03-05-1979 CC MIN
REGm..AR SEMI-MONTHLY MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNC IL OF ELK RIVER
HELD IN THE ELK RIVER LIBRARY
March 5, 1979
---,
Members Present: Mayor :t4adsen, Councilmembers Toth, Otto and Engstrom.
Members Absent: Councilman Duitsman.
1. Meeting called to order at 7:35 P.M. by Mayor Madsen.
2. Agenda
COUNCILMAN OTTO MOVED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, AS PREPARED. COUNCILMAN
ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED 3-0.
3. Minutes
Councilmember Tothasked that the vote for Item #7 of the February;, 1979
Council minutes be changed to reflect a vote of 3 in favor and Councilmember
Toth opposed and that Item #8 be changed to reflect a vote of.3 in favor and
Councilmember Toth e.bstaining. COUNCILMAN ENGSTROM MOVED APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES , AS CORRECTED. COUNCILMEMBER TOTH SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
PASSED 3-0.
4. Open Mike
John Plaisted appeared in this item and asked the City Council their opinion
on the issuance of industrial revenue bonds for construction of a new building
in the industrial park. It was the consensus of the Council that this sort
of construction was desirable in the City, that they wished to encourage this
kind of growth and that well conceived plans seeking industrial revenue bonds
financing would be approved by the City Council.
5. Bid Award Tractor-loader Backhoe
The City Administrator distributed bid tabulations for the tractor-loader
backhoe to the members of the City Council. It was pointed out during
the review of the bid tabulations, that the digging force of the John
Deere tractor-loader backhoe bid did not meet the City's specifications
in the area of digging force. The City Street Superintendent and the
City Administrator both explained that this was not a critical element
and that the dollar amount involved far out weighed the small discrepance
in the ,p.igging force. COUNCILMEMBER TOTH MOVED TO AWARD THE BID FOR A
TRACTOR-LOADER BACKHOE TO VALLEY EQUIPMENT COMPANY OF ST. CLOUD IN THE
AMOUNT OF $20 1975.00. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
PASSED 3-0.
6. Bingo Ordinance
The City Administrator explained that a request for preparation of a
bingo ordinance had been received from members of St. Andrews church.
The Administrator indicated further that upon checking with the City
Attorney, an ordinance of this nature would cost approximately $200 to
have prepared. Tom Constant, of St. Andrews church, was present at the
meeting and indicated to members of the Council that the church had looked
into the requirements and regulations for bingo operations and were well
aware of the possible difficulties of administering a bingo program.
Members of the Council voiced some concern about the City having to bear the
costs of investigating any discrepancies in bingo receipts, as required
by the State statute. It was the Council consensus that such charges be.. .
built into the license fee or that a bond be provided by bingo organizations
to cover such costs should they arise. COUNCILMEMBER TOTH MOVED TO REQUEST
PREPARATION OF AN ORDINNACE LICENSING BINGO IN THE CITY OF ELK RIVER.
COUNCILMEMBER OTTO SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED 3-0.
7. Scenic and Wild River and Flood Plain Management Ordinances
The City Administrator explained to the members of the City Council that
the State laws pertaining to Scenic and Wild Rivers. and Flood Plain Manage-
ment required that the City of Elk River adopt certain minimun requirements in
these areas. The Administrator presented a sample ordinance to the City Council
for consideration that would implement the minimums required by the State
of Minnesota. After some discussion on the item, during which questions were
raised by the City Council regarding what actions the Sherburne County
Commissioners would be taking and actions in other area citys, it was the
Council'S consensus to table further action on these ordinances to the
next regular meeting of the City Council.
8. Highland Hills Variance Request
COUNCILMEMBER TOTH MOVED THAT THE REQUEST FOR VARIANCE FROM THE INTERIM
ZONING ORDINANCE BY THE SUBDIVIDERS OF THE PROPOSED HIGHLAND HILLS BE
FORWARDED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION ON
THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION ON THE INTERIM ZONING. CONTROLS.
COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED 3-0.
.
9. City Council Salaries
Mayor Madsen explained to the members of the City Council that the Attorney
General had finally ruled upon the legality of the City COlmcil salaries
for calender year 1978. The Attorney General's opinion stated that the action
" taken by the City Council to increase salaries to the amounts of $1,600
per calender year for the Mayor and $1,200 per calender year for the
Council members was acceptable and legal under State Statute according to
the Attorney General.
It was also the Council consensus that salaries be paid quarterly as they
have in the past.
r
10. mridge Repair and Replacement Grants
The City Administrator explained that there was a federal bridge bonding
program with funds currently available for the repair and/or replacement
of bridges throughout the United States. The Administrator explained that
the Mississippi bridge. jointly owned by Wright County and the City . of Elk. River,
was reasonably high on the priority list and. as such. would more than likely
qualify to be funded under the federal program. The Administrator explained
that in order for funding to be granted on this project. that participation
and 'cooperation of Wright County would be required. As such, it would be
desirable for the City Council to send a resolution to the Wright County
Board of Commissioners requesting their participation and cooperation in
.
page 2
this funding project. It was the consensus of the City Council to have
the Administrator prepare such a resolution and consider same at the next
regular meeting of the City Council.
11. Check Register
The City Council questioned a bill for snow plowing in the City's library.
After a discussion on this item by members of the City Council. it was
the consensus of the Councilmembers to discontinue paying an individual to
plow snow from the Library parking lot and to have this service provided by
the City crews as time permitted. COUNCILMAN OTTO MOVED APPROVAL OF THE
CHECK REGISTER. COUNCILMAN ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED
3-0.
12. Tentative Agenda
Items to be considered at the next City Council meeting include:
1. A bingo ordinance, if available.
2. Wild and Scenic River and Flood Plain Management Ordinances.
3. Industrial Revenue Bond Policies
COUNCILMAN TOTH MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COUNCILMAN OTTO SECONDED
THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED 3-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert C. Middaugh
City Administrator
RCM: sem