basin at the pond and a
manhole at Bronson Drive and the connecting line from the manhole to
the existing line at Quincy and Bronson would entail one manhole and
590 feet of 8 inch reinforced concrete pipe or something similar. He
stated that the cost of the installation would be approximately
$4,225.00 plus a 10% ccntingency factor or a total of $4,647.50. A
21 inch reinforced concrete pipe would cost $4,815.00 plus a 10%
contingency factor or a total of $5,296.50. The council stated that
they would consider such alternatives and try and arrange a meeting
with Nee Creberg in the vory near future.
Proceeding: of the Village Council 5/23/60
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Clerk Smith reported on the work concerning the addition onto
Nr. Groborg'9 house at 2299 Sherwood Road, wherein he stated he had
u permit tc d; the work. Smith stated that Lis:c`.ock of.tho files
doe:: not discloso a permit for this construction as claimed by
IS_-,. Groborg and also that four or five other permits which were
evi issued by !r. Koontz, the former building inspector, are
missing from the files and that a further check of the county assessor's
office discloses that permits in question or the application for the
ports in question had never been received by that office. Smith
:tatad that he wanted to make this clear in view of the fact that
a rt..rrent law suit has been filed against Mr. Chris Piehowski, the
b:1d.ng inspector, arising from the fact or facts surrounding the
per:it at 2299 Sherwood Road, and that it should be clear by the council
an-3 any other person connected with the case that should a copy or
ccr:_s of these permits in question (i.e. at 2299 Sherwood Road or
the permits at Bronson Drive for the basement constructions at that
e submitted to the court when and if said trial is taken into
cou.r It :must be assumed by the present council that information
has been withheld from the village and that action concerning this
should be taken thereon. Smith stated that we know these permits are
mf_cru_ng from our files if said permits were issued t::-.t we do not
kno•, how they happen to be missing but that several people including
at least one former council member has had keys and access to these
files. Trustee Christensen stated that the council should have the
former building inspectors receipts as it is village property and
that they should have been turned in with all other material concern-
inc the handling of 1 :_ldfng permits. He stated that we should try
to get the receipts if they have not been destroyed but that they
are part of the village property and not personal receipts of the
village inspector as he is an employee of the village. Mr. Christensen
alto stated that it would probably be a matter of legal action to
get tho receipts if they can be obtained if they have not been
icstroysd either now, previously, or subsequently. Smith sr,ated that
ti :e law suit probably hinges on the fact the council is not aware
of the per -its being issued. Perry Malvin stated that if someone
brings a permit to court showing evidence that these permits were
•:+it: held from the council as evidence, said party could possibly be
sued by the village. Motion by Christensen, seconded by Smith that
a letter be written to John Koontz requesting that the building
permit receipt book used by him during the period of 1959 be turned
into the village clerk's office as part of the village property,
Jain letter to be sent by registered mail with a return receipt
requested. 5 ayes, motion carried.
It was stated by Mr. Knutson, Engineer, that the contractor for
the waterwcr:cs has started to place pipe around in the areas of the
village and that work was expected to start on June 1st or shortly
th.:rcafte.r.
Mr. Christensen reported on the outcome of the sewer meeting with
villages in the North Suburban area. Said meeting- was held with the
Ncr;h Suburban sewer committee consist.in- of six villages. Another
ring wa: with the mayor, attorn, cr !hoe and himself with
Mr. i.shback and twc councilmen from .:rden ::ills. This meeting was
rrin� trio ^caal utlot for thu sower :;y tom for the village of
Proceedings of the Village Council 5/23/60
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of Mounds View. Mr. Christensen stated that it was indicated that the
army and the village of Arden Hills had drawn up a preliminary contract
which they hoped to enter into within the next few weeks. Mr.
Christensen also stated that we should meet with the village of Arden
Hills to try to secure an outlet for the Mounds View village sewer
system. Motion by Crane, seconded by Christensen that the village
attorney cooperate with the attorney of Arden Hills to prepare a contract
between the two villages for the use of the arsenal sewer line. 5 ayes
motion carried.
Motion by Crane, seconded by Christensen that a letter be written
to the engineer (Comstock and Davis) that the sewer surveys should be
completed for the use of the arsenal line as the outlet. 5 ayes,
motion carried.
Mayor Crane reported that there would be a meeting Vednesday night,
May 25 of the Ramsey County Municipal Officials Association in Now
Brighton. This meeting was to be called by said association toappoint
a legislative committee.
The subject of a county park was discussed by Mayor Crane and
referred to the planning commission for investigation. Mr. Crane also
stated that Mrs. Florence Carnes, Mr. Gien `.Jesterheim, Mr. A=+,?-•
McClure, and Mr. George Gustafson had been suggested for the industrial
development commission.
Clerk Smith presented the 1959 financial statement to the council
and stated that the descrepancies between his records and the Treasurer':
records have been resolved and that the two agree that the financial
statement is correct to the penny. Motion by Crane, seconded by
Christensen to approve the 1959 Financial statement. 5 ayes, motion
carried.
Clerk Smith presented a street light petition to be installed at
the intersection of Knollwcod Drive and Bronson Drive. Said petition
signed by 15 citizens in that neighborhood. Motion by Crane, seconded
by Malvin for approval for installation of the street light at the
intersection of hnollwcod Drive and Bronson Drive. 5 ayes, motion
carried.
The subject of an ordinance concerning the setting of fires within
the village was discussed and motion by Crane, seconded by Christensen
to table said ordinance. Crane, Christensen, Smith, aye; Hodges,
Malvin, no; motion carried.
Motion by Christensen, seconded by Crane to approve bills presented
for payment (see 5 ayes, motion carried.
Motion by Crane, seconded by Christensen to adjourn at 11:05 r.ii.
5 ayes, motion carried. 7
t,filk sub_itted,
Earl E. Smith
Village Clerk