HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.07.75 Council Minutes APPROVED
MINUTES
COUNCIL MEETING
REGULAR
JULY 7, 1975
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor at 7:30 P.M.
Present: Mayor Daily, Councilmen Akin, Johnson, Kuchera, McElmury
Also Present: Administrator Ford, Attorney Gorgos, Engineer Blaisdell
The Minutes of June 16, 1975 were deferred.
The Mayor opened the public hearing which had been previously advertised in the
matter of correction of procedure in the vacation of the original plat of Westview
Acres, 1st Addition and all streets, alleys, public grounds and public ways set
forth in said plat. Motion by McElmury, second by Kuchera to Adopt Resolution#R63-75
which corrects the technic 1 discrepancy in the above vacation matter which origin-
ally took effect on Resolution #62-73 dated June 4, 1973. APIF, motion carried.
Engineer Blaisdell gave a report to the council concerning the status of the
original Lamppa Contract involving sewer and water. He reported that a leak had
been detected in the 18" steel water main running from the well house to the tank
He further informed them that after attempting to uncover and correct the situation
with city forces, it had been necessary to get Orfei and Sons on the job with a
larger rig. This resulted in exposing the pipe at several locations and detecting
leaks. It was his estimate that it would cost approximately $12,000 to relay this
line. The council instructed the City Attorney to amend the counter claim in the
attendant law suit sufficiently to cover both the estimated $12,000 repair and the
approximately $2800 spent to date to detect the leaks, and that no repair work be
done at this time upon recommendation of the Engineer. In this connection the
Administrator informed the council that he was preparing a memo dealing with an
analysis of that fund and recommended actions that might be necessary in view of
the unforeseen extensive additional costs of repair and restoration.
Motion by Johnson, second by McElmury to adopt resolution #R64-75 putting the City
Cowl on record as urging the court to set anurnne late trial date in the matter
of Lamppa vs Farmington on the assumption that to delay would have permanent and
irrevocable damages to the City. APIF, motion carried.
The Engineer reported to the council that replacement of plantings on the Downtown
Improvement was under way and that the contractor was making claim for reimbursement
for plants and trees that had been damaged as opposed to having died. Motion by
Johnson, second by Akin that the Engineer authorize payment up to $66.0-0—in---t-he
above matter. APIF, motion carried.
The council was informed by the Engineer in the matter of the Spruce Street Improv-
ment that a cross culvert had been added by the County at the low point in the
street to correct the situation which had been caused by the County installing the
culvert near Co. Rd.. 31 at an excessively high elevation which permitted water on
the South of Spruce Street to run over the street before it would go through the
culvert. Motion by Johnson, second by McElmury that the Administrator contact the
County and request that the street surface, curb, gutter and catch basins be
installed and repaired at county expense. APIF, motion carried.
The Administrator presented to the council a study which had been prepared by
Elizabeth Close, dealing with the possible expansion and/or remodeling of City
Hall. The council took the study under advisement and instructed the Administrator
to distribute it widely to department heads, boards and commissions and invite
specific comments to be considered by the Council.
The Administrator informed the council that the joint selection and interview process
for the hiring of a roving building inspector by Rosemount and Farmington had been
completed, that the group had recommended the hiring of Mr. Alan Knutson from
Moorehead, and that the Rosemount City Council, at their meeting of Tuesday, had
in fact, selected Mr. Knutson and were requesting the Farmington City Council to
join in with them in the selection. Motion by Kuchera, second by Akin that Mr.
Alan Knutson be hired as Building Inspector for the City of Farmington, effective
approximately August 1, 1975 and at a salary as indicated in a previous memo to
the council by the Administrator. APIF, motion carried.
The council declined to participate in the Police Selection standards study presently
being conducted by the Metropolitan Area Managers Association and requested the
Administrator to so inform that organization.
144
Motion by McElmury, second by Johnson to set a public hearing for 7:30 P.M. ,
July 21, 1975, to consider a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance which
would permit housing for the elderly and handicapped as a special exception in
the B-2 zoning district. Voting for: Daily, Johnson, Kuchera, McElmury.
Voting against: Akin. Motion carried.
Motion by Akin, second by Kuchera to set a public hearing for 9:00 P.M. , July 21,
1975, to consider the proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance which would
permit one mobile home per each rural tax district parcel. APIF, motion
carried.
Motion by Akin, second by Daily to adopt resolution #R65-75 setting a public
eh ar ng for 8:00 P.M. , July 21, 1975 to consider project 74-4, sewer lateral
190th Street with the Attorney to publish. APIF, motion carried.
Motion by Akin, second by Kuchera to approve the expenditure of, not to exceed
1100, for the construction of chain link fence at the pool area. APIF,
motion carried.
Motion by Akin, second by Kuchera to approve an increase in salary from $550
per month to $600 per month for Administrative Assistant Rick Anderson as
recommended by the City Administrator. Voting For: Akin, Johnson, Kuchera,
McElmury. Voting against: Daily. Motion carried.
The Administrator informed the council that a meeting was to be held at 8:00 P.M. ,
July 9, 1975, in the Dakota County Government Center, dealing with the possible
establishment of a Watershed District for the Vermillion River. The Mayor in-
dicated that he would try to attend.
The Administrator presented to the council a letter of resignation from Fire
Chief Roger Kuchera who had accepted employment as full time Fire Chief in the
City of Maple Grove. He requested that his resignation become effective
August 5, 1975. The Administrator also informed the council that in an
advisory election held by the Fire Department on June 23, 1975, Mr. Tom Jensen
was being recommended to the council for appointment as Fire Chief. The
Administrator further called to the attention of the council, a letter which
he had written to Mr. Kuchera, suggesting that inasmuch as he had now become
employed as full time Fire Chief for the City of Maple Grove, as of July 2,
1975, that it might be inappropriate for him to be an employee of both Maple
Grove and Farmington. It was the Administrator's recommendation that the
council immediately accept Mr. Kuchera's resignation. Motion by Akin, second
by McElmury that the council accept Mr. Kuchera's resignation, effective
July 8, 1975, and that the Administrator be instructed to write a letter of
commendation recognizing his services and that the council appoint Mr. Tom
Jensen as Fire Chief for the City of Farmington effective July 8, 1975. APIF
motion carried.
The Administrator informed the council that the City had been informed that a
change in fire protection classification has now taken effect, applying the
classification of class 6 from class 7. The council wished to thank publicly
all those individuals who contributed to the accomplishment of this significant
savings to Farmington tax payers with special recognition going to Mr. Robert
Shirley for his efforts.
The Administrator informed the council that they had, by resolution #R50-75, on
the 25th day of April, 1975, indicated their approval of proposed special
legislation dealing with the increase in limits for the firemen Farmington
Fire Relief Association. The Secretary of State had informed the City that the
above law had been filed with his office on June 5, 1975, and that a resolution
approving said law by the city council must be sent to him and dated after that
date. Motion by Akin, second by Johnson to adopt resolution #R66-75 which
approves special legislation in compliance with the provision o laws of 1975,
chapter 429, permitting the increase and allowable benefits for the Farmington
Fire Relief Association, said law having been filed with the Secretary of
State on June 5, 1975. APIF, motion carried.
Motion by Kuchera, second by Daily that the payment of $300.00 be approved to
Mr. CNarles Tooker, city planner, for additional work performed on the down-
town parking survey. Voting for: Daily, Kuchera, McElmury. Voting against: Akin.
Absent: Johnson. Motion carried.
145
Coun Mtg
Regular
7/07/75
The Administrator informed the council that the City had received notice of possible
claim by a resident of Farmington at 109 Elm Street in the amount of $100,000 in-
volving an alleged incident of Police harrassment. This was turned over to the
City Attorney for action.
The City Council directed the City Attorney to prepare a proposed ordinance for
the licensing and regulation of recreational places of business.
The Administrator read to the council, correspondence from Special Counsel John J.
McBrien informing the council that he had determined that the property owned by
Mr $ Mrs Lyle E. Yetzer was, in fact, within the City limits of Farmington which
he assumed would put this matter at rest.
Members of the City Council asked the Administrator to prepare an informational
paper for members of the council, dealing with the various ramifications and facets
of the cities contracting police protection from the county.
Correspondence had been received from the Dakota County Safety Engineer indicating
that the Hospital Road (CSAH #72) from Trunk Highway 3 to past the hospital had
been posted for 30 mph.
Motion by McElmury, second by Kuchera that the bills be approved for payment as
presented. APIF, motion carried.
Motion made and carried to adjourn at 11:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
William J. Ford
City Administrator
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