Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
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 Steve Liffrig, Michael Hammes, Erica Young,
and Dustin Wiebusch.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, City Engineer Matt Mohs, Public Works Director
Scott Ellingson, Municipal Liquor Store Manager Todd Ihrke, Helen Reiland, John
Clemens, Korey Klein, Jason Klein, Bill Hedin, Travis Liffrig, Jordan Robinson, Jed
Stoltz, Carol Stoltz, Miranda Ihrke, Ken Berg, Irene Berg, Tara Gullickson, Darrell
Zeller, Sarah Forzetting Dodson, Blaine Hentz, Myra Schuck, Darold Mehrkens, Trudy
Mehrkens, Shanon O Reilly, and Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Present via electronic meeting: Wabasha County Sherriff’s Chief Deputy Jim Warren, Holly
Galbus from the News Record, Robert Josselyn, Mindy Arendt, and Russ Doss from
Overland Engineering.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve the agenda and addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Hammes to approve the April 10, 2024 regular Council meeting minutes and the May 4, 2024 Council quorum minutes. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to close the regular meeting and open the Public Hearing 1 for Land Management Ordinance 2024-02 regarding Stormwater Mitigation on future development. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular meeting was closed at 6:02 PM.
Public hearing was opened at 6:02 PM.
Ordinance 2024-02 regarding stormwater mitigation on future development on open lands in the City of Mazeppa was explained. The purpose is to not create issues in the downstream watershed if development takes place on lands in northeast Mazeppa. No changes in current practices would occur if the land remained in its current agricultural use.
No other comments were offered.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to close Public Hearing 1. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Public Hearing 1 on Land Management Ordinance 2024-02 closed at 6:14 PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to re-open the regular Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular Council meeting re-opened at 6:14 PM.
Wabasha County Sherriff’s Chief Deputy Jim Warren presented the monthly Incident Command Report. He also said that even though staffing was still down, the Sherriff’s department would be able to cover the extra needs for Mazeppa Daze and asked if the City would like to have the speed trailer deployed for Mazeppa Daze weekend, since there is also a large event at Spring Creek Motocross park that weekend also. City staff asked Chief Deputy Warren to be aware of speed and stop sign violations at the intersection of 2nd Ave. NE and Cherry St.
Public Works Director Scott Ellingson gave the Public Works monthly report.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave the Fire Department report.
Municipal Liquor Store Manager Todd Ihrke gave the liquor store report.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve a new point-of-sale system purchase for the Liquor Store’s on-sale operation. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to close the regular meeting and open the Public Hearing 2 for Land Management Ordinance 2024-01 changing zoning for parcels R23.00027.00 and R23.00190.00 from R-1 to C-2. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular meeting was closed at 6:28 PM.
Public hearing 2 opened at 6:28 PM.
A business has approached a local landowner about purchasing land to place a retail business within the City of Mazeppa. To move forward, zoning for parcels R23.00027.00 and R23.00190.00 would need to be changed from R-1 to C-2 by Land Management Ordinance 2024-01.
Mayor Hagfors gave parameters for comments and began taking comments from attendees.
Comments:
Why are businesses not being urged to build on 1st Avenue in the downtown business district.
Urge the business entity to locate in an area that already has proper zoning to leave residential areas for residential development.
What is the business plan and long-term goal?
Will there be access from highway 60? Using 2nd Ave. SE and Cedar will increase traffic and residents have safety concerns for children and families living in that area of town.
Will the proposed walking path stay in the same area as planned?
What is the business development’s traffic control plan?
Wants no walking path or store in the proposed area.
Small communities need businesses to locate in the community to maintain growth. People that have these questions need to contact the City.
When does the City plan to approve this Ordinance and when would it take effect?
Some of these issues have been discussed in past meetings, and people should attend Council meetings or call City Hall and ask questions.
Mayor Hagfors thanked the attendees for their comments.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to close the Public Hearing 2 for Land Management Ordinance 2024-01. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Public hearing closed at 7:07 PM.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to re-open the regular Council meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Regular meeting was opened at 7:08 PM.
City Engineer Matt Mohs presented the engineering report.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve the drafting of a letter detailing the land swap of the new WWTP location for the old location in Herb Vik Park meeting the existing DNR grant covenant and to direct the City Administrator to sign and submit the land swap letter. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve amendment number 2 for $5218 on the Owner Engineer agreement to prepare an easement for the watermain extension at the new sewer plant location. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
City Administrator Karl Nahrgang gave a City Hall activities report.
Helen Reiland of the Mazeppa Area Historical Society let the Council know that a new stove was purchased and installed at the community center and was seeking reimbursement of $600 to the Mazeppa Area Historical Society.
Motion by Hammes, second by Young to reimburse the Mazeppa Area Historical Society for the stove installed at the community center. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Luke Lunde of WSB engineering shared photos of the riverbank restoration and showed a proposal for improved access to the river’s edge for fishing along the newly installed rich structure in the streambed with the remaining funds on the grant.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve the plan to improve river access on each end of Herb Vik Park. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Jason and Korey Klein told the Council of their intent to add mini storage facility next to Turbo’s Repair and are in process of surveying and getting necessary use permits.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve building permit 24-920-057, 545 4th Ave. NE -water heater. 24-818-005, 347 5th Ave, NE -New home. 24-818-006, 331 5th Ave. NE -New home. 24-920-058, 243 Oak St. NE -heating system. 24-920-054, 359 2nd Ave. SE -home/garage. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Have found a company that may be a great fit for City cell phones for staff. Will have more to report at next meeting.
Still waiting for completed documents to be submitted by property holder on Riverbluff 2nd subdivision.
City Hall needs to get the final draft of the personnel handbook for review.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve Resolution 2024-12 to hold a disc golf tournament at Herb Vik Park. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve Resolution 2024-12 to hold a disc golf tournament at Herb Vik Park. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2024-13 issuing a temporary off-site liquor license to the Mazeppa Municipal Liquor Store to serve at community market/music in the park events this summer. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2024-14 to accept the donation of a bench by the Friends and Family of Derek Tri. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2024-15 to accept the donations to the City for community events. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Resolution 2024-16 temporarily closing roads for Memorial Day events. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
1st Reading Ordinance 2024-01 NCE Properties LLC Lots 1-5, Block 5, and all of Block 38, in the City of Mazeppa from R-1 to C-2.
1st Reading Ordinance 2024-02 Amending Section 2 Article 2 of the Revised Land Management Ordinance to add Stormwater Runoff Reduction. Requirements.
Attorney Lamprecht asked that the development agreement for Chestnut Estates be added to June’s meeting agenda under old business.
Motion by Liffrig, second by Young to pay the bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Council thanked the Tri family for the donation of the park bench, reminded everyone of the volunteer park cleanup at Herb Vik Park, thanked the volunteers that participated at Cleanup Day, and to Mr. Roth and the Z-M shop classes for building the A.D.A. compliant park picnic tables.
Motion by Liffrig, second by Young to close the meeting to protect Attorney-Client Privilege
(Minnesota Statute 13.005, Subdivision 3(b)) regarding MB Sveen Properties LLC – 4th Ave. NE where the purposes of Attorney-Client privilege and open meeting law. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting closed at 8:31 PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to re-open the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting was re-opened at 9:38 PM.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to reject the offer of easement and lease on 4th Ave. NE made by MB Sveen Properties LLC. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM.
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Administrator-Clerk
