City Council met on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at Hampton City Hall for the regularly scheduled meeting. Present were Mayor John Knetter, Council Members Jerry Huddleston, David Luhring, and Nick Russell. Council Member Anthony Verch arrived at 7:03 p.m. Also present were Brad Fisher and Angie Smith of Bolten & Menk, as well as Chris Meyer, City Treasurer, Mike Slavik, Dakota County Commissioner District 1, and a few residents.
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 October 8th, 2024, Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes – Motion by Luhring, seconded by Russell, to approve the September 10, 2024, regular scheduled meeting minutes. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 4-0.
Approval of Disbursements - Motion by Luhring, seconded by Huddleston, to approve the November disbursements. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 4-0.
Public Comments: Jim Pluth addressed the city council with several questions. He first asked if the City of Hampton had its own official website. Mayor Knetter explained that while they are currently building one, the existing website is not official. Pluth appreciated that the city council minutes were available online but inquired about where they are actually posted. Knetter clarified that once approved, the minutes are published in The Messenger, the city's official newspaper, and are also posted on the community board at City Hall.
Pluth then asked about special meetings and how the public is notified. Knetter responded that notices are posted in the official newspaper and on the display board outside City Hall. The notice timing varies depending on the type of meeting, with statutory requirements of 14, 21, or 30 days. Pluth also asked if the future city website would include a schedule of meetings. Knetter mentioned that this feature is likely under review, but currently, city council meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month, and planning commission meetings are scheduled on Thursdays when needed. Pluth thanked the council for the clarification.
Petitions, Requests, and Communications: Mayor Knetter asked the council if there was any opposition to moving the city council meeting to December 3rd, as he would be out of town. However, Treasurer Chris Meyer pointed out that the meeting had already been posted for December 10th due to the budget meeting, and it needed to be kept for public access. The Mayor agreed and decided he would attend remotely.
Sargent Bobby Lambert reported on a rise in daytime burglaries in Sunfish Lake and Inver Grove Heights, where burglars are entering homes by checking if anyone is home and breaking in through the back. He urged residents to report any suspicious behavior. Lambert also reminded the public about an ongoing phone scam where people impersonate law enforcement officers (such as Dakota County deputies or U.S. Marshals), and though the calls appear to come from official numbers, they are fraudulent. He mentioned that new hires are joining the police force, and new vehicles and equipment, including Wi-Fi-enabled PBTs, are being introduced. The department is also looking to hire park rangers. The council thanked Sargent Lambert for his service.
Chris Meyer provided an update regarding the prepayment of the 2019 bond series. He explained that some residents had paid their special assessments upfront, resulting in accumulated funds amounting to $42,521. Meyer requested authorization to talk with Shannon about using these funds to reduce the bond’s principal, which could lower future payments. He clarified that there were no penalties for early repayment and that a 30-day notice would be required to proceed. Meyer would return to the council with a resolution in December for the first payment, pending approval.
Angie Smith from Bolten & Menk updated the council on the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) process. She explained that after a 30-day review period for the scoping document, comments from both the public and agencies were received and have been addressed. Smith highlighted key updates, including geologic conditions on the property, additional intersections to be reviewed as part of the traffic study, and revisions to the permit language in line with state codes. She also emphasized that the AUAR is focused on potential development scenarios, not specific projects, and annexation is only required in Scenario 2 (not Scenario 1, which aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan). Smith detailed the next steps, including submission to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) for further review and a public comment period. A public open house is tentatively scheduled for January 7th. The final AUAR approval is expected around March 2024.
Councilmember Huddleston clarified that this step was part of an environmental study, and there would be multiple opportunities for public input as the process continued. Smith confirmed this, adding that the AUAR process would proceed in phases, with the next major step being the submission of the draft AUAR and mitigation plan to the EQB by December 17th.
Councilmember Verch congratulated Mayor Knetter on his re-election, as well as Councilmembers Jerry Huddleston and Nick Russell on their re-election.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
Mayor Knetter led a discussion on the bids for a new water tower, particularly focusing on whether to remove or repurpose the old water tower. There was a $10,000 price difference between scrapping the old tank or setting it up in a park. Councilmember Huddleston pointed out that this cost did not include the expenses of moving, planting, and fencing the old tower, estimating the total cost would be around $20,000. He emphasized the challenges of maintaining a repurposed water tower in a park, including the potential for rust and weeds, and suggested that removing the tower might be the best option.
Knetter explained that the old tower could not remain standing because of safety concerns (unstable and prone to tipping) and due to regulations from the Department of Health regarding aging infrastructure. He noted that repurposing the old tank would be expensive and wouldn’t solve pressure or size issues, while a new tower would address these concerns with better elevation and increased capacity. Knetter also pointed out that the previous estimate for repurposing the tank, around $1 million, would likely be higher due to inflation.
Councilmember Verch suggested auctioning the old tank to a collector, as there might be a market for it, noting local collectors like Steve Bauer and Joe Wagner. Knetter confirmed that he had contacted both individuals, but the process of removing the tank would require significant effort and equipment. Verch argued that if the city were to cover the $10,000 cost of preserving the tank, they could potentially sell it to a collector, thereby reducing costs for the city.
Knetter confirmed that if the city found a buyer, they could adjust the plans. However, he stressed that the city had to award the bid for the new water tower within 60 days, and waiting too long could result in a loss of the bid price due to the public nature of the bidding process. Brad Fisher from Bolten & Menk clarified that the city needed to select an alternate option to proceed with the contract, but if a potential buyer was found, there could still be some flexibility with the contractor to adjust the cost. After some further discussion, Councilmember Verch made a motion to accept the resolution for the water tower bid, and the council moved forward with awarding the bid.
Resolution 2024___15 Resolution Accepting Bids and Awarding Contract – 100,000 Gallon Elevated Water Storage Tank Project Alternate 2. Motion made by Verch, seconded by Luhring, to accept bids and award the contract. All voted in favor. None opposed. 5-0.
Resolution 2024___16 Resolution Approving the Issuance of General Obligation Water Revenue Bonds, Series 2024A; Covenanting and Obligating the City to be Bound by and to Use the Provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 446A.086 to Guarantee the Payment of the Principal and Interest on the Bonds through the State of Minnesota Public Facilities Authority Credit Enhancement Program. Motion made by Verch, seconded by Huddleston. All voted in favor. None opposed. 5-0.
Reports of Officers, Boards, and Committees:
Engineer Report – Brad Fisher, the city engineer, provided a few updates to the city council. First, he discussed the completion of the Lead Service Line project, which was submitted to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) a couple of months ago. The MDH has published an inventory of lead service lines across the state, and Hampton was found to have no identified lead service lines. However, there were two self-reported galvanized lines requiring replacement and 56 lines with unknown materials. The next steps include certifying the results and eventually replacing lead and galvanized lines with funding that will become available in the future. The city is in compliance with all required dates.
Fisher also brought up the upcoming state cannabis licensing process set to begin in 2025. He asked the council if they had developed any ordinances in response. He noted that without an ordinance, the city would have limited control over licensing, only being able to enforce state requirements. He suggested drafting an ordinance to regulate cannabis businesses, including limiting them to certain zoning districts. Mayor Knetter shared that the city was waiting for the state to finalize the ordinance to avoid spending resources on a local ordinance that might not align with state regulations. Councilmember Verch confirmed that the license application process would start in July or September 2025, giving the city time to develop an ordinance.
Finally, Fisher reminded the council of a motion needed for the AUAR (Alternative Urban Areawide Review), which had been requested by Angie.
Water / Sewer Report – Working with Jake Pickleman, who is helping with the phosphorus management plan. We’re working through that to make sure we are in compliance and meet our next step of the phosphorus management plan. Discharge is mostly done. We are evaluating the last pond and looking into the rainfall. Water is going according to plan.
Park Report – The graffiti has been removed from the parks.
Street Report – Nothing new to report, just waiting for the final street sweeping.
Mike Slavik, the Dakota County Commissioner for District 1, addressed the council, starting by congratulating those re-elected and thanking the election staff for their excellent work. He noted that Dakota County was the first large county in the state to report its election results without incident, following a complete overhaul of the election team after 2022.
Slavik then updated the council on upcoming projects, particularly the road construction plans. The long-awaited reconstruction of Highway 47, extending from the outskirts of the city limits to Northfield, was initially planned as a mill and overlay project but will now be postponed for a full reconstruction due to drainage issues and safety concerns. This will cost an estimated $45 million and is set to be completed over two years, likely beginning in 2028-29.
He also mentioned the second phase of County Road 88 in Randolph Township, which involves realigning the road due to railroad issues. This construction work is ongoing, and no closures are expected from 56 to the east for now.
Slavik highlighted that property tax statements were mailed out and are available online for those who wish to view the proposed 2025 values.
In response to a question from Mayor Knetter, Slavik confirmed that two roundabouts are being planned for the intersection of County Roads 56 and 50. These projects are in partnership with the State of Minnesota and are scheduled for 2026. They are considering whether to complete both roundabouts in the same year or stagger their construction to reduce disruption to local residents and businesses.
Councilmember Luhring inquired about the completion of the roundabout at County Road 46, to which Slavik responded that the target completion date was November 27, but delays have occurred due to a federal safety grant, which will cover 75% of the costs for all three roundabout projects.
Unfinished Business:
Engine Brake Ordinance – Tabled until the next meeting.
New Business:
Mayor Knetter asked for a motion to accept the Draft AUAR. Motion by Luhring, seconded by Russell. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5-0.
Chris Meyer, the treasurer, provided an update regarding the city's cash contribution for land purchase, noting that the current allocation is $50,000. He explained that larger contributions, such as $100,000 or $150,000, would have minimal impact on the bond series, so it's more efficient to save that money for street and smaller projects instead of contributing more upfront. He also mentioned the bond schedule, where the council is set to award the sale of bonds at the next meeting, with the closing date for the bonds on December 23rd. Meyer offered to contact Shannon if any adjustments to the schedule were needed.
Councilmember Verch shared his efforts to secure additional funds, explaining he had reached out to various agencies, including the U.S. EPA (Region 5) and the Minnesota Public Facility Authorities, as well as individuals in the Drinking Water Capacity and Compliance Assistance Division. Despite some dead ends, he has found some resources and is still waiting to hear back from the EPA.
Mayor Knetter concluded the meeting by thanking the city clerk for her hard work during the November 5th election.
Adjournment - Motion by Verch, seconded by Russell, to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Roan
