The Hampton City Council met on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at the Hampton City Hall for the regular scheduled meeting. Present were Mayor John Knetter; Council Members Cindy Flodeen, David Luhring, Anthony Verch, and Nick Russell. Also present was Marlin Reinardy, Water/Sewer Superintendent; and Brad Fisher with Bolton & Menk.
Regular Meeting called to Order - Mayor Knetter called the Regular Scheduled Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Disclosure of Interest – None
Approval of the June 14, 2022 Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes – Motion by Flodeen seconded by Luhring to approve the June 14, 2022 regular scheduled meeting minutes. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Approval of Disbursements – Motion by Luhring seconded by Verch to approve the July disbursements. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Public Comment – None.
Petitions, Requests, and Communications:
Mayor Knetter mentioned that an item needed to be added to the agenda under New Business. The request by St. Mathias Church for a gambling/temporary on-sale liquor license for the annual Fun Fest was just received today. Motion by Luhring seconded by Verch to add the request to the agenda under New Business. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Schedule August meeting time to review budget – Mayor Knetter asked Council their preference regarding the length of time needed for the budget discussion. Consensus was that half an hour is sufficient. The budget will be reviewed, beginning at 6:30 p.m., prior to the August City Council meeting on August 16th.
Invasive weed on City ROW – University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – Mayor Knetter explained that the City was contacted by a representative from the University of Minnesota, asking for access to City property to treat and monitor an invasive species of weed growing on the property. The cost of doing the weed control will be fully funded by the university. Brief discussion about the request. Motion by Verch seconded by Luhring to allow access to City property to spray herbicide to treat the weed, sign the Landowner Agreement, and proceed with the project. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
Resolution 2022-__(08) – Entering into MnDOT Agreement – Brad Fisher of Bolton & Menk explained that this is regarding MnDOT’s TH 52 project. The project includes a mill and overlay of the eastern frontage road from the southern cul-de-sac to Northfield Boulevard. The frontage road work will be done when an agreement is in place for the turnback of the frontage road to the City. As part of the project, the City has two water gate valve boxes and three sanitary sewer manhole castings that will require adjustment as part of the frontage road mill and overlay. Fisher explained that MnDOT does not cover the cost of any non-MnDOT owned utility infrastructure work. Bolton & Menk requested that MnDOT include the utility work as a part of the project, as the City does not have the resources to complete the work. The estimated cost of the utility work is a little more than $3,700.
Mayor Knetter mentioned to Fisher that there are four sanitary sewer manhole covers on the frontage road. Additionally, he doesn’t feel that the City should have to incur the cost of the utility work as long as there is not a turnback agreement in place.
Resolution 2022-__(09) – Appointing Election Judges – Mayor Knetter stated that, because the resolution for entering into the MnDOT agreement was not approved, this resolution number will be 2022-08. – Motion by Luhring seconded by Verch to approve the election judges as indicated in the resolution. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Reports of Officers, Boards, and Committees:
Engineer Report – Mayor Knetter asked Brad Fisher if he had any additional information to report, to which Fisher responded that he had nothing else.
Water / Sewer Report – Marlin Reinardy, Water/Sewer Superintendent, first reported that Automatic Systems came and did the finishing “cosmetic” work for the new control panel.
Reinardy mentioned that there recently was a measurement done of sewer pond #1. He stated that there was a 5-inch reduction in the sludge level since 2021. This is due to the quantity of chemicals being used to treat the pond. Reinardy feels that the City can now treat the ponds at a level that will maintain current levels, rather than trying to achieve additional sludge reduction. Additionally, as far as chemical treatment of the ponds, pond #2 and pond #3 have been treated for algae control.
Reinardy asked Council if they would give him permission to purchase a measurer for the sewer ponds like the one that was used to measure pond #1. Motion by Knetter seconded by Verch to approve the purchase of the measurer. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Park Report – Councilor Russell stated that there is nothing to report at this time
Street Report – Councilor Luhring stated that both Hampton Avenue and Belmont Street need some sort of maintenance work done this year. He mentioned that there is a bad spot on Hampton Avenue that has heaved. That will require the area to be dug up and then have a roller go over the area to level. Discussion about ability to get a contractor to do the work being it is so late in the year. Mayor Knetter asked Brad Fisher to get a quote from Pine Bend Paving to mill and overlay both Hampton Avenue and Belmont Street.
Unfinished Business: None
New Business:
Jennifer Endres, PID 18-32000-04-070 – regarding the feasibility of parcel being rezoned from Commercial-Preferred to Residential and consideration of whether or not it is a buildable lot – Discussion by Council regarding the odd-shaped lot and the fact that it does not qualify as a buildable lot as per City Ordinance. Additional discussion that the City does not want to lose any lots zoned commercial, as the hope is that new businesses will want to acquire property in the City. Motion by Luhring seconded by Russell to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendation to deny this request. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Gambling/Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for St. Mathias Fun Fest - Motion by Luhring seconded by Verch to approve the gambling and temporary on-sale liquor license for the St. Mathias Fun Fest. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0.
Adjournment – Motion by Verch seconded by Luhring to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5:0. The meeting adjourned at 7:29 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy O’Brien
