The City Council held a work session at 5:30 P.M. Discussion items included OLS remodel proposal and an update from the City Engineer on MPCA WWTP permit changes regarding chloride levels.
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, March 22, 2021
CALL TO ORDER AND DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM
The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Olivia, Minnesota, was called to order by Mayor Hawkinson at 7:04 P.M.
Council Members Present: Jon Hawkinson, Blanca Ferguson, Tom Kalahar, George Ebbers and Landon Padrnos.
Others present: Dan Coughlin, City Administrator; Jason Krumheuer, Police Chief; Justin Black, City Engineer; Kendra Lyngaas, City Engineer (via Zoom); Scott Tedrick, Renville County Register Editor (Zoom); Ken Person, Dan Knight, Michelle Brown (Zoom) and Katianne Briese (Zoom), Residents.
AGENDA
Motion by Ebbers, second by Ferguson: to approve the Agenda as updated. Motion passed unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Padrnos, second by Kalahar: to approve the presented Consent Agenda items:
- Regular Meeting Minutes of March 1, 2021
- Special Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2021
- Special Meeting Minutes of March 10, 2021
- Resolution 2021-16, Authorizing MGA Accounts for the Chief of Police
- Resolution 2021-18, Authorizing Application for Exempt Permit: Pages of our Communities
- Resolution 2021-19, Acceptance of MnDOT Aeronautics Grant #1046545
- March Payables #2
- February Check Register
Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – Highway 71 Utility Project
Mayor Hawkinson recessed the regular meeting at 7:07 p.m. and opened the Public Hearing. Before taking public testimony, he asked City Engineer Justin Black to provide a project overview so everyone could be familiar with the proposed project.
At 7:14 p.m. the Mayor invited the public to provide comments regarding the proposed project. He asked that those wishing to speak please identify themselves and give their property address for the official record.
Ken Person, 404 13th St. (Hwy 71 south), asked the City Engineer about the location of the existing and proposed utility pipes. Engineer Black showed the current and future service line location on an aerial map.
Dan Knight, 406 13th St., mentioned that he had been working with Engineer Black and MnDOT regarding concerns he had with existing curbing and sidewalk sections and how they will be retooled as part of the project. He asked questions regarding the water main and service line serving his property which Engineer Black was able to address.
Michelle Brown, 1302 Fairview Ave., asked if the meeting was recorded because she missed the first few minutes of the City Engineer’s presentation. Administrator Coughlin mentioned that the meeting was being recorded and it would be available for replay via the City’s website and also on the city’s cable access channel. Ms. Brown asked if during the project if there would be times when it would be difficult to get to the driveway at her home and other similar logistics issues. Engineer Black said that due to the nature of the work being done, unfortunately there will be times when direct access will not be possible. He explained that every effort will be made to provide notice to impacted properties in advance of any access limitations.
Administrator Coughlin added that a pre-project neighborhood meeting will be planned to talk through specific logistical issues with residents ahead of the construction work taking place. He said that access issues, garbage collection challenges, temporary water hookups and a variety of other matters will get discussed at that time.
Police Chief Jason Krumheuer noted that the proposed Hwy 71 detour route mentioned County Road 4. He said that CR 4 has had a number of major vehicular crashes over the past few years and he suggested that perhaps Highway 17 would be a safer alternative to consider. Engineer Black said he would talk with MnDOT about the chief’s suggestion.
No other written or verbal comments were received by the City Council.
Mayor Hawkinson closed the public hearing and reopened the regular meeting at 7:31 p.m.
Resolution 2021-17, Ordering Improvement & Preparation of Plans
Motion by Ferguson, second by Padrnos: to approve Resolution 2021-17, Ordering Improvement & Preparation of Plans. Motion passed unanimously.
City Department Virtual Tour: Olivia Liquor Store
The Liquor Store staff provided the Council with a virtual tour of their facility.
Consideration of Ordinance 2021-01, Amendment to City Code Chapter 32 Providing for the Creation of a Public Safety Commission
Administrator Coughlin provided an overview of a proposed city code update which established an advisory board that could provide assistance to public safety departments which previously have not had the benefit of having such a board to utilize like other city departments have enjoyed. He mentioned that the Personnel Committee reviewed the proposal and recommended this code update for the Council to consider.
Motion by Ebbers, second by Kalahar: to approve Ordinance 2021-01, Amendment to City Code Chapter 32 Providing for the Creation of a Public Safety Commission. Motion passed unanimously.
By unanimous consent of the Council, Mayor Hawkinson and Councilor Ferguson were identified as the two City Council representatives to this newly created board with Councilor Ebbers being noted as an alternate.
Public Forum
No public comments were provided.
Pool Board – March 8
The Board discussed options for filling the pool coordinator position currently held by Interim Coordinator Tracey Johnson. Ongoing Covid-19 related challenges were also discussed.
Park Board – March 9
The Board welcomed three new members including two new student representatives. Councilor Kalahar said he was very impressed with the input those new members provided. Ongoing park planning items were discussed and the City Engineer provided the new members with an overview of current and upcoming projects that the City is working on.
EDA – March 10
Discussion regarding Olivia Chrysler was the primary item of discussion.
PUC – March 10
The Ameresco updated proposal was discussed. After considerable question and answer time with the Ameresco representatives, the PUC voted unanimously to recommend the Council move ahead with the proposal. This will be included on the Council’s April 5th meeting agenda.
Parks and Trails Report
Administrator Coughlin and Engineer Black continue to meet with MnDOT regarding Highway 71 ADA access / sidewalk planning among other things.
Other Reports
By unanimous consent of the Council, a council work session was set for 6 p.m. on April 5, 2021 in order to discuss items that had to be tabled due to the lack of time. Tabled items were asked to be included first on the agenda with any additional items be included at the end which can be addressed if there is sufficient time.
CLOSED SESSION (Closed in accordance with MN Statutes 13D.03 – Labor Negotiations)
Mayor Hawkinson recessed the regular meeting at 8:16 p.m. and started the closed session.
Mayor Hawkinson reopened the regular meeting at 8:47 p.m.
Motion by Patrnos, second by Ferguson: Approve hourly retainer agreement with Attorney Scott Lepak with the law firm of Barna, Guzy and Steffen for the purpose of assisting with labor contract negotiation processes.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Ebbers, second by Kalahar: to adjourn the meeting at 8:49 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
