Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 14, 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 Erica
Young.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, Municipal Liquor Store Manager Todd Ihrke,
Public Works Director Scott Ellingson, Helen Reiland, Phil Olson, Rhonda Sand, Matt
Sveen, and City Administrator-Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Present via electronic meeting: Wabasha County Chief Deputy Jim Warren, Holly Galbus from the News Record.
Absent: Councilperson Steve Liffrig, City Engineer Matt Mohs
Motion by Hammes, second by Wiebusch to approve the agenda. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve April 9, 2025, regular Council meeting minutes and April 21, 2025, Council Working Session meeting minutes. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to close the regular Council meeting and open the Public Hearing for Olson Scenic Heights Minor Subdivision 7. All in favor, none opposed. Carried
Regular meeting closed at 6:02 PM.
Public Hearing on Phil Olson Scenic Heights Minor Subdivision 7 opened at 6:02 PM.
Mr. Olson is asking the Council to approve a minor subdivision of Parcel R23.00413.00. The intent is for these newly created parcels to be added to properties at 391 14th Ave. SE and at 1659 River Bluff Rd. SE.
City Attorney Luke Lamprecht asked if a Minor Subdivision application had been submitted, if all necessary documents had been submitted, if Planning and Zoning had passed P&Z resolutions approving proposed minor subdivision met all requirements for a City lot, and if the proper fees had been paid.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang asked if a deed restriction could be added so that these properties could have the restriction stating that these parcels could only be sold as a part of the property they are being sold to.
No other comments were heard.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to close the public hearing and re-open the regular Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Public Hearing closed at 6:13 PM.
Regular Council meeting re-opened at 6:13 PM.
Wabasha County Sherriff’s Chief Deputy Jim Warren gave the ICR for April. He said that as the weather warms, the officers are busier. Chief Deputy Warren also said that patrol officers wrote more tickets and gave fewer warnings for routine traffic stops to emphasize the need to pay attention to traffic laws. He also thanked the organizations that donated funds for police equipment to assist in the purchase of a drone. Mazeppa Fire Relief was one of the organizations that contributed.
Public Works Director Scott Ellingson gave the Public Works report.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave the Fire Department report.
Municipal Liquor Store manager gave the Liquor Store report.
Councilperson Dustin Wiebusch read the City Engineer report.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to close the regular Council meeting and open the public hearing on LaRoche Lookout minor subdivision. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular Meeting closed at 6:31 PM.
Public Hearing opened at 6:31 PM.
Timothy LaRoche is asking the Council to approve a minor subdivision of Parcel R23.00446.00. The intent is to create two parcels to be used for residential homes at 171 15th Ave. NE.
City Attorney Luke Lamprecht asked if a Minor Subdivision application had been submitted, if all necessary documents had been submitted, if Planning and Zoning had passed P&Z resolutions approving proposed minor subdivision met all requirements for a City lot, and if the proper fees had been paid. This minor subdivision will also require the property owner to sign a driveway agreement with the City of Mazeppa.
No other comments were heard.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to close the Public Hearing on re-open the regular Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Public hearing closed at 6:45PM.
Regular meeting re-opened at 6:45 PM.
Motion by Young, second by Hammes to approve WWTP project pay application #6 to Wapasha Construction for $361,945.25. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave the City Hall activities report and budget summary.
Helen Reiland reported to Council that the new Historical Society Building was at the correct setback and a variance was not needed as the Administrator had told her previously.
Rhonda Sand asked if more could be done to encourage the cleanup of the vacant property at 140 Cherry St. E. She said she had contacted Wabasha County Health.
The City has been in contact with a representative of the owner asking for progress. The City attorney discussed different options allowed by Minnesota Statute to make sure the structure is safe and not a public health hazard.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to direct the Administrator Clerk to contact the City’s Building Inspector and Wabash County Health to get more information and to schedule inspections if option to do so complies with Minnesota Statute. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Matt Sveen of M-B Sveen properties asked Council if more has been decided on moving 4th Ave. NE into the platted right-of-way. Mr. Sveen has been in contact with the City Engineer to ask questions about the City’s plan for stormwater and options that Mr. Sveen can present to his engineering firm to coordinate the watershed plan. He wants to establish a timeline.
The City will hold a working session to take the necessary time to discuss options, timelines, and plan the funding.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to set a Council working session meeting to discuss 4th Ave. NE for 6:00 PM, May 27, 2025. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve Building Permits: 25-18-0010, 378 Walnut St. – Re-roof. 25-18-0009, 133 Walnut St. NE – New commercial storage building. 25-18-0011 180 2nd Ave. NE - re-roof. 24-920-099 240 Summit St. SW - WWTP. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Second Reading Ordinance 2025-01 Changes to Article IV, Section 17 of Mazeppa Land Management Ordinance.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Ordinance 2025-01 Changes to Article IV, Section 17 of Mazeppa Land Management Ordinance. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve Resolution 2025-13 Recognition of Potential Conflict of Interest with SCDP grant program. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Hammes to approve Resolution 2025-14 Approving Mazeppa Honor Guard Exempt Gambling Permit. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Young to approve Resolution 2025-15 Accepting Donation from Mazeppa Lions Club. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Young to approve quote of $24,810.66 from Aslakson’s Services for black work at the Maple St. Bridge, Chestnut St., Pine St. at 1st Ave., 2nd Ave. NW., and the MMLS parking lot. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Hammes to approve the minor subdivision of parcel R23.00413.00 pending signatures of owners, surveyor, provision of Mylar Copies for Wabasha County, submission of the filing fee, within 30 days. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Hammes to approve the minor subdivision of parcel R23.00413.00 pending signatures of owners, surveyor, provision of Mylar Copies for Wabasha County, copy of receipt of 2025 property taxes paid, submission of the filing fee, within 30 days. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve the minor subdivision of parcel R23.00446.00 pending signatures of owners, surveyor, provision of Mylar Copies for Wabasha County, copy of receipt of 2025 property taxes paid, submission of the filing fee, and signed shared driveway agreement within 30 days. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to pay the bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Council thanked the Lion’s Club for the donation for Music in the Park on Market at the Park events.
Council thanked the volunteers on the trail committee for their work in researching and writing the grants for the SRTS and LPP grants that were awarded to the City of Mazeppa for extending the walking trail.
Council also asked if any compliance warning letters have been sent to certain properties in the communities.
Motion by Hammes, second by Young to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 7:59 PM.
___________________________________
Administrator Clerk
Next meeting: Working Session May 27, 6:00 PM.
