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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973.11.19 CC Minutes NOVEMBER 19. 1973 MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL VILLAGE OF HMO The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Mayor Carlson. Roll was called: Carlson, LaValle, Bjorum, Lease present. Leroux arrived at 7:05 PM. The minutes of the meeting of November 5th were approved as presented. The village general claims were reviewed and Howard Kuusisto*s bill for $3350.40 was reduced by $2500.00 leaving a balance paid of $850.40. Claims were then approved as corrected. Motion made by Carlson, seconded by Leroux that minor subdivision of Joseph Waters be approved subject to a $50.00 parkland fee. Motion carried. Motion made by Carlson and seconded to grant temporary mobile home permit renewal to George Miron. Motion carried. Lyle Lehner appeared before council with John Ward, the new owner of his property, regarding obtaining another mobile home permit for the property. Mr. Ward stated that since Mr. Lehner wants to slow down in his work, a full time employee is needed tohelp him manage the game farm. They do, however, plan to remodel the farm home on the property and figuerit will take approximately six months for completion. Mr. Lehner mentioned that the man they want to hire is a graduate student of wildlife conservation, and should be an asset to the farm and community. Motion made by Carlson, seconded to grant temporary mobile home permit to John Ward contingent upon the fact that he obtain a valid building permit, with mohtile home permit being good only for six months. Motion carried. It was mentioned that a public hearing would be waived in this case. Ken Huber and Art Siebert appeared regarding a utility contract between White Bear Lake and Hugo. Copies of a tentative agreement were given to the council, attorney, and engineer, which Mr. Siebert verbally explained. Water superintendant Bob Burkard asked if they take daily water samples, do chemical testing, etc., and was answered that they did not. He stated he now does this, lubricates the hydrants twice a year, and paints them as he sees fit. Howard Kuusisto asked a few questions about sewer, one of which was if ttiey check lift stations on weekends. He was answered they only do emergency work on weekends. Pam Bjorum questioned whether they are contracting to any other village at the present time. Mr. Seibert said right now no; Birchwood wanted this werviee but felt they couldn't afford it, and unfortunately spend about $5500.00 with trouble on one lift station. Dan Spitzer questioned if contract for $7600.00 was exact or approximate. Answer-not a firm figure. He also wondered how maty men White Bear Township has working on sewer, water, and roads. Answer-three or four men. Clerk Burkard questioned if they do meter inspection or new install- ation and was told they do not. Howared Kuusisto questioned if they take night calls on sewer and was told they do but charge overtime rates. Attorney Charles Johnson questioned Ken Huber if they have insurance if a person were to be flooded. Mr. Huber stated he thought their insurance would probably be extended to cover this contract. Mr. Huber and Mr. Seibert then left, and council discussed the matter further. LaValle questioned Howard how many men Hugo would need if they hired their own. Answer-two men when checking lift stations. Leroux asked Burbmxd how mach time he spent on water each week or day. Answer- ten to twelve hours per week. LaValle asked Howard.. if he could come up with an estimate of how mach it would cost if Hugo hired its own men, and Howard said he would. Mayor Carlson at this point, said he figured it would cost about $13,000.00 for equipment, plus labor, elarioa2-work, interest, etc. He thought it would be much higher than going with White Bear Lake. Pam asked Howard if one and one half hours per day was enough time for our sewer work to get done and Howard said two to three hours per day would be more like it. Dan Spitzer stated the contract would be more in the range of $16,000.00 instead of $7600.00 because of overtime spent, and he thought it would be cheaper to go it alone. Mayor Carlson ddsagreed. This is to be looked into further for the next meeting. NOVEKM 19, 1973 15Q Russell Van Beek appeared before council regarding his septic tank effluent running out on the ground. Van Beek wanted to know who complained. Don Lease stated he had received complaints from neighbors, and he and the building inspector had visited the site and saw for themselves the problem, which still hasn't been solved. Vara Beek stated he just didn't have the money to fix the problem at one time. He's doing it little by little. Mr. Vara Beek was then asked by the council to correct the problem as soon as possible. Washington County's highway engineer, Charles Swanson appeared regarding a road and bridge maintenance contract between Washington County and Hugo. He gave copies of the contract to the council as he and Don Lease explained. He said they will do as much or as little maintenance as Hugo wants. He said there will be a special unit assigned to Hugo for their roads, and in case of a bad storm, other equipment could be brought in. He stated they have already set the village up in about fow snow plowing routes. They usually start plowing at four or five in the morning, and have all roads passed over by about saves. The Washington County Sheriff's office monitors the highway department frequency, which would help in emergencies. Mr. Swanson stated the county would like to buy the 1970 Chevrolet truck from the village at a cost of $5000.00, and they would like to keep the road grader at their garage, and pay Hugo rent for the time it is used. Theodora Peltier asked if they considered school bus routes when setting up plowing routes, and Mr. Swanson said that most of the village suds were school bus routes. Marvin LaValle stated he is in agreement with the contract. Mr. Swanson stated the contract would be renewable on May 1st, because at that time they would have firm figures on what the vehicles could operate on for the following year. Connie Crever thought Hugo should try this for a year to see how it works out. Pam asked Charles Johnson if he had adequate time to review the contract and he said he had. Motion made by Carlson, seconded by LaValle to adopt Washington County Road and Bridge Maintenance Agreement from November 1, 1973 until April 30s 19749 as specified by the contract. The ague of the truck listed in the contract is to be corrected, and Mr. Swanson will have three copies signed and send them on to Hugo for signatures. Motion carried. Next item on the agenda was Norm Horton's special use permit. Fire Chief Ken Granger stated that on November 13th, he and his men spent five hours at the auto yard, four putting out fire and one cleaning up, In the last six months it has cost the village approximately $500.00 to put fires out at the yard. Ken said he would like to see fire lanes put in there, as was specified in the special use permit given to Mr. Horton, and also would like to see the weeds cleaned up. The man leasing the yard from Mr. Horton stated he's been trying to get fire lanes in the place, but doesn't want to go the expense of getting a big machine in there to do it. Don Lease said he is not in the parts business, but would think the yard would have a special place to cut transmissions out, not out back inthe dry grass and weeds. He said these people must have fire lanes, as fice is the main problem out there. Irene Leroux thought the council should go see the yard too see how many conditions of the special use permit have been met. She and the fire chief, and anyone else interested are to check on the matter. Marvin LaValle thought they should be given two weeks to get fire lanes open around the perimeter of the yared. Motion made by LaValle, seconded by Leorux to give owner and leasee two weeks, until December 3s 1973 to get fire lanes open ten feet wide around the perimeter of the yard. Motion carried. Mr. Horton is to get a letter to this effect. Next on the agenda was the village coordinator. Pam Bjorum stated she wanted to know more about a contract for utilities with White Bear before deciding anything on the coordinator. Motion made by Leroux, seconded by Pam to table village coordinator until after the lot of the year. Council then held discussion on the matter. Irene mentioned that Mr. Burkard had been taking adequate care of the water department for fourteen years, and she thought work was going well in the clerk's office. Pam stated to mayor Carlson if he was going to make a motion to hire a coordinator, this would leave Bob out of a job, and who would take care of the water department until White Bear Lake would take over. Carlson stated Bob could stay on with the water department. NOVEMBER 199 1973 It was mentioned that specific duties have to be delegated to a village clerk, deputy clerk, or village manager, not a coordinator. Connie Crever, the mayor elect, stated he would be left "high and dry", without any experience in the clerk's office. There would be a million dollar contract causing questions to be asked, and the people will call the clerk's office for answers. He said Hugo doesn't need a coordinator now. George Bernier, treasurer for the village said he can't see it. Said there would be a new man here for at least six months without any knowledge of what is going on. Mr. Bernier also said there wouldn't be as much trouble with the new sewer as people thought. He said if there would be an emergency, someone could be found to help take care of the problem. Mr. Clarence Vail stated they would be better going with White Bear to start out, and then could get their own man if it didn't work out. Recess called at 10:20 PM. Called back to order at 10:40 PM. There was a motion on the floor to table the coordinator business until after the lot of the year and the vote was as follows: Bjorum, Leroux for, Carlson, Lease, LaValle opposed. Motion failed. Motion made by Carlson, seconded by Lease to request the City of White Bear Lake to offer a firm contract supported by the village council, for sewer and water services to Hugo. Carlson, Lease, LaValle for, Leroux and Bjorum opposed. Motion carried. Charles Johnson stated obtaining easements for the sewer had been rather difficult, but is coming along. He would probably know by November 27th when we could advertise for bids. Attorney Johnson also mentioned that he and Don Lease had visited the Metro Sewer Board on November 16th. Lease stated he had been informed that if we are not tied in to the sewer next year, we don't have to pay the bill. On the $18,000.00 deferred bill, they would be will— ing to take money over a ten or fifteen year period, and we probably wouldn't have to make the first payment until 1975. Lease also questioned Metro on capacity, and was told not to worry about it. There would be no problem. Mayor Carlson mentioned he would like the sewer and water committee here on November 27th before the zoning meeting to inform them what is transpiring with the utilities. Motion made by LaValle, seconded to call a special meeting on November 27th at 7:00 PM. Motion carried. Mr. Dwayne Karma, a professional engineer, appeared before the council on behalf of the Bald Eagle Industrial Park owners regarding the additional $10,000.00 escrow the village requested of them. Mr. Karma stated that the property owners would like the additional money assessed, as some of them had overextended themselves in getting the first excrow amount together. He said it is a bad time of year for business, and most of the owners just don't have the money. He also felt the fifteen inch line could be reduced to twelve inch, thus saving $1942.00 in cost. Don Lease stated that some of these people expanded their businesses, knowing the problems they were creating. He said the village doesn't have $109000.00 to put Into this project with just the hope that the property owners will pay it back next year. He stated the council has had problem with Ken Tschida every time they have tried to work with him. LaValle questioned Mr. Karma whether he thought the people could come up with the money. Mr. Kasma stated, "Well, they want the sewer so bad they can taste it." It was decided that Mr. Karma would go back to the property owners and tell them they would have to come up with the money. Richard Vail had..requested his road in Evergreen Hills be maintained for snow plowing purposes only by the village, so the following action was taken. Motion made by Carlson, seconded by LaValle that village take over Ilyde Avenue in Evergreen Hills 2nd and 3rd additons for snow plowing only. Motion carried. Motion made by Carlson and seconded that Hugo not put up Christmas light this year to conserve energy. Motion carried. NOVEMBER 19, 1973 LaValle mentioned that Lametti should have an amended special use permit as they are constructing a building on the property. Motion made by. LaValle, seconded by Lease to send letter to Lametti requesting that they obtain an amended special use permit. Motion carried. LaValle:--mentioned also that a Mr. Dick Gartley could put the tennis court fence up immediately at a cost of $3500.00. Mayor Carlson said he would speak to the businessmen about their share. Don Lease stated regarding Royalhaven Estates, the village engineer and attorney should not do any more work for them unless Royalhaven pays the bill. Attorney Johnson stated that if their road hasn't been fixed by May of 1974 when the letter of credit runs out, the village can draw a draft on Royalhaven's bank and fix the road. The clerk's office is to put the letter of credit in a follow up fil-s to be sure this is taken care of. Mr. Johnson also men- tioned he would like the authority to get the opinion of the attorney general on twenty acre minimum lot sizes. Motion made by Carlson, seconded by Lease to authorize the village attorney to obtain the attorney general's opinion on the twenty acre minimum lot size. Motion carried. The council then went back to the coordinator subject and mayor Carlson made a motion, with LaValle seconding that village hire Mr. Ron Warren as soon as possible as coordinator for the village of Hugo. Discussion followed. Irene said he might not have a job after the let Of the yeas. Don said he wanted to know more about the White Bear Lake sewer contract first. He told Carlson he was going out of office and would not be able to work with a new man. It would be left up to a new mayor and the council. This man would know absolutely nothing about sewer either. LaValle asked the deputy clerk if she was planning on staying on. She said she probably would, but there are things she never learned to do which the clerk does, which she would not be able to help a new man with. LaValle questioned Bob Burkard whether he's stay as water department supetindendent, and Mr. Burkard said he really couldn't say for sure what he would do. Clerk Burkard proposed that he work a little extra time, attend one planning commission meeting a month, get paid a little more money, and the deputy clerk would also attend one planning commission meeting a month. Carlson asked Burkard whether he would work both water and sewer. Burkard replied that he would have to become a certified sewer operator, which he does not want to do. LaValle stated things could probably work out better if the clerk's office attitude was better. Said some things aren't followed up on as they should be. Pam Bjorum stated the council members shouldn't have to do things like look at rowds and subdivisions, the clerk's office should-&O some of these things. LaValle said when a subdivision comes up he wants to look at it and know all about it personally before acting on it. Lease stated Carlson was asking the council to go out on a limb, and he should have run for office again if he wanted changes in the clerk's office. Leroux mentioned that council couldn't delegate all jobs. LaValle stated he thought they should take the clerk's proposal and put city hall back in city hall. The motion to hire Ron Warren was voted upon and results weret Carlson for, Leroux, Bjorum opposed, LaValle and Lease abstained. Motion failed. Motion made and seconded to adjourn at 1t00 AM. Motion carried. Robert E. Burkard, Clerk