On May 10, the Caledonia City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting from 6-8:13 p.m. in the city auditorium. City council members in attendance were Mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder, Amanda Ninneman, David Fitzpatrick, Brad Rykhus, and Robert “Bob” Klug.
Mayor Schroeder led the councilmembers and public in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The council unanimously approved the seven line items on the Consent Agenda: April 26, 2021 meeting minutes; Approved the hiring of Kole Skauge and William Persons as part-time firefighters; Accepted the resignation of Andrea Colsch as a part-time clerk at the Caledonia Liquor Store; Approve a permit for a two-day temporary on-sale liquor license for Caledonia Founders, Inc. on June 18-19, 2021; Approve quote from RDO Equipment Co. to trade in 2018 John Deere 544K wheel loader for 2021 John Deere 544P wheel loader for the cost of $19,510.07; Approve Change Order No. 2 from Ricchio, Inc. to provide zero-depth floor inlet drain piping and zero-depth trench drain improvements for Caledonia Pool Gutter Replacement Project at the cost of $5,786; and Choose not to waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability, established by Minnesota Statutes Section 466.04, for period July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
Unfinished business
The council unanimously approved the intergovernmental agreement between the city and Caledonia Township regarding the improvement of Green Acres Drive as revised. Significant revisions include the township will not be responsible for any change orders and engineer costs. Casey Klug, Public Works/Zoning Director, noted that it might be two to four weeks before work begins on Green Acres Dr.
Suzanne Roesler, Caledonia Bakery, reminded the Council that 111 E. Main Street is “smash dab in the middle of historical buildings – designated as a commercial historic district before they voted on the request from Katie O’Regan, Sacred Noise Society Inc. to install a 78”x6” LED sign at 111 E. Main Street. The council approved the request with the following four stipulations: The display will be stationary. No moving or rolling text; Display color will be white, not any other color that resembles traffic control devices or emergency vehicles; Display brightness will not be distracting or so bright that it casts a light; and The sign must be fixed flat to the face of the building, not protruding out from the building.
New Business
The council closed the regular meeting and into the public hearing at 6:03 p.m. to gain public input regarding the future of Sprague Woods. Caledonia resident Steven Brown conducted an informal poll to see how many in the audience favor keeping Sprague Woods as the donors intended. Attendees were in overwhelming support of keeping Sprague Woods as is. Holly Becker presented the council a petition with 500 signatures in support of keeping Sprague Woods as is.
Resident Kari Neumann emphatically told the council, “If you don’t honor what former councils have agreed to, you will lose credibility with future donors.”
Frank, a lifelong resident of Caledonia expressed his thoughts, “I am glad we have businesses that want to come to town, we need that, but Bob Sprague donated that land. Why would anyone want to turn it into commercial property? If it is used as commercial property, the property should be given back to the donor. We should not even have this discussion.”
Holly Becker summarized the thoughts of the audience by reciting “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell.
“They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin’ hot spot
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”
At the conclusion of the Public Hearing (7:01 p.m.) the council went back into the regular meeting. The council shared their opinions regarding the future of Sprague Woods. All councilmembers thanked the audience for attending and expressing their opinion.
Councilwoman Ninneman shared her thoughts. Commercial property should be a priority for the city and the community in lieu of the opportunities the city has missed in the past. She believes that the community should decide the future of Sprague Woods the community and the city need to be better stewards. She went on to state that the city should honor the original agreement.
Councilman Klug stated, “We need more highway frontage for business.” Klug that he was impressed with all the people who came tonight and he listened to what they had to say.
Councilmember Fitzpatrick noted, “I did not know there were so many people interested in Sprague Wood.”
Councilmember Rykhus stated, “The community has spoken. Save the green.”
The mayor stated that this was the biggest crowd they have had at the council meeting since he has been on the council.
The decision was tabled until the May 24 meeting.
The swimming pool initially slated to open on June 8 is now scheduled to open in the middle of July. The question before the city council is whether to pay the lifeguards and pool managers starting on June 8 regular pay for an average number of hours per week, whether they work or not, or double their salary when the pool opens in July? After a lengthy discussion, the council approved option number two, double their pay when the pool opens in July.
The next city council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 24, 2021, at 6 p.m. in the Caledonia City Auditorium.
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