2008.11.17 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hugo City Council Minutes for November 17, 2008 Page 4 of 6 City staff and City Engineer Jay Kennedy have been working with Washington County Engineer officials, and Jay explained the road had been posted as a minimum maintenance road, and he showed pictures of that portion of Goodview Avenue, which handles between 500-600 vehicle trips per day. Washington County Engineer Don Theisen and County Commissioner Dennis Hegberg were at the meeting and agreed the road needed to be updated for safety and public service reasons, and committed to participate in discussions with the City of Grant after the first of the year to find a solution. Council would discuss this as a goal during their upcoming 2009 Goal Setting Session. There was discussion about the need to do minor maintenance to the road prior to the winter season. Public Works Director Scott Anderson said they would be grading roads in the next few days and could include that portion of Goodview. Miron made motion, Haas seconded, to direct the staff to work with the City of Grant for Hugo Public Works Department to do minor maintenance to Goodview Avenue south into Grant. All ayes. Motion carried. Approve Resolution Supporting Changes to the Green Acres Law by Minnesota State Legislature At its November 3, 2008 meeting the Hugo City Council discussed the resolution adopted by the City of Scandia requesting the State Legislature take actions to modify the Green Acres Legislation adopted in the 2008 Minnesota Legislature session. Council agreed that the resolution is a formal method by which to officially acknowledge the failings of the Green Acres Legislation as well as to make a formal request to area legislatures to propose changes in the 2009 Legislative Session. City staff prepared a resolution for the Council to consider and forward to area legislatures requesting formal action in the 2009 session. County Commissioner Dennis Hegberg explained there was much discussion on the County Board level, and it was agreed that there were many unresolved issues. Haas made motion, Petryk seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION 2008-50 REQUESTING THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE RECONSIDER OR DELAY CHANGES IN THE MINNESOTA "GREEN ACRES" LAW Ayes: Haas, Puleo, Petryk Miron Nays: None Motion carried. Discussion on Remaining Foundations in Tornado Disaster Area For the past four months, City staff has informed the Hugo City Council about actions by residents, mortgage companies, and banks regarding the open house foundations in the tornado disaster neighborhood, which have not received timely action. The City of Hugo sent homeowners and mortgage companies letters requesting that foundations be secured by winter in order to protect property owners and neighbors. Administrative Intern Shelly Clausen and Community Development Director Bryan Bear reviewed the three remaining properties with the Council. Shelly explained properties located at 5051 159th Street North and 15830 Farnham Avenue North, owned by Alpine Capital and vacant at the time of the tornado, had only foundations remaining. Those foundations had been filled partially with hay and covered with a tarp. The Council could see from the photos shown that there was still much debris left on the property and, though the foundations were surrounded by a snow fences, the fences were in disrepair and properties were deemed a public safety hazard under Minnesota State