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Walnut Grove, MN
April 12, 2010
The City Council met in a regular session on the 12th day of
April, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the Council Room.
Present: Greg Hansen, Todd Harrington, Leonard McLaughlin, Xiong
Yang and Jeff Harnack
Also Present: Redwood County Assessor Kathy Hillmer, City
Assessor Carole Snyder,
Tom Hansen, Deb Johnson, Mike Zeug, Wes Bell, and Lee Steffen.
Mayor Hansen presided at the meeting
Purpose of the initial part of the meeting was to hold the
annual Board of Review and Equalization Hearing.
The assessors explained how the tax value was figured. No
residents were present to question their valuation.
The Board of Review and Equalization portion of the meeting was
closed at 7:30 and the regular session of the council meeting
was opened.
The Bar & Grill report continues to show a slight increase in
sales. Deb & Kate will be attending the Food Show April 20-21.
The Retailers Association will hold a Shop Hop on May 1, 2010
and the Bar & Grill will participate by holding a wine tasting
event.
The Maintenance Report was given by Tom Hansen. Discussion was
held on the old sweeper. The council determined that there is
no value because of the condition it is in and will have Tom
sell it for scrap. Darlo Foster will no longer be taking care
of the landfill. Tom has made arrangements to have someone
else supervise the site during the hours it will be open for
use. Discussion was held on the condition of the wood
playground equipment in the park. The council determined that
they would like Tom to make any necessary repairs. Tom will
order a new stop sign for 5th and Washington. City
Wide Cleanup is scheduled for May 8 from 8am- 1pm.
The Water/ Wastewater Report was given by Wes Bell. Wes has
received a Compliance Award from the Pollution Control Board for
the Walnut Grove treatment plant. The City will purchase
phosphorous points from Mankato again for 2010. A Gate Valve
was replaced in Well #1.
The Police Report was given by Chief Zeug. Mike will continue
to talk to residents in Walnut Grove that need to take advantage
of the City Wide Cleanup day. The part time Police Officer
will continue to work approximately 40 hours per month.
Walnut Grove and 7 other area cities have put together a safety
group to share the cost of safety training. There will be 8
training dates scheduled in 2010 to cover a variety of safety
topics. It is the responsibility of all department supervisors
to make sure that all of their employees obtain any required
safety training either by attending the training or obtaining
the necessary materials for the supervisor to train the
employees.
Discussion was held on Redwood Area Development Corporation and
whether the City should pay the 2010 dues of $2845.25. Motion
by Todd Harrington, second by Jeff Harnack to pay the 2010 Dues
to RADC. All voted in favor, motion carried.
Discussion was held on the delinquent Utility accounts. The
council approved that 2 of the accounts that are not likely to
be collected can be purged from the system and turned over to
the collection agency or assessed to the property taxes. One
account was activated inadvertently and was not realized until
there was a past due amount on the account. There was never any
usage of water, and the council approved this account be deleted
from the system.
Motion by Leonard McLaughlin, second by Todd Harrington to
approve the Land Use Permit at 120 Main Street to put up a fence
in the backyard. All voted in favor, motion carried.
Motion by Leonard McLaughlin, second by Todd Harrington to
approve the Land Use Permit at Country View to build a bus
garage. All voted in favor, motion carried.
Discussion was held on the possible properties with delinquent
taxes that are listed as going to public auction in 2010. The
Clerk will talk to the City Attorney and the County Auditor to
determine if there are any steps the City should take to make
sure that these properties are not sold to someone only to be
stripped of anything of value and then left to go back to
auction again in 6 years. Discussion was also held about the
assessments on these properties and if the balance of the
assessments will be placed back on the properties after the
property sells. Discussion will be continued at the next
meeting after the Clerk obtains this information.
Lee Steffen addressed the council regarding the vacant property
next to his. This property is not slotted to be on the auction
in 2010. Lee asked for the council to consider any options
there might be for him to obtain this property if he is willing
to remove the burned out house and clean up the property. The
Clerk will speak to the City Attorney and the council will
continue this discussion at the next meeting.
Motion by Jeff Harnack, second by Leonard McLaughlin to approve
the Minutes for the March 8, 2010 regular meeting and the March
26, 2010 Special Meeting. All voted in favor, motion carried.
Motion by Todd Harrington, second by Leonard McLaughlin to
approve Claims #31556 through 31667. All voted in favor, motion
carried.
Motion by Todd Harrington, second by Jeff Harnack to adjourn.
All voted in favor, motion carried.
Paula McGarvey
Clerk-Treasurer
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