HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974.05.29 CC Minutes - Special meeting IaY 29, 1974 I:II'?UT:CS 0.7 PROCEEDINGS OF TTIE CITY COLTNCIL CITY Or H[TGO 109
SPF,CIAL T7 DTII G c7
The meeting was called to order at 7: 11 PY by T'a.yor Lease. Roll was
called: Lease, L•aValle, T,''artin, Leroux present.
TTayor Lease stated the purpose of the special meeting was to hear all
those people interested in being appointed to the Council to fill the
vacancy of Council person At Large, and to fill the one vacancy on the
Planning Commission. He said he would like each person to give their
name, address, and any reasons they would like to be appointed.
Theodora Peltier spoke first, saying she was 57 years old, lived at
13094 Goodview Avenue in Hugo, and was born and raised in On�,ka Town—
ship. She served one year on the City Council after the Township and
Village merged, and is very interested in what happens in the community.
James Smith, 13560 Homestead Avenue spoke next. He is 37 years old, and
has lived in Hugo approximately one year, although has owned land here
longer. He is prepared to give of his time to consider the needs and
wishes of the people of Hugo. He has been employed at times with the
Federal Government, State Government, and now local government at the
school system level. He is interested in giving input into his city.
Patricia T•:anlce, 5147 165th street said she is 44 years old, and has a
bir; interest in 1Iugo and would like to help -return the government back
to the people. She has lived in ITu-o approximately six years.
Laurie Ridler said she is 29 years old, and has lived in Hugo two years.
Resides at 16842 Ingersoll Avenue. She thinks the Council neeJ:, -.% • r
��aople to give new ideas to government. .while living at Big Cornelian
Lake, her husband was president of the Cornelian Hills Association, a
homeowners association consisting of approximately 300 persons.
Dan Spitzer, 5688 141st Street said he is 41 years old, and has been a
resident of I3ugo for sit; years. In 1970 he headed the joint co�.--iittee for
fire protection. In 1971 :ie served one year on the old Village Council.
He has been a member of the Planning Commission since 1972, the better
part of 1973 spent as Chairman of that body. Ne has a strong interest in
local gvernment. He grew up on a farm in Virginia, and has a. Doctors
Degree in Physics. Ire is employed by Finnesota '"ining and T'anufacturing,
and deals with traffic and its control across the country. In his business,
he deals with government officials across the United States.
Deane Vail is also interested in the Council position, but was out of
town on business, and unable to appear.
Next were those interested in the position on the Planning Cor-1-mission.
Howard Schletty said he is 52 years old, and was born. in Oneka Tow.rnship.
Tlis father was road boss for approxinately ten ;years and was then on the
old Town Board. ITowrard himself vlorlced the road grader and snow plows for
the Towmship and thus know t'.,e roads very well. He would like to get the
government back into the hands of the people also.
Arnold Ranke said he is 60 years old, and has lived six years in Hugo.
He has worked twenty seven years at 'gest Publishing Company, and re—
ceived his education in Flint TIichigan. Lived for thirty years in T"aple—
wood, I-innesota. He said he thinks he could do a good job on the Planning
Co3mmiission because he is interested in what becomes of Hugo.
T1 ii 20, 1974
Steve Chapman is 50 years old, now retired. I'e holds several advanced
degrees. He started worlinb in the planning field in 1951 when he was
on the board in Needham, Tlassachusetts. Isis mother was born in Southern
!."in.nesota, but he was raised in 11ichigan. He earned a living milking, cows
until he scent into the Havy. IIe attended -ichirran University, Penn State,
and Harvard University. He has been employed across the United States
by Federal and State Governments in research and planning. He was on the
Onel.a Town Planning Commission for one and one half years until he became ill.
IT said there is a need for a new light and new objectives for the planning
board.
E.'.. Lundblad and Gordon Gilde who were interested in the position on the
Planning Co:nmissior_ did not appear.
Mayor Lease then asked the audience if anyone else was interested in
the two positions and no-i.-C. __ spoke. He said out of the information gained
at this meeting, the Council mould be able to reach a decision on June
3rd on the t-.ro positions.
The Payor also stated the Council and Planning Commission have big jobs
in the months ahead to finish Zoning, finish the City Code, take care of
Sewer problems, and come up with a decent road and financial plan. He said
he was glad to see so many people interested in their community who were
willine, to give of their time.
Pat 1!"anke mentioned that Hugo doesn't need all the tiolice officers it
has. She said Maplewood has a 75,000 population anti cnly 17 officers,
all qualified. It was stated that most of our officers are part time,
to fill in on weekends and nights for the one full time man. Ilayor Lease
said they have given bicycle and safety programs in the schools as a part
of their work.
Marvin LaValle then asked TTrs. Tlanke her views. She said the people should
count for somethin;. As an example, she said the people didn't grant the
Gun Club coming in Hugo, and the Council didn't listen, but said the
people were gong to have the club anyway.
Laurie Ridler said when Lynn Carlson was T"ayor, she and her husband came
before the Council with plans for a different septic system in order to
obtain a building permit for land they u.-vi ., and the Council would not
even take time to look at the information. She thought the building in—
spector was grossly inadequate in his position. They sought help from
him, and he would not help them. Tayor Lease suggested they contact Bill
Schwab for help in their situation. He said the Council is not a group
of professionals, and thus has to take the advise of those that are, e.g.
Engineer, Attorney, County Planner, etc.
A man from the audience questioned the difference between the City Police
Budget and what it would cost for 1ashington County Police Protection.
The Police Budmet is appro<:imately '30,000 for the year, and it would be
approximately Q24,000 for two cars working only a 40 hour week from the
County.
Ho:vard Schletty questioned whether when the County could not locate the
Hugo Police, they would answer the call. It was stated in an emergency,
the County would dispatch a car immediately.
Irene Leroux then asked I"r. Schletty whether he worked days or nights
for the -.-Ihite Bear School system. He said he worked days.
�!ff 20, 1974 1. 13
! r. Chapman questioned when the tonin; would be brought before the people
again. PFiayor Lease said hopefully in approximately two months. They now
have a comprehensive sewer map to go along with the zoning map. He also
said they hope to pass the City Code in three to four months.
A woman from the audience questioned whether Hugo had any parks on lakes.
Payor Lease said there is a )ullic access on Bald Eagle Lake, one on
Oneka Lake, and the City iias property ,;n Sunset Lake which is still un—
developed, but there is set aside in 'cI'ie budget "500.00 for this particu—
lar park. Irene Leroux- rs?entior,ed that sortie of the Revenue Sharing li`unds
have already been spent on recreation— the tennis court fence in the City
Park.
11r. Chapman questioned whether money donated from subdivisions was legally
bound for purchase of more parkland. It was stated no, it could be used
for upkeep of parks. It would depend on what could be worked out. T'ayor
Lease said there was all sorts of potential for parks and wildlife areas
in Hugo, but the problem is getting people to donate the land, as when
you buy, the price really goes up.
Mr. Chapman asked .✓hat type of a rc.,,_d plan was needed and Lease said a
long range road plan plus a financial plan for this, was needed through—
out the entire City.
Pr. Chapman felt the City should contact the Rice Creek datershed Board
regarding the judicial ditch in the Goodview Avenue vicinity. Lease said
if they could get some of the other problems out of the xray, they might
have time to wor'c with the people in areas such as this. He said though,
that he would not want the entire city to pay for firing a ditch only
a few people would benefit by. r_rs. Peltier said the ditch originates in
Section 32, so no one north of there would be assessed. Howard Schletty
said the water table would have to be lowered in order to have a good
road in that area, and the City should do something about it. Lease again
mentioned right now the Council did not have enough time, with the other
problems it faces.
T°-r. Chapman said he thought the sever problems were out of the now.
Lease said there are contracts to be approved by .FTUD, install,ction to
oversee, Sewer Ordinance to pass, and hiring of a Tian or contracting for
maintenance of the sewer soon.
Vern Peloquin appeared. with a problem to discuss with the Council. He said
Jim Olson of Imperial Tool, in Vern' s Industrial Park, was evicted from
his building by Herb Peclea.lan, and Olson would like to purchase a lot from
Vern to build on. Ivir. Olson would like some assurance that the Council
would look favorably upon this purchase. Vern was told they would have
to go throu7h the regular channels, meaning Planning Commission and then
Council, with their plan, and obtain a Special Use Permit.
T'lotion made by Lease, seconded by Leroul; to adjourn at 9:08 P.T`. Flotion carried
Robert L. Durkard, Clerk