Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
The regular meeting of the Mazeppa City Council was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Chris Hagfors.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Present: Mayor Chris Hagfors. Council Persons Michael Hammes, Dustin Wiebusch and Steve
Liffrig.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, City Engineer Matt Mohs, Wabasha County
Sherriff Rodney Bartsch, Municipal Liquor Store Manager Todd Ihrke, Public
Works Director Scott Ellingson, Fire Chief Bryce Dohrn, Nate Arendt, Helen Reiland,
Linda Klassen, Bruce Klassen, Matt Sveen, Barb Sveen, and City Administrator-Clerk
Karl Nahrgang.
Present via electronic meeting: Holly Galbus from the News Record.
Absent: Councilperson Erica Young.
Motion by Hammes, second by Liffrig to approve the agenda and addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Liffrig to approve March 12, 2025, regular Council meeting minutes and March 18, 2025, Special Council meeting minutes. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to close the regular Council meeting and open the Public Hearing on Ordinance 2025-01 Amending Article IV, Section 17 of Mand Management Ordinance. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular meeting closed at 6:01 PM and Public Hearing opened at 6:01 PM.
Purpose of Ordinance change was presented. No public comment was given.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to close the Public Hearing on Ordinance 2025-01 and re-open the regular Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Public hearing closed and the regular meeting re-opened at 6:06 PM.
Wabasha County Sherriff Rodney Bartsch gave the monthly Incident Command Report. He also said that the Sherriff’s Department will have its normal staffing for Mazeppa Daze, citations had been written to individuals involved in ongoing complaints in the community.
Public Works Director Scott Ellingson gave the Public Works report.
Fire Chief Bryce Dohrn gave the Fire Department Report. He also asked for Council guidance on policy regarding a Fire Department Volunteer’s health status.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve restricted duty for a member of the Mazeppa Volunteer Fire Department Duty for 60 days to allow for a doctor’s confirmation of duty fitness. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Council will be updated to decide to extend restricted duty or request resignation.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve new Mazeppa Volunteer Fire Department member Mitchell Dahl. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Municipal Liquor Store Manager Todd Ihrke gave the Municipal Liquor Store Report.
City Engineer Matt Mohs gave an engineering update.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve Wastewater Treatment Plant project Pay Application #5 for $584,872.25. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve Wastewater Treatment Plant project change order #2 to extend original substantial completion and final payment dates by 24 days correcting an error in the original construction contract. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Helen Reiland approached the Council to see if anything could be done to speed up the variance process so the MAHS building project can begin. She also expressed her feeling that City Hall had not managed the request in a timely fashion.
Matt Sveen of MB Sveen Properties requested gave the Council a proposal to consider for the future of the disputed portion of 4th Ave. NE.
The Council will meet with Mr. Sveen on the proposal at a Council Working Session on Monday, April 21st, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve building permits: 25-18-0007, 1483 Grandview Lane SE – New Home. 25-18-0008, 383 1st Ave N – Partial Re-roof. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
1st Reading Ordinance 2025-01and Ordinance Article IV, Section 17, subsection 17.2 regarding accessory building locations.
Motion by Liffrig, second by Wiebusch to approve Resolution 2025-09 Issuing a Temporary off-site liquor license to the Mazeppa Municipal Liquor Store to cater an event at the Mazeppa Community Center on April 26, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve Resolution 2025-10 Accepting Donations to the City of Mazeppa. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2025-11 Temporarily closing Walnut Street April 26, 2025, from 08:00 AM – Noon for the Clean Up Day event. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve the 2025 Fire Contracts between the City of Mazeppa Fire Department and Chester Township, Mazeppa Township, Pine Island Township, and Zumbrota Township. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve quote from Next Level Excavating & Contracting to replace sidewalks on the south side of Maple St. between 3rd Ave NE and 4th Ave. NE and on the northside of Walnut St. between 3rd Ave. NE and 4th Ave. NE. An allowance will be paid for installation of sidewalk on the north side of Walnut St. between 1st Ave. and 2nd Ave. SW when the cement work is done on the private property at that location. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2025-12 Issuing a temporary one-day off-site gambling permit to the Mazeppa Lions Club for July 12, 2025. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to pay the bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
City Attorney Luke Lamprecht updated the Council that the quiet title action on a portion of Herb Vik Park is moving forward.
No Council comments were made.
Motion by Liffrig, second by Hammes to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 7:24 PM.
___________________________________
Administrator Clerk
Next meeting: Working Session April 21, 2025, 6:00 PM.
