Approves hiring of part-time Trail and Parks employee
Paul Bredeson, Senior Program manage and Ed Zepeda, Senior Account Manager, both of McKinstry Inc., updated the Mountain Lake City Council on the Guaranteed Energy Savings Program (GESP) at the governing group’s Wednesday, June 22 meeting.
The program, offered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, offers units of government loans for energy conservation measures, if the measures generate savings sufficient to make the loan payment.
McKinstry has collected data on the City of Mountain Lake’s buildings and lighting, and has determined six potential areas where the program could be used.
Costs and savings are being refined, with recommendations scheduled to be presented to the City Council in approximately a month.
Part-time Trail and Parks employee
The Council discussed regular Mountain Lake Trail and maintenance and improvement projects. The work load has increased since the trail was surfaced. Volunteers, including members of the Lake Commission, have limited availability to maintain and improve the trail.
The focus on hiring a part-time employee was on the position’s possible number of work hours, length of hire and duties.
Council members approved advertising for a 20-hour-a-week employee, and evaluate that position at the end of the season.
In other business
+ Reviewed the Draft 2017 Capital Improvement Plan for the Public Works section (Streets, Parks, Cemetery, Trail and Campground). The superintendent of the department, Rick Oeltjenbruns, will be contacted and asked for his input on the timing of major equipment purchases. Mountain Lake City Clerk/Administrator Wendy Meyer was directed to locate cities that rotate equipment based on hours, and request their replacement scheduled.
+ Decided to have Mountain Lake City Attorney Maryellen Suhrhoff and Clerk/Administrator Meyer prepare a city ordinance to opt-out of the Temporary Dwelling Law, and to review the conditional use language in Chapter 9 of Mountain Lake City Code for possible revision. The Temporary Dwelling Law was passed during the 2016 Minnesota Legislative session, and becomes effective September 1. Cities do have the opportunity to opt-out. Council discussion was about the law, opting out, local control and residential conditional uses. The bill creates a new process for local governments to permit certain types of recreational vehicles as temporary family dwellings. The motivation behind the new law is to provide transitional housing for seniors. For example, if a family wanted to keep a close eye on grandma while she recuperates from surgery, they could have grandma stay in a temporary family health care dwelling in the yard or driveway. The law has a broader effect, allowing anyone who needs assistance with two or more “instrumental activities of daily life” for mental or physical reasons eligible to be housed in this manner. Local governments may opt out of this program if they determine that this type of expedited land use permitting for temporary dwellings is not well-suited to their community. Many communities have communicated that property owners in their jurisdiction have adequate access to a permit for this type of use through existing local land use controls and permitting authority. Unless a city chooses not to participate in this program by passing an ordinance specifically opting out, the law will require the city to issue permits to qualified applicants starting September 1.
+ Discussed policy on pre-placing tombstones at Mountain Lake City Cemetery.
+ Approved the sale of a parcel of tax-forfeited property without a 60-day waiting period, and with the intention to re-assess special assessments.
+ Adopted a resolution, following its review, of a hazardous building at 1406 3rd Avenue. The resolution was slated to be served on the property owner.
+ Drafted a letter, after its review, supporting a special session of the Minnesota State Legislature.
+ Heard from Loyal Klassen, property owner at 306 Golf Course Road, who was at the meeting to discuss the storm water that stands on his property after a heavy rain. A map of the area, and a plan for correcting storm water problems in that part of the city that was prepared by the city’s engineer, Bolton & Menk during the design phase of the 2012-2014 Utility and Street Project was reviewed. Clerk/Administrator Meyer will get input from Street Superintendent Rick Oeltjenbruns.
+ Closed the open meeting and opened the closed meeting to discuss litigation in Yoder v City of Mountain Lake, as per Minnesota Statute 13D.05 Subd 3b. The closed meeting was closed and the open meeting reopened after 10 minutes. No action report was released.
City of Mountain Lake Meeting Dates
+ Mountain Lake City Council meets the first and third Mondays of every month at 6:30 p.m.
+ Utilities Commission meets the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 7 a.m.
+ Economic Development Authority (EDA) meets the second Friday of every month at 12 noon.
+ Lake Commission meets the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
+ Library Board meets the second Wednesday of every month at 4:45 p.m.
+ Police Commission meets the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.
+ Planning and Zoning meets the last Monday of the month, if needed.
+ Tree Commission meets quarterly – January, April, July and October – at 7:45 p.m.
