On August 9, 2021, the Caledonia City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting from 6 p.m. to 7:22 p.m. in the Caledonia City Hall Council Chambers. Council members present, Mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder, Amanda Ninneman, Robert “Bob” Klug, David Fitzpatrick, and Brad Rykhus. Mayor Schroeder led the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The commissioners unanimously approved the meeting agenda, minutes from the previous meeting, and consent agenda.
Bruce and Diane Muendel applied to the City for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to create a hobby farm, 820 State 44/76 S (parcel ID 21.1166.001) in an Agricultural District. CUPs require a public hearing. The hearing ran from 6:03 p.m. to 6:11 p.m., allowing the public to provide input and ask questions before the council voted on the CUP. In answer to the council’s questions, Muendel stated that there would only be one miniature horse, one miniature donkey, and four pygmy goats. No more animals would be added, and there would be no commercial use involved. “These are our pets,” explained Muendel.
The Public Works/Zoning Director, Casey Klug, mentioned that the 6” of rain received last week created the need for road repairs this week.
Klug mentioned RCT Sewer and Vac is in the process of cleaning a fourth of the sewer collection system and all 10 lift stations. The sewer system is cleaned annually.
The recirculation pump at the wastewater plant that circulates sludge from the digestor through a heat exchanger back to the digestor needs to be upsized to handle the quantity of sludge. Klug estimated the cost of the pump at $800.
The 3-D mural is moving forward and is expected to be completed in a couple of weeks. Check it out in downtown Caledonia!
The goats were removed a week ago from Sprague Woods. In a couple of weeks, 10 goats will be brought back to eat the regrowth.
Adam Swann, city administrator/clerk, thanked Caledonia Aquatic Center assistant manager, Austin Heaney. Heaney rescued an unsupervised 4-year-old boy who had slipped in unnoticed at the Aquatic Center during National Night Out and had gone down the drop slide.
The city received about 20 applications for the full-time assistant to the clerk/administrator position.
The ambulance department responded to a difficult accident last week. The city offered its assistance to the crew as needed.
New Business
The council approved Muenkel’s CUP application with the following changes. Delete that the sewer needs to be fixed, as the Muenkels have already fixed it. The request is reasonably related to the city’s overall needs and the existing land use. The council changed the length of the CUP from four to five years. Muenkel thanked the council for their time.
Council members unanimously approved Resolution 2021-11 supporting Miken Sports’ employees and operations in Caledonia. The resolution also urged Rawlings Sporting Goods to reverse its decision to close Miken Sports.
To keep the project moving forward, the council accepted the proposal from TSP for architectural and construction management services for a new ambulance station. The proposal from TSP scored the highest by Swann, Klug, and City Engineer Matt Mohs of all three bids.
The council approved using dollars from the coronavirus local fiscal recovery fund for the wastewater treatment facility.
Swann presented the council with the proposed changes to city ordinance no. 2021-01 and asked for their feedback. The council is comfortable with the changes introduced unanimously approved city ordinance No. 2021-01. Therefore, Swann will schedule the public hearing for September 7.
Prepaid claims and claims payable were unanimously approved.
Next meeting
The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 23, 2021, at 6 p.m. at Caledonia City Hall.
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